Both teams were crap on the day. It was like watching a junior club match. Donegal weren't over trained, they peaked for the Dublin match. Very hard to get back to that level especially against a team that kept its composure even after kicking a big load of wides. McGuinnes has always maintained that they play to be in a position to win the game with 10 mins to go. They other team normally gets frustrated by then and lose their composure. Kerry didn't, Donegal gave them a soft goal and Kerry held out by whatever means necessary. There was no great tactical or mental reason. A bit of composure and a bit of luck.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1109 - 23/09/2014 14:58:59    1656018

Kerry_inDublin
County: Kerry
Posts: 1

Heard a rumour that they were flogged at a 5 hour training session last Wednesday!
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I'm always amazed at what people will believe. Does Jimmy McGuinness come across to you as a totally crazy? If not, then what would make you think that he would behave like one 4 days before an AI final?

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 23/09/2014 15:02:44    1656025

We played terrible and still lost to two compete flucks , we were as bad as we have ever played and still could have won . Congrats to the Kingdom , they exploited our ineptitude !

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 23/09/2014 15:11:11    1656032

cacsmckilly
County: Tyrone
Posts: 975

1656012
Such nonsense to suggest Donegal got beaten because they were flat, they got beaten by their own system taken up by Kerry - a team with better footballers.

Donegal's time in the sun is over.

I'd say you're wishing that cacs.

I wouldn't necessarily agree that Kerry are "a team with better footballers". Granted a fully motoring Colm Cooper is probably better than what Donegal have but the same can be said for every other team in the country. James O'Donoghue is another outstanding player. But I would say that Neil McGee is undoubtedly the best full back in Ireland and Michael Murphy is in the top three footballers category. The likes of McGlynn, Lacey, Gallagher, McGrath, McBrearty etc can hold their own against anyone aswell so the better footballers argument is quite frankly bullshit.

The truth of the matter is this. Kerry set up tactically similarly to Donegal and got the crucial goals whereas we didn't. This was no "cream rising to the top" as Spillane put it - that boy is just giving his mind a treat. In tight games the margins are so slight. I'm not for one minute suggesting Kerry were lucky - they ruthlessly dispatched their goal chances when the opportunities presented themselves and good luck to them. As someone else had said, if wee Jigger's goal chance had went in at that stage we could have been talking about a completely different result.

We'll regroup over the winter. We may have to say goodbye and good luck to some but the world moves on. Ulster will be even more competitive than ever next year. Armagh will improve further under McGeeney. Down will have the lads back from Oz and under new management. Monaghan will be eager to bounce back also.
We'll see if our day in the sun is over or not but one thing is for sure is your lads will have to improve take our place.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9141 - 23/09/2014 15:27:54    1656052

cacsmckilly
County: Tyrone
Posts: 975

1656012
Such nonsense to suggest Donegal got beaten because they were flat, they got beaten by their own system taken up by Kerry - a team with better footballers.

Donegal's time in the sun is over.

Wishful thinking on behalf of your own team cacmckilly, you Tyrone boys would be only too happy to get rid of this Donegal team.

I don't think Donegal were beaten because they were flat, both teams were flat when it came down to it. The 2nd goal for Kerry won it, no question about it. We can look at various tactical battles, such as midfield which I pointed to in my previous point. But just before the 2nd goal went in, It looked as if Donegal were getting back on top and were likely to push on.

I again state the obvious, In tight tactical battles, goals make a huge difference. Such as was the case in Ballybofey last year in Tyrone's game against Donegal.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 23/09/2014 15:50:58    1656070

God, but there has been some rubbish on HS these pas few days!!

The latest glittering addition is the notion that JMcG "flogged" his players in training the week of the final.

Look it's as simple as this. There are days when the sporting gods shine on you. The shone on us in the semi final when everything went our way, As a result JMcG is a genius & Gavin is a fool, which is rubbish.

Last Sunday everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Both of Kerry's goals came from freakish errors & as a result Donegal have been "found out" Kerry are gods etc etc.

The truth is that on any given day any of the top teams can beat each other. Granted all things being equal one team might be seen as a bit better than another team but things never are equal & that is part of what makes sport great.

It never ceases to amaze the number of Mystic Megs we see forecasting this that or the other when the width of a post, a handling error, fluffed kickout or refereeing decision can turn any game on it's head. I am personally delighted to see some fool losing 121k, people never learn.

Roll on 2015.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 23/09/2014 16:00:57    1656082

Dont agree with this idea that Kerry were lucky to win - even Durkins mistake was a error which was forced by Kerry as their better quality fielding around the middle drove the short kickout startegy. the forwards then split their men and were alive for a possible mistake.Also Geaney should have had a 2nd goal first half and we kicked a litany of bad shots from distance. We actually almost threw away a game which we were well in control of - scoring efficiency was brutal. Think this was the main reasons why Paul Murphy got motm - he got up the field well to kick a fine point from distance many other kerry players shooting was woeful.

blacknamber (Kerry) - Posts: 267 - 23/09/2014 16:32:23    1656109

I agree ThomasClarke. The things some people believe, it is best not to think about it...

