All-Ireland Championships '08

fearghal

Performances of the Championship so far:

Cork (Second Half) v Kerry
Offaly v Limerick (Hurling)




And stick, the Dub's are bringing through plenty of young lads in the hurling, O'Carroll, Boland, Brady etc, they've just been unlikely. They were v competitive against Wexford the last 2 years and then went out to strong Munster teams.

Stuff the Goat

Brilliant comeback by Fermanagh, I fancy them for the replay!..... Dubs were excellent, but that will set Wexford back a lot.......... Galway were'nt able to go up an extra gear against Cork (hurling), so deserved to lose!
Finally, well done to my own co. Monaghan, in beating Derry. We silenced nearly ever GAA scribe, as the totally wrote us off !

fearghal

I like Monaghan, and they look odds on for the Nicky Rackard!

GazM

Baz, you going to the Tyrone Vs. Westmeath game?

Stick

Dubs were excellent but Wexford defence was woeful too. Not sure I wanted that kind of a win for Dublin. We now wait for our quarter final opponents with big heads in the squad and the tag of favourites. Could be another Mayo in the making.

cesc's_mullet

Who're the top young players setting the league alite? No doubt we'll see a few of them make the trip across the big water to our side of the world. I'd love to see Hawthorn recruit a young Irishman into their ranks.

For those who don't know either - Marty Clarke is a fine Footballer, and Tadgh Kennelly has incredible skills - both are fantastic to watch, despite the fact they play for clubs I have no interest in.

I love Gaelic too, though we don't get any coverage down here.

Stick

Log onto rte.ie I believe they have live streaming of most games now. Just to get you up to speed. The league in hurling and football is a winter affair and wraps up around April. League is really preparation for the main event of the All Ireland. To be honest in the football it's been a bit quiet. Not many great individuals coming through. Aussie rules mainly scouts the minor intercounty scene for big young lads around 18 or so to bring across for the Rules so we don't get to see them at senior football level. I used to love watching highlights from Aussie Rules games. I like to have a look at the Irish there. How is Setanta O'Hailpin doing now? I haven't seen him play much recently. Tadgh Kennelly has said his dream would be to return to Ireland and win an All Ireland with Kerry and he is a fantastic athlete. Used to love watching Jim Stines playing there aswell. A tank of a man.

cesc's_mullet

Cheers for the link.

I always loved playing Gaelic in PE class back at school. It was perfect because all the Wogs/Asians used to complain when we played AFL, and the rest of us complained when we played Soccer. Thus we played Gaelic.

Yeah the scouts only look for the young lads, so as to give them time to develop their potential and get fully settled in. Setanta O'Hailpin is a bit of an enigma, physically he's got it all going for him. Tall, quick, mobile, strong and a bloody nut-bag to boot. Unfortunately he hasn't really got much of a 'footballing brain.' He's been in and out of the side this season, and would be a fringe player ATM.

Kennelly is an absolute jet. He is so smooth and clean with his skills - he never misses the target whether by hand or foot, it's amazing to think he only started playing AFL so late. He has said a few times he'd love to go back to Ireland, I think he'll leave at the end of next season when his contract expires. He will be a big loss to his side, and to the League as a whole. But good on him, he's achieved his goals and played a large part in Sydney winning the Grand Final back in '05.

Jim Stines has just taken over the Melbourne Football club, who are going through a rather rough patch ATM. He's giving the whole joint a massive shake-up, and only two days ago he got rid of the CEO who'd only been there for 5 months. Big news that was. He's a legend of the game, on a side note.

Colm Begley has been impressive for Brisbane, and Marty Clarke of Collingwood is a gun and a half.

Stick

No worries. I played Gaelic all the way up fromt about 7 years old and enjoyed the social side of it. Got fairly handy at it around about 15 when I got taller but fell out with my club after minor (u18s) and left to start soccer. I still play for a junior side in Dublin and it's great craic but dont take it as seriously.

