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

I don’t subscribe totally to that argument. Money didn’t make David Clifford but it directly/indirectly certainly made sure that he was never ever going to go to Australia.

Money certainly helps even in GAA and it’s disingenuous to say otherwise.

The issue is that there are professional organisations competing against amateur organisations and people pretending it's fair. It clearly isn't. Do you think those players you listed are better because of top class strength and conditioning coaching, skills coaching etc from a young age?

We need a fairer, balanced system, how can competitions be fair with counties spending millions more than others?

My sides hurt after reading this one. Goodnight!

There’s huge money being pumped into the fossa under 14s

2 decent games, both competitive with a little controversy but ultimately the better team won on both days.

Dublin closed out well yesterday, Monaghan in fairness just died out and couldn't close the deal. They played very well, but weren't clinical enough early on especially, and I never really believed they were going to win it. Dublin's squad strength were the difference, Monaghan just ran out of able bodies but can be rightly proud of their efforts.

Derry on the other hand will have a lot of regrets. That game was there for them, they had numerous chances, goal chances, easy points missed, unable to closedown Kerry's main man (an extraordinary player). They really left this behind them, and when Kerry came at them late on they had no energy and couldn't respond. A gallant effort, but just a little short. I don't think the referee beat them, but they came out the wrong side on a few calls, and I'm of the belief that the bang on McGuigan by Ryan had a huge effect on McGuigan, he wasn't the same player after that.

All the smartarses putting together strawman arguments.

Of course money makes a difference, look at the correlation between funding and Dublin and Limericks success.

There may not be big money being pumped into Fossa but there is relatively big money pumped into Kerry development squads, underage teams, and the senior setup.

This means that lads like Clifford never had to endure second best while in the Kerry setup making the probability of players like him reaching his maximum potential far more likely.

This in itself is a positive feedback loop. Better funding means more success which makes playing football more attractive to youngsters in the county. Hence, maximising the potential playing pool of players playing the game at all ages.

I'm actually surprised posters don’t think funding plays any part. It’s head in the sand stuff!

Look at soccer and rugby domestically as examples. One is very well funded and the other isn’t. You think if the the IRFU hadn’t of had invested so much in the game in the last 30 years they’ve have had anywhere near the success they’ve enjoyed.

Thats a very decent picture of both games

I was very pessimistic about these two semis but they turned out to be very good games. I thought Derry were going to rely on hitting Kerry on the counter and parking the bus other than that, but teams now realise that if you sit back against Kerry and Dublin, they will pick you apart. They kept Kerry honest by running at them in huge numbers using the keeper as an extra man and punching holes and kicking scores, if there finishing had held up and they got the lead out to four points I think Kerry were goosed.

Both Dublin and Kerry seemed to be thrown by their opponents approach, Kerry really upped their tackling intensity in the second half and turned Derry over a few times. Monaghan never led Dublin which was a killer and Dublin powered on in the last 10 with Fenton and the bench to the fore. The approach fom the underdogs in both games was really interesting and made for good viewing.

That last free was an awful misjudgement from Mcguigan, brutal stuff

Counties like Kerry, Dublin and Limerick don't like the financial aspect of their success to be discussed and try to shut it down with similar nonsense that we've seen in this thread. They're also the most opposed to having their financial accounts released in full. Obviously that is in their interest but why is every other county just accepting this? Financial fair play needs to be brought into Gaelic Games.

If you expect refs to issue red cards for extending backsides then you’re on the side of what is laughable

Would you have any proof for any of that.

Show me where those counties are the ones blocking the release of figures. Show me sponsorship figures.

Funny how Kerry are suddenly getting mentioned because it suits the sour cnts.

Where is the crying about Cork, Tipp, Galway, Wicklow ?

When Fermanagh lose to Clare do we all get to cry about how O'Donnell is a sugar daddy.

How about when Wexford beat Carlow or Down beat Monaghan ?

More nonsense, whataboutery, strawman arguments etc. I didn't say anyone was blocking figures being released but as we can see, they're the most opposed to it. Do you not agree with having an open, fair and balanced financial system within the GAA, if not, why not?

Fenton & Mccarthy are better than anything Kerry have to offer around the middle and I think that'll probably be the difference in two weeks time; that said, Jack Barry typically does well against Fenton so it'll be v tight