Donegal are limited as a team bar lacey Murphy Mc Glynn MCfadden and McBreaty, the rest are workhorses. If they were that skilfull of a team they would go man for man against the likes of Kerry and Cork and see how they would get on.

Whats the point in going man to man in a team sport? It probably is going to take about another 18 months for all the counties to cop on that the days of man of the match performances are just token nonsense. The best teams around the world today are exactly that, teams.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3849 - 14/01/2013 17:53:24    1318303

who exactly goes man for man nowadays?..i havent seen too many teams in senior gaa do it in a long time

ffgg (Longford) - Posts: 2571 - 14/01/2013 18:25:08    1318323

kerryrowz
County: Kerry
Posts: 523

Donegal are limited as a team bar Lacey Murphy McGlynn McFadden and McBreaty, the rest are workhorses. If they were that skilfull of a team they would go man for man against the likes of Kerry and Cork and see how they would get on.

I think if a team is really better man to man, they will overcome a weaker team regardless of tactics.

Donegal, Mayo, Dublin and Cork were all equal in terms of fitness from what I have seen. I would go as far as to say that Kerry and Kildare were probably at that level of fitness too.
The notable difference was in the organization. Kildare left themselves wide open against Cork, something Donegal, Mayo and Dublin would not be found guilty of doing. Kerry were fortunate that Donaghy got a square ball goal, and also that Donegal had taken their foot off and were cruising at that stage.

Donegal went man to man with Cork in the first 35mins of the Semi final. If you watch the replay, you will clearly see that. I was there for that game, and many were suprised to see them go toe to toe with the mighty Cork.

You talk sweetly about Tyrone, as your own county could not beat them when you were at your peak. 2003, 2005 and 2008 the great Kerry team failed to overcome the red hand county. Kerry could win loads of All Ireland's, so long as they didn't have to meet Tyrone.
Tyrone at first were Puke football, then a quality set up until 2008 when they were accepted as a great team.
Donegal are still at the first All Ireland stage, give them time.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 14/01/2013 18:40:40    1318335

Yeah Tyrone beat us three times Great for them, That Great Kerry Team got to 6 Finals in a row 04 to 09, wining 4 Sams and Tyrone won two. Kerry cant win every game they play. Its a amateur sport. Time will tell to see if Donegal can reach 6 finals in a row and win 4 Sams, Then and only then will we Know if Donegal are a great team.

It amazes me that no one from the other 31 counties give kerry credit for this feat, its not kerry fault that Tyrone didnt show up the years when Kerry won their 4 sams.

Kerry will win Sam this year, only Dublin and Tyrone will offer a threat.

kerryrowz (Kerry) - Posts: 833 - 14/01/2013 18:50:32    1318341

GaryMc82
County: Derry
Posts: 339

1318335 kerryrowz
County: Kerry
Posts: 523

Donegal are limited as a team bar Lacey Murphy McGlynn McFadden and McBreaty, the rest are workhorses. If they were that skilfull of a team they would go man for man against the likes of Kerry and Cork and see how they would get on.

I think if a team is really better man to man, they will overcome a weaker team regardless of tactics.

Donegal, Mayo, Dublin and Cork were all equal in terms of fitness from what I have seen. I would go as far as to say that Kerry and Kildare were probably at that level of fitness too.
The notable difference was in the organization. Kildare left themselves wide open against Cork, something Donegal, Mayo and Dublin would not be found guilty of doing. Kerry were fortunate that Donaghy got a square ball goal, and also that Donegal had taken their foot off and were cruising at that stage.

Donegal went man to man with Cork in the first 35mins of the Semi final. If you watch the replay, you will clearly see that. I was there for that game, and many were suprised to see them go toe to toe with the mighty Cork.

You talk sweetly about Tyrone, as your own county could not beat them when you were at your peak. 2003, 2005 and 2008 the great Kerry team failed to overcome the red hand county. Kerry could win loads of All Ireland's, so long as they didn't have to meet Tyrone.
Tyrone at first were Puke football, then a quality set up until 2008 when they were accepted as a great team.
Donegal are still at the first All Ireland stage, give them time.


What a comment my learned friend.

Dublin beat Kerry in 2011, 1977 and 1976. In return we beat them in 75 78 79 84 85. its not kerry fault that,Tyrone dont reach the same no of finals as Kerry do. By the way Kerry beat Tyrone in the 86 Final.

By your reckoning the Dubs Sams are not the same value, if they dont beat Derry to win one.

kerryrowz (Kerry) - Posts: 833 - 14/01/2013 18:58:19    1318343

ha ha ha donegal lose a game or two and thats it game over makes me laugh 2 articles i was reading today regarding dublin and donegal and you would swair it was championship games they were playing lol...

dubbydave. (Dublin) - Posts: 3927 - 14/01/2013 19:03:26    1318347

Fast forward 5 months and the scoreline will be more than likely the other way round.

banner_boy (Clare) - Posts: 1285 - 14/01/2013 19:22:50    1318364

It's the McKenna cup. There is nothing, and I mean nothing of value to be taken from these games in relation to where Donegal are at.

