jesus relax thehermit..just pointing out ulster sides generally give kerry more difficulty..that armagh side did not go away at all reaching final in 03 and looking odds on favourites in 04 before being upset by fermanagh..that side was only truly ended by kerry in 2006....the down defeat was certainly one of kerrys worst in recent years considering the talent disparity but i suppose upsets happen

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 07/09/2014 15:20:50    1649081

This Kerry team is fed up with being nearly men. Donegal have a system. They have the players. All true. What they will now have to do is serve it up on the day, under pressure with the world watching. How they respond to a superlative midfield and a lethal attack will be interesting. One thing is certain: this Kerry team will play hard and smart to the final whistle.

plike (Kerry) - Posts: 569 - 07/09/2014 15:37:12    1649086

plike
County: Kerry
Posts: 109

1649086
Donegal have a system. They have the players. All true. What they will now have to do is serve it up on the day, under pressure with the world watching.

Would the game against Dublin not count in this regard?

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 07/09/2014 16:08:08    1649096

Kingdom boy..... Your dead right there, I was being sarcastic, I think they will be no mind games here, to be honest I didn't think there was any with Jim either before the Dublin game, he made a statement and the media jumped on it and as we all know now the dubs are quite sensitive when it comes to these things......

I believe this is a clash between the two brightest managers in the game right now, it's just a pity that Jim won't be hanging around as these two managers could have started an epic few years between Donegal and kerry......

s you say it's the next two weeks are gonna be long, god help da wife......

ben1977 (Donegal) - Posts: 364 - 07/09/2014 18:59:55    1649202

Match ups are critical here, the obvious ones are Crowley on Murphy, O'Se or O'Mahony on Mcfadden.

I'm sure I'll get hammered for saying this but was the Dublin game a good barometer of were
this Donegal team are?
I actually think after 20 mins Dublin just collapsed, Who learned more from there reflective semi?
In my opinion Kerry did.

I think eamon is the manager of the year, we are a brand new team with the exception
of a few veterans. Who have beaten Cork away and Mayo after extra time.
We have an excellent bench and savage fitness.

I for one believe we will do it come the 21st , no yearra this or that.
Kerry will get the job done and it will be the upset of the last ten years
as every man woman and child wrote us off.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 07/09/2014 19:27:51    1649218

plike
County: Kerry
Posts: 109

1649086
This Kerry team is fed up with being nearly men. Donegal have a system. They have the players. All true. What they will now have to do is serve it up on the day, under pressure with the world watching. How they respond to a superlative midfield and a lethal attack will be interesting. One thing is certain: this Kerry team will play hard and smart to the final whistle.

You need to be careful though, as this Donegal team were totally written off by almost eveybody after last season's exit to Monaghan and Mayo. They aren't going into this game as favourites in their own minds, they are going in with a huge point to prove after last year. A win would vindicate them as being a good team, after some hurtful comments that were passed regarding their ability last year.

I work with a lot of Donegal fans, and all bar none have stated they expect this final to be a titanic battle to the very end. I was surprised, as I expected after the Dublin win for them to be thinking it was in the bag. However the general feeling is that Kerry in an All Ireland final will always be a handful, and will be in it to the very end.

The replay with Mayo has highlighted how serious of a threat this Kerry team bring.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 07/09/2014 19:43:00    1649227

So, we're now in for an era of Donegal v Kerry tussles. And there was me thinking that the Dubs would rule the roost for the foreseeable, with their two All Irelands in recent years (averaging a point victory each time out!). Wisha shur, tis wonderous changeable weather here lately, ha?

plike (Kerry) - Posts: 569 - 07/09/2014 20:00:27    1649238

Westkerry
Before we played Dublin I posted :::what if Donegal hammer Dublin. I think people thought I was mad.

Well here goes::: what if Donegal hammers Kerry ???
In my book if one team is going to win easily then it's Donegal. Now we don't know what will happen but we can hazard a guess.
Reading Kerry posters about match ups well I think it's awful hard to keep track on Donegal. As your own great John o Keefe said in the Irish times the day after the Ulster final , Monaghan players did not seem to know who they were marking with all the interchanging Donegal were doing.
Can't get away with what K Madden said in the Irish News on the Monday after the Ulster Final ::: Donegal's defensive system was the most effective and most organised system he saw in all his life watching GAA games So , as everybody should know we have the defensive structure and alough PMcBrearty and C McFadden were not firing all year they look as if they are coming back to form. M Murphy is playing all over the place , even in the half back line in the UF Leo McLoone is another score getter plus we started with three Reconised midfield players , Big Neil, Ordhan Mc Nellis and Rory Kavanagh.
Now I really thought that Kerry were very lucky to survive in the first Game against Mayo. I also thought that they made very bad use of the extra man that day Plus with Mayo 5 points up with about 5 minutes to go I was suprised Mayo could not close out the Game. Then last Sat Mayo were 6 points clear ( open to correction) yet let Kerry back into the game I know you must give Kerry credit in both games, to come back and to see out the game last Sat.
I am fairly confident and it won't have this thing about :::it's Kerry in the All Ireland. That won't matter to JMcG or it won't matter to the players when they set up camp in Croke Park on 21/09/14. SAM and TOM for the hills

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 07/09/2014 21:15:48    1649282

Ben1977
Jays the wife is worse than I am :-) , is jim staying on with ye after the final?

