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

gormdubhgorm · 15-07-2023 11:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120853885#Comment_120853885

I remember Christy Toye coming on and destroying Dublin in 2014 as well, Dublin looked like they were going to coast it at the start. Getting long range points for fun. If Donegal were a solely 'defensive team' they would never have got to the 2014 final either. When Donegal broke forwards on the counter they were lethal.

Donegal scored 3 goals in that AISF - Dublin got no goals and 17 points

https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/donegal-surge-flattens-dublin-in-huge-semi-final-upset/30551190.html

gormdubhgorm · 15-07-2023 12:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120853981#Comment_120853981

Sport is not like a primary school sports day where 'everyone is a winner' - sport is cruel in reality. Under pressure weaknesses are magnified especially by the better opponents.

Titles have to be well won - more often than not. Tactically, physically and mentally everything has to be spot on.

In the quarter finals Kerry had a handy game against a Tyrone side who let themselves down. Dublin beat a Mayo overall squad who was better on paper - but imploded mentally

Seadin · 15-07-2023 12:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120854172#Comment_120854172

Dublin and Kerry will always win All Irelands. Derry and Monaghan won't so when they have a chance of getting there I'd like to see them doing the business. I don't care what way they go about their business once it is within the rules and won fairly.

Bass Reeves · 15-07-2023 01:27PM

I think a lot of people forget that up until the early noughties the Northern teams played expansive football.

Tyrone bought an element of strong defences I to it as did Donegal. However both teams when they won AI had good attacking structures

It was when Kerry in 2014 and Dublin after that strengthened there defensive structures that the present blanket defence at all costs arose.

The win for Tyrone in 2021 seemed to spur on thinking that ultra defences could win AI's without decent attacking structures

I agree with the @theoneeyedman the transfer of it into club football has been abborant and lazy coaching. It's nearly creeping into U14&12's. However you are seeing some club coaching remaining very open. A club with decent footballers will still overcome that system

ArnoldJRimmer · 15-07-2023 03:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120853770#Comment_120853770

Criticising defensive football and then saying the championship suffered by not having one of the most defensive teams in the country in the quarters? Galway were blessed with the draw they got last year, they were not missed this year

Treble double · 15-07-2023 03:55PM

I think Galway above anyone else have the forwards to upset Dublin/Kerry. Yes they have tightened up drastically defensively. But outside the above two they have the most naturally talented forwards in the country. Shane Walshs form falling through the floor did for them this year.

dxhound2005 · 15-07-2023 04:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120854026#Comment_120854026

If watching a game of football is causing you to suffer from depression, you should get some help. And if you think this malady is affecting massive crowds, you are mistaken. They keep turning up in massive numbers for the next game and the one after that.