Was talk of Dublin being the best team of all time premature?
A no-brainer to start. This year, a fine Dublin team became the most overhyped I've ever seen. I do not believe it got to the players, but I do think it's totally fair to say it got to the public. I believe Dublin are still the best team in the country, but such is the nature of knockout, they had no chance to alter their set-up once it was exposed, and one bad day had them out of the Championship. I would not be surprised if they won in 2015, and there's no doubt that 3 titles in 5 years is greatness territory.

Is talk that yesterday's final spells the end for Gaelic Football as we know it justified?
No way. People have very short memories. In the semi-finals, we were treated to three magnificent games of attacking football. The Kerry and Donegal we saw yesterday were unrecognisable from the teams in the semi-finals. Having watched yesterday, I am unconvinced that Donegal benefitted from playing the way they did. When Kerry went four points up after Donaghy's goal, Donegal picked up scores with more ease. They had to. Yesterday, Kerry exploited their system. Some of Donegal's best performances married attack with defence (the 2012 and 2014 semi-finals back this up). Yesterday, it was all about defence, and they suffered.

Has the Championship gone stale?
Yes. The provincial championships are hard to let go of, especially when they offer weaker counties a chance of actually winning something. But even that very rarely happens. Is a win for Leitrim in Connacht, or Clare winning Munster with equal rarity enough to keep these championships? I do not think so.

How important is league form?
Fitzmaurice has been managing for two league campaigns now, and both went poorly for Kerry, at least at first glance. The truth is that Fitzmaurice has been trying out anyone with even a remote chance of playing for Kerry in these campaigns, and some without any chance. It will be the same next year more than likely.

Is this the worst Kerry team to win an All-Ireland?
No. In my opinion, the 97 team hold that honour, and this is a young team who have been in transition under Fitzmaurice's stewardship thus far. The truth is, most championship winning teams have only a handful of great players anyway. How can Kerry have many great players when most of them have hardly played any championship football to prove themselves? An inexperienced, very young Kerry team has still managed to win the Championship. Now that they have got this experience, will they improve? Of course! I would not be surprised if this claim was made to look very foolish in time.

Was it premature to spell the end of Kerry football?
A no brainer. I watched the Hogan Cup final this year, and it felt like a turning point for Kerry. I cannot remember the last time I saw a Kerry team outfox a strong Ulster opponent at any level of football. But PCD did just that, and many of that team formed what I think is the best minor team I've seen, the team that won yesterday's championship. Tie that in with their young senior football champions, the conveyor belt is working fine.

How much do sports journalists know?
Joe Brolly has made a pigs ear of his analysis of Kerry. His piece in yesterday's Mail and his performance on yesterday's Sunday game were embarrassing. His adoration of Jim McGuinness reached fever pitch, and he cast major doubt on Kerry's ability to beat Donegal with little preparation for the system. On last night's Sunday game, we watched as a team being labelled as the being miles ahead of the pack only picked up two places on the team of the year. There seems to be a general consensus that Mayo are finished now after this year, a thought that I do not subscribe to at all. They have plenty young players with plenty talent, and they should have beaten our new champions. Will they make the semi-finals at least next year? I have little doubt they will!

Treaty_Exile (Limerick) - Posts: 386 - 22/09/2014 14:16:11    1655349

Just another point on how Donegal's system actually let them down yesterday and shows the shortcomings of football dominated by system. In 2011, Kerry lost the All-Ireland final because their over-and-back handpassing late on in the game was met head on by Dublin, who picked scores and won the game. This year, Kerry were doing much the same in the dying stages, but could afford to. Donegal maintained their defensive, sit back set-up when it made more sense to apply pressure. That doesn't exactly tell us that systems are infallible.

