OMG - the Meath posters are sad, are you's guys like 12 ??? Armagh and Monaghan beat Kildare and Meath so quit that nonsense .
Anyway - Dubs are savage , we prob won't stay with them. Either way , we have three Ulsters and a Sam in last few years so most of us happy out. Dublin should win out right !

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 09/08/2014 19:56:11    1633968

The Dubs are very good. It's that simple. They are tough,fast and accurate. That's what the opposition has to analyse and see if they can counter it. I think Donegal are as tough and as accurate but not as fast. They will have to negate this somehow and counter attack as best they can to win.

seanie_boy (Tyrone) - Posts: 4235 - 09/08/2014 19:59:55    1633973

You would think Dublin were beating these Leinster teams in the qualifiers too.

Dublin very impressive again today.

JKSam (UK) - Posts: 1 - 09/08/2014 20:03:50    1633975

It's like watching Brazil.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 09/08/2014 20:09:11    1633979

Dublin a serious proposition. All you can do is give it 100% and see what happens.

fire_in_belly (Donegal) - Posts: 59 - 09/08/2014 20:09:18    1633980

Dublin do look unstoppable at the minute, at times it seems like they have about 20 players on the field they're that good and the amount of goal chances they create is astounding. Donegal have a mammoth challenge on their hands in this one, the media will build it right up, extreme defence v extreme attack but let's be real here, Dublin are streets ahead of every other county in the country so unless McGuinness can think of something spellbinding brilliant there's only going to be one winner here.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 09/08/2014 20:14:42    1633984

JonCarter
I do remember got good run against Kerry in semi.
But don't think we were that far ahead of every other team in country.
Watched that final in Nash's on Dorchester Ave.

hound (Meath) - Posts: 234 - 09/08/2014 20:15:33    1633985

MichaelO

It's like watching Brazil.

Not this year's Brazil!!!

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 09/08/2014 20:17:54    1633987

Not this year's Brazil!!!

Maybe I was talking about Monaghan heh.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 09/08/2014 20:22:31    1633993

Dublin were superb today but you could see some chinks in the Armour in the first ten minutes where Monaghan were getting through. Losing two goals pretty much took the wind out of the Monaghan sails up until that it was competitive.

spmccann (Dublin) - Posts: 209 - 09/08/2014 20:27:48    1633999

One question does spring to mind though, how did Dublin get this far ahead of everybody else, is the it funding? is it the population? or is it just that they happen to have an exceptional group of players all at the one time? (which is down to both hard work and luck).

Kerry more than anyone else have had exceptional teams on occasions in the past that no other team could deal with so I suppose there's no real surprise that this can happen.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 09/08/2014 20:28:30    1634000

MichaelO

Maybe I was talking about Monaghan heh.

Ha fair enough, that would make more sense alright.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 09/08/2014 20:30:05    1634003

They say Leinster is poor barr the dubs.

Midlu1 (Louth) - Posts: 790 - 09/08/2014 20:41:43    1634011

HTAEM

Look they have pretty much a professional set-up with full time coaches,and have major funding behind them.

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 09/08/2014 20:44:35    1634012

Htaem,

It's all of those things plus Jim Gavin, the Steve Silvermint of Gaelic football management. Plans everything meticiously, everyone in that squad knows the gameplan and gameplan B and gameplan C but also have the initiative, instilled into them by Gavin and his backroom team, to think on their feet in whatever situation they encounter.

Another thing, rarely mentioned, is that Dublin from 1996 to 2010 seemed to be adversely affected by hype in the capital. Once Leinster was won every man and woman in Dublin, including a lot that hadn't a clue about football, had them as certs. The 2011, but moreso this squad, don't just like the hype and the pressure of being All Ireland favourites, they look like they relish it.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8176 - 09/08/2014 20:50:06    1634020

They'll beat Donegal easy. If Donegal get within 8 I'll be surprised. (And Donegal are my 2nd team due to strong family connections so would prefer to say otherwise)
For anyone thinking they might get complacent, just look at that subs bench: one average game & you're out.

If Mayo get one of their purple patches but this time lasts 70 mins rather than the usual 10-15 they could beat them ! Mind you, they could easily lose by 15 or so too. Other than that, it's all over. If it's Kerr, they''ll rack up a decent score but still get beat 6-7 pts.

Nothing lasts forever but it's very hard to see this Dublin team not winning more championships. They're just superb.

KildareKelly (Kildare) - Posts: 593 - 09/08/2014 20:55:54    1634031

Men v boys. Well dublin, best of luck, back to the drawing board...

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 09/08/2014 21:01:05    1634038

One game closer

That's all.

The "Leinster runners" took apart "Ulster footballers" today Ulsterman

:)

Now for Donegal.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 09/08/2014 21:15:54    1634044

Well that's it lads, I know they have a lot of advantages over other counties, especially in terms of population but that isn't anything new, that was always the case, the rest of us just have to try to catch up, it's either that or give up which won't be considered in all fairness.

As for their mental state, I suppose their confidence is natural given their success, the 96-10 Dublin teams seemed to get very nervous on the big stage and as such they choked on quite a few occasions. Getting over the line the 1st time is the hardest part for any team, they did it in 2011 and then they got it in their heads that they're winners not chokers so they did it again last year and will do it again in the years to come.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 09/08/2014 21:19:06    1634048

Monaghan had the right game plan but once you start shipping goals and chasing the game against this team you're dead meat. Monaghan started trying to force it too much and became impatient after the 2 goals, it was a walk in the park for Dublin after that.

I can see Donegal giving us a game by being extremely defensive. If they can stop the goals they'll keep in touch as Dublin tend to not shoot that well from distance or under pressure, their outstanding attribute is having multiple options in good areas which exploits and creates space. However defensive you are it's just so difficult to stop the chances though, Monaghan looked rock solid at the back for 25 minutes but Dublin just have so many pacy runners who pick the right angles, and they always go for the net. With Dublin streets ahead of 2011 and Donegal seemingly declined you'd expect a hammering but I expect to see Jimmys most defensive side yet.

CaisleanCnucha (Dublin) - Posts: 1379 - 09/08/2014 21:24:48    1634054