We couldn't win it when we were trying to, we'll not be winning it with a team of kids who aren't trying to.

Samsforthehills (Donegal) - Posts: 1075 - 14/01/2013 20:03:07    1318384

Samsforthehills
County: Donegal
Posts: 436

Why wouldn't the kids be trying to win when there's 1-2 places in the senior panel at stake? Seems odd.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 14/01/2013 20:54:43    1318404

Monaghan beat Donegal, Wicklow beat Dublin, Tipp beat Cork and Leitrim beat Mayo, January football, who cares...

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8778 - 14/01/2013 21:49:14    1318426

I think it is hilarious how so many people are going on like donegal have reinvented football for ever and that every other team must duplicate exactly what they done last year if they are to even come close to their apparent greatness! All nonsense. They were the hardest working team and got the best momentum going but it really was a poor championship! Dublin were awful & never got any cohesion or flow to there game, Kerry were awful & almost beat the mighty Donegal who were very lucky to escape, Cork again failed to deliver on the big stage, Tyrone are progressively getting worse under mickey harte & have seriously lacked the desire & hunger for a number of years now...The final lineup doesn't lie Donegal v Mayo final can only happen in a year where all the big guns fail to fire!!

Normal service will resume this year with 1 of Kerry or Cork winning sam

pigonastick (Dublin) - Posts: 487 - 15/01/2013 10:10:36    1318478

have to respectfully disagree pigonastick...by your logic dublin's all ireland win was in a weak year also with a scrappy win over a donegal team who were in their 1st semi in a while and a narrow defeat of a kerry team who weren't the same power as previous years...also cork didnt come to the party that year either...but the truth is that dublin, like donegal were worthy winners...you can only beat what is in front of you...imo donegal completely dismantled and wore down cork and kerry (and many others)...much like dublin wore donegal and kerry down in the previous year (and dismantled a few others)...just because the so called strong teams did not win the all ireland doesnt mean it was a weak one!!!

breakingball22 (Louth) - Posts: 419 - 15/01/2013 10:31:22    1318494

pigonastick
County: Dublin
Posts: 448

1318478
I think it is hilarious how so many people are going on like donegal have reinvented football for ever and that every other team must duplicate exactly what they done last year if they are to even come close to their apparent greatness! All nonsense. They were the hardest working team and got the best momentum going but it really was a poor championship! Dublin were awful & never got any cohesion or flow to there game, Kerry were awful & almost beat the mighty Donegal who were very lucky to escape, Cork again failed to deliver on the big stage, Tyrone are progressively getting worse under mickey harte & have seriously lacked the desire & hunger for a number of years now...The final lineup doesn't lie Donegal v Mayo final can only happen in a year where all the big guns fail to fire!!
Normal service will resume this year with 1 of Kerry or Cork winning sam

It's hard to know where to start with this, but here goes

1 I haven't heard anyone anywhere claim that Donegal reinvented football.
2 I haven't heard anyone say that everyone must copy Donegal exactly to gain success. You would be a moron to think that.
3 Donegal's success was simply down to hard work & momentum. Yea right.
3 Kerry were awful & Cork falied to deliver & yet they are finalists next year. Not showing much faith in your own county there.

Where I do agree with you is that the big guns had a poor year & I think this year they will be better. As for the rest of it, rubbish

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 15/01/2013 10:31:53    1318495

kerryrowz
County: Kerry
Posts: 525
What a comment my learned friend.

Dublin beat Kerry in 2011, 1977 and 1976. In return we beat them in 75 78 79 84 85. its not kerry fault that,Tyrone dont reach the same no of finals as Kerry do. By the way Kerry beat Tyrone in the 86 Final.

By your reckoning the Dubs Sams are not the same value, if they dont beat Derry to win one.

No the Dublin v Kerry rivalry of the 70's & 80's was a very different affair, Mainly as Kerry faced down their greatest rivals of that particular period and came out on top overall. Nobody can dispute the fact that Kerry beat all the top sides of the time. Now the Tyrone of 1986 was a very different team from the 2003, 2005 and 2008 side, I don't think you can add them to the battle of the noughties. Not only had 17 years passed, but the mindset of Ulster and Tyrone football had changed dramatically since then.

If Derry were the Dubs greatest rivals of a given period, and the Dubs failed to beat them once enroute to an All Ireland, well then yes like Kerry team of the Noughties, a shadow would hang over their achievements to a certain degree.
Nobody will deny that Kerry were in the top two teams of the decade, nor will they deny that Kerry were the most successful team of the decade. But what people will always say is that despite all this, there was one team they simply couldnt beat when it mattered most.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 15/01/2013 11:46:25    1318531

Nobody will deny that Kerry were in the top two teams of the decade, nor will they deny that Kerry were the most successful team of the decade. But what people will always say is that despite all this, there was one team they simply couldnt beat when it mattered most.
Garymc82


Spot on Gary.

