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

….

Derry will park a very large red bus in the semi final, hope Kerry manage to break them down and thrash them.

He deserves to captain Dublin to an AI. A great servant and fantastic footballer.

Kerry and Dublin have a free flowing forward line that nobody can cope with.

They are the only 2 teams don't need 20 passes around the "D" before shooting.

What a fvckin player.

I'm not a Dublin fan, but this guy has been amazing. He's done it all, always turns up on the big day, and in the last couple of years while several of their established guys were slightly below their normal high standards, he was probably their best championship player even when the team was less than 100%.

There has been several all time greats involved with this Dublin era, buy this guy is among the very best to play the game. Often is in the shadow of the likes of Cluxton, Kilkenny, Fenton, Jack Mc, even Mick Fitz, but if you want someone to go I to the trenches with, he's the man.

Tradition did change about 60 years ago. By 1961 Dublin had 26 Leinster football titles and 23 Leinster hurling titles. Only one more since, but with 24 they are still second in Leinster ahead of Wexford on 21.

He was probably lucky not to get a black for that challenge, a deliberate enough pull down by the shoulders, but after that he was the best player in the field. His leap for the second half throw in set the tone and he ran the show for most of the second period.

McStay's buddies on the SG panel not questioning Mayo's selection, setup or strategy at all. Huge question marks in my view, chief among them them building a defence around a forward (Loftus) and an attack around Aidan, both of whom were quickly jettisoned as soon as things got serious, and going toe to toe/man on man against Dublin, which they clearly weren't able for. It's great to be positive about a good Dublin performance, but Mayo lacked soicj cohesion and composure at both ends of the field.

A sma cameo for Kevin McLoughlin today. A great trier and a brilliant player for Mayo for years. Will we see him again? I would doubt it, but he's always carried himself well over many years. He owes Mayo nothing.

Beg to differ on football, this weekends fare was poor, pulling ,dragging, tripping, neck high ‘tackles’ that would get red cards in rugby.

Far too much passing back and sideways and the ‘trick’ now seems to be charge at a defender with the ball, fall down and get a free.

Not a good watch even though both Kerry and Dublin at least tried to play and played very well

Derry and Monaghan will be puke to watch in the Semi Finals, hope Kerry and Dublin hammer them.

Some whine from McGeeney.

It should and it is. But 3 games in 3 weeks is stupid. It will become the same as the 6 day turnaround in the qualifier system. That was, eventually, widely recognised as being unfair. Only idiots who want to keep the status quo will say that there’s no problem with the 3 games in 3 weeks.

Intertresting question. I honestly think Monaghan are a team who play to their max based on the players available they make their own luck consistently. It is a combination of tactical, management, mental and skill. Based on players available.

It cannot be a fluke that Monaghan constantly show up against ‘experts’ favoured teams. League and championship. I know clowns like Brolly sneer at Monaghan’s success in the league. But that is just jealousy IMO.

Armagh do the exact opposite. The only consistent credit I would give Armagh is that they have nicer jerseys than Monaghan.

I would disagree on the ‘big two’ Dublin were nowhere near second for large periods of their existence. When Heffernan took over Dublin were a laughing stock. Poor crowds low interest. The feeling from players was that they would be embarrassed to say they were from Dublin!

From about the late 90’s until 09 Dublin were again a laughing stock. Even in the 80’s Dublin were more competitive Dublin only won one all Ireland. Only one all Ireland in the 90’s with a few hard luck stories.

But I remember reading a few years ago who the county is that lost the most AI’s ? The answer shocked/annoyed me. The answer is Kerry! Now that is consistent!

But that then stretches the championship out even longer exactly what the GAA does not want.

Plus I don’t buy into this fatigue thing. Only used as an excuse for teams when they lose. Lazy explanation given by Gooch for Mayo. But even McStay admitted it was Mayo’s own fault they got themselves in the position.

Plus you know and I know, if a team with shorter turn around wins what will be said? Oh ‘‘twas the ‘momentum’. They can spin it anyway.

Simply put if a team wants a longer turnaround top the AI series group and don’t be fluting around. Treat each game seriously.

Would you prefer they went out ball headed and got hammered by double figures and provide 'entertainment' like Mayo did?

Teams have to set up as they see fit, to give themselves a chance to win. Pats on the head and platitudes about 'playing the game the right way' butter no parsnips to be honest.