Dublin GAA Discussion Thread MOD WARNING POST #2944

ProudDUB

I know its impossible to expect them to all go out and play like robots, but I'd love to see Cooper be a little less wound up in games. The amount of frees he gives away (in the first Mayo semi final in particular) from charging into the tackle, hell for leather...is...well.... unfortunate, to put it mildly.

Like I said, they're not robots, but when you see Kilkenny or the Brogans or Flynner or Rory or Cian coming in for the rough stuff and there is zero reaction to it, it makes you wonder "what if..." when it comes to Cooper and Diarmuid. Dermo had been doing really well for the couple of years he was vice captain under Galvin. But unfortunately, he'll have an even bigger target on his back again next year.

Godge

ProudDUB wrote: »

Ya feckin' eegit ya ! :eek:

The first black card tonight seemed soft enough on the telly. But I was over on the Hogan Stand side when it happened, so I couldn't really see how bad the offense was in real time. But soft or not, it was still a black card for dragging down/pulling down aka cynical play.

That is what will get no mention tomorrow - Kerry being perfectly as home utilizing The Dark Arts, whenever they feel the need to. The meeja will always gloss over that, in their haste to tar & feather the likes of Philly McMahon, or anoint some durty nordrinner as The Villain of The Week ! :rolleyes:

I was unusual to see Kerry punished for it.

Their standard tactic is to target half-backs and corner-backs moving the ball forward from defence. Conceding a free inside the other teams 65 is an effective way of slowing a team like Dublin down.

On Saturday, they just weren't as effective at it as before and made more desperate fouls closer to their own line.

BKWDR

Great win and great to be back under the lights in croker.

Great to have Mannion back and he does look fresh, but over all looking at him I don't seem to understand so much praise heaped on him. The kerry #2 marking him was a young lad making his debut and was completely gassed the entire first half and most of the second, actually couldn't breath. I feel that could have been exploited better by Paul. Also he missed a clear cut chance in on goal, choked a little. But great to have him back in the set up.

Andrews making it all so simple looking, great to watch.

Other than the frees it was hard to see a high work rate with Rock, tackling tracking back. But as i said , at the end of the league he will be one of the top scorers which is hard to argue with.

We're on to Mayo!

BKWDR

Great win and great to be back under the lights in croker.

Great to have Mannion back and he does look fresh, but over all looking at him I don't seem to understand so much praise heaped on him. The kerry #2 marking him was a young lad making his debut and was completely gassed the entire first half and most of the second, actually couldn't breath. I feel that could have been exploited better by Paul. Also he missed a clear cut chance in on goal, choked a little. But great to have him back in the set up.

Andrews making it all so simple looking, great to watch.

Other than the frees it was hard to see a high work rate with Rock, tackling tracking back. But as i said , at the end of the league he will be one of the top scorers which is hard to argue with.

We're on to Mayo!

DoctaDee

On Cooper - I thought there was an extra edge to his game ever since his return following the incident in Dorset Street

On Reddin - I've seen him a few times Stoner in SFC for Maurs. The thing I like about him particularly with the demands of the modern day wing forward is his work rate. We're spoiled with the likes of Flynn, DC & Kilkenny and to earmark anyone as an able replacement for those 3 would be churlish. But looking at the box to box type player, tracking movement and distribution he'd fit the bill probably in the manner that Donnchadh Walsh does with Kerry coupled with the fact that he poses a greater scoring threat than Walsh. In saying that I don't think we've seen his full capability in the blue jersey, whether we will was my original thoughts on him getting a starting place last Saturday - I put to you this way he's no less an option than Tomas Brady in my view.

On the game - Hugely encouraging start to the campaign. Mannion is the epitome of selfless working for others. In some respects I wish at times he'd be a bit more of a mé feiner, the chap's a class act and for 50 mins showed a dynamic that we didn't have last year in our set up play.

I don't want to labour on Rock - he misses too many goal chances, but I thought his 2nd half performance was very good - he's all too often making diagonal runs out to the sideline for possession, but the one instance when he broke straight, gathered turned and pointed with his left was utter class - more of the same please Deano.

Standout performances from Paddy, Johnny & COS again, and a little word of mention for David Byrne, the seeds are being sown for him to become an accomplished IC defender, much like Fitz he's developing the knack of getting a hand in at the right time.

That was a 10+ point game, but that has little relevance. Kerry were aimless in attack, which can be forgiven to a large degree when you consider the absence of Maher, Geaney(s), Gooch & JOD, their replacements with the exception of Darren O'Sullivan just weren't equipped to bring the inventiveness required - I did however see the potential of Walsh at FF, that little bit of quality supply from the absentees may make the difference. They do tho have big problems in defence and have had since this time last year. Griffin, Enright, Murphy & Young are good defenders in their own right - but not as a unit. Their blueprint for a decent defensive display has to be the 2014 AI - I wonder if Fitzmaurice would be prepared to tear up the football bible to deploy that system on a more regular basis.

