I give Kildare every chance of winning this game and confirming what many of us suspect that this Kerry side were the luckiest side to ever win an All Ireland. Now that the tactic of winning rather than earning deserved penalties has been exposed, I'm expecting refs to be much more wary.

Kerry won a lot of penalties last year and that trend continued in the Munster final, so it's obviously a tactic they've put a lot of time into. Kerry don't blow teams away like Dublin or Mayo and to me there current style of play is pretty agriculture with their main game based on lumping the ball in and winning set pieces. They are certainly the least creative Kerry team I've seen as All Ireland Champions in my life time. Indeed Kerry are very lucky not to be a division 2 league side, so there not a million miles above Kildare.

I also thought the Kerry players looked quite tense against Cork and I'm not sure the panel is very relaxed or united. Tommy Walsh has come back from Oz to much fanfare and hype but where is he? Given the injuries he has suffered he may never make it back. Also Darren O'Sullivan gave up his job and has been a very loyal player over the years and yet he gets no run in the replayed Munster final - is he happy with that? I'd imagine he can't have been too happy to see the managers brother-in-law coming on in his place? In truth, I'm not convinced the Kerry panel is as strong as is being assumed.

To win this game, Kildare need to ignore all the tricks and side shows and just stick to their game plan but they are more than capable of turning over Kerry.

JamesH (Mayo) - Posts: 465 - 30/07/2015 11:26:01    1761143

I have a serious question for all ye keyboard warriors far and wide,
A little incident happend in the Kildare v cork game on Saturday evening that didn't get a mention and that was the sending off of Kevin o'driscoll for kicking out at an apponent,
My question is how come when lee keegan did the very same thing to Johnny Buckley in last years semi final and he got the same punishment there was uproar over it there was even threads started on this forum about it? How come in this situation there is nothing mentioned at all?
Would it be because Kerry weren't involved last Saturday evening?
I'm not trying to wind anybody up or anything I just don't get the double standards on here or in the media when it comes to Kerry

I see nobody has replied to your query Kindomboy..similiar to McManus shouting in Mcgees face in the Ulster final and it was Paul Geaney who was highlighted on here and on the sunday game by that anti kerry fella Mcstay for gloating after he scored against Cork. Seems like the keyboard warriors have lost their tongues..yerra sure we all know its only Kerry get the luck with referee calls.

KY4SAM2015 (Kerry) - Posts: 898 - 30/07/2015 11:26:34    1761144

Will anyone be fit ta take in the match? Wisha, after the big wind on here, they'll have any puff left for da journey. Da poor devils!

plike (Kerry) - Posts: 569 - 30/07/2015 11:28:25    1761146

would love to see Kildare have a real cut at it, but Kerry now seem to be able to manage anything that comes their way be it defensive set ups or attack minded opponents (with the exception of perhaps Dublin perhaps). Kerry to have too much know how & guile. They'll just bide their time, feel their way through the game & then work themselves into a winning position, mainly because they have the confidence & belief in themselves to do so. Call it tradition or whatever but its unmistakably present within the Kerry set up all the time. Kerry to win without breaking sweat. Unreal.

arjuna (Longford) - Posts: 88 - 30/07/2015 11:43:36    1761151

Interesting point by KingdomBoy1 on the red cards.
My reading of the situation is that the incidents were not identical.
Lee Keegan was being tackled and fouled by two Kerry players. He flicked a fresh air gesture between Buckleys feet making no contact atall.
In the Kildare match you can see the Cork player running up and kicking the back of his opponents leg , no doubt inflicting some pain .. looked very deliberate.
Guess we could argue about Keegans intention or if O`Driscoll was provoked .. Cork were a beaten docket at that stage. Overturning Keegans red card was the correct decision .. only bit of justice Mayo got over the two matches, albeit an off the field decision.