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 15/01/2013 12:29:19    1318571

breakingball22
County: Louth
Posts: 166

1318494 have to respectfully disagree pigonastick...by your logic dublin's all ireland win was in a weak year also with a scrappy win over a donegal team who were in their 1st semi in a while and a narrow defeat of a kerry team who weren't the same power as previous years...also cork didnt come to the party that year either...but the truth is that dublin, like donegal were worthy winners...you can only beat what is in front of you...imo donegal completely dismantled and wore down cork and kerry (and many others)...much like dublin wore donegal and kerry down in the previous year (and dismantled a few others)...just because the so called strong teams did not win the all ireland doesnt mean it was a weak one!!!

I agree with what you say. I think the Idea that business will resume as normal this year, with one of the big teams winning Sam is nonsense.

Firstly I question who are the big teams and why are they the big teams? I see Kerry and Tyrone because of the previous decade.
Kerry's dominance during the previous decade, and their honours list of All Ireland titles will assure us all that they will always produce good teams and be considered a big gun.

Now this is were it begins to get confusing for me.

Over the last 4 years Cork, Dublin, Donegal and Mayo have all reached multiple All Ireland Semi finals, and they have all contested All Ireland finals with Cork, Dublin and Donegal so far winning titles.

Cork, Dublin and Donegal have won 2 All Irelands each in the last 23 years ( Note: Tyrone are not that far ahead with 3 titles in that time ).
It's pointless counting Provinicial titles, as we all know they are easier come by in some provinces than others. And likewise the National league is taken more seriously by some teams than others.

So outside of the ever present Kerry, who are the current big teams??? I ask this as Dublin and Donegal were clearly not considered to be among them in the last 2 years. So by the big teams, who are we talking about?? And by what reasoning is this determined??

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 15/01/2013 12:43:09    1318579

15/11/2012 20:56:03
kerryrowz
County: Kerry
Posts: 525

1298424 I reckon Donegal are favs, but i have a gut feeling that Tyrone will catch them in the first round in Ulster. Thus making tyrone favs for Sam. You heard it here first.

Cork and Dublin are next and then Kerry.

Mayo have as much chance of winning sam as i have with Georgia salpa.
Mayo had a handy run to the final last year. Beating leitrim Sligo and Down. While they caught The Dubs cold without Alan Brogan. As much i would like to see Mayo win they havent a hope in hell.
__________________________
Kerryrowz comments on 15 November
It seems that the McKenna cup performances that did not feature any of the players he rated so highly in November has caused a fundamental change in his assessment for Donegal and Tyrones prospects

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 15/01/2013 14:48:18    1318676

I have seen many things posted in HS this last ten years or so but this topic and people actually biting..

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 15/01/2013 14:54:04    1318685

GaryMc82
County: Derry
Posts: 342

1318531 kerryrowz
County: Kerry
Posts: 525
What a comment my learned friend.

Dublin beat Kerry in 2011, 1977 and 1976. In return we beat them in 75 78 79 84 85. its not kerry fault that,Tyrone dont reach the same no of finals as Kerry do. By the way Kerry beat Tyrone in the 86 Final.

By your reckoning the Dubs Sams are not the same value, if they dont beat Derry to win one.

No the Dublin v Kerry rivalry of the 70's & 80's was a very different affair, Mainly as Kerry faced down their greatest rivals of that particular period and came out on top overall. Nobody can dispute the fact that Kerry beat all the top sides of the time. Now the Tyrone of 1986 was a very different team from the 2003, 2005 and 2008 side, I don't think you can add them to the battle of the noughties. Not only had 17 years passed, but the mindset of Ulster and Tyrone football had changed dramatically since then.

If Derry were the Dubs greatest rivals of a given period, and the Dubs failed to beat them once enroute to an All Ireland, well then yes like Kerry team of the Noughties, a shadow would hang over their achievements to a certain degree.
Nobody will deny that Kerry were in the top two teams of the decade, nor will they deny that Kerry were the most successful team of the decade. But what people will always say is that despite all this, there was one team they simply couldnt beat when it mattered most.





Where were Tyrone 04 06 07 and 09. Whos to say Kerry would of had the measure of Tyrone in these years, your reasons are not logical.
Down Offaly Dublin Tyrone Meath Galway have all beated kerry in All Irelands the list goes on. Kerry people dont care about this Tyrone thing diff teams have always beaten Kerry in All Irelands, the diff is we come back and win more. I think Kerry have lost 15 or more All Irelands.
We cant win every one.

kerryrowz (Kerry) - Posts: 833 - 15/01/2013 17:50:55    1318771

TheGateKeeper
County: Tyrone
Posts: 1215

1318571
Nobody will deny that Kerry were in the top two teams of the decade, nor will they deny that Kerry were the most successful team of the decade. But what people will always say is that despite all this, there was one team they simply couldnt beat when it mattered most.
Garymc82

Tyrone had more than one team in that time they simply couldn't beat when it mattered most.

Superglue (Kerry) - Posts: 1283 - 15/01/2013 19:03:51    1318814