Irrespective of the relevance of the competition, the players involved or the sytems deployed Dublin have had their number for the last few years now and Fitzmaurice knows that .. ta

Bonniedog

DoctaDee wrote: »

On Cooper - I thought there was an extra edge to his game ever since his return following the incident in Dorset Street

Having been the victim of a similar incident years back, I know that it can be quite difficult to get back on track mentally, never mind the physical part which is not too bad if you are fit, so it is great to see Jonny seemingly back to his best.

He does get a lot of stick and you can be certain there will be tramps out there lining up to give him an earful. Leave the retribution to others would be my advice :-)

Stoner

DoctaDee wrote:

I don't want to labour on Rock - he misses too many goal chances, but I thought his 2nd half performance was very good - he's all too often making diagonal runs out to the sideline for possession, but the one instance when he broke straight, gathered turned and pointed with his left was utter class - more of the same please Deano.

Saw that, it had a touch of O'Gara to it.

DoctaDee

Bonniedog wrote: »

Having been the victim of a similar incident years back, I know that it can be quite difficult to get back on track mentally, never mind the physical part which is not too bad if you are fit, so it is great to see Jonny seemingly back to his best.

He does get a lot of stick and you can be certain there will be tramps out there lining up to give him an earful. Leave the retribution to others would be my advice :-)

Yeah agree completely - I just got the impression last year that he needed to show at times that he was a "hard man" and it detracted somewhat from his game. I think we've all being victims of crime to varying degrees but to have his played out in public to sometimes unsympathetic ears is all the harder.

Stoner wrote: »

Saw that, it had a touch of O'Gara to it.

Indeed, it's one of the few occasions I've actually seen his merit as an all round forward - he had something similar last year in Parnell Park pulling the ball out of the sky and tapping it over, happens all to rarely - I'd never question his workrate or effort tho

BKWDR

http://www.sportsfile.com/id/1103811/

they seem to be alright in this photo

EICVD

ProudDUB wrote: »

I know its impossible to expect them to all go out and play like robots, but I'd love to see Cooper be a little less wound up in games. The amount of frees he gives away (in the first Mayo semi final in particular) from charging into the tackle, hell for leather...is...well.... unfortunate, to put it mildly.

Like I said, they're not robots, but when you see Kilkenny or the Brogans or Flynner or Rory or Cian coming in for the rough stuff and there is zero reaction to it, it makes you wonder "what if..." when it comes to Cooper and Diarmuid. Dermo had been doing really well for the couple of years he was vice captain under Galvin. But unfortunately, he'll have an even bigger target on his back again next year.

To be fair to Connolly that Donaghy lookalike who came on did give him an off the ball kick on the ankle & he didn't react at all, was a fairly tame 'kick' but he done it all the same. I presume Dermos 'best mate' may sit out Saturday's game after the concussion incident yesterday.

ProudDUB

Ah, it's the 1st round of the league. I don't think Kerry are all that bothered about winding anyone up. They've enough of their own stuff going on, to be concerned about. But from June onwards, he'll be a marked man. I wouldn't put it past some of our Leinster compatriots to try playing a wee bit of silly buggers with him & not just the big guns in August and September.

Anyone hear Eamon McGee on the radio on Sunday? (Or maybe it was the brother. I get them mixed up. ) Anyway, they both got black cards on Saturday night. One of them was for mouthing off to an opponent. The umpire heard it, reported it to the ref and he got the card for "provocative' behaviour.

Be interesting to see if any ref has the balls to do that in the summer, to any big name players who is interested in "having a bit of a chat," as Daragh O'Se likes to call it.

BonnieSituation

BKWDR wrote: »

http://www.sportsfile.com/id/1103811/

they seem to be alright in this photo

Paddy showing his " lack of class" as they call it over on the Kerry board.

ProudDUB

They'd be the experts on "lack of class," I suppose. Paudi was dead right ! :rolleyes:

Bonniedog

BonnieSituation wrote: »

Paddy showing his " lack of class" as they call it over on the Kerry board.

The two of them walked off together having the crack! I doubt that Andrews was slagging him :rolleyes:

Stoner

BonnieSituation wrote:

Paddy showing his " lack of class" as they call it over on the Kerry board.

It was only one comment all the same, on the back of a loss, more or less withdrawn. But genuinely Andrews walking around shaking hands is the very last clip on the highlights shown on TG4.

DoctaDee

Didn't see the incident at the time tbh, watched League Sunday on RTE and when they returned to the studio for analysis after the game the screen in the background was showing the after game scenes. Kealy & Paddy can be seen shaking hands, the Paddy pushes him at the side of the shoulder .. looked like one of those playful "gerrawayouttadat" reactions......

The underage football was back in full flow last weekend and this week too, we've a 3.00 throw in on Saturday which all but rules me out of Castlebar .. in fairness I'd decided when the fixtures were released that I'd give it a miss so it's an easy call

Bonniedog

Andrews and Kealy actually struck me at the time I saw it - thought it was on big screen but might have been on TV highlights - as was thinking they must have known each other well from college or something as they were having a good old chat and a laugh.