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 506 - 30/07/2015 11:44:29    1761152

Kildare unchanged from last week, Kerry just make the one switch. Buckley has been poor this championship and O'Brien deserves to start.
I'm still concerned about Kealy in goals, but overall I'm happy enough with the team and they performed very well against Cork in the replay.

Really looking forward to seeing Kerry back in Croke Park now. Should be a good game against two footballing sides, although I hear the weather on Sunday is meant to be terrible, shades of that semi-final in '98?? I remember it bucketed out of the heavens that day!!

P.S., James H go suck a lemon boy!!!

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 31/07/2015 12:45:54    1761658

I agree hermit, it should be an entertaining game of football. Both teams play an attractive brand of the game and always have. I think Kildare might be competitive, however, Kerry have too many classy players and experience, and will be too strong for this Kildare team. Saying that, the experience of playing the all Ireland Champions will do the young lads in the Kildare team the world of good going forward.

bryanadams (Kildare) - Posts: 733 - 31/07/2015 12:58:56    1761665

Kildare are in bonus territory and good luck to them.
Bottom line though IMO is they have no chance in this one.

Dubh_linn (Dublin) - Posts: 2312 - 31/07/2015 13:31:58    1761680

Dubh_linn
County: Dublin
Posts: 325

1761680
Kildare are in bonus territory and good luck to them.
Bottom line though IMO is they have no chance in this one.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not so sure about bonus territory but I'm fairly certain Paul Galvin is in post script book territory. Expect a book update from Paul G this Christmas, with an extra chapter titled 'comeback'. Paul walked away when things looked pretty bleak and the road a dark one for Kerry in early 2014. However, much to the surprise of everyone, apart from those who remained a part of the Kerry squad they won the All Ireland in 2014. Suddenly the spot light is back on the Kingdom and guess what? Paul returns - 'I'm ready for my close up, Mr Demille'!

The conversation happened at Christmas just after the pudding, 'Hey Fitzy, my brother, how abut a return to limelight'? No probably Pauley, say's Eamon - welcome back brother!

JamesH (Mayo) - Posts: 465 - 31/07/2015 20:12:52    1761851

Kildare are not that bad will chance a lazy fiver on them +4 at 6/4

mhunicean_abu (Monaghan) - Posts: 1044 - 31/07/2015 21:05:24    1761867

James h
I think you have made a very good post and I take Kildare to really put it up to Kerry , in fact I take Kildare to win
Kerry must realise it's the Q Finals and as A I champions it the stage most of them get beat
What about 2010 v Down , Kerry were never at the races and never looked like winning and I believe the same can happen Sunday

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 31/07/2015 21:49:57    1761885

Kerry4sam2015
I knew I wouldn't get many replys about my post on Kevin o'driscoll v lee keegans kicks and red cards because it doesent a suit hoganstand posters or the medias anti Kerry agendas, the hypocrisy on here is shocking at times. Kerry must be stopped by any means possible .
Curlew66
Thanks for replying to my post at least kid, but your wrong I'm afraid , lee keegans red card was deserved as the rule states striking or attempting to strike and he did catch Buckley on the leg, keegan got off on a technicality as the reff worded it wrong in his report.
Sam on erigal
glad to see that chip on you shoulder isn't weighing you down kiddo.
Jamesh
Iv come across you before on the Kerry page spouting your poison but we quitend you last year when we won our 37th allireland and you only surfaced again around the munsterfinal , I went on the mayo page last night to see what you contribute on there and low and behold there was no sign of you , so you are only here to wind people up.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 01/08/2015 09:28:36    1761905

This Kildare side is average compared to previous Kildare sides but they have areal chance as this Kerry side is past it. Anyway neither side has a hope in hell of winning it. Dublin or Mayo to take Sam.

Redslayer (Westmeath) - Posts: 100 - 01/08/2015 10:02:54    1761911

The excitement is starting to build now!! I really hope our young fellas can go up there and perform, for many of them its their first quarter final so hopefully they go out with no fear and go for the game from the off. All this talk about this Kerry team being limited/average etc is ridiculous, you don't win an all-ireland by being average, although Kerry haven't performed near their capabilities, this is Kerry in Croke Park they know how to win. May the best team win. Up The Lillies!

