SFC Final - Dublin v Mayo - *Read Mod Note in post #1 & #1393*

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Both Dublin players made their play and missed. It's very simple. The goals came because Mayo players were unlucky.

The reason the ball was in the area for both goals was due to very good Dublin moves - Fentons run & Connollys pass. But the way the ball bounced in there was unlucky for Mayo, particularly the Boyle one. Personally, I thought McLoughlin should have been able to react quicker to the ball that came off him.

Stoner wrote: »

The same Diarmuid who broke Rory O'Carrolls nose in the first game off the ball caught on camera but played both games?

Cooper and SOS were at it SOS reacted and threw him to the ground and got sent off. That's SOS fault Cooper did not run to the ref

McCarthy has himself to blame for getting his card today but nobody played up to the ref for SOSs card last year that was his own fault all Cooper did was push him

Calm down with the breaking players legs over reaction. Have a look at Johnny Coopers face after the 2013 game he gets no change from Mayo. As discussed Diarmiud is no angel and nobody tried to break anyone's legs or neck as mentioned by another poster

No mention of Boyle staying on the field either with his antics today and the body check on John Small only getting a yellow he was subbed straight after it the Mayo line knew he was blessed to still be on the pitch if you want to talk about a mouthy players like Cooper check out Boyle he spent the day in people's faces again and running in on any controversy he could swinging out of players looking to start fights

Believe me whatever you feel about Cooper you have a beauty in Boyle in your own team. So if the Mayo lads need grinds Boyle can teach them.

Ah would you whist with your bellyaching, I'm not from Mayo but I can see that Dublin got away with blue murder last year and yesterday. You allege off camera incidents. Well the captured-on-camera savage attempted leg break by Jonny Cooper on D O'Connor last year should have had led to a lengthy ban for Cooper but absolutely nothing was done. For the penalty in the drawn game last year, Philly McMahon was captured-on-camera raining down repeated punches (even after the whistle had gone) on the head of Colm Boyle who was trapped on the ground underneath him and he should have missed the replay but we know from the Diarmuid Connolly fiasco that Dublin don't accept any disciplinary measures as they believe they should only apply to others. Dubs whinge about their blue-eyed-boy Connolly being picked on because the gloryhunting showpony is flaky and can be got at but when Cooper is picking fights to get opponents in trouble it's all grand? McCarthy was unlucky in the sense that four or five of his Dublin teammates deserved the line more than him especially McAuley who should have got black before the red.

If Mayo had not got that late equaliser, and lost by 1 point after conceding two own goals, they really would start to believe they're cursed.

AGC wrote: »

And you don't see Dublin improving?

That is as bad I have seen Dublin play in a long time. A couple of changes in the forward line would be expected. Them not improving on yesterday would be the surprise of the year!

If it was the case that Dublin made many mistakes, kicking wide after wide, dropping the ball, overcarrying, bad hand-passing, then I’d say, yeah – they can only improve.
But yesterday was more a case of Mayo denying the Dublin forwards space and possession. That is not necessarily bad play by Dublin. And not necessarily something that will be different in 2 weeks time. The experience and confidence gained by Mayo yesterday should not be underestimated. I don’t think there will be anything extra from Brogan, Connolly, Rock, McMenamin, Kilkenny, Flynn. They didn’t show anything yesterday that they were just having a bad day at the office, and that they could ramp it up. I’d be more fearful of Paddy Andrews.

After a night of porter and a bit of a kip I'll give my thoughts on the game.

I've not yet watched the Sunday Game or any replay so I'm going with what I saw from the lower Cusack (humble brag )

- The goals Dublin got had a bit of luck about them. Especially the first one. But the second one would have gone in even if Rock hadn't dropped the ball. I think it was Fenton who was coming in behind for the loose ball and I think if it hadn't hit off the Mayo player, Fenton would have got it.

- I'm going to have blue tinted glasses regarding the referees performance but I thought he was incredibly out of his depth. Cynical fouls from both teams getting unpunished. Aidan O'Shea should have walked at least twice. Mind you, so should a few of ours McCauley in particular.

Just on the Connolly incident. The ball was at the other end but out of the corner of my eye I see 3 Mayo lads surround Connolly who at this stage had his arms out wide with a "what the hell am I supposed to do here?", saw him throw the arms to get rid of your man's grip then I'm pretty sure I saw their keeper legging it up to Connolly and throwing a bit of a dig.

As I say, I've not watched the Sunday Game or a replay so not sure if it has been addressed although I am seeing that Connolly threw punches. If that's the case then they're both as bad as each other.

- Dean Rock was abysmal yesterday. He wasn't the only one but the amount of makeable scores he should have gotten was criminal.

- Not taking scores and trying to walk the ball into the net was an absolute killer and when it takes 30 odd minutes to get your first score in the first half and 15 minutes into the second half you knew something was up.

- I thought Mayo played their game plan very well. They stifled and pressured Dublin big time. I got yapping to a Mayo fella after the game and I told him I was impressed how quickly Mayo managed to shrink the 5 point lead with ease.

I don't think they did a whole lot wrong on the day but like I say - Dub hat on - I thought Dublin were as poor as I've seen them in a while and that's in part to do with bad individual performances and things not clicking. And look, Mayo played their part in that too.

The worry I would have if I was a Mayo supporter is that they never really gained a sizable lead at crucial moments in the game. I think I'm right in saying that they're biggest lead was 2 points and that was early in the first half before those two goals.

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Overall, it was a real mixed bag of a game. To tell you the truth, I thought the atmosphere (from the Dubs anyway) was fairly poor. I was excited and nervous making the walk to Croker but to tell you the truth, I'm still feeling exhausted from the Kerry game in the semi final. Something in the air anyway that was fairly filled with tension.

I've seen people talking about the weather. I can't even factor in the conditions because at the end of the day both teams are throwing around the same bar of soap so to speak. May not be easy but it's not like they've never played in the rain before.

As for the replay. I'm not really thinking of it too much right now. Still all very 'meh' about the whole thing to tell you the truth.

Do I think Dublin will play as poorly again? - Probably not.
Do I think Mayo will be able to retain their intensity/gameplan - Absolutely.

It'll be an interesting replay. You'd imagine Dublin are going to change their gameplan but I honestly don't think Mayo need to change too much of theirs.

I'm sure when I watch the game again at some stage, I'll have a different outlook on the game.

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Anyway, back to the real issue.... What Dublin/Mayo XV would you select?

Mayo were 3-4 points a better team than Dublin yesterday. The game was a draw because luck was on Dublin’s side – they got two fluky goals and Mayo converted none of their goal chances.

I think for the next game that Dublin will attack from their half-back line as their forward line in isolation will not be enough to break down Mayo’s defense. I expect Dublin to score much more, 17+, but this will also leave gaps in their defense which Mayo may have a chance to exploit for goals. I don’t expect Mayo to crumble in the last 10 minutes as they did in the replay last year as they have two weeks to recover and Dublin superior facilities won’t come into play as much.