I think the Kerry lads are very worried this year..... one more slip and their gone. They seem more anxious about the Armagh backs and are avoiding the issues around their own backs surrendering a 7 point lead.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 24/07/2008 23:33:42    56319

sean og, you cant get much further west than Garraun point in Dingle!!!!

essexile (Mayo) - Posts: 429 - 24/07/2008 23:42:06    56326

Great Reply there DublinMeath-very original. I suppose I was right, it shows what a waste of time it was for CiarraiAbu to be debating with you.

Kerry may have some weaknesses in their backs that seems to be apparent to those outside Kerry. But if Kerry have gaps then everyone else has gaping chasms. Believe me Pat O Shea will have spotted them and Kerry will bounce back and they will rout the pre-madonnas in blue if given half a chance.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 25/07/2008 19:40:58    57167

Good man Bunnyrabbit! Glad you're back, I was worried a few coursing hounds might have found your warren. The HS just wouldn't be the same without our ultra funny bunny. You have a great gra for Kerry - and you a Corkman whose team is in the front door after beating them! Strange - even for a rabbit! It'd be like Dublin beating Meath in a Leinster final and me berating a Mayo man for commenting (fairly) on the Royals!! But then I wouldn't do that cos it'd be none of my business. But then Cork people like to know everyone's business - famous for it they are.

Anyway whats this about Kerry beating 'the pre-Madonnas in blue'. Is that the Dublin team that played for us before Madonna was in the charts or what??

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 25/07/2008 20:27:04    57183

have no real gra for Kerry. I just know that they are the best team in the country. I am just trying to educate those that are disrepectful to their superiors - put manners on you all, so to speak.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 25/07/2008 20:32:48    57185

Prima-donnas or pre-madonnas, the dublin team is full of them... 'Whelo', 'Mossy', 'Jayo' and all the rest... Give me a break... Ye cudnt lace kerry's golas... Im dreading this sunday's paper, full of crap 10 page spreads about these frauds, and how, because they rack up a big score against wexford, they have now got a divine right to SAM... As i said b4, give me a break... Keep an eye out for dublin folding when out of their comfort zone and questions are being asked of them... Again...

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 25/07/2008 21:43:46    57215

I cant believe the amount of stuff that has written about Francie but then here I am writing about him as well.

Right as a footballer Francie is completely useless not a drop of skill, but he is a very effective marker. He a classic man marker and he will stick to his man and as the game goes on he will grind them down. He has done it to manys a good forward but he has never done it to a great forward. The difference was highlighted when playing Tyrone, he could handle Mulligan ok by sticking to him, standing on his toes pulling him back, breathing in his ear that kind of thing but when he was marking Stevie O'Neill it was differnet story, O'Neill just took him to pieces same as Donaghy.

Also Francie is not a dirty footballer, extremely awkward and as a result extremely dangerous but ther is no malice in his game

As far as is forarys up the field go on Saturday, Hilarious! I dont think anyone went near him becasue they were waiting for one of his solos to go 20feet high!

omaghjoe (Tyrone) - Posts: 1191 - 25/07/2008 22:51:03    57238

In my opinion Francie Bellew is one of the best Full Backs in the country over the past 10 years no doubt if not the best.

I hold Barry Owens, David Heaney, Conor Gormley, Cormac McAnallen, Derek Kavanagh, Kevin McCloy and others up there, but for longevity and effectiveness he is probably the best in the past decade.

[Incidently I still think Niall McCusker of Derry has been this years best full back to date having snuffed out Donaghy(twice), Corey, McFadden and McBarron]

People cry on about the goal Donaghy scored in Croker, but I would argue that apart from that day there were very few other days Francie was in trouble.... that's possibly why they cry about it. I can't believe some of the people mouthing about it. Most Kerry people know their football well and are very knowledgable, respectful and honourable. Those people trying to make noise about it are not of the same honourable Kerry footballing cloth - who incidently should be more worried about their own troubles.

He is certainly not the most stylish or flamboyant players but certainly effective. Strong, fast with a good football brain and clean off the ball I think he is envied by many teams.

He is no angel and his tackle on Mickey Linden a few years ago was not nice - but that's the edge that he has and in Gaelic Football there are times when that is done.

One trait he has which I wish many others had is a simple get on with it attitude, even if free's are given against him he just get's on with it - I wish many others would do likewise. We'd have less crying to the DRA and such.

For that alone I have great respect.

I've watched him play many days fro Cross and Armagh expecting some faster man to clean his clock or some stronger man to muscle him off the ball, but people ignore his 'honesty' in playing the ball not the man and he often get's more free's for him than against as the man he's marking underestimates him and has a false perception of him of going to foul him, being slow, or dirty. He is none such.

His speed is good enough to mark many men if you just think of all those he has marked over the past few years. Even to return at his age from such serious shoudler and knee injuries is remarkable.

A very good underrated footballer an excellent Full Back and some one who has earned a lot of respect across the country.

jmeehan (Monaghan) - Posts: 122 - 26/07/2008 00:48:18    57278

Francie was a good player but the guy is well bet. As I can admit our own Darren Fay was off the pace this year. But for you guys to say hes only been roasted twice is a joke. Look back at the tapes lads. For one Joe Sheridan from Meath in this years League Campaign brushed Francie aside when he was brought on. Aganst a fast pacey full forward or tall good fielder of the ball Armagh may forget about winning.

Triple H (Meath) - Posts: 551 - 26/07/2008 12:10:37    57361