People are far too quick to seize on things they think they see to attack players or teams they don't like. Donaghy puts himself about in games and I'd imagine is total nightmare to be near on the pitch, but at end of final he went out of his way to shake hands with a good few Dublin players.

BonnieSituation

Stoner wrote: »

It was only one comment all the same, on the back of a loss, more or less withdrawn. But genuinely Andrews walking around shaking hands is the very last clip on the highlights shown on TG4.

I read back on more after I posted, and saw that.

In fairness though, they do have a habit of usually seeing no evil and hearing no evil when it comes to their players.
Ó Beaglaoich on Mannion, case-in-point.

Perhaps this consistent humbling by the Dubs is having an effect.

Bonniedog wrote: »

Donaghy puts himself about in games and I'd imagine is total nightmare to be near on the pitch, but at end of final he went out of his way to shake hands with a good few Dublin players.

As classless as I have always considered Mr Donaghy and I would state that I never ever liked him and he winds me up no end (2011, 2014), he was the epitome of class after the final last year and in fact you could say that about every player and Kerryperson I encountered since.

As well as that, his handling of the "gouging" incident on Radio 1 on the Monday after the AIF was "top-class".

That being send my dislike of the fupper has been reset to zero for 2016.

DoctaDee

By all accounts Bryan Cullens speech with the famous invite to Coppers was taken up by a good few of the Kerry lads in 2011.

corny

Unchanged side.

ProudDUB

Very disappointed in that line up tbh. What on earth is the point of giving so much game time to regulars, this early in the year? Now is the time to be blooding newer lads. I also see merit in giving some of the Vincents lads a go, who missed out on a chance 2 years running.

Slattsy

I can understand the line up, win your tough away games.

Another loss for Mayo against Dublin, keep the Mayo heads down and their confidence low against us. Another dent!

Slattsy

I can understand the line up, win your tough away games.

Another loss for Mayo against Dublin, keep the Mayo heads down and their confidence low against us. Another dent!

DoctaDee

I'd heard whispers (and some may remember me mentioning the performance of Gerry Seaver in Inter B final last year) that he was in line for a call on foot of his display in Blue Stars game last Sunday, not to be by the looks of it. But like PD I'd be disappointed we don't have a fresher faced team this weekend

corny

We might see a couple of changes to that team come throw in. Two weeks running with no dramatic late changes is inconceivable.:D O Conghaile for Bastick and i'd be happy with the team tbh.

ProudDUB

Yeah, I can see Slattsy's logic there. If we win this game, we probably only need one more win to guarantee not getting relegated. Another win & it's looking good to make the playoffs. As our 2 toughest games will be behind us, we'd be in good shape for that. In theory, that gives us wiggle room to relax a bit & experiment more in the five games after the 3 week break.

But I don't think that is what Gavin is going to do. He hasn't in previous campaigns. The further we go into the later rounds, the stronger his teams tend to get, as more & more of the heavy hitters (Berno, MDMA, Flynn, etc etc) start to return. Then there are the lads returning from injury lay offs (Fenton, Kev Mc, O'Gara) who will need game time too. So given all that, I can't really see a new lad forcing his way into games in March/April, if he isn't already in the frame now.


C'mere to me Docta (and you too Stoner, if you're reading this) what is the jackanory with Boards these days? Are ye still working on fixing it, or are ye done & this is how its always going to be? It's been a couple of week since the DOS thingamagiggy, but the double posts and the delay in posts appearing, is still a major pain in d'aul liathroidi.

Stoner

I read all your posts PD,

I've been getting double posts for two years now. They are working away on the platform alright. There will end up being some more steps in the background when posting to protect against going down again. Not sure when it will be all ironed out


I'd like to see more fresh faces too. It's Scullys time, and McHugh give him a run.

I didn't understand it last year and I don't understand it now, but why risk Bastic? Essentially we only have three midfielders.

ProudDUB

Thanks for the update. It's not that big of a big deal here, as it's not that busy a forum. But the delay in posting, in some of the really fast moving threads (like the Six Nations ones, when the games are actually on) doesn't really make it worth your while to post at all. Glad its being worked on. Am sure it's been no picnic for ye all.

I don't get Bastick playing at this time of year at all. One injury, suspension, or red or black card for him, Fenton or MDMA and we are Donald Ducked at midfield. Who the heck else is there, that is game tried and tested? Now it the time to be getting someone that experience, not just for this year, but for next year when (we presume) Bastick will be gone. I know Cian can slot in there if need be, but he is so important where he is, we don't need to be moving him anywhere, unless its a dire emergency.

Gael85

DoctaDee wrote: »

I'd heard whispers (and some may remember me mentioning the performance of Gerry Seaver in Inter B final last year) that he was in line for a call on foot of his display in Blue Stars game last Sunday, not to be by the looks of it. But like PD I'd be disappointed we don't have a fresher faced team this weekend

Would love to see Seaver get a chance at wing forward. Would have him ahead of Tomas Brady

BonnieSituation

The weather in Castlebar is something rotten.