Kerry GAA Discussion Thread Mod Warning Post #4167

DDC1990 wrote: »

I take issue with this. I've watched football forensically for the last 20 years. I've been to 100% of Kerry's competitive games in the Fitzmaurice era and missed only a handful of games in the 15 years before.

I travel home from Dublin regularly to watch my club by Division 4 football and attend County Championship games whenever possible.

The fact that I believe that Donaghy in 2016 offers us more as a midfielder then at Full Forward for a multitude of reasons should not write me off as some clueless idiot.

The number 1 reason Donaghy cannot be played at Full Forward is he gets no frees. He has mouthed off regularly to referees over not getting decisions and has left himself with very little friends, not least David Gough who tormented Donaghy in the League game this year vs Cork with some rediculous decisions and an early yellow card. Gough will let Philly and Cooper mount Donaghy at every occasion leaving no hope of him being effective inside. The longer he is ineffective inside, the more frustrated he gets, and the likelyhood of him doing something rash and seeing the line increases.

At midfield his greatest asset is his defensive workrate. He is playing Maher's role from last year very effectively, because Maher is bolloxed and hasn't looked fit all year. When Maher came on against Clare Garry Brennan instantly beat him and Clare got back in the game.

The points you make about his tackling are valid and my main concern about him at midfield. His speed isn't as much of a concern as he uses his body well to slow down the man he is marking. If left one on one in a foot race vs Fenton he is in trouble, but with cover in behind Donaghy just has to face him and get his angles right.

Donaghy's kicking from range is fine, especially in Croke Park (check out 2011 Final before Cluxton wins it). If you are concerned about his kickpassing, I wouldn't worry about that either because midfielders haven't been used for kick passing in a long time. In fact we need to get Moran to cut down on his outside of the boot Hollywood passes that end up in the sweepers hands or out over the sideline/endline. Donaghy will be around as a body in midfield to support the runners who get bottled up and distribute to another runner.

He is not a perfect midfielder but with the form that our other midfielders are in he is number 1 easily for me. The Dubs will try to exploit him and get him 1 v 1 with Fenton. Brennan for Clare and the two Tipperary midfielders would both be as fast and as strong as Fenton (without being nearly as skillful on the ball). Yet Donaghy managed to outplay them all. Hoping for more of the same today, as that will bring us a long way towards willing the match.

Regards,

The Clueless one

Felix Jones is God wrote: »

I have absolutely no proof, but the whisper I heard is that gooch is carrying an injury and is not starting and than Donaghy is at full forward

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

People have been expecting that since the 2011 final, and the only day it came was the 2013 SF, and they still lost by 7.

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Ha ha, I would not bank on that.

If Dublin win yes they will be crazy favourites but I would give Mayo every chance against this Kerry team.