The 2025 All Ireland Senior Football Championship (Sam Maguire Cup)

Kerry were still in the final in 2015!

Another of Big Jim's followers i see.

Yiz will have plenty to song about in a few weeks, don't worry. Its Donegals to lose now. I imagine there'll be a statue of him built in every town in donegal after it.

But be careful, some of the posters here will say he is only an average manager

Not sure if you are on the wind up but Jack McCaffrey is one of the most naturally gifted players to play the game. Watch his performance in 2019 final. Stepped away from inter county and played very little club football for 4 years and slotted in like never away in 2023. Watch his pass to Paddy Small in final 10 minutes in 2023 final.

Dublin had to adapt a certain style in 2017 to break down 15 bodies behind which many a kerry team struggled with too. Was pointless kicking ball when 5/6 covering a full back line.

We're not complacent.

Tyrone beat us in '21.

Tyrone will significantly need to better their game from Saturday night. They made alot of mistakes skill wise and turned over alot of ball needlessly. Dublin tried to kick early ball in but the delivery was sloppy. Kerry will punish any mistakes and their kicking will be alot more accurate. Kerry probably have given the most devastating 15 mins in football history since dublin in 2019 against mayo. But it is hard to back up a peformance like that. History points to that for example in 2019, Dublin weren't near as hot as the SF. Donegal in 14 as well. I had a good feeling kerry would beat armagh yesterday. They will be hard stopped but I feel it will take Jim in Donegal to beat them. I'd expect kerry to win comfortably enough against the red hand.

100%

Dublin had great players but were more about the sum of the collective with a sprinkling of naturally talented footballers.

Coupled with Gilroy & Gavin they had managers who were way ahead if their counterparts

Kerry we're not weak in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. They've never really been weak. Dublin for various reasons just reached a completely new level to the point where great teams like mayo and Kerry couldn't beat. Many other teams further down the pecking order did completely give up especially Leinster counties because they knew they couldn't beat Dublin. But Mayo and Kerry tried so so hard and still couldn't really do it.

I don't agree with the GAA's plan to create the Dublin monster but let's not downplay the teams they beat.

Anybody know why the GAA knocked about 10k off Sundays attendance figure? What are they up to..

Not a hope Mayo would have won a few handy ones.

The years they brought Dublin to the pin of their collar in 2016 and 2017 they werent even good enough to win Connacht.

They Built momentum throught he qualifiers but were nearly bet in several occasions. Derry brought them to extra time Cork brought them to extra time; Roscommon to a replay; struggled over Clare and Fermanagh I remember too.

History suggests when Mayo had winnable finals in 2012 and 2021 that they hadnt it in them when it mattered most and were comprehensively beaten.

That Dublin team brought the best out in Mayo; and if they were going to win an All Ireland it would've been against them.

Mayo had great respect from the neutral in that period because they were the only team that could match Dublins Physicality and athleticism. They were most peoples 2nd favourite team.

They definitely showed up bar the usual few hundred maybe. Every seat was sold. Some dodgy accounting or were they trying to avoid creating a narrative how the dubs have all but disappeared?

Mod Edit

Warning issued.

11 of Monaghan's 16 Ulsters were won before the 1940s, though they dont win again until 79. Antrim won 8 titles 1900s/10s.

the 50s see Tyrone, Down, Derry emerge and get their first win. Armagh got a first title since 1902.

for Donegal, I think (from googling) emigration was the biggest factor, there was zero manufacturing etc to keep people about. What organised GAA there was early 1900s was more hurling (or a variation of it). A County Board was formed in 1906 but fell apart quickly, didnt come back until 1919. Was mostly junior football until we started to emerge in the 60s but Down was in our path.

Finally got the first Ulster title in 72, 25 final appearances since that year has yielded 12 titles (though 12 finals and 7 titles has been since 2011, 6 finals and 5 wins being Jims). Certainly enjoying the stint top dog in ulster, was too young to remember 92 so 2011 was a long time coming!

Fermanagh the only team without a title

As a Mayo supporter I have to agree with that. We have had some great players and teams but a culture of accepting final defeats has set in, even subconsciously. Kerry don't have homecoming celebrations after final defeats but we do. We ditch managers instead of demanding more from players and the cycle continues.