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 23/09/2014 16:34:28    1656113

Lockjaw
County: Donegal
Posts: 3618

1656052
We'll regroup over the winter. We may have to say goodbye and good luck to some but the world moves on. Ulster will be even more competitive than ever next year. Armagh will improve further under McGeeney. Down will have the lads back from Oz and under new management. Monaghan will be eager to bounce back also.
We'll see if our day in the sun is over or not but one thing is for sure is your lads will have to improve take our place.


I think Ulster will be exceptionally tough next season, probably its toughest for years. Donegal will be the top dogs again, and will probably be on a mission after the AI final.

If Tyrone can sort out their defensive problems, I feel they will be a serious contenders for Ulster and the All Ireland.

Armagh will have serious belief after this year, and McGeeney will add even more grit to them.

Derry will look at how close Donegal were to winning SAM, and think they only lost by a score to Donegal. It will give them belief.

Monaghan will regroup and restructure slightly, and will be a very serious threat to anybody they face.

Down need to harness their potential, as they have talented players and can beat anybody on their day. They are Inconsistant though, and that is what they badly need to address first. But the will pose a serious threat to any team they are drawn against.

Cavan will be out to Improve after last season, and I expect they will better themselves in Division 2. It remains to be seen whether or not they will have the firepower to challenge for an Ulster title next season.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 23/09/2014 16:41:28    1656117

23/09/2014 11:40:58
Kerry_inDublin
County: Kerry
Posts: 1

1655823


JMcG said that Donegal had no spark on Sunday and other commentators/analysts noticed that they were lethargic even going out onto the pitch.
Anybody think that JMcG had them overtrained and does this take from his aura as a manager? Heard a rumour that they were flogged at a 5 hour training session last Wednesday! (no I wasn't up a tree)

I'm no body language expert but I was saying as the team lined up to meet the president that the Kerry lads looked relaxed while the Donegal lads seemed tense. The early observation was far off the mark.

Secondly, I'm not sure what match some were watching, Donegal were putting in an awesome effort in the third quarter. The Kerry defence held firm however and this was the big difference. Donegal were unable to get the scores in that crucial period for them. That quarter laid the platform for the win.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7859 - 23/09/2014 17:03:36    1656138

exactly legend, there wasn't much wrong with Neil McGee's intensity levels when he fired over that point. I felt if we had manage to level the match at that point we may have gone on to win it. As it was Kerry showed great composure and I think it was Buckley who boomed over a massive point that nearly went out over the top of Hill 16. A killer score for our hopes that was.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9141 - 23/09/2014 17:14:39    1656150

Ah lads it's being over analysed here far too much. Donegal are an exceptional team - controversially I will say they are still a better team than Kerry man for man, even after being beaten (deservedly so in the final).

The thing is this, Kerry got ahead, and never gave Donegal the chance to get ahead. The goal at the start is something Donegal have never experienced under JmcG. Now while they did get level and there was that 10 minute period both teams kicked some bad wides and I think that gave Kerry more belief and at the same time, maybe just knocked a bit of Donegal's because that is the type of game I anticipated and for me, if it became a dogged scrappy affair Donegal were the only team to win.

At the end of the day it was a close battle, Colm McFadden could have even drawn the game come the end. To say Donegal were overtrained and technically be an inch of drawing is a bit far fetched. Donegal just weren't at their awe inspiring best, Durkan made his first mistake in 4 years...you know, you break it down and there was really nothing between the teams. Kerry played a good game and won the all ireland and fair play to them - because at the start of the year if you told me they'd be in the all ireland final - especially without Cooper and Declan O'Sullivan playing on the bench all year I'd have laughed at you.

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 23/09/2014 18:08:08    1656192

23/09/2014 17:14:39
Lockjaw
County: Donegal
Posts: 3622

1656150
exactly legend, there wasn't much wrong with Neil McGee's intensity levels when he fired over that point. I felt if we had manage to level the match at that point we may have gone on to win it. As it was Kerry showed great composure and I think it was Buckley who boomed over a massive point that nearly went out over the top of Hill 16. A killer score for our hopes that was.

Buckley was my call for man of the match. Another who had a massive game overall and it was a massive point.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7859 - 23/09/2014 18:37:45    1656212

Totally agree with what themaster said earlier. Donegal are great when teams like dublin and cork fall into their unhidden trap, but when theyre met with their own medicine, they can be got at.
I find it hard to believe that a guy like Mcguinness would be rash enough to overtrain his players.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 23/09/2014 20:04:08    1656274

Over-trained! What a load of crap Faulty!

The game was tangled up in systems, there was little freedom in the minds of the players and as a result we got a shocker

All said, I dont think there was anything between the sides (except that goal I suppose!)

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 23/09/2014 21:04:53    1656316