I agree with you bluejay. An embarrassing and shameful performance. Last time I will darken the door of any place this group of Dublin footballers are playing. I left at half time and the only regret I had was in throwing away my money and wasting my day after swearing this time last year after a similar display against Tyrone that I would never again. More fool me.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 04/08/2009 12:35:33    376745

I watched the match yesterday in a bar in Belfast and was very disappointed, even gutted, by Dublins perforance. I really liked this Dublin team (their flair and score taking) and would have liked them to go all the way,(after Antrim fell to Kerry of course). I havent read many of the above posts so I'm lilely repeating stuff. I think Dublin were mentally wrong and ambushed by Kerry in much the same way Tyrone ambushed them last year. I think kerry's season up to yesterday lulled them into a false sense of over-confidence and once you start a match in that frame of mind it is almost impossible to re-adjust to the @new reality'. I would resist calls to change the managment, its hard but they must all learn from this.

Basher (Antrim) - Posts: 15 - 04/08/2009 13:03:37    376815

While the manager did change nothing else has. These are the same panel of players who have failed in the All Ireland series for the past five years now. Over the years the main problems have been in the fullback line. While yesterday was the first time they conceded a goal this year, i do not recall any saves Cluxtin had to make during the leinster championship. Kildare scored 18 points from play aginst this backline who were badly exposed yesterday. I believe that it is time now to take stock and try to build a winning team from scratch, i know that the time factor is a problem given the pressure in the media. Remember Kildare were mediocre last year, they learned from the leinster final and came close on Sunday.

Jack L (None) - Posts: 3154 - 04/08/2009 13:07:51    376821

Dublin always fold when the media and the bookies hype up their chances and odds. This is more than a coincidence, same against Tyrone before. So much riding on the game. Where was Keaney and Cullen? If you followed these players around for a few minutes and watched what they were at, you would have to ask questions. Only showed up after the game was over....a absolute sham!!!

ninjasmyth (Louth) - Posts: 748 - 04/08/2009 14:16:19    376933

hurlingdub
County: Dublin
Posts: 965

376745 I agree with you bluejay. An embarrassing and shameful performance. Last time I will darken the door of any place this group of Dublin footballers are playing. I left at half time and the only regret I had was in throwing away my money and wasting my day after swearing this time last year after a similar display against Tyrone that I would never again. More fool me. ................Hurling dub and you give out about sunshine supporters...........

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 04/08/2009 14:37:08    376964

Look lads the fact are that the Dublin footballers are like the english soccer team a few results against average teams and suddenly they are the best team in the country. According to all the papers the Dubs just had to turn up and put Kerry out of their misery.

will the true is that Dublin footballers are no where good enough to win an All Ireland Football final and Anthony Dalys team have more of a chance of lifting the Liam McCarthy

socks (Limerick) - Posts: 29 - 04/08/2009 14:58:43    377029

Conal Keaney should go back to the Dublin Hurlers......better chance of a medal there.

The Brickie (None) - Posts: 208 - 04/08/2009 16:18:39    377232

theres a lot of hurt and even more embarrassement going around dublin circles here so its natural some posts are OTT.most genuine dublin fans expected kerry to come out with a storm.other counties use dublin games as a launchpad to propel their season as its high profile,a huge occasion and they use the media's case that dublin are somewhat immortal every year to their own advantage.this works against us in many ways as the opposition are more focussed and fired up than usual.this aspect of the game is something this squad of players havnt coped with.i feel there is a problem regarding mentality here and not putting oneself in the proper mindset.if a team is not tuned in properly it effects their physical performance and we seen that as dublin were second to nearly every ball.i was hoping that this team could get over the big team hoodoo yesterday but alas i was very wrong,the cresendo came against mayo a few years back.that was the time progression was to occur and we choked.that win followed by a final appearance would likely have led to a different set of circumstances for this team.at this moment looking forward i feel gilroy needs to rebuild to some extent.we need to fashion a strong defence and break the expecting defeat mentality that i feel has now entered into this current squad.fair dues to kerry yesterday,they turned up and played excellently and best of luck to them in the rest of the championship..

seany16 (Dublin) - Posts: 1663 - 04/08/2009 17:18:16    377387

I think there are huge question marks over the Dublin management team. We were not well prepared for that game either physically or mentally. We were yards off the pace of the Kerry players. Why did it take nearly 20 minutes before a change was made at centrefield when we were so weak in that area. We could not win a ball and our forwards were starved of possession in that critical early period of the game. Pat Gilroy & co under some serious pressure from here on.