Setanta was a hurler here and I'm sure he played bit of ball but I'm not sure if he'll cut the mustard from what i've seen. Kennelly is your typical Kerry footballer. Smooth, accurate and a beast of a ball player. I was surprised at how quickly he adapted but a few of Irelands best rugby players were fantastic GAA player (Conor O'Shea, Mick Galwey, Geordan Murphy and Shane Horgan to name just 4) I remember Kennellys Irish jig when the Swans won. He may want another title before departing Oz.

Stines is a tough nut. He was a great footballer as was his brother Brian who was a midfielder for Dublin in the 90s. Brian was a player who put everything on the line for the team. The type of player who is sorely missed in the Dublin panel at the minute.

What is your thinking on the comprimise rules? Are you a fan or do you think it's just a glorified brawl?

cesc's_mullet

Yeah, but isn't Gaelic a non-pro sport in the first place? I couldn't believe it when I heard the players aren't professionals, it's such a fantastic sport - surely there's a market for a proper league?

Having said that I don't actually know what the real situation is over there.

I was surprised when I heard Setanta and his brother came from a Hurling background (a fine sport too, that). A massive transition in fairness, the odds were against him from the very start.

As for Kennelly, quite simply he's a joy to watch. I'm concerned about his shoulders though, he seems to be having troubles with them every-other game. Just last two weeks ago against the side I follow (Hawthorn) he had a semi-dislocation, played on, then copped a full dislocation only to run out the game. I don't think his side, Sydney, have that much left in the tank. They're the typical gritty grind out a result side akin to say a Blackburn or Big Sam's Bolton back in the day. I think they've had their time in the sun for a little while yet.

I personally love the hybrid game. I went to watch it last time it was down here - when 'the' incident happened (when our guy absolutely coat-hangered your guy) - and it was fucking brilliant. Though when you think about it it's kind of unfair, our side is full of professional sportsmen, who're paid to hit the gym and reach the peak of physical fitness, they're all used to throwing their bodies around every week in the AFL. They can obviously take and dish our massive hits.

Whereas your side are full of teachers and the like that come from a sport that doesn't have tackling even (?) let alone big hip-n-shoulders. It was inevitable that our boys where going to try and intimidate your side physically.

I don't mean to sound demeaning but the saying 'boys against men' comes to mind - physically, I mean.

I really hope they bring the games back, I hear talks have been underway for a while about reinstating the series. Though I think some restrictions will obviously be put in place.

Stick

Yeah it's an amateur sport but at inter county level it's virtually professional training. I think it would take too much from the game to make it professional. It makes it more personal too when you can represent your own county and parish in Croke Park.

On the rules side I think there have been some great games but in recent times the Ozzy boys have been taking the piss. I mean the Agemanis tackle where he actually performed a flying clothesline on one of our boys was nothing short of assault. You can see it here at the start
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA4U8zEMmLM
I think the series is a good idea but fewer and fewer of the better Gaelic footballers want to risk serious injury in games that they feel are meaningless. I think if both sides come to play tough clean football then you get a game that everyone wants to see.

Stuff the Goat

Probably the best game of the Chmph. yesterday between DonegaL & Monaghan !....... My "auld sod" (Monaghan) were quite impressive, d'ont think anyone will fancy drawing us in the next rd.!

Keane16

Well well.

We've been shite though. Monaghan will love that one.

Careful now.

Stick

Monaghan are my outside tip for the All Ireland. I think they've beaten the Dubs this year and are a tough outfit. The loss at the start could be what makes them with a good run of games giving them momentum. Will be an interesting game.

Stuff the Goat

Next weeks game with Kerry will be a belter!..... I genuinely feel we can get our 1st ever competitve victory over the Kingdom.
The one thing this year that stands against the teams who have come the whole way through the qualifiers, is that, if any of them manage to get to a semi-final, they will have played on 4 consecutive weekends. Monaghan have got the toughest draws in every round so far, Derry, Donegal & now Kerry. For instance, IF the Mons were to beat Kerry, & then draw Dublin the following weekend, they would have to be damn near super-human to get to a semi-final!...... Anyway, here's hoping!

