Has there ever been a better era for managers? You'd have to say the semi-finalists this year have the top four managers as well. Not that I'm undermining the players in any way, but McGuinness, Gavin, Fitzmaurice and Horan seem to be some of the most shrewd and articulate men in the GAA.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12116 - 01/09/2014 16:11:13    1646182

agree...great time for managers..seems tactics are finally starting to be appreciated in gaelic football and different styles of play

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 01/09/2014 16:17:02    1646189

To be fair of the four - I would question Horans' tactics.
Firstly as a man-manager I agree he is top drawer and has brought steel and confidence to his Mayo side but some of his calls seem strange to me.
Cafferky struggled against star last week - yet he went for the same approach - Plan B was to replace him with Kevin Kane.
Of all the players in the country to deal with high ball against a big physical full forward. Kane probably still has nighmares from his 10 minute spell on Michael Murphy in 2012. No harm to Kane but he is half a foot and 3 stone to light for that Job.

Also in the first 15 minutes of the second half I'd say Kerry won 6/7 Mayo kickouts on the bounce - Moran/Maher cleaned house - yet every kick out kep coming in on top of them. -

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 01/09/2014 16:54:07    1646242

And yet ruanua, donaghy didn't win a single ball off keane.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 01/09/2014 17:12:35    1646261

Damage was done master. Have to agree reference Horan. Not having a go but better decisions on line and you would have beat Kerry in first game.

DLlegends (Donegal) - Posts: 503 - 01/09/2014 17:19:12    1646268

The point is Do you think that the match ups were tactically correct ?
I'm not going to nit pick on how many balls and who won what but Donaghy won a free off Keane that resulted in a point

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 01/09/2014 17:21:05    1646271

donaghy won frees off keane at crucial stages and would have won ball in had it been balls played in similar to the ones he was getting before hand

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 01/09/2014 17:25:28    1646274

DlLegends, Im not disputing that. Im pointing out that keane, who was being written off, actually done quite well on donaghy.


Also, Fabio he won frees, that weren't actually frees, something highlighted in various media outlets since. That is one thing that I am happy about in this game, keane came out with a bit of credit. The lad is a very good player, always was, the thing with murphy set him back a lot and his confidence was shook for a long time.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 01/09/2014 17:31:42    1646279