thirty1 (Dublin) - Posts: 161 - 04/08/2009 17:47:48    377445

Here are some of my hard facts

1. Bryan Cullen is never a CHB and should never be put in that position again
2. Ross McConnell is not a Dublin player, nowhere near the standard required
3. We need a new midfield to replace Whelan / Ryan. Magee is ok but needs a new partner. Whelan/Ryan should have started yesterday as midfield was Kerry's weak point.
4. We need a coach from outside Dublin to coach the team how to defend as a team and learn how to dispossess the man in possession. I cannot remember the last time a Dublin player stripped the ball from an opponent. The Kerry half forwards did this at least 4 times yesterday leading directly to Kerry scores. I would suggest we need Micko or McGeeney or even would try Tomas O Flaherty if one of them is available. Dublin still playing 1980's style football
5. Half forward line needs to learn to track back and defend ... how many times did Dooher / Galvin / O Sullivan etc. show for their teams in their own half back line, our half forward line just allowed the Kerry half backs to waltz up un marked and support the attack
6. We need a CHB and RHB, Cahill ok
7. We need a LFB and FB, Henry ok but got a roasting yesterday (he should have been switched instead of being taken off)

Fix the above and we might progress but there is a lot of restructuring to be done.

I was embarrassed by our capitulation yesterday, the first time in my life I saw a Dublin team throw in the towel after 10 minutes. Shameful, they deserved to be booed at half time.

Beacaire Gorm (Dublin) - Posts: 597 - 04/08/2009 18:16:04    377498

First things first: Yes it was a horror show yesterday. Many people on here looking for Pat Gilroys head. IMO that is over reaction. What needs to be addressed is the psychological preperation for these big games. If you tell your self often enough that you are a loser the you wil become a loser. The other side of this is of course if you see your self winning often enough then there is a good chance you will get yourself accross the line. Dessie Farrell mentioned in his book that sport is 90% mental and 10% physical. So maybe a closer look at this end of things may be the root of the problem.

Very good post Omaghredhand! You hinted at this psychological thing yourself. I have supported the Dubs (bothHurling and Football) for 40 years and have done the full rollercoster of highs and lows none more so than during the 70's. I had the privilage of been present in 76/77 and then the low of 78 (which was in fact the same margin of defeat as yesterday)
however I am proud to say I neaver left a game early no matter how poor we were. So as for Hurlingdub and the many others who left early, All that can be said is we don't need that type of "support" But once we get things right and start winning again there is little doubt that they will start crawling back again and jumping on the bandwagon.

nohamtap (Dublin) - Posts: 116 - 04/08/2009 18:22:49    377508

Some very fickle fans out there guys! So you wasted 35 euro... God help you! Regardless of how poorly Dublin played yesterday, the fact remains that all members of the squad and management team worked their *** off over the past few months and deserve a much more sympathetic reaction. They had a dreadful day at the office and let themselves down but they do not need to be reminded of this by anyone else. Hang in their true Dublin fans and your day will come. Regardless of what happened yesterday, I still contest that you are not that far away and the vast majority of your squad have what it takes to one day lift Sam. I genuinely hope so.

mossgreen (Tyrone) - Posts: 181 - 04/08/2009 20:21:37    377634

Beacaire Gorm, I have to say I agree - McConnell out - an ideal midfield contains strength and mobility, McConnell and Magee are two similar players so Ryan should partner Magee. In relation to probelms in full-back line Bastick isn't county standard when tested... so line should look like Griffin, Henry, O'Carroll, while half-backs need to be attack minded for the team to win, something Mayo, Cork, Kerry and Tyrone can do.. We have three quality players capable of defending, as well as taking scores, so half-back should be Hubbard, Brennan, Cahill. Hubbard's lack of height wouldn't be exploited as much either.
Midfield should contain Ryan, Magee or Fennell, while half-forwards would consist of Flynn or Andrews, Alan Brogan and Connolly, the perfect mix of forwards and workers. While the full-forwards should consist of Rock, B.Brogan and Keaney/Vaughan.


My team is picked based on the probable retirements of Sherlock and Whelan, while a few positions may be give or take... Gilroy needs to find new players and also have a plan A, B and C..because yesterday once Kerry eridicated one area Dublin thrived on, the Dubs looked clueless!!!!