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 07/09/2014 21:22:13    1649287

I think that when the bookies offer odds of 6/4 on or 6/4 against, then it is likely that the tag of favorites is a cosmetic one. There is no buts, or having said thats in my statement. I think that 2 years ago, there was very little between ourselves and mayo, with identical odds offered. If kerry stop us getting that sort of start, then the ones is probably on us to come at them. I hope that both teams have a clean bill of health too, as seems to be the way that it is shaping up.

Fitness there is nothing in it. Strength i would have to say that there is nothing in it either, with the exception of the kerry mid field. Speed there is nothing in it either, with the advantages on either side resting with individuals rather than collectives. They know who they are! I would say there is a likelihood that kerry wont under perform. They never do in a final, even if they lose, they give it the big one. We have played well in all 2 of our previous finals! so there is no massive advantage or disadvantage there.

Any word on the ref?

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 07/09/2014 21:38:42    1649298

Quit while your behind. Your starting to look silly now.

SLLY (Dublin) - Posts: 463 - 07/09/2014 21:47:17    1649306

westkerry
County: Kerry
Posts: 394

1649218
Match ups are critical here, the obvious ones are Crowley on Murphy, O'Se or O'Mahony on Mcfadden.

I'm sure I'll get hammered for saying this but was the Dublin game a good barometer of were
this Donegal team are?
I actually think after 20 mins Dublin just collapsed, Who learned more from there reflective semi?
In my opinion Kerry did.

I think your comment is designed to draw a reaction. To suggest Dublin collapsed after 20mins, would probably be the single biggest compliment anybody has paid Donegal on here. Considering that no other team has been able to remotely achieve such a feat, is a serious nod to Donegal. However that simply isn't true about Dublin, and everybody Including Kerry know how difficult it is to beat this Dublin team ( Even scoring 3 goals against them doesn't guarantee anything ).


I think eamon is the manager of the year, we are a brand new team with the exception
of a few veterans. Who have beaten Cork away and Mayo after extra time.
We have an excellent bench and savage fitness.

Eamon has done a stunning job with Kerry, espcially considering how much crticism was thrown at them at the start of the National league last year ( Crisis with a capital "C" ). It doesn't overly surprise me however, as Kerry had contested the All Ireland Semi final last year. It's not like you exited the Provincial at the QF stage, and then got tanked in round 1 of the Qualifier's.


I for one believe we will do it come the 21st , no yearra this or that.
Kerry will get the job done and it will be the upset of the last ten years
as every man woman and child wrote us off.

I don't think this will wash against Donegal, this will not be the biggest upset of the last 10 years. Donegal beating Dublin was the biggest upset of the last 10-14 years I reckon ( Certainly for bookies who shed over 1 million ).

Kerry have 36 x All Ireland title's to their name, and have contested how many All Ireland football final's?
Donegal have 2 x All Ireland title's to their name, and have previously contested 2 x All Ireland football final's.....EVER!!!!

It will be very hard to make out Kerry are up against it, as they reached the last 4 last year and Donegal only reached the last 8 and were relegated from Division 1.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 08/09/2014 09:38:58    1649352

Against Dublin last year, Kerry ran out of puff, couldn't call on a strong bench and just lacked the mental edge. This year, they annihilated Cork. They Got luck in day one with Mayo, making a haimse of the extra man. On the second day, they again rode their luck but finished extremely well. Whatever happens now, I expect them to perform, to do themselves proud and show just how good they are. Referee excepted, the onus is the on Donegal to do better. Good luck to them if they can. I just think that the time has come for Fitz & Co to seal the deal.

plike (Kerry) - Posts: 569 - 08/09/2014 10:06:05    1649388

westkerry
County: Kerry
Posts: 394


I'm sure I'll get hammered for saying this but was the Dublin game a good barometer of were
this Donegal team are?
I actually think after 20 mins Dublin just collapsed.

Ah now westkerry, that is stretchinhg things a bit even by Kerry standards!!!

At the 20 minute mark Dublin were still going full steam & it wasn't until after the 25th minute that Donegal began to get a toe hold in the game. At half time there was only a point in the game & it was all up for grabs.