Rooney24

I have a sneaky feeling for Down. But then I have a sneaky feeling for them every year and they contrive to fuck it up.....but if they get on a roll, who knows, sam could be coming back to the Mournes, and they have been deadly in front of goal recently.

cesc's_mullet

I was there at that game back in '06 and it looked terrible from the stands. The tackler was Chris Johnson BTW not Akermanis.

Yeah I can understand the apprehension, it occured to me (and everyone else it seems) that we first started putting our stamp on the game when your sides superior skills where really showing. And from there I figure they just decided to not even let you guys get into the game in the first place by hitting some bodies early on.

Stick

That said a couple of your forwards looked to be misfiring at the start of the Championship. With a few more games under their belt they look a lot better. Freeman especially who I think is a match winner!

Stick

Yeah Benny Coulter is playing some great ball. I dont know much about them to be honest but Ulster seems like the most difficult province to get out of in recent years with 5 decent sides. Leinster on the other hand is a walk in Croke Park.

Stick

Yeah that tackle was really just mental. I believe in the physical intimidation within a game when its good fair and honest like out muscling an opponent or using brute force within the rules of the game which in many cases adds to a great contest. I think that in recent times the Aussie lads have been getting in their retaliation first. Still has the potential to be ressurected but both teams need to agree to cut out the niggle and play ball.

Red Hand Devil

The wheels have turned now though!

The Aussies are alot better technically & walked over us last time round, so i dont think things will be any different next time - if there is one!

The Rules totally favour the Aussies though. We're not allowed to tackle - its a yellow or sending off & we dont play Marks. Most of your lads will have played Rugby - most of ours wont have gone anywhere near it. Your professional & have professional coaches - we have a magic sponge & some old bloke showing videos of Michael Collins to get the boys motivated!

Red Hand Devil

Anyway as my name suggests, i'm from Tyrone, so we're not out of it & can mount a challenge!

Would love to see what Dublin would do if they had to come out of Ulster - there's 5 teams left in the comp & potentially 5 still left at the next stage, dont think Dublin would fancy many of those teams, apart from Fermanagh to be honest!

I think Westmeath was always gonna be a hard game, but we got through that, thank God, it'll be much more open against Mayo & that could be Mayo's downfall and in saying that - Tyrone's downfall aswell!

Baz - i didnt know you were Irish nevermind from Westmeath

Come on Tyrone - the mighty Red Hands

cesc's_mullet

I understand what you're saying there, but I can guarantee most of our players wouldn't have played Rugby!

Though if you're talking about it in the sense that the players will know how to tackle properly, then you'd be right to the extent that the players certainly do know how to tackle. But that's down to specialist training, technique training and just good hard time in the gym.

There's been a real emphasis on pressuring the ball-carrier, and thus tackling, over the last few seasons - it really does win you games as it causes turn-overs and rushed decisions.

Anyway so that certainly helps us when it comes to the hybrid game. Especially when you consider your guys are playing in a league where the exact opposite is emphasised!

Keane16

Huge chance for Monaghan this weekend. They're still carrying around last year's one point defeat as some kind of cruel injustice, which it wasn't, but will help them to be especially motivated on Sunday. Kerry have been appalling, no doubt about that, far worse than even up to this point in 2006 in fact. They are off and will have to drag it out of themselves on the day. Kerry have to show up, that's what is all boils down to IMO. Good and all as they are, they're not good enough to casually turn up and beat Monaghan. They have yet to show up this year.

Monaghan will not get a better chance than this. Freeman is a genuine match winner, I agree.

Stick

Yeah this year I've been very disappointed with Kerry's forwards. Donaghy especially for me isnt looking like the player he was two seasons ago. Middle of the park O Se is finally showing some frailty and no doubt Galvin is being missed in his ability to pick up scrappy ball and his sheer phsyicality. T