Regards,
Extra

extra (Dublin) - Posts: 43 - 04/08/2009 20:45:31    377679

As Mayo man in Dublin I was devestated after the Kerry performance yesterday. I know what its like to be taken to the cleaners by Kerry especially when you expect to win. The important thing is to keep the faith there is no way Dublin are as bad as the scoreboad suggests. I was watching the game on TV and found P Spillanes comments ott "the best performance of the championship etc" nauseating. Puke punditry. What is the point in having him on as an analyst he sees everything through green and gold glasses. Yesterdays result was a poor result from the games point of view. Whats another All Ireland to Kerry? I hope they are stopped by Mayo or Meath (unlikely) or Cork/Tyrone which might hurt a little more.

mod (Mayo) - Posts: 859 - 04/08/2009 20:54:42    377696

Well Pistelero,

Yer man Micko turned down the position as Dublin coach as he opted for some lower hanging fruit... let's say in Klidare, Laois and now with Wicklow. He didn't want to take on Dublin, his heart is green and gold, and that's good I admire that in a player/supporter/coach, as ours you can understand is sky blue!

LA_Dub (Dublin) - Posts: 4 - 04/08/2009 21:53:05    377855

Thank you Mossgreen for your kind Tyrone words, however the reason all us Dubs are so upset/frustrated is that we come to this hurdle most years and fall everytime it seems to the same teams, your outfit included.

No more wait another year anymore I'm afraid. It's time for some one on one meetings and thank these players for their service and start calling coaches throughout the county for their top 2 players to be considered. If this is it... and we currently have them, we are looking at many years to try and get past our annual Quarter-Final meltdown! Remember 1995 and 1983 or 84. That's slim pickin's for Dubs!

Chelsea or Man. U do not make the grade on a given year, you don't see them say, "Ah, sure it'll be better next year". They go out and make sure they try and improve to do better. Action rather than hope is needed here...

LA_Dub (Dublin) - Posts: 4 - 04/08/2009 22:04:11    377889

All the reasons for the Dubs demise have been well documented here.From my own perspective I am sorry the Dubs are out as I always look forward to the matches involving the Dubs.Is it true that the Vincents clique is to blame?

Brinsley Swartz (Mayo) - Posts: 2225 - 04/08/2009 23:35:20    378182

Just read the usual stuff from the Gaelic Life and it states that all the Dub players and fans buy into the hype of the team everyyear and he spends so much time in Dublin that he knows this to be fact,well im a Dub fan and i nor any of my fellow dub fans buy into any hype generated by the media, and i just hope that each year it will get better,and real fans will know there is more dissapointment with the team annually,i had hoped that this year it would get better,but a recycled Mickey Whelan,and Niall Moyna who can be taken apart with his statements of grandouir,i think there are more dynamic football coaches out there to improve the team overall,the steele determination of the past good teams seems to have gone missing in action and the passion of Kieth Barr etc is gone, so maybe Messers Barr and co can also put up or shut up and get involved in the team and inject a true blue belief and move us up a couple of gears.

job815 (None) - Posts: 1 - 05/08/2009 00:42:51    378281

Felt terrible for the Dublin supporters when I was watching the match. We've all be on the wrong side of heavy defeats but in such an important match and on such a big stage is just heartbreaking. I really can't understand why Shane Ryan wasn't starting, and I just hope that this match doesn't end his career. If I was one of the Dublin backroom team at the start of that match I wouldn't have taken Jayo off that early, I would have been trying to sort out the Mid and defence, because as good as Jason is if the balls up the other end there's nothing he can do about it. Dublin really need to sort out a proper FB. It's one of the positions where I think they are really being let down. It was a terrible Result for the Dubs and there's nothing positive at all they can take from that match. I think lost the match in their own heads. Once Colm Cooper got the goal in the first minute their heads went down and they never seemed to rise again for the whole match. I don't think they were really expecting Kerry to come at them so hard as everyone seemed to had written of Kerry in the run up to the match based on a bad run through the qualifiers. This match will set back the Dublin team a few years, specially if the likes of Whelan, Jayo and Ryan retire. They might not have played all of every match this year but having them on the bench waiting to come on if needed. This may hurt now and for a while for Dublin supporters but when they do finally get that All Ireland they want so badly it'll make winning it all the more sweeter.

Royal_Girl2k9 (Meath) - Posts: 2107 - 05/08/2009 02:04:14    378318

I was hoping Dublin would do it but they failed catastrophically. The worrying thing is that nothing was learned after last years heavy defeat to Tyrone, the dublin players collapsed again dramatically when they were most needed and thats a huge problem.
Mentally this group of players are scarred now and you can guarantee they will collpase at some stage again next year. This dublin team will never win an all irleand. Massive changes are needed in the dublin setup. Best of luck for next year as I would like to see you do well.

Concept82 (Wicklow) - Posts: 440 - 05/08/2009 09:54:44    378428