As opposed to collapsing, Dublin just got their tactics wrong. Yes, the heads went on a couple of their key forwards but they never stopped fighting, scoring 17 points along the way.

Whatever else they did they didn't collapse.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 08/09/2014 10:17:20    1649396

Garymc,

Im not looking to draw a reaction at all but I genuinely believe that Dublin
raced ahead and the got complacent.
Mickey Harte once said you couldn't win the A/I from division 2.
Maybe subconsciously Dublin thought they'd just have to show up?

Kerry have been written off all year, by pundits , by fans , and by most contributors
on here.
This would be a big shock if they won but i think they will win.

Time will tell

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 08/09/2014 10:44:26    1649414

I would agree with WestKerry on the Dublin complacency thing.
They were kicking points over from all angles and got two goal chances to go 12 points up. They relaxed and thought they would just win easy without putting in the hard yards. Donegal lifted their game (to avoid a hammering) as Dublin dropped theirs. Dublin still thought they would just throw on the subs and pull clear but the tide had turned and you Donegal don't give up a six point lead.

Kerry cleaned Mayo out at midfield, Mayo had no full back and the ref gave them everything and still almost managed to lose to Mayo.

Both teams have their faults and both have the same strengths (good midfield, couple of class forwards, good defensive system). Kerry have a better bench but it won't make any difference because their dodgy fullback line will cost them the game. Mayo got all their goals from high balls into the square and had no target man. If Murphy is used as a target man Donegal will have a field day against Kerrys fullback line.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1122 - 08/09/2014 10:57:08    1649425

Heard this will be Jim Mcs last year with Donegal, he is to take him up a full time Sports phycologist role with Celtic.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 08/09/2014 11:11:44    1649442

I have to disagree with the complacency thing re dublin. they were not complacent to shoot their early points, and they looked unstoppable. It was the introduction of Christy toye that transformed the game imo. Whether the dubs coincidentally fell asleep or were complacent at this exact time or whether this was a tactically successful game changing substitution is the issue. I would say the later. Dublin did not run out of steam nor did they stop trying. They just kept getting caught on the break. Complacency would only be the case if dublin did not play well for most of the game, but they bossed the game for almost all of the first half.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 08/09/2014 11:15:44    1649447

westkerry
County: Kerry
Posts: 397

1649414
Garymc,

Im not looking to draw a reaction at all but I genuinely believe that Dublin
raced ahead and the got complacent.
Mickey Harte once said you couldn't win the A/I from division 2.
Maybe subconsciously Dublin thought they'd just have to show up?

Kerry have been written off all year, by pundits , by fans , and by most contributors
on here.
This would be a big shock if they won but i think they will win.

Time will tell

I think Dublin simply met a team who could match them, in both the mental and physical stakes. Technically the game could have went either way as it was fairly tight until the end, but what your saying suggests Donegal caught Dublin off guard and slipped through. I really don't think that is true or fair to Donegal.

As for Mickey Harte, he said that at a time when Division 2 was extremely weak over a sustained period. I stated earlier this year that Division 2 was stronger than normal, while Div 1 was weaker than normal. This in my view had blurred the lines slightly, and I felt 2014 would be the one year when Mickey Hartes theory would not apply.

Clearly by looking at the stats so far in the Championship, I wasn't wrong by any means.


DIV 2 CHAMPIONSHIP WINS OVER DIV 1 IN 2014
Donegal ( Div 2 ) beat Derry ( Div 1 )
Monaghan ( Div 2 ) beat Tyrone ( Div 1 )
Armagh ( Div 2 ) beat Tyrone ( Div 1 )
Louth ( Div 2 ) beat Westmeath ( Div 1 )
Meath ( Div 2 ) beat Kildare ( Div 1 )
Monaghan ( Div 2 ) beat Kildare ( Div 1 )
Donegal ( Div 2 ) beat Dublin (Div 1 )

DIV 1 CHAMPIONSHIP WINS OVER DIV 2 IN 2014
Dublin ( Div 1 )beat Laois ( Div 2 )
Dublin ( Div 1 )beat Meath ( Div 2 )
Kildare ( Div 1 ) beat Down ( Div 2 )
Tyrone ( Div 1 ) beat Down ( Div 2 ) - After replay
Kerry ( Div 1 ) beat Galway ( Div 2 )

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 08/09/2014 16:23:16    1649685

I forgot to add

DIV 1 CHAMPIONSHIP WINS OVER DIV 2
Dublin ( Div 1 ) beat Monaghan ( Div 2 ).


I think overall their wasn't as much between Division 1 & Division 2 this year, with 4 teams from each Division even making up the All Ireland Quarter final's.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 08/09/2014 16:31:03    1649691