ShortGrass_1 (Kildare) - Posts: 223 - 01/08/2015 10:16:08    1761912

Redslayer you know about as much about Gaelic football there boy as I do about synchronised swimming: 'Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt'....

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 01/08/2015 11:08:29    1761929

Interesting to see more and more people tipping Kildare when I got mocked and lynched for even suggesting it was a possibility at the start of the week!

We in the Kingdom are under no illusions of the scale of the task at hand. Kildare have 2 excellent midfielders, in Bolton & Doyle have the potential to expose our lack of pace in the middle 3rd, have a corner back in Lyons capable of shutting down JOD and Niall Kelly with the craft and guile to score and create lots of chances.

Furthermore this is Kerry's first game in Croke Park in almost a year, we could be vulnerable to stage fright for the first 20 mins. The fact is this Kerry doesn't emanate the fear or aura that the Blue Juggernaut does so Kildare will play without fear and really rattle us.

I think (well hope) that our midfield gets on top which should enable us to scrape through and make the long long 5 hour pilgrimage home and win on a scoreline of 2-14 to 2-12 with the Blue Juggernaut winning by at least 20 in the other game.

KYTitletown (Kerry) - Posts: 816 - 01/08/2015 11:59:02    1761948

The hermit
Well said, it's funny you have all the so called neutrals telling the Kildare fans we're useless and we're there for the taking, and maybe we are but IF we beat Kildare tomorrow then the same posters will be on saying how mentally weak Kildare are and that they stood no chance, it no wonder Kilkenny fans don't bother with hoganstand.
An Rìocht Abu .

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 01/08/2015 12:08:02    1761950

No chip on my shoulder Kingdom boy Just expressing my opinion same as everyone else , gets it righ at times but also very wrong , again same as everyone else.
My opinion is being based on what I saw Kerry do over the last two seasons and a lough they won Sam last year they could and should have been beat.
Mayo had the biggest chance of all last year and never should have let Kerry back in the game To me a combination of , BAD DEFENDING , BAD MANAGEMENT AND BAD REFEERING COST MAYO LAST YEAR.
HOW THE FINAL WOULD HAVE WENT WITHOUT DURKINS MISTAKE IS ANYONE GUEST.
THIS YEAR A BAD DECISION BY THE REF COST CORK , NEVER WAS NO PENALTY.
Over the last few years most of the previous A I champions went at the QF stage and Kerrywere the only team in a long long time to retain Sam in 07/08. So to me everything is in place for a shock result and Kildarecould we'll deliver

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 01/08/2015 12:34:25    1761958

Yes KingdomBoy1, you are 100% correct about the intention rule. Its just that having viewed it again (side view only) Im not convinced that any contact was made with Buckley who simply ran away protesting that he hadnt fouled Keegan. It was a very harsh red card against a player who seems to be shaking off two players who were fouling him. Reminded me of Donnacha O Connor`s red card being overturned in the 2008 AI semi final when Aidan O`Mahony `collapsed` after being patted on the cheek. I had forgotten about the technicality of the refs report being incorrectly written .. many saw it at the time as it being a sop to Mayo for dragging them down to a Munster venue to play an AI semi final.

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 506 - 01/08/2015 13:32:32    1761986

You are dead right kingdomboy, if Kildare don't win tomorrow I'm pretty sure there will be a torrent of posts letting us know how brutal we are and how we should never have even thought about winning. I for one think we have a chance, just a chance of turning over Kerry. Experience, tradition, knowing how to win lies with the Kingdom but our lads have youth, hunger and a their tails up going into it. Let's see which wins out but hopefully it'll be a good open game even if the weather isn't looking great. To

kildare73 (Kildare) - Posts: 854 - 01/08/2015 13:49:14    1761989