The 2023 All Ireland Senior Football Championship (Sam Maguire Cup)

This is very true about Rock's decline. Also, I suppose it's understandable when you have around 84 All Ireland medals in your pocket. But compare him to Cillian O'Connor, same position, very similar styles. Rock is older but Cillian has played more football at this level. While Cillian is currently injured, you could see over the past year he is way ahead of Rock. His kicking is still as good as ever and he is hungry and confident. Rock is none of those things anymore and Dublin are the worse for it. Seriously, anyone with Dublin still as favs for the All Ireland is crazy, their performance level are so low. James McCarthy can only drag them so far.

I do indeed, was at the game with my Dad. It was 92. Heartbreaking as a young Donegal fan, but the team more than made up for it a few months later!

The commentary around these round Robin games is very strange. Constant media complaining about some meaningless games, even the headline on I think it was the OTB pod earlier in the week was there are too many games this weekend... Too Many Games?? How the hell can you have too many games? It might be inconvenient for some pundits and experts to maybe have to do a not of homework, but for teams and supporters it's all about games games games. Why else would you follow or play the games, of not to play and attend games, especially in the summer.

There are some meaningless games, sure, but any system will have that. If the intention is to find out the best team in the country, this is a better system than we've had so far, much better than the traditional one-and-done certainly.

I for one am looking forward to seeing whatever games I can at the weekend, both in person and on TV. Get up and go to a game if it's not in TV, or worst case pay the 40 odd Euro for the remaining 70 something games left on GAAGO. There is always local radio if option 1 and 2 are unavailable to you, as indeed it always has been before we got the notion we were somehow entitled to see every game in our own living room for free.

This and the Tailteann could be great competitions if we quit listening to the talking heads on TV, Radio and Pods who have to find something to bicker and complain about.

Jayus that is mad stuff. John O'Mahony not even attending training sessions. You wouldn't get away with that these days. I suppose he was more focused on his political career.

I always got the impression that O'Mahony was a motivator and would have his players jumping through walls. I don't think you could describe Farrell as a 'motivator' type manager.

I don't know what description you would put on Dessie Farrell a former great - figurehead manager. Similar to McGeeney up in Armagh.

In general, I like when top GAA managers go to so called weaker counties. Because it is really then that you can say they are top managers and it is not just the quality of players available. I often wondered was it man management from Mick O'Dwyer at Kildare/Laois/Wicklow and Paidi at Westmeath. Or was it simply psychological for the players having a top high profile manager at the helm?

I would rate Pete McGrath (Down/Fermanagh) above O'Dwyer/Paidi simply because of the tune he got out of Fermanagh, he made them really punch above their weight. consistently There is not many of those types of managers around.

Fermanagh got to the All Ireland semi final in 2004 only to lose to Mayo after a replay. They also got to an Ulster final in 2008 losing to Armagh after a replay i think Malachy O Rourke (not Colm) was manager. They also got to 2018 Ulster final so Pete McGrath as good as he was never got Fermanagh to these heights. I also remember a player heave forcing him out in the end.

Don't see how his Fermanagh record is more impressive than Micko at the helm for Laois' only Leinster title of the last 77 years and Paidi at the helm for Westmeath's solitary Leinster championship in their history.

A lot if people forget the only manager from another County to win an AI. Eugene McGee a Longford man managed Offally to an AI football final in 1982. He also managed the Irish Team against Australia in compromise rules on two occasions.

Himself and Micko were the two most successful managers from another county. Micko was unlucky not to win an AI with Kildare. However he won two Leinster championship's with them and another with Laois.

Forgot about John O Mahoney.

The world renowned Dublin wit TM.

Even if just two qualified, every team would still be in it

Ya sorry, thought it was referring to Sam Maguire

Kerry 4 up at ht. Poor game. Cork are game but very limited up front.

Kerry defence looks much better structured than the Mayo game, with the obvious proviso that its only Cork.

Looks like a Kerry win, probably grinding away for 20 mins of second half as they have been in first and then pull away in last 10.

Hough really favoring Kerry here, the non penalty, called back a perfectly good knockout, and now a clothesline tackle from Moynahan is only a yellow.

Im no Cork fan, but seriously...

Kerry a one and half man team. I'd take one for the team and take Clifford out they would crack under pressure fairly quick.

He's a brilliant player but Jesus they base there whole game around him.

Kerry by 2. Their odds for AI will not be shortening. Cork the better team in 2nd half and the penalty and Clifford bailed kerry out. Penalty will come on for a bit of scrutiny. The big moment in the game and I think a wrong call.

Good display from Cork. Bit more composure and punch up front and they could have won. McSweeney kicked 2 lovely pts whem he came on. Cork fans will be wondering what he might have done if on from start.

Kerry looking very flat. Seanie o shea a good first half, disappeared in 2nd. Clifford even more crucial to then than last year. They are a long way off the form needed to win an AI at the moment.

No Mannion or Kilkenny for Dublin. This is a great chance for Kildare. And it seems they were dropped. Dublin taking Kikdare for granted.

Dessie making changes just before the match. It Costello not Mannion.