Kerry and Tyrone I guess both have a belief they will be back, that's natural and is the reason why so many All-Irelands have been shared over the last few years.
I wouldn't say it's a runners-up competition from now on, that is ridiculous.
The teams that are there deserve to be there and though defeat is hard to take, most in Kerry wish them all well bar Cork!!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9801 - 02/08/2010 12:13:37    732496

legendzxix that rumour emerged from Tyrone but I would put it down to jealously. I think this is the bst thing ever happened the championship as its got people more intrested and I think it will be good for the GAA game as a whole.

WestRules (Galway) - Posts: 271 - 02/08/2010 12:21:08    732510

As for who will win Sam this year, I am fairly neutral.

Dublin are getting better, Bernard Brogan has always been consistently good and now others are coming up to his level. They clinically and skillfully removed Tyrone; their confidence is up-they will have no fear of Cork but are they better than Cork; on recent form, I would have to say no.

Cork; this should be their year; their only hoodoo of the last few years, Kerry, are gone! They have struggled against Kerry and Limerick earlier but otherwise no feathers have been ruffled. Great depth of players but poor free taking...could cost them. There doesn't seem to be the same vibrancy as this time last year...but maybe they are holding back. Of all the teams, they deserve Sam....free taking and belief are their achilles heel with a question mark on Counihans tactics-sometime brillant, sometime lacking imagination.

Down; their vibrancy is evident. Good young confident footballers, good talent and pace-will their lack of experience go against them this year-in theory it should but these guys ooze belief and have no baggage; thats worth a lot.

Kildare; what a efficient and clinical team. James Kavanagh is class. Yesterdays game was the best of the weekend and the Armagh influence has given them a new edge; they won't be afraid of Down or Dublin. Cork may be too much for them though.

kerrykerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1779 - 02/08/2010 12:22:17    732511

I think cork are due a big performance and the fellas who came off the bench yesterday will start the semi. I fancy a cork kildare final with cork winning it.

tribes4liam09 (Galway) - Posts: 147 - 02/08/2010 12:35:32    732528

although i backed kildare after seeing kerry and tyrone losing, i cant see past cork. dublin wont be able to deal with the hype and its only a matter of time before corks forwards start finding their shooting boots. to have players like murphy, o connor and miskella on the bench is enough to change any game, no matter wat resisitence dublin put up. hard to see down reaching the same level in the semi. overall a great season for gaelic football

thebear10 (Galway) - Posts: 68 - 02/08/2010 12:58:51    732569

John Boss So I'm alsio, Irvinetowngael? Catch yourself on.
I standby my comment about the Tyrone player who said that the rest of All Ireland championship is now like a runner-yups competition. My brother was in the company of this player when it was said, thats FACT!

Coa_gael (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1189 - 02/08/2010 13:17:39    732606

i honestly see the dubs going much further and my instinct suggests cork will lift the sam

Up4it. (Tyrone) - Posts: 199 - 02/08/2010 15:03:54    732893

i meant to say i can't see the dubs going much further

Up4it. (Tyrone) - Posts: 199 - 02/08/2010 15:06:19    732896

Cork are favourites now that kerry are gone.I would like to see Kildare win it.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 02/08/2010 15:51:58    732996

kerrykerry
County: Kerry
Posts: 1213

732511 As for who will win Sam this year, I am fairly neutral.

Dublin are getting better, Bernard Brogan has always been consistently good and now others are coming up to his level. They clinically and skillfully removed Tyrone; their confidence is up-they will have no fear of Cork but are they better than Cork; on recent form, I would have to say no.

Cork; this should be their year; their only hoodoo of the last few years, Kerry, are gone! They have struggled against Kerry and Limerick earlier but otherwise no feathers have been ruffled. Great depth of players but poor free taking...could cost them. There doesn't seem to be the same vibrancy as this time last year...but maybe they are holding back. Of all the teams, they deserve Sam....free taking and belief are their achilles heel with a question mark on Counihans tactics-sometime brillant, sometime lacking imagination.

