...while at the same time, they were fairly cool and even tempered about what they had won (the league).
Donegalman (All) - Posts:2861 - 09/04/2017 18:15:07 1977507


Not according to the match report on here (HoganStand):

... and the final whistle sparked delirium in the Kerry camp

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2477 - 09/04/2017 19:24:19    1977568

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 09/04/2017 19:29:09    1977571

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2169 - 09/04/2017 19:29:59    1977573

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9706 - 09/04/2017 19:30:26    1977575

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 09/04/2017 19:33:06    1977576

I predicted a Dublin win today but in truth I kind of did think our unbeaten record would be taken by Kerry so congrats to them, well deserved win. No complaints though it does make it a little easier that it was a league game in April, I would love to see us meet again in the final. If we get another game like today we'll be in for a cracker.

As for the record, in a mad kind of way I'm glad its gone and we can park it now and move on. There was so much talk about this team being unbeatable which considering the close game weve been involved in during the run was always a load of oul tosh in anyways but it stops all the talking, Maybe now the talk will be of us being very much beatable, and hopefully we can now use that talk to spur us on and motivate us as the year goes on to another All Ireland title which in truth is the main aim for Dublin, Kerry, Mayo, Donegal and Tyrone. It was a brilliant run but it had to come to an end at some point and there is a bit of relief that its happened now, It probably should have gone during the regulation games but somehow we limped to some results that we probably didn't deserve, Tyrone and Kerry in Tralee being the two that stand out where we were poor.

I didn't see what happened with the Connolly incident, But judging by the fact the Kerry fans infront of the linesman where fuming and the fact a black card was eventually given would make me think something obviously happened. Look, Diarmuid Connolly is an absolute genius footballer but his discipline is horrific. He just doesn't seem to be able to finish games, A few of us in a group on the hill joked about how long he would stay on the pitch before being sent during the team warm ups, and even though it was tongue in cheek it is something that we joked about because its always happening and its infuriating. We half expected it and I remember at some point last year saying his discipline would cost us and today it did, He let his team down and as good as we are and the options we have, He has the Xfactor nobody else has and its no use if he's watching from the line.

Nobody played well in blue today and yet we still dug deep and as I expected we never let that record go without a fight, Credit to everyone involved over the last 36 games. The hard work and mental strength from everyone involved and I include subs and squad players because they kept lads on their toes and kept fellas working hard for their jersey. The run wont be matched for a while. Nobody will be writing obituaries yet though, we will knuckle down in the next 7 or 8 weeks and look forward to the real stuff starting now.

On a sidenote, Today was Dublin's first loss in any final in Croke park since 2001. 16 years. Weird watching someone else lift a trophy from my position on the hill as I was only 9 in 2001.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 09/04/2017 19:36:14    1977580

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 09/04/2017 19:41:04    1977583

Thoroughly enjoyed this game throughout, some great football and some great scores. Kerry overall deserved their victory and were the better team even thought they made things difficult for themselves at times. The black card for Connolly was a crucial turning point and was completely unnecessary, for all his brilliance the guy is a liability at times and deserves a severe talking to from Mr. Gavin this evening

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 09/04/2017 19:44:20    1977585

Well done Kerry on a deserved win. Great game to finish off what has been a very enjoyable league overall. Some great scores from both sides. Kerry looked the fitter team throughout, especially in the third quarter when they tagged on a few nice scores and some Dublin players looked jaded. But the Dubs deserve credit for getting back into it. Given how much they've won the last few years it would have been easy to give in but they never do.

Looking ahead to the summer, I still think Dublin will be the team to beat. Now that the unbeaten run (and all the media bs that goes with it) is over, they can refocus on what really matters - Sam MaGuire.

Trooper_Thorn (Mayo) - Posts: 19 - 09/04/2017 19:46:26    1977586

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 09/04/2017 19:51:30    1977588

shaggylegend (Monaghan) - Posts: 1928 - 09/04/2017 19:54:52    1977591

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 09/04/2017 20:02:33    1977593

Not that this Dublin team would ever want to lose any game and certainly not a final to Kerry. Although this result will help both managers in their team talks later in the summer. It will surely give fuel to Jim's team talks going forward. Discipline, in the tackle and off the ball as well pass and shot selection were not good enough today. Hasn't been good enough for most of the league, today our luck ran out. It's a lesson the team needed to learn. Not that I'm one bit happy about losing, But rather it is in April with the summer still in front of us.

