One of best games in years. Mayo finally buried the tag of being losers and Kerry showed you never have them beaten until the stake is in the heart. Whoever wins will be in great place to win the final.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 24/08/2014 17:56:38    1641223

Great second half by Mayo. Ironic that Lee Keegan's red card forced Mayo to drop their defensive tactics in the second half which allowed them to play their normal attacking game.
Agree with Joe Brolly that the GAA will have to decide whether their alliegance is to money or to the game. All Ireland Semi finals should be played in Croke Park.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2990 - 24/08/2014 18:04:56    1641236

I cannot understand this, it was the best game of the year stuff. The standard of football in the first half was terrible, hand passes intercepted, kicks going well wide of the mark and lads who couldn't solo the ball. Mayo upped their game in the second half but Kerry played straight into their hands and continued to make basic errors. I remember a Mayo kickout to an unmarked player and Kerry had the extra player. Exciting stuff but a classic - a long way off the mark

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1805 - 24/08/2014 18:08:24    1641241

Great game well done to both teams , couldn't see what happened keegan coz I was in the cusack but the sending off affected us more than mayo , mayo showed great heart fair play to them but I tought they got some soft frees but that often happens when a team lose a player, can't figure out what way it'l go next sat in limerick, probably 50/50 and if mayo win they will have keegan back for the final. Also I would like to say well done to our minors, they are class acts. Just listening to the radio now and I'm sure they will be disrespecting Kerry as usual.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 24/08/2014 18:08:49    1641242

Keegan deserved the red, hes been walking a tightrope in a lot of games for a long time now. Simple opportunities missed by O Connor in first half cost Mayo. Great marking job by Higgins

HEREBENJI (Donegal) - Posts: 422 - 24/08/2014 18:09:18    1641245

After watching a very good 2nd half Dublin or Donegal wont be shaking in their
boots Mayo failed to put away as the Mayo Hogan stand posters have been saying all week
a poor Kerry Team looks like Mayo will be the bridesmaids again this year give a 5 point
lead to Dublin and Donegal at the start of the 2nd half it would be curtains for Mayo

wfkerry (USA) - Posts: 933 - 24/08/2014 18:10:51    1641247

It was a great second half and I also enjoyed the first half. That was more tactical but the early play was ferocious with both teams laying down a marker. Second half was totally topsy turvy. It looked like all Kerry had to do was come out for the second 35, then it looked like Mayo had it in the bag, then Kerry almost snatched it. Epic encounter.

Former_Poster (Meath) - Posts: 394 - 24/08/2014 18:17:30    1641257

Great game which I enjoyed from start to finish.

First half was really tactical & set up the second half where tactics went out the window.

Strange but wonderful!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 24/08/2014 18:35:53    1641280

Muckross you are a poster i enjoy reading.You are a fair man.Give me your take on the red card?

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 24/08/2014 18:47:09    1641292

Cuede,
Flattery will get you anything you want!!!

When I saw it first I thought it was very harsh & truth be told I still do, however the rule is there in black & white where even an attempt at a kick, no matter how innocuous, is a red card. I couldn't help but reflect on the Donegal/Armagh game & on the two rattles Neil McGee had at the Armagh player before putting him out over the hoarding & the neck lock Lacey was held in. There were also four or five skirmishes in that game where going by today's standards any number of players could have been sent off.

The ref did the right thing but the rule needs amending, allowing the referee some discretion.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 24/08/2014 19:05:10    1641311

By rules of the game he caused a sending off offence , now how often are the rules adhered to as strictly as Mc goldrick , truth pretty much never .however to givei the ref that decision to make was stupid .
One thing I hope has come from the game is that the character of the Mayo players or so called bottle is never called into question again , up against it and I mean stacked against it they came out fighting and I think they deserve serious respect ,
On a minus or negative point on Mayo Id have to question Horan / teams tactics , they seemed to play with fear until backs were well and truly to the wall , I felt they played the county / reputation of Kerry instead of going for the jugular from the start .
The subs introduced by Kerry tell you all you need to know , great servants and effective but no spring chickens , Kerry are there for the taking , may not be the case in a couple of years but certainly the case now

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 24/08/2014 19:11:00    1641315

bob_dolphin
County: Limerick
Posts: 641

1641133
ziggy320001
County: Meath
Posts: 1082

1641127
Limerick guy

Rules state ,blah blah blah!

