I cant see beyond Dublin for the league final. Derry have done very well to get to the final. I did not think a whole lot of them against Cork. They got 2 lucky enough goals before half time which kept them in the game. If Dublin play at there best then they would be far 2 strong for Derry.

I have not been convinced by Cork's mid field and back line in the league so far so it didn't suprise me that we fell apart under immense pressure. I think Walsh and Cadogan need to concentrate on football because it's not working playing both codes. They will only have a negative effect.I do think it will be a northern team who will challenge Dublin the most this year but it's definitely Dublin's All Ireland to lose. They have the players and playing all league games in Croke Park is definitely an advantage to them.

rebeltrev (Cork) - Posts: 344 - 15/04/2014 11:09:18    1575369

hill16no1man
County: Dublin
Posts: 7306

1575360
all this talk about dublins full back line being the cause of corks lead at half time is rubbish
some people on here are obviously being brian washed by the tv cameras it seems as anybody in croker on sunday will tell
you the reason cork were getting all the scores was down to our midfield.
neither mccauley or o mahony were tracking their men back
the way cork attack thy play a running possesion game where they run striaght at the defence from the middle of the park.
in the first half mccauley and o mahony didnt evn attempt to track their men back
which left the full backs helpless as you left with a decision of sticking with the man your marking or going out to close the guy
down coming in on goal,theres not much you can do in that position.
just because hurley or the others in the full forward line finished off the score hardly means its directly o carroll or the other corner backs faults. apart from the own goal and the point where o carroll misjudged the flight of the ball they were hardly at fault.
indeed in the second half once midfield got going phily mcmahon and johnny cooper both became free to burst forward time and again.

_________

Sssshhh Hill.. Don't be telling them what they should already know

Let them think that... they'll soon learn it the hard way

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 15/04/2014 11:29:52    1575381

We didnt play all our league games in CP. We were away to Derry, Tyrone and Westmeath. Of the three we won two. If you meant championship then yes I agree its an advantage. How much so is immeasurable.

Jackeen (Dublin) - Posts: 4097 - 15/04/2014 11:37:39    1575388

doiregael, I am certain that if Philly gave me a belt I would be in bed for a week!

I was not referring to those incidents, for which Philly was punished, but a series of "injuries" that broke out when Dublin had scored three points on the trot. Celarly designed to break their momentum and waste time. Black card does not deal with that.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 15/04/2014 11:38:10    1575389

hd

The entire 2nd half was stop start, stop start

A pivotal moment in that game was an outrageously bad ref decision to award Dublin a free when he should have played an advantage

You know the new 5 sec rule

We had a tap in goal on the cards in the 2nd half... that was called back for a free... very poor awareness by the ref

I have no doubt it would have been a game changer

The resulting free was then missed I'm fairly sure

It was one of those days that everything went wrong for Dublin and almost everything Derry kicked went over

There's def a wee bit of payback for certain antics deployed by Derry... and the Dub players will be well aware of that

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 15/04/2014 11:56:31    1575402

Dublin will turn on the style and put Derry to the sword early.Its time we won a final with a bit to spare instead of sitting on the edge of our seats biting our fingernails to the wick.The natural evolution of this team will see us winning finals and games of importance with more flair and finesse.Dublin by 8.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 15/04/2014 12:08:12    1575414

You have to admire Derry for the way they have got themselves into this position, and they wont roll over as people have said. Dubs forwards are much better all round than derrys, for that reason dubs to win by 5.

lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1363 - 15/04/2014 12:17:04    1575420

rebeltrev
County: Cork
Posts: 316

playing all league games in Croke Park is definitely an advantage to them.

Pointed out above we didn't play all our League games in CP.
Last week both McIver and Cuthbert were "looking forward" to playing in CP. Teams want to play there in preparation for Championship. Yes its advantage but how much? If a team is good enough it shouldn't matter. Kerry Mayo Tyrone came within a couple of points last year. Tyrone beat us. It wasn't a big deal when we were getting our asses handed to us between 95 and 11.
I'd prefer to see us playing some of our Championship games away. Dont see it happening anytime soon though. Money talks.

