Cork may not have any 'altars' to Kerry, but they can't beat them in Croke Park! And ultimately, it is those contests that are the more decisive.

Tongo (UK) - Posts: 1795 - 25/05/2010 16:38:26    658083

Dorcha

You won't find any of them in Ulster either my friend. If Cork don't still mentally fear Kerry why have they horsed you at the business end of SAM these past few years AND I would put money on Kerry doing it again this year if you meet them in Croker. If this Cork side were ever going to beat Kerry in an All Ireland it was last year, I think you have missed the boat and that is no disrespect to Cork just my reading.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9819 - 25/05/2010 16:38:56    658086

You must have been fairly distraught alright Patrique,with Antrim playing the first half in reverse!Tyrone decided to park for a while to let Antrim find first gear,Tyrone then free wheeled to the final whistle,no point wasting the petrol if you dont need to.

seanie_boy (Tyrone) - Posts: 4235 - 25/05/2010 19:15:58    658292

reddoctor
County: Tyrone
Posts: 1129

657733 unless antrim get a very favourable draw against the likes of dery tipperary or fermanagh they wont win another game.

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Antrim would probably beat any of the teams maybe bar Derry in the 1st Round of the Qualifiers. I know the gap is still huge in Football terms but Antrim could get another decent run but I cant see them making the final 8. In fact any team who has not played in Div 1 or 2 would more than likely fall before the quater finals.

I for one hope we draw...Clare / London / Offaly!!!!!!

I think it is as i feel tyrone, kerry,cork are going to be joined this year by dublin, down, kildare .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 25/05/2010 20:10:11    658340

Aragh do you know i have never had such rubbish as half the posts in here lately, i'm not having a go at the op, just all this absolute nonsense that everyone is talking as if the supposed top 3 are untouchable. I hope these feelings get into the minds of the players of these exclusive superior footballing counties because there is nothing better than burstin a team of premaddonas (not sure how you spell that) . People tend to forget some of Mayos scalps in such cases, 04 v Tyrone 99% of punters and media did not give us a hope in hell against the aI champions or in 06 against the jacks. I'd like to think we'll give Kerry one of them scalps this year.

51longago (Mayo) - Posts: 2981 - 25/05/2010 20:45:36    658368

Tongo, Ulsterman, Kerry have bested us in the last few years in Croke Park - they're definitely a tricky crowd! - but we haven't given up, and there certainly isn't any fear; if there was we wouldn't have beaten them for the last two years in a row in Munster. We're still learning; apparently a long process. The way I see it, it's their management and organization that have beaten us. We have players just as good. We just haven't anything like Donaghy.

Dorcha (Cork) - Posts: 38 - 25/05/2010 21:15:26    658412

Having the players is one thing Dorcha, but their being able to perform on the big days is where your county and mine have not matched up to Kerry these last 5 or 6 years. What has set Tyrone apart over the same period is just their ability to perform when it matters and even now, possibly in decline, were they to somehow find their way to the latter stages they would still be hard to stop, just like The Kingdom. A team with doubts is like a windscreen with stone chips in it... it might look ok and do the job, but one more knock and it shatters - Cork, Dublin and Mayo, I'm afraid!

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 26/05/2010 11:11:24    658605

I like your optimism Dellboy regarding Down Dublin and Kildare joining the 'Big 3' this year. I have evidenced the Dubs fail miserably at the Q/final stage over the past 2 seasons after blazing a trail through Leinster. They may fair a little better this year given their National League form and Pat Gilroy having had another year in post to get the players sorted. As for my own county, whilst I would love the chance to get back in the big time again, we are maybe a few years away from getting a squad together capable of delivering consistent performances to compete at the latter stages of the All Ireland series but I believe that 'Wee James' with the help of Brian McIvor and Paddy Tally will get there in the end.

My best bet would be the likes of Armagh and Meath possibly joining Tyrone, Cork and Kerry this season.

Mourneman5stars (Down) - Posts: 102 - 26/05/2010 11:46:28    658647

The only gap that should be closed in football is the gap between teams first and second outings. It's crazy Tipperary have to wait 6 weeks for the qualifiers. The GAA really need to close those gaps by playing more provincial matches on the same weekend and using other weekends then for the Qualifiers exclusively.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8965 - 26/05/2010 14:04:31    658874

Dorcha, how can u say there is no fear? it's all wel and good beatin kerry in munster when they hardly try but whenever cork see kerry in croke park they turn into a bunch of 2 year olds in the dark. kerry are the boogeymen coming to get u. it's a shame such big strong men turn into such cowards

galballygael23 (Tyrone) - Posts: 235 - 26/05/2010 14:23:33    658891

I saw enough on Sunday to convince me that Tyrone will win Sam this year. Crucially the team are now conserving energy for the bigger challenges that lie ahead. We played at around 40% of our ability for about 15 minutes and raced into a lead that we were never going to lose. The second half was merely a gentle warm down with a bit of shooting practise. In the end everyone was a winner, Tyrone obviously but also Antrim who think that they were in with a chance and it gives them a bit of a boost going into the qualifiers. Bigger challenges lie ahead so the fact our boys didn't need to break sweat will be an advantage come August/September, they could have ran a marathon after the match on Sunday

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 26/05/2010 14:51:50    658941

By the look of some of the Tyrone boys at the end half of them couldn't ate a marathon never mind run one. Dooher is gone, Davy Harte is gone, Cavanagh's legs are going. It'll be interesting to see how fit they are when they run up against Cork etc in the All Ireland........oh that's already happened hasn't it?

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9819 - 26/05/2010 15:04:43    658971

galballygael23 don't be so down on Cork. They're going to be a great team with the youth size speed and power going for them and now that they have got 15 sofas in the training ground and a few psychiatrist they'll be more than ready to meet Kerry at HQ.

CoTyrone (Tyrone) - Posts: 261 - 26/05/2010 15:19:39    658993

Doesn't say much for Antrim then if they couldn't beat a Tyrone team who could barely move. Surprised you think so poorly of your own county Ulsterman, genuinely surprised

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 26/05/2010 15:19:53    658994

Dellboypolecat,

Down wont do much with that defence !! They are good at midfield and forward line but let down by their defence !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 26/05/2010 15:34:36    659014

What do Cavan have going for them this season Slasher apart from home advantage????

It makes me call to mind what someone asked me some years ago ....

"What is the connection between Armagh and a pregnant heifer?

They're both close to Cavan

Mourneman5stars (Down) - Posts: 102 - 26/05/2010 15:54:18    659044