The Hermit...

I like your logic there. Dublin won the National League and All Ireland in 2013, Won the National League in 2014, lost one championship game (semi final against Donegal), in 2015 won the National League and arensitting in a quarter final.

Now...I dont know about anybody else on here, but if thats failure over a three year period, and Dublin are missing teeth.....

Please explain what success is!!!!

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 20/07/2015 13:50:18    1756362

Dubs to beat Cork, Mayo & Kerry to win AI 2015???? I don't think so!!!! ------ They beat these 3 in 2013.

But in all seriousness Mayo were brilliant yesterday. The best I have seen them play. To rack up a score like that against anyone is not to be overlooked.
Obviously they are still quite open but I was impressed.
AOS would not get as much change out of Rory O'Carroll, Aidan O'Mahoney or McGee but it was a fantastic display.

Kerry have failed to impress me this year at all, but at the same point last year I didn't think they were good enough to win it either. Lesson learned, never write Kerry off.

Donegal looked like the 2012 versions of themselves yesterday. Miles off the pace and completely lacking going forward. Could be the end of the road for those boys.

Monaghan I think will make the semis this year, they won't make the same mistakes as the last couple of years. They will celebrate their win yesterday but get straight back into things.

Dublin I still think are the best team, it will be a tough ask to beat 3 of the top 6 teams to win SAM but I do think they can do it. If a really poor Sligo team can score 2-11 against Mayo then I can only imagine what Dublin would score.

If Dublin don't do it I would like to see Mayo win it.

GAAHattrick (Dublin) - Posts: 278 - 20/07/2015 13:58:02    1756369

GAAHattrick
County: Dublin
Posts: 186
Dublin I still think are the best team, it will be a tough ask to beat 3 of the top 6 teams to win SAM but I do think they can do it. If a really poor Sligo team can score 2-11 against Mayo then I can only imagine what Dublin would score.

Your not wrong there but I don't think Mayo will be as lax again in defense or at least I hope not. Any game plan Mayo had for defense went out the window after 6mins. The first Sligo goal was a great finish but Vaughan made no attempt to block in the goal. It is not fair to say because Sligo scored 2-11 against Mayo then Dublin might do triple that...the same way Mayo will not rack up a score like that again. Improvement in defense is needed but discount yesterday.
Mayo A v B games will be tougher. Even Paddy Durkan was waltzing up the field scoring, it was a free for all. Felt sorry for Sligo.

Bigger tests ahead for Mayo and Dublin.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11236 - 20/07/2015 14:16:13    1756383

JayP what's the League got to do with anything? This is a discussion about who is best placed to win the 2015 All Ireland.

Remember Cork were as dominant in the League as ye were between 2010-2013.

There is a world of difference between playing a county in the League and meeting the same county in the Championship.

You say you've only be beaten once in the Championship since Sept 2013. I say you've only beaten one serious team (Monaghan) since Sept 2013. And we all know Monaghan weren't at the races last year.

Its a simple point I'm making: If you want to beat a drum about being the All Ireland champions in waiting than show me the concrete evidence to support this.

Beating poor craters like Longford, Kildare and Westmeath out the gate is not any achievement...Do you think Kerry supporters consider an All Ireland won because we beat Clare or Waterford?

Donegal, Kerry, Monaghan have all faced and beaten Division 1 teams this summer.

Dublin and Mayo have beaten nobody of the same calibre and until they do they will be down my list of contenders.

Seeing is believing as they say and the Q-finals should make the picture clearer.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 20/07/2015 14:40:47    1756406

Hermit, why what happened in 2011? Ye not get the right ref on the day or the decisions on the day. All I remember is Dublin winning 1-12 to 1-11 against the mighty kingdom and I thought that was all that mattered. Hardly the ref that won the final for Dublin.

Adamski (Dublin) - Posts: 339 - 20/07/2015 14:51:57    1756424

It is not fair to say because Sligo scored 2-11 against Mayo then Dublin might do triple that...the same way Mayo will not rack up a score like that again. Improvement in defense is needed but discount yesterday.

