I'm sure this sort of thing has been posted up before and apologies if it has but its inspired by a discussion on Off the Ball last night. And I guess its an appropriate topic at a time of year when only a minority of counties can now harbour any hopes of September glory. So what does everyone reckon your county's and/or club's worst defeat was. Be it in terms of outright hammerings, heart-breaking near misses, ambushes by a crowd you thought you'd take handy etc etc.

I'll get the ball rolling, in terms of Kerry defeats I will say 2011 All Ireland final. Wasn't born in 1981 and sure that must have been devastating, but in a strange way I think it did Kerry a world of good, as they would never have come back to win 3 in row in my opinion if they achieved that. Plus, its added to whole folklore of the game in a way that maybe a 5 in a row wouldn't.

I was there in 2001 versus Meath, 2002 against Armagh, 2005 and 2008 against Tyrone and they were all hard to take but 2011 stands out. Kerry were in a perfect position to win that All Ireland with ten minutes to go in that game. It still baffles me how a team with their experience couldn't have closed out the match, like they did so effectively against Cork in 2009. A very hard loss to take, made worse by losing to our great rivals and helping unleash Dublin juggernaut!

For club its Kerry SHC final in 2011. Crotta waiting since 1968 to finally win back the cup, going into a game not given a prayer, but a young talented side lead by the wonderful Shane Nolan dominate the all conquering Ballyduff side in first half. Still comfortably ahead with 15 minute left only to lose out at the very end to last minute goal by 2-11 to 0-15. No wonder we're considered the Mayo of Kerry hurling, same colours and all :(

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 13/08/2014 15:55:02    1636440

As a mayo supporter it has to be the 2 all Ireland finals in 1996. Should have one the first day and then repeated the trick the 2nd day. We still haven't got over that one 18 years on.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1109 - 13/08/2014 16:19:26    1636466

On that point, and again its something the Off the Ball lads discussed, would you be more disappointed about Kerry finals in 2004/06 or for example last year's against Dublin when you only lost by a point and were so close? I mean is a hammering easier to get over than a heart-breaker?

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 13/08/2014 16:26:20    1636471

Offaly beat ye in '82 Hermit !
KK's worst that I can remember was v Offaly too, '95 Lein Final, Sid, the Dooleys etc. taking us to the cleaners in a thunderstorm. I can still see the rivers running down the steps of the old Canal End and leaving Croke Pk. feeling that we'd only ever get the odd Leinster win again.

Losing by 1pt to Cork in the '99 final stung a bit too...

AnFearDonn (Kilkenny) - Posts: 65 - 13/08/2014 16:28:54    1636474

for me,i would take the agonising defeat over the trouncing any day.for example,the early 1990's were a heartbreaking era for wexford,we lost to kilkenny in 1991,kilkenny and cork in 1993,they were heart-breaking defeats.but i still find a defeat like the recent one to limerick harder to take than any other.the team were tired but it undone all the great work done earlier in the year.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 13/08/2014 16:29:12    1636475

Leinster final 2010. Enough said!

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 13/08/2014 16:53:52    1636493

Most heartbreaking: V Mayo '06 & V Meath '91

Most embarrassing : V Kerry '78 & '09.

Most welcome : V Meath '10.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8591 - 13/08/2014 16:58:27    1636497

1978. Kerry 5-11 Dublin 0-9. The Bpmber ran amok. Sheehy scored that goal. Painful memory.

avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 1974 - 13/08/2014 17:05:34    1636499

Harder to take a narrow victory than a big defeat. Not that either are nice. Last year was tougher than 06 because they were good enough last year. They weren't anywhere near good enough in 06, only made the final because Dublin collapsed in the semi final.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1109 - 13/08/2014 17:40:00    1636526

Leinster final 2010. Enough said!

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 13/08/2014 17:49:59    1636534

Never felt as sick after a game as when Meath defeated Dublin in the 4th game in the last minute. Had so many chances to finish them off over the 4 games.

The most embarrassing defeat was in 2009 against Kerry.

Drummerboy (Dublin) - Posts: 85 - 13/08/2014 18:31:45    1636554

Meath in 90 and Derry 93 !

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 13/08/2014 19:19:53    1636567

TheRightStuff
County: Donegal
Posts: 417

1636567
Meath in 90 and Derry 93 !


Damn, almost forgot about Derry '93

AI Semi-final Derry 0-15 0-14 Dublin Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8591 - 13/08/2014 21:10:24    1636625

TheRightStuff
County: Donegal
Posts: 419

1636567
Meath in 90 and Derry 93 !

I'd have Derry in 93 and 98 as the worst too. Didn't think the meath loss was too bad (i was only 7 at the time)

Alvin (Donegal) - Posts: 218 - 13/08/2014 21:39:19    1636643

The hardest one for me to take was Armagh in 2004 in croke park. Pure sickening.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 13/08/2014 21:41:17    1636646

Hardest 91 against down. After what we had done to get there at the time it was heartbreak. Also dub 83/84.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 14/08/2014 09:11:09    1636674

Worst in my opinion as a Sligo man was Galway in Pearse stadium on a baking hot June day 1990 (also the day the world cup started that time) when we lost by 31 or 32 points (cud have been more). Captain for Sligo from my club and played despite being hardly able to walk up for communion that morning at mass with an ankle injury( and was better than most Yeatsmen that day)

Worst - Connacht final to Ros by 1 in 2010 after beating Mayo and Galway on the way....
Plus connacht minor final replay to Mayo in Markievicz in an absolute downpour the whole way through, goal last kick from 40m ends up in the net through the full backs hands to lose by a point.

overinthewest (Sligo) - Posts: 119 - 14/08/2014 09:50:53    1636689

Meath 2001. it was sickening. Made worse by the Meath fans applauding every pass they made near the end. I don't think we have played them in the Championship since.

aidan64 (Kerry) - Posts: 665 - 14/08/2014 09:58:11    1636695

Aughrim 1977.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 14/08/2014 10:06:25    1636699

Castleblayney Faughs loss to Clontibret in 2002 Monaghan championship semi final. The club were going for 5 in a row and were overwhelming favourites at the time. Lost by 2. Came back again to win the title in 2003 for the 7th time in 9 years but haven't won the title since. Have had some heart breaking defeats in the 11 years since but the downfall all seems to stem from the 2002 game.

monaghansbest (Monaghan) - Posts: 23 - 14/08/2014 10:24:00    1636706