I have seen much worse in games and no red card,so I am sorry,but that is a silly thing to say on your part..
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No it isn't.

As much as I'd love you to regale me with your titanic battles and games you've seen where men killed each other, I don't think they hold relevance to the game actually taking place.

Fair dues bob_dolphin. That made me laugh :)

Maroonatic (Galway) - Posts: 1060 - 24/08/2014 19:16:36    1641319

Can only look at it from our point of view obviously. I thought we had an ok first half without being too fluid. I thought some questionable decisions were going against us. It's hard to say about the red card. Buckley did not go diving or looking for a red. The ref had a great view of it and decided straight away that it did warrant a red card. If a player gives the ref a decision to make, they are asking for trouble.

When we nudged 5 points ahead 0-10 to 0-05 just after half time, I though we would kick on from there. Fair play to Mayo. They took over in midfield and were cleaning up on the 50-50 ball which showed real hunger. Kerry had a lot of questions to answer when they themselves were 5 points down. In fairness our lads did come up with the answers. I would have banked on Sheehan scoring the free. I've saw him score a harder one to win a county championship.

Mayo are clear favourites for the replay. I was disappointed with our showing overall today. For a team in transition, it is a learning curve for some of those lads today. If the replay is in 6 days time, that's a quick turnaround time. The favourites will be the team that showed better on the day. Still though as Fitz says, it's great to be still in the championship.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7857 - 24/08/2014 19:39:25    1641349

That second half performance should blow any doubts out of the heads of the Mayo players forever. I have questioned their heart and stomach in the past but boy did they show some character out their today. On their game they are probably the best football side in the country but you need more than that to win these titles and if they combine both it will be hard to stop them. I have changed my mind about the replay in Limerick; why indeed shouldn't the city have an All Ireland semi final and good luck to them. I hope it is a sell out and it gives Limerick a boost.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9706 - 24/08/2014 19:49:27    1641356

Legendzxix, you're correct that Buckley didn't make a meal of the incident, and didn't seek to have Keegan sent off. Walsh, on the other hand, certainly did. Also, have a look at the incident, and tell us who struck Keegan with a fist just before the retaliation? According to the rules, also worthy of a red?

football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 24/08/2014 19:57:13    1641361

Walsh has many reasons to be dubious of the referee. A number of questionable decisions went against him throughout the game.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7857 - 24/08/2014 20:05:26    1641369

Great second half by the lads and despite surrendering the lead they showed tremendous character. Unfortunately we have been getting away with it the last few years in regards to our full back, he was skinned again today unfortunately. Big worry. I think we will win next Saturday and you never know what a final could hold. People writing off Mayo or Kerry should they get to a final, that's fair enough but the players won't care!

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7902 - 24/08/2014 20:25:30    1641383

Yes muckross,i agree.Those other incidents you mentioned in Donegal v Armagh game,and similiar incidents,happen in nearly every game,and very rarely get sanctioned.Im all against any dirty or dangerous play,but today,Keegan barely lifted his leg,made minimal contact and it was never in danger of hurting his opponent.Im not sure what intent he had either.It was a spur of the moment,mini second reaction,with no malice involved.I agree that the referee should be able to use some discression when similiar,feeble acts of petulence are involved.A yellow would have sufficed.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 24/08/2014 20:52:52    1641407

Great game Lads, the championship needed it. Fitzmaurice won't be sorry to see the back of the Ref, very hard on Kerry. Is the Aviva free for next Saturday?..

ThegreatW (Kildare) - Posts: 1 - 24/08/2014 21:02:22    1641411

Terrible first half,great second half.

I would say Mayo are favourites for the replay,they seemed to be more unsure in the first half,but play like they did in the second half,and I think they will have too much for Kerry.

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 24/08/2014 21:08:39    1641420