Only having my first chance now to look back at the game. Brolly's points before the game are:
* Kerry have been training a certain way all year with the capital in mind. 3 weeks is too soon to try a different game plan.
* When a team adopt another system, they'll go back to their natural inclination of attack. 3 weeks is too soon for Kerry to try a different approach.
* Kerry probably only resumed training the Thursday after the replay against Mayo. They probably only had 4 training sessions to work on a new approach. Not enough time says Joe.
* Brolly highlights the way Kerry played all year, looking to get the ball into the two forwards.
* The Star approach wasn't a difficult tactic to adopt but to try a more patient plan for Donegal requires months.
* Brolly makes reference to Armagh training a certain way for 4 months and how that is required for a system to become ingrained.

Interesting comments. I can see where Brolly was coming from prior to the game. If you take the Thursday after the replay to the Tuesday/Thursday prior to the final, that was only two weeks preparation. Not bad from a team that was in transition and where the production line had supposedly stopped Joe?!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7824 - 25/09/2014 21:29:08    1657080

kerry more gifted and versatile footballers than everybody else legend would you agree?the difference between kerry players and dubs/mayo/donegal for instance when they are stopped from running with the ball is huge

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 25/09/2014 21:50:42    1657094

legendzxix - interesting points. One thing though I would say where Brolly got it completely wrong and which makes most of his points moot is that this assumption that they had to adopt this new system. Kerry have been playing the defensive system in certain games for a number of years now so its not like they had to sit down and learn from scratch. I am surprised that Brolly et al hadn't the wit to realise this when he was making his case as to where Kerrys shortfall would be. I didn't make any prediction on this years All-Ireland (on here or anywhere) for one reason - I knew that both sides were capable of playing defensive so it was going to be more a game of chess than football. For that reason I genuinely couldn't say which side was going to come out on top and although I wanted Donegal to win I wouldn't have been prepared to put even £1 on it.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 26/09/2014 09:18:03    1657116

His comparison of Murphy and Gooch was interesting also, he referred to Murphy as "the player of his generation". Not a massive stretch in fairness, but his evidence for it was caused by Gooch never turning up in All-Ireland finals, how he was always snuffed out and neutralised when it mattered against the Ulster teams.

Murphy was truly nullified in the final, and he refused to admit it. Bit of a double standard, but that aside I thought a lot of his points were very fair. He does aim to be controversial, but the vast majority of what he says is based on logic.

bob_dolphin (Limerick) - Posts: 694 - 26/09/2014 09:25:20    1657119

Bit of a double standard, but that aside I thought a lot of his points were very fair. He does aim to be controversial, but the vast majority of what he says is based on logic.

Agree 100% bob_dolphin. If you listen to what Brolly says the majority of the time he is actually spot on with how he calls games before, during and after. Of course he is going to get things wrong and of course he has a habit of winding people up but more times than not he is correct. Spillane on the other hand....

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 26/09/2014 09:31:28    1657121

I am not so sure here.

Kerry can play and have played defensive football like everyone else. There is a fallacy about certain teams and the way they play, the only way they can play, the only way their principles let them play etc.

In addition Kerry have the tools to raid on a blanket defence by playing the ball high into their full forward line. I thought Kerry played it very simple and effective on Sunday and their manager should take credit for applying the right tactics to the right situation.

For me the decisive point in the game was the Donegal keepers blunder but even at that Kerry had themselves neck and neck in a contest many thought they would struggle in. On this occasion McGuiness was outfoxed.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 26/09/2014 09:57:53    1657127

I have to disagree here with some peoples assessment of Brolly's ability to call games. There was nothing mysterious about how Kerry were going to approach this game, my young lad could have written a column on it, they adapted, controlled the game at the crucial points and are AI champions, rightly so in my opinion. Not sure why people think of Brolly as some kind of oracle on the game but maybe this article can help put some perspective on the quality of punditry on TV, although for me its probably 13 months too late and should have been written in the wake of the disgraceful outburst after Tyrone V Monaghan, but hey, better late than never I suppose.

link

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 26/09/2014 10:25:10    1657135

Not sure why people think of Brolly as some kind of oracle on the game

Well when you compare him to some of the other analysts who sit beside or in place of him then he is definitely some sort of Oracle as he gets it right more than he gets it wrong in my opinion and often the others have not agreed with his stance. Joe Brolly the Derry Oracle - has a bit of a ring to it.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 26/09/2014 11:11:34    1657163

Only for the goalie kerry would probably have lost and he may have been right- not sure why kerry people care so much what rte pundits think. ye have sam maguire and nothing else matters

lowballplease (Galway) - Posts: 935 - 26/09/2014 13:24:18    1657212

Offside_Rule
County: Antrim
Posts: 1658

1657163
Not sure why people think of Brolly as some kind of oracle on the game

Well when you compare him to some of the other analysts who sit beside or in place of him then he is definitely some sort of Oracle as he gets it right more than he gets it wrong in my opinion and often the others have not agreed with his stance. Joe Brolly the Derry Oracle - has a bit of a ring to it.