Down; their vibrancy is evident. Good young confident footballers, good talent and pace-will their lack of experience go against them this year-in theory it should but these guys ooze belief and have no baggage; thats worth a lot.

Kildare; what a efficient and clinical team. James Kavanagh is class. Yesterdays game was the best of the weekend and the Armagh influence has given them a new edge; they won't be afraid of Down or Dublin. Cork may be too much for them though.

Very impressive man the way you analysed things. You obviously play the game and are looking at the whole thing with a open mind. I fully agree with what
you said. Not cause you see Cork as winning it but your over all accessment of every team. Well done KerryKerry

rebeltrev (Cork) - Posts: 344 - 02/08/2010 15:52:43    732998

I would love to see Kildare win, hopefully Dermot Earley Jnr will be fit for Semi Final. UP Kildare!

LondonSupporter (UK) - Posts: 119 - 02/08/2010 16:47:52    733122

I think Cork will win Sam with their pace and strength. I think they'll steamroll their way to the end , and I would be happy to see them win. However I was at Croke park on Saturday and Down for me have the most talented footballers of the four remaining teams. Good luck to Dublin and Kildare but for me they dont have the same footballing quality as the Mournemen. Still think Cork will win it.

gaelantrim (Antrim) - Posts: 1616 - 02/08/2010 17:12:21    733148

Down to win their Silver Jubilee championship!!! Said it all year

David (Meath) - Posts: 567 - 02/08/2010 17:42:51    733199

There is too much hot air coming out of the Dublin and their bubble will soon burst!

Cavan_gael (Cavan) - Posts: 100 - 02/08/2010 18:23:48    733262

Down V Cork final

I_agree (Mayo) - Posts: 58 - 02/08/2010 18:33:49    733275

As a Kildare man, IF we got to the final (big if) I would rather play Cork than Dublin. When we played Cork in 2008 we should have beaten them. I think our defence is now strong enough to deal with Corks forwards.

Nice to see nobody on this website and GAA pundits giving Kildare a chance. I think we'll suprise a lot of people this year. CILL DARA ABU!

jimmy90 (Kildare) - Posts: 160 - 02/08/2010 19:56:48    733382

Cavan Gael
Hot air?! Pray tell?

Jackeen (Dublin) - Posts: 4097 - 02/08/2010 20:46:14    733456

my head say cork now my heart kildare which i hope

farneyleader (Monaghan) - Posts: 72 - 02/08/2010 21:23:21    733527

Based upon the pace and confidence of the Dublin players on Saturday, I will be surprised if they do not reach the final. However, my heart will stay with Down as they were the biggest surprise of the championship outclassing the men from the Kingdom.

ekn_teacher (Fermanagh) - Posts: 272 - 02/08/2010 21:31:56    733543

Mickey Harte is still at his capers of deflecting attention away from his Tyrone's team demise by questioning the GAA Rules or the affect that live TV had on his team or now he is questioning why his team shouldn't be given a 2nd chance through the backdoor? These are only some of the many complaints he has raised over the years and most think that it pathetic trying to shift the blame from himself and his team on to someone or something else.

Anyway, here is the RTE Poll and I suspect that the polling was probably mostly from Tyrone in favour of giving provincial champions a 2nd chance.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The RTE Poll

Question:

Do you agree with Mickey Harte that provincial champions should get a second chance?

1. Yes. It's not fair that losing in the provincials offers a second chance, but winning the province doesn't.

2. No. Winning the province means having to play fewer games and therefore being fresher than teams that come through the qualifiers.

Results of the Poll:

Yes. It's not fair that losing in the provincials offers a second chance, but winning the province doesn't. 49% (2,432 votes)

No. Winning the province means having to play fewer games and therefore being fresher than teams that come through the qualifiers. 51% (2,573 votes)
Total Votes: 5,005

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I don't see the other provincial champions complaining as everyone knows the best are through to the semis and I think the winners of Championship semi-final between Cork and Dublin will take the Sam Maguire home!

WestRules (Galway) - Posts: 271 - 02/08/2010 21:59:29    733603