Can't disagree, if Mayo get a good balance they will be hard to stop. Same with Dublin, yet to see if they have struck that balance between last year's all out attack and a more defensive structure. Early signs are that they have developed something but it is yet to be seriously tested. The quarter finals will tell us a lot about where Dublin and Mayo are in particular. Not so much Kerry. We know where Monaghan and Donegal are at, if Monaghan can keep it up they will be very tough to beat but Donegal need to turn things around badly or else a repeat of 2012 is on the cards.

GAAHattrick (Dublin) - Posts: 278 - 20/07/2015 14:53:59    1756426

Well Adminski if you want to claim that we only won last year because of referees than I can go off and claim ye only won in 2011 because of referees.

Its called living in a glasshouse while throwing stones ;)

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 20/07/2015 15:20:51    1756443

Expect Mayo to address their defensive frailties ahead of their qf clash with Galway or Donegal.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2991 - 20/07/2015 15:47:34    1756466

Ah now Hermit we all know its just Kerry who is favoured by all the refs. Sure as soon as Kerry win a game this site suddenly creates 4 or 5 anti kerry threads due to our luck, easy draw or referee in our favour. Some people will not in a million years change their begrudging behaviour and its great to see as we must be playing well. Just have to keep winning and hopefully the moaning will get even worse when we bring SAM home again in September.

KY4SAM2015 (Kerry) - Posts: 898 - 20/07/2015 16:07:17    1756483

Dumb thread, when the QFs are done, we'll be left with 4 serious contenders!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 20/07/2015 16:23:57    1756492

Donegal will bounce back and win the All Ireland

CavanAgain (Cavan) - Posts: 186 - 20/07/2015 16:32:22    1756502

The Ulster and Munster runners-up are capable of making the semi-finals. It's hard to have much respect for a provincial title earned without beating a Division 1 opponent but sure Dublin and Mayo could only beat what was put in front of them. Donegal v Cork in the semi-finals can't be ruled out.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7871 - 20/07/2015 18:44:34    1756623

CavanAgain
I can't see that happening. I think this Donegal team will see a few retirements before next season. They have been on the go a while now. Of the leading contenders for Sam, Dublin, Kerry, Mayo and Monaghan, Donegal have the highest age profile.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2991 - 20/07/2015 19:29:58    1756645

The Hermit....

You contradicted yourself there!

You said the league means nothing, but Dublin only beat one division 1 team last year and no division 1 team this year!?

But the league doesn't matter according to you!

Look, if you don't can't admit Dublin are a serious outfit, fair enough. But Kerry haven't played anybody yet. They had two seriously testing games against a Cork team transitioning and nowhere near the standard you claim. Cork aren't currently at the same level as Mayo, Donegal, Mayo, Monaghan and Dublin. Most Cork fans would agree with this. I reckon Kildare are gonna give Cork a great game... Because they aren't a million miles off Corks level. They might even turn them over. And if Kildare give Cork a good rattle, it would put holes in your theory Kerry have been tested. I think Kerry got very lucky last year. They beat Mayo in a replay where the officiating was horrific. Mayo couldn't buy a decision, and I don't love Mayo, but they were robbed.

Donegals Final came one game too early, they looked flat in what many would agree was a terrible All Ireland Final. But for a goalkeeping howler, Kerry wouldn't have won.

They did fair play. But your argument against Dublin doesn't stack up, and Munster isn't a strong province and no matter if Cork had beat Kerry I wouldn't have them beating Mayo, Dublin, Donegal or Monaghan.

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 20/07/2015 21:42:38    1756725

Writing off Dublin is utterly absurd at this point. The All-Ireland is going to be hard to call between the three big boys. Still reckon Donegal would have a beter shout at the All-Ireland than Monaghan. Something about the manner of the celebrations suggested that they enjoyed the provincial title so much, they might struggle to get to the pitch of it for the All-Ireland series. Suspect they'll suffer against Tyrone, who have a grim, determined vibe about them.

derekduggan1 (Roscommon) - Posts: 3 - 21/07/2015 08:40:46    1756744

Kerry, Monaghan, Donegal and a very slight chance, still, to Tyrone. All 4 teams have had their mettle teste
d and are still standing. Dublin and ourselves have yet to be tested. That's not to say either of us won't pass a stern test in Croker, just that the other 4 have been tested and are still there. I was talking to a Roscommon man last night about the Sligo game. I told him before the game I expected a tough game from Sligo and a 2 or 3 point win would benefit us. Now I'm telling myself that in 35 odd years watching Mayo ease off to win games by 4 or 5 points when they should have won by 10 or 15, that we may have a badly needed ruthless streak. That will be well tested in future games. I have to laugh when last year the old "missing a marquee forward" debate started, that all we had was Cillian O'Connor. Before last Sunday we were given less chance with Cillian AND Aidan?!!! Defence could still be our Achilles heal. Need a man to drop in to cover when other defender (s ( are caught out of position.