That he gets it right more often than he gets it wrong is a great myth of the GAA. He backs every horse in the race.

See 2013: Donegal won't be beaten. Oh no, wait, Mayo will definitely win it now. Ahhh aren't Dublin great!

Treaty_Exile (Limerick) - Posts: 386 - 26/09/2014 13:31:23    1657216

They probably care so much because they have basked in the notion of being the purists of the game with the likes of Spillane ramming this down our throats at every opportunity then suddenly the mask falls and they are seen to be no purer than any other county. Its like that Guinness ad that used to be on a few years back with Kerry being the guy swimming in the sea and Pat Spillane being the brother who was watching through the binoculars telling the timekeeper when to start.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 26/09/2014 13:43:51    1657219

Poor Joe has very limited knowledge and is only kept on the Sunday Game panel because he is controversial. RTE do the same with Dunphy for soccer and Hook for rugby. They know nothing, but people who know nothing about the sport like the banter and arguments. That's the only possible reason RTE keep those guys.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2550 - 26/09/2014 13:54:47    1657222

The last two All Ireland finals Kerry have won they came into the game as underdogs
and did what they had to win. Last Sunday is still fresh in our memory but in
2009 Jack O'Connor did the same thing with Kerry clinging to a lead of a couple
of points and Cork was starting to come back strong. Tagh Kennelly was taken off
and Darren O'Sullivan brought on; Tommy Waslsh and Gooch were left up front with
all thirteen remaining players playing behind the midfield line and Darren O'S
and his speed being used as the counter attack along the wing. Kerry scored a
couple of points from play and a couple from frees in the second half but more
importantly gave Cork no easy scoring chances and won the game.The Kerry players
went home with Sam knowing it was not a great game but also knowing that in a few
years the only fact remembered is that they won.
Sound Familiar.

mps17 (USA) - Posts: 13 - 26/09/2014 14:14:46    1657229

To say Joe Brolly knows nothing is a ridiculous statement to make. Most Gael is ulster who read his weekly article would disagree. He can get it wrong and when he does he leaves himself wide open for abuse as his theatrics often over exaggerate the view. Joe gets it right 80% of the time.
Pat Spillane knows nothing.

shaggylegend (Monaghan) - Posts: 1928 - 26/09/2014 14:54:02    1657241

For a man who is accused of knowing nothing he gets quite an airing on this website!

Itll only be when hes gone from the sunday game and/or this life that he will be appreciated fully

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 26/09/2014 15:13:05    1657247

It's funny, prior to last Sunday claims were made Kerry can't win close finals. I pointed out 09 and noone wanted to listen. Now all of a sudden people have memories of it!!
As Mayo showed in last year's quarter-final v Donegal, as the capital showed v Monaghan and Donegal did v the capital, when teams click it can be hard to live with them. Kerry produce these performances as well e.g. 09 quarter-final and this year's Munster final. These performances can happen in finals as well. Bizarre that some wish to diminish that.
G'wan the Kingdom! Ciarraí abú!!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7824 - 26/09/2014 19:01:07    1657322

legendzxix
County: Kerry
Posts: 3814

1657322
It's funny, prior to last Sunday claims were made Kerry can't win close finals. I pointed out 09 and noone wanted to listen. Now all of a sudden people have memories of it!!
As Mayo showed in last year's quarter-final v Donegal, as the capital showed v Monaghan and Donegal did v the capital, when teams click it can be hard to live with them. Kerry produce these performances as well e.g. 09 quarter-final and this year's Munster final. These performances can happen in finals as well. Bizarre that some wish to diminish that.
G'wan the Kingdom! Ciarraí abú!!

Let's not mistake last weekends All Ireland final as game where Kerry clicked and Donegal didn't, as I don't think either side really clicked or performed to their true potential.

Do you think Donegal found it hard to live with Kerry last weekend? It certainly didn't feel that way to me.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 26/09/2014 19:20:58    1657328

You've misread the post GaryMc82.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7824 - 26/09/2014 20:22:20    1657338

Garymc,

Kerry were 6\7 points better last Sunday.

Kerry have beat the best blanket defence in the business and yet we still get little credit.
I wonder is that because it was our 37th title.

Finally haven't read this point anywhere but the goal that Donegal nearly got at the end should have been a free out against Murphy for charging.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 26/09/2014 20:31:14    1657341

Kerry deserved the win, they where the better team and got the rub of the green. Durcan's mistake the free on Donaghy got in the first half which he lay down and Barry john Keane jumping into a tackle and getting a free, plus add in the 45 that Murphy would have nailed and suddenly it is clear that's a 6 point swing. Kerry rode there luck but don't mistake it for clicking into gear or being 6/7 points a better team. That was kerry's luckiest all ireland.

shaggylegend (Monaghan) - Posts: 1928 - 26/09/2014 20:43:24    1657347