Treaty_Exile (Limerick) - Posts: 386 - 22/09/2014 14:53:04    1655384

nonsense as the semi finals were brilliant..final a cagey affair and most recent finals have been poor for whatever reason

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 22/09/2014 15:39:20    1655452

I was happy with Kerry's league to be honest except for the last game in Tralee. A lot of the early losses hadn't much in them and a lot was learned from them. Look, people have a habit of looking at results at times rather than the performances. In fairness only those of in Kerry aware of how the games went were aware of where we were at. The Bomber said today he had a bet on Kerry to win the All-Ireland before the Munster final we were being written off in.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7806 - 22/09/2014 16:33:50    1655513

Good opening post. The provincial structure probably requires looking at alright. Apart from one bad game against Cork, it was not actually such a terrible league for Kerry. and I agree, Dublin are probably still the best side in the country.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 22/09/2014 21:34:24    1655661

Was talk of Dublin being the best team of all time premature?
Definitely, but they will still be back with a vengeance next year


Is talk that yesterday's final spells the end for Gaelic Football as we know it justified?
Its not the end but interest in the game will suffer if that's the type of stuff offered up regularly. Attendances will drop, finances suffer and standards drop. Skillfull players will take up other sports especially ones that give you the freedom to show your skills and pay you also.

Has the Championship gone stale?
Absolutely. Weaker counties have no interest in the qualifiers and there are too many mismatches. League football is a better spectacle.

How important is league form?
Its important to be in the highest division possible for player development but the winning of the league is no great advantage.


Is this the worst Kerry team to win an All-Ireland?
No, might yet turn out to be a great one.

Was it premature to spell the end of Kerry football?
Clearly. Beware the "bad" Kerry team

How much do sports journalists know?
Its not just the journalists, the bookies and everyone else had Kerry as favourites for the Clare and Galway matches only.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1103 - 23/09/2014 09:05:18    1655706

Excellent OP, which I agree with pretty much in its entirety. I'd just like to add that the black card rule, which worked well in last year's league and the opening part of the championship, seemed to be almost done away with in the latter stages. Also, referees clearly need more help, as there were again several contentious decisions which had a direct bearing on some results. Whether this should be through technology such as video refs or simply greater input from linesmen and umpires, needs to be examined.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 23/09/2014 12:09:34    1655860

Agree with Gleebo. There needs to be constant recruitment of new Inter County referees & Officials for all grades, Promotion could be based on assessment of Club referees ( Hugh pool operating in Dublin) based on knowledge and implementation of latest rules as agreed at Congress including Black Card .These recruits could be given Linesmen/Umpire roles with enhanced Authority to back up referees. And later move onto replace referees on retirement. Nonsense about 'Letting games flow' needs stamping out. Present issues are not so much with Senior grade, Most of contention for some odd reason was with Leinster and All Ireland U/21 Championship.

Ashrules (Dublin) - Posts: 518 - 23/09/2014 12:54:28    1655902

...and was the black card rule a success?

Ultimately...NO

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 23/09/2014 13:58:02    1655967

Whether this should be through technology such as video refs or simply greater input from linesmen and umpires, needs to be examined.

Agree here but I don't understand why the refs don't look up at the screen for some dodgy decisions. I took it crazy on Sunday when a clear 45 was given as a wide even though 2 Kerry players touched it. Would be very easy to see this on the screen as 80k people did but ref didn't change his mind. I know its maybe a dangerous precedent to set but when the technology is there why not use it.

dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 23/09/2014 14:04:16    1655973

23/09/2014 09:05:18
tirawleybaron
County: Mayo
Posts: 137

1655706
Was talk of Dublin being the best team of all time premature?

Yes but they are a danger to any county. We were well in last year's semi-final as the game entered the final minute. Two superbly taken goals after that settled it. Mayo were not far off in the final and it's one they'll have regrets about. This year's quarter-final against Monaghan was the first time really over the last 3-4 years as far as I'm aware of that they have blitzed a team in the All-Ireland series.

The early odds for next year are:
Dublin Region 5/4
Mayo 6/1
Cork 15/2
Donegal 11/1

Armagh and Tyrone are a danger to any county. Discussion for another day.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7806 - 23/09/2014 17:15:13    1656151

Are PP afraid to even lay Kerry. Hardly surprising after the way they dispatched Mayo & Donegal.

timmyhogan (UK) - Posts: 290 - 23/09/2014 17:32:09    1656163