A

Aido69 (Dublin) - Posts: 381 - 15/04/2014 12:17:16    1575422

It is fantastic to see a new side coming through and pushing for honours especially as its another Ulster side. Derry will be up for this one and I wish them all the best for Sunday. I think it will be a great match, Dublin as everyone knows are a very strong and battle hardened outfit. They have got to be going in as outright favourites. Im sure alot of people know very little about Derry outside of the county other than they have been promoted to division one this year and have been impressive in each game since. Derry have been sitting by the wayside as their neighbours Donegal have been getting most of the lime light,now its their turn and i think they will not disappoint.

Game2Halves (Tyrone) - Posts: 265 - 15/04/2014 12:36:26    1575431

Don't be ridiculous man...

Ridiculous how? You don't think Dublin have a tendency to switch off now and then? Or that Donegal's inside 3 wouldn't be capable of punishing said lapses if they were to occur?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9154 - 15/04/2014 12:52:23    1575440

Dubs forwards are much better all round than derrys, for that reason dubs to win by 5.

League stats (Including Semi-Finals):
Derry scored: 13-116
Dublin scored: 11-119

I know not all scores come from forwards but then look at it as an attacking unit. Defensively nothing between them either:

Derry conceded 10-106
Dublin conceded 10-104

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 15/04/2014 14:44:42    1575510

Stats schmats, Dublins forwards are better than Derrys, ur league stats don't hide the facts unless of course I'm wrong and Derry actually have better forwards than dubs??

lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1363 - 15/04/2014 17:51:09    1575639

15/04/2014 12:52:23
Lockjaw
County: Donegal
Posts: 3320

1575440
Don't be ridiculous man...

Ridiculous how? You don't think Dublin have a tendency to switch off now and then? Or that Donegal's inside 3 wouldn't be capable of punishing said lapses if they were to occur?

They surely would as long the other 13 players on your team can get up to them quick enough to give them the ball.

bluedubstar (Dublin) - Posts: 835 - 15/04/2014 18:16:04    1575652

They're the facts lilypad - Derry have outscored Dublin and all others. Plus they played a second string for the last round in the league against Mayo and still ahead on the scoring front. That is all.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 15/04/2014 18:58:03    1575678

Statistics are like the mini-skirt.They reveal some interesting facts but crucially they hide the vital parts.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 15/04/2014 19:05:22    1575683

Should be a really good final, Derry really impressed me the way that they held their shape when down to 14 men. They are not a flashy side but do the basics really well & I don't think they will collapse like Cork did.

Dublin a real Jekyll & Hyde team, magnificent when on the front foot, dodgy when on the back foot. Give them a chance & they will steamroller you but if Derry can get a hold in the middle of the field they could well win.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 15/04/2014 19:16:10    1575684

Dublins mid field in the first half went missing. I'm sure Jim had a quiet word at half time as they shored up midfield in the second.
Derry are a strong footballing team, they have already beaten Dublin this year and showed real grit against Mayo. Although Mayo cant seem to beat a 14 man team in the league. I expect Derry to have a real gp at Dublin, they have a strong running game and Dublin are still dodgy under the high ball as Mayos second goal will attest to. Derry have a strong forward line and kicked some super points in croke park. Shaping up to be a cracker. I expect Dublin to win but they cant afford another first half performance like the one against Cork.

spmccann (Dublin) - Posts: 209 - 15/04/2014 19:31:44    1575694

Muck we've tried put 35 players in the league

And we're in a final.

A hugely successful campaign

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 15/04/2014 19:33:38    1575695

They seem pretty clear to me from where I am sitting. Derry have been the best scoring unit this year in league football. If its not their forwards then they must have the best scoring midfielders and defenders in Ireland at present. If you look at last years league tables as well Dublon scored only 2 points more than Derry overall. Looks like the mini skirt has been whipped off completely ;-)

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 15/04/2014 19:53:25    1575706

HAHA

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 15/04/2014 20:04:07    1575709