But it's still Kerry's to lose. Into the quarter final, having not played well and not found a settled team. They have a bench whose players would make of the other top teams. And they'vs had 2 testing games. If the Dubs are to go all the way they'll well deserve it. Not helped coming out of a Leinster without getting out of walking pace. I can't explain but I think Kerry have better options. More players that don't rely too much on a system can adapt mid-game to whatever challenge Is put in front of them. They can hook Donaghy and go plan B,C, D etc. If a team disrupted Cluxtons kickouts , or cracked the code for some other tactics, despite having great footballers I think Dublin wouldn't cope as well as Kerry. Last year's work-in-progress All Ireland winners have had a small taste of success and they want more.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7360 - 21/07/2015 10:25:01    1756788

GAAHattrick
County: Dublin
Posts: 188

1756426 It is not fair to say because Sligo scored 2-11 against Mayo then Dublin might do triple that...the same way Mayo will not rack up a score like that again. Improvement in defense is needed but discount yesterday.

Can't disagree, if Mayo get a good balance they will be hard to stop. Same with Dublin, yet to see if they have struck that balance between last year's all out attack and a more defensive structure. Early signs are that they have developed something but it is yet to be seriously tested. The quarter finals will tell us a lot about where Dublin and Mayo are in particular. Not so much Kerry. We know where Monaghan and Donegal are at, if Monaghan can keep it up they will be very tough to beat but Donegal need to turn things around badly or else a repeat of 2012 is on the cards.

Donegal won the All-Ireland in 2012! so i'd welcome a repeat

mhaith_fear (Donegal) - Posts: 75 - 21/07/2015 11:11:36    1756815

JayP, I'm not contradicting myself at all.

Its obvious teams in division one are the 8 best in the country (hence why it matters that Dublin have not beaten one of them in championship football since last August) but they don't play like the 8 best in the country at that time of the year because its the League and most teams in Division 1 are happy to just stay up and maybe unearth a player or two.

You hardly think Kerry were going out all guns blazing to win the League this year, when they only back from their holidays in late Janaury. They did what they needed to do, its in the Championship that you will see each county's true worth.

I do think Dublin are a serious outfit and I do think they could win the All Ireland if things went their way, but my point is that the championship is the true litmus test not how well a county has done in the League.

From that point of view I don't understand how anyone could seriously have Dublin ahead of Kerry in terms of All Ireland beating. They have done nothing so far but put up big scores against terribly weak opposition, while ourselves, Donegal and Monaghan have all beaten Division 1 teams in Championship football.

The Q-finals will give us a true reflection of the lay of the land. If, for example, Cork beat Kildare and Dublin went on to hand out a decent defeat to Cork then Dublin will have put their hand up.

But as it stands Dublin have shown nothing to suggest they are All Ireland champions in waiting.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 21/07/2015 11:19:29    1756822

The Hermit

I think you are wrong about the league. The league has become vitally important as teams test their systems there. The Dublin Monaghan league semi was a championship paced game. Ask anybody who was there.

Kerry havent been tested yet. Cork like Tyrone are transitioning. So to beat Kerry or Donegal respectively is a big ask.

But Kerry didnt turn up the first day, and the second day were in 2nd gear against Cork. So to say they have been tested more than the Dubs is silly. Monaghan and Donegal are the only teams in the championship that have come up against an outfit strong enough to beat each other.

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 21/07/2015 12:30:44    1756885

to say they have been tested more than the Dubs is silly

Now that Jayp is a silly statement, but look the Q-finals will tell all.

If Cork can regroup and account for Kildare, you will have the chance to compare Kerry's performance against Cork with your own.

Dublin have the ability to win the All Ireland, but I have s suspicion their summer might end a lot sooner than most people on here think...

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 21/07/2015 13:17:48    1756921