This thread is really relative to the county region or standard your local teams are at. Example cavan win in derry two years ago after extra time was an epic. Oddly Longford performance to knock out derry two years previously was pretty good game too. In terms of tv games then meath louth surely the most entertaining

sceptical (Cavan) - Posts: 544 - 08/04/2016 18:56:08    1843618

Outside of county games, Ballymun and Vincent's served 2 cracking games in the Champo in 2013.

Real high quality, entertaining football despite the end result.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13718 - 08/04/2016 19:08:48    1843626

Dublin v Kerry in 2013 stands out. Cork v Dublin was also a great game in 2010. Meath v Louth in that year too.

Both Mayo v Kerry games two years ago were enthralling but were niggly, nasty affairs. Ditto Mayo v Dublin in 2015.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 08/04/2016 19:52:53    1843636

Kildare v down 2010 for me

Malonemagic (Laois) - Posts: 767 - 08/04/2016 21:00:32    1843652

Tipp V Galway 2015
Tipp v Kilkenny 2010,2013,2014 (both games)
Dublin v kerry (2011,2013)
Dublin v Cork 2013 (hurling)

Theyre just off the top of my head. theres been tonnes of class contests.
Theyre just two great sports at the end of the day.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 09/04/2016 15:11:35    1843741

Kerry Dublin 2013
Armagh Tyrone 2005
Tyrone Kerry 2005, 2008
Mayo kerry game 2 2014
Cork Dublin 2010

I think that great games have to be close. Great performances usually are one sided affairs, and not good to watch.
Of all matches, the above games had both great performances and were great games.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 09/04/2016 15:55:24    1843751

Surprised Donegal V Cork 2012 AI Semi Final hasn't been mentioned? That was a cracker of a game. Some wonderful scores in that game, relentless pace.

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 09/04/2016 16:17:59    1843757

Ah Im not sure Donegalman. Ye boys were head and shoulders above Cork that day. great performance from donegal, and after about ten minutes you could tell that Cork werent going to be able to break through the Donegal defence enough.
In terms of a nail biter I think yere semi with the Dubs in 2011 was pretty class. By no means one for the purists but it was unbelievably tense.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 09/04/2016 16:27:40    1843758

2014 hurling final between Tipperary and Kilkenny was probably the best match I've ever seen.

ZeitChrist (UK) - Posts: 154 - 09/04/2016 21:24:26    1843821

Dublin Kerry 2011 Final

Dublin Kerry 2013 Semi Final

Kildare Donegal 2011 Quarter Final

Kerry Mayo 2014 Semi Final Replay

The first game is a personal preference, I'm from Dublin, forgive me. The second game was just a high quality game all around. The Kildare Donegal quarter final was class. Lights getting turned on.....that point from Cassidy. Drama!

The last game was just dramatic and refereed badly. I thought Mayo were robbed but as a spectacle it was full of action and drama.

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 09/04/2016 21:33:08    1843823

Good thread. for me most enjoyable was

Donegal v Kildare in 2011

That game in 2011 had everything and two teams giving it their all and more right down to injury time until the kick from the gods off Kevin Cassidy's foot. I've never taken hard drugs but I was still shaking with the buzz the following day the high was so good.

Most of the games between the big four have been classics even the 2011 Donegal v Dublin match for the sheer intrigue alone. Last years final was the obvious exception and I didnt enjoy Mayo's two victories over Donegal either ;(.

Kerry v Mayo and Kerry v Mayo Part Two were superb but the 2013 Dublin v Kerry All Ireland semi final was the game of the century never mind decade. All the talk about hurling being superior evaporated in an instant. Both sides served up a classic and watching Cooper run the field that day was one of the all time greatest performances in defeat in any sport. The man deserved footballer of the year.

Its a shame both sides have now copied Donegal's defensive tactics so we may never see such a classic again

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 204 - 11/04/2016 15:49:22    1844349

Football,
Dublin V Kerry, 2013 semi.

Kerry V Mayo, 2014, both games.

Westmeath V Meath, 2015 Leinster semi.

Hurling.

Clare V Cork, 2013 replay and 2nd half of the drawn game.

Tipp V KK, 2014 drawn game.

Tipp V Galway, 2015 semi.

These are the games that stand out for me.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 11/04/2016 15:57:14    1844354

The galway Kerry game in a monsoon is worth a mention.
Also, the two Mayo - Cork quarter finals don't get the credit they deserve; two very good games.
I also liked the 2012 Donegal-Kerry semi final

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 12/04/2016 10:15:45    1844530

too many to think of but my top 10 in no order for excitement over the last few years:
tipp kk all ireland final 14 (hurling)
limk tipp 1st round 14 (Hurling)
wexford clare replay 14 (hurling)
clare cork both finals 13 (hurling)
waterford kk qualifier 13 (hurling)
kk galway drawn final 12 (hurling)
limk cork u21 munster final 11 (hurling)
Kerry Dublin 13 (football)
Kerry Mayo replay 14 (football)

McFan88 (Limerick) - Posts: 447 - 12/04/2016 12:30:00    1844650

For me hurling Clare Cork games , in football Kerry Mayo semi final fantastic , personal favourite Any game we beat Kerry

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 12/04/2016 12:43:31    1844663

If by decade we are talking about the last ten years, then Mayo vs Dublin in the AI semi in 2006!

It had everything. Hillgate, Mayo going into a big lead, Dublin come back, then go ahead big in the second half, then Andy Moran gets the goal and Ciaran McDonald kicks the point into the hill and gives them the finger wave. Magic.

I've been to a lot of big games, but I've never seen an atmosphere like that.

Bosco1937 (Longford) - Posts: 185 - 12/04/2016 13:29:52    1844689

Tipp Kilkenny drawn game 2014 best hurling match,Dublin Kerry 2013 best football match

Another game which had everything was De la salle and clarinbridge in 2011 club hurling semi final,Kilkenny and limerick in 2014 was an brilliant game given the conditions and the 2014 club final st Vincent's and castlebar I remember as the best individual performance I've ever seen from diarmaid connolly

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 12/04/2016 19:50:11    1844914