Marse (Dublin) - Posts: 217 - 09/04/2017 20:21:56    1977605

Martin Breheny in the Indo a few months ago wrote an article on who had the most players who are playing now ( in their squads) and we're playing in 2010. Dublin had the most with 9 players who were playing in 2010 and playing now. Mayo came second with 8 players who were playing in 2010 and now. Kerry were third with 6 or 7. Galway Kildare and Meath were the bottom of the 32 counties with all three only having 3 players involved in 2010. They all have very young squads , the average age for Meath and Kildare is 23. I would say Galway have a similar age average. Dublin have many more players in the late 20s and in the early thirties. Dublin are not as strong as they were 12 months when they hammered Kerry in the league final. While a lot of the league matchs they have showed good character coming back to win. Winning from behind can be the sign of a team starting to wane. I remeber Meath in 91 and 01 where every match need up trying to make a comeback. We did not know at the time but it was the sign of those Meath teams declining. Dublin are no longer hammering the top teams. Has the gap closed. Time will tell. Dublin might not be as dominant in the next few years as the last as there will allot of retirements. And allot young teams like Kerry Galway Tyrone Meath Kildare and Roscommon snapping at their heals. Interesting times ahead.

Lyons2000 (Meath) - Posts: 101 - 09/04/2017 20:33:01    1977615

To the HS Kerry crew, Real Kerry Fan, Westie, Hermit etc etc, well done lads. A hard tough epic battle. Two great teams and an enthralling game. Tough to lose but sh*t happens. Well done Kerry..... Well done. See ye later in the year :)

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 09/04/2017 20:35:41    1977619

Exciting finish to game today, I thought Kerry just about deserved it, probably should have been further ahead after the moving quarter when they were completely dominant. I thought both teams were lazy in their tackling and the free count was too high. I don't think this changes much for the championship, dubs still best team in the country and whoever beats them will win the all Ireland.

totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 920 - 09/04/2017 20:37:42    1977622

Rockies (Cork) - Posts: 947 - 09/04/2017 20:40:40    1977623

Congratulations Kerry.
Well done.

As for Dublin - when you run out of luck you run out of luck - just like we did with the last kick of the game.

We made more passing errors and shot selection errors, than I have seen for a long time. Only showed real hunger in the last 10mins.

The least said about Connolly the better. ... He needs to grow up...!

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3733 - 09/04/2017 20:59:29    1977630

Well done Kerry, definitely the better team on the day. We only showed up for the final 15 minutes of the second half and that is not enough to win a final. Kerry solid for the duration of the game. This is potentially a very good result for Dublin also as it takes the winning streak monkey off our backs and reminds all concerned that you have to put in a full shift to be successful. Allowing Kerry in for 20 scores is a recipe for disaster.

Enjoy your day people of the Kingdom, sets the championship up nicely for everyone now

Beacaire Gorm (Dublin) - Posts: 597 - 09/04/2017 21:04:45    1977633

Well done Kerry. Dublin were poor today. We looked sluggish and tired. Truth be told we've been lucky in the league, could have lost to Tyrone, Donegal, Kerry and even Monaghan last week. We've been leaving ourselves with a mountain to climb in each game and today lady luck was against us. We were cleaned out again in the middle and our backs gave Kerry plenty of space to punish us which they did. I said on the 'who will eventually beat Dublin' thread that it would be a team who could defend in numbers, break quickly and had a foward line to punish us. I viewed these as the three boxes to be checked and I expected Donegal to do it this year but Kerry beat them to it. Well done lads. Finally, I was baffled by the decision to leave Bernard on today. He had a nightmare of a game. When you have to run at a team you want Andrews, K Mac and Mannion in your forwards. Bizarre decision. In the last few games Cluxton has again proved why he is the best keeper to ever play the game. Incredible saves in Tralee, Clones and in Croker today were worthy of any premiership shotstopper. Take a bow Stevo. Bring on June and the backlash!!!

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 09/04/2017 21:13:08    1977635