saddam
themaster, the semi-final last year down in Limerick, Kerry consistently fouled of the ball, played puke football, had 2 or 3 men pulling and dragging aidan o shea all day, and no foul given, donaghy went down like a sack of spuds if ya breathed on him. I dont wanna hear anything else about Kerry being purists of football, they were very negative and cynical as much as any of the northern teams which spillane described as puke football

But meath done that and far worse for years, that wasn't puke football and neither was this. They played cute and with an edge, of course they did. They were allowed to also which is the real issue here. We on the other hand were a little more rash and not as refined with our heavy hitting, not giving the ref a doubt, our fouls were always fouls, theirs had a bit of doubt. They didn't have a load of guys behind the ball though, they dominated the midfield battle, not only contesting but winning everything in the air. They actually put pressure on mayo high up the field and their forwards stayed up there. That isn't what was termed puke football at all. I ask you, why didn't AOS do down like donaghy and win a few frees to take the pressure off? Or at least stop going into traffic, bringing these tackles onto himself? That is why he wasn't getting fouls given, he was going looking for contact over and over. It is a natural reaction for a ref to not give the free as easily in that situation, you often see it. Seamus was doing the same and Kerry were waiting for it every time, inviting them in, then surrounding them. In the melee someone will grab a wrist and spoil a handpass and the ball is lost, but o'shea should have got wise to it after the first few times and started releasing the ball before contact. It was smart play from Kerry actually.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 05/02/2015 16:50:04    1690450

Muckrosshead - You can't blame the wind for the constant handpassing. Its windy in Galway and Kerry too but they would be renowned for kickpassing styles. Kildare love a good handpassing session but they aren't on the west coast.

Mayo men love a good solo run. Only because we invented it.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1126 - 05/02/2015 17:49:50    1690473

muckross
dublin is surrounded by a coast too haha
have u never gone outside the city centre?

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 05/02/2015 19:16:26    1690506

The whole damn country is surrounded by a coast :D

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 05/02/2015 19:20:07    1690509

Tirawleybaron, Kerry are renowned for playing whatever style is required as exhibited very clearly last year. Pragmatism is at the heart of their game. Galway whilst they are renowned for playing the beautiful game they are now, unfortunately for such a proud football county, renowned for losing.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 05/02/2015 20:06:26    1690535

Gg your acknowledgment that Galway and Kerry can play good attacking football with an emphasis on the kicking ggame shows that the theory about windy conditions in Donegal forcing them to hand pass doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. The real reason is more likely due to a lack of work at underage meaning not enough players have the skills required to play an open style of football, with the skills needed for a defensive game much easier to learn. As for Galway playing losing football, they have won as many senior All-Irelands in the last 20 years as 26 other counties combined (including Donegal), have 4 u-21s, a minor and a couple of clubs have gone all the way as well, I'd say they are coping with the wind fairly well.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 06/02/2015 08:22:17    1690580

hill16no1man
County: Dublin
Posts: 9141

1690506
muckross
dublin is surrounded by a coast too haha
have u never gone outside the city centre?

I have indeed hill. As a young fella I worked in Dun Laoghaire for a couple of years, lived in Booterstown & have a sister living in Howth as we speak.
Never noticed anything more than a tickle on my face in any of them, no comparison at all with Maheragallon or Glen or Dunfanaghy on a wintry day.

hill, I fear it is your good self that has spent too much time cocooned in the city centre environs.

As for Dublin being "surrounded" by a coast............

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 06/02/2015 09:10:39    1690590