babybuilder wrote: » Have to agree. Wasn't young Harley put on and then taken off? Thought he set up a goal and scored a great point under pressure? They had the more chances mind you to beat Kerry than the seniors. Mc Clenaghan made some great breaks in the second half. Thought that the Inishowen boys did particularily well. Just wondering how many of the team has played McGrory Cup?
SeanJ09 wrote: » Fitzmaurice was with Kerry in 2013.
Nidgeweasel wrote: » Some baffling changes on the line on Sunday too it has to be said. But there are some outstanding footballers there. Stephen McBrearty should be in with the seniors next year for me.
finton wrote: » Hi Folks, From Kerry and was at the match and must say ye were the nicest bunch of opposition supporters I've ever encountered. I'm not just saying that because we won, throughout the game when it was anyones to win ye were as friendly as hell and not once during or afterwards was there any bad vibes. I felt for ye afterwards, especially for Durcan, terrible luck, and I know that rotten feeling after your team has lost an all Ireland. Never fear, ye will be back, ye are a scary side going forward, and I didn't feel safe until the final whistle went.
NIMAN wrote: » Its sad to look at that photo of Michael Murphy, I wonder how great he could play if he was released from the shackles of 'the sytsem'. I think we are not seeing the best of him.
Ceist_Beag wrote: » One other thing from Sunday, the minors. I was hugely impressed with some of the lads over the two games I saw the play in Croker. Gillespie, McClenaghan and Mulligan at the back were outstanding, as was McBrearty and Campbell up front and what is really promising is the fact that we had players from all over the county represented on the team which hasn't always happened at minor level. I think a few of these lads will go on to be valuable additions to the senior team over the coming years.
babybuilder wrote: » I'm in no may diminishing the efforts and sacrifices that the players and families make in wearing the county jersey. My point is that folk in Kerry expect their teams to win in the here and now and again next year. Remember one Ireland winning player counts for nothing there. Donegal one of the least successful counties has obviously more modest expectations. "True" GAA supporters and maybe some of us who have kicked a ball despite ourselves would love to see them to perform at the highest level every year. We just don't want them to ride off into the sunset just yet. We will follow them to every national league match or mckenna cup match not just on the big occasions. Yesterday neither Donegal fans or kerry fans couldnt have given a hoot about what people care about the style as long as they landed Sam. Other counties maybe have a different opinion on this. If I was a neutral I might have left early. As far as Eamonn Fitzmaurice is concerned he beat is with a similar system, a bit of Donegal misfortune and a slightly better allround game.
Ceist_Beag wrote: » Having had time to digest Sunday, I'm with harpsman on this. I'm disappointed, and gutted for the team that they didn't perform on the day, but overall I'm very proud of them all and view this year as a success, not a disappointment. That Dublin game will be my abiding memory of 2014. That said though, it's very hard to stomach the fact that, as poorly as we played, it was still one stupid mistake that ultimately cost us (plus the following kickouts as has been said). I was in Citywest Sunday night and felt for big Durcan. He was in good form and I have to hand it to the lads who stayed on to mingle with the crowd that night as it can't have been easy for them. But the bottom line is that too many players just didn't perform on the day and I'm sure there will be plenty of analysis to identify why that was and I have no doubt they will be back next year - and I'm pretty confident Jim will give it one more year too. One special mention tho to Neil McGee, what a player this lad is. I'm open to correction but I believe he only conceded 0-4 to his opponents in all games in the championship this year - and considering that list included Conor McManus, Jamie Clarke, Bernard Brogan and James O'Donghue that's quite phenomenal. Add in his own two points from play at the other end and I really think he should be in the running for player of the year. I know a full back is never going to win this but I think he deserves recognition for what he has done this year.
Nidgeweasel wrote: » On a more positive note, good crowds today in Ballyshannon and in Donegal Town for the minors and seniors respectively. Eamon McGee neglected to go on stage when called and went straight to the pub. Can't blame him. The seniors looked like they didn't want to be there at all which is totally understandable. Sean Dunnion put a wee bit of pressure on Jim to stay with his comments, don't think he intended that but it's the way it came off
harpsman wrote: » Well i have to say im disappointed, but not overly so. Of course it would have been lovely to win a 2nd in 3 yrs and beat Kerry in a final but if we d lost a game we should have won or gotten hammered id be hurting alot more. /QUOTE] Have to disagree. Not turning up has fúcking ruined me really. Gutted to say the least, never have a problem losing to a better team having emptied the tank but we didn't do that. On a more positive note, good crowds today in Ballyshannon and in Donegal Town for the minors and seniors respectively. Eamon McGee neglected to go on stage when called and went straight to the pub. Can't blame him. The seniors looked like they didn't want to be there at all which is totally understandable. Sean Dunnion put a wee bit of pressure on Jim to stay with his comments, don't think he intended that but it's the way it came off. Probably as many in Donegal as Killarney but that's life. Still devastated. I know what an All Ireland can do for our county. It transcends sport and football. Absolutely gutted.
babybuilder wrote: » Totally agree. Kerry neutralised Donegal's strengths and played the waiting game. They played some excellent kick passes into space after soaking up Donegal pressure. At the same time it wasn't vintage Kerry. Fitzmaurice has brought a grittiness and realism to Kerry's play. With him they would have won in 2011 and 2013. Mc Guinness has said that Donegal were flat but I think this may be a result of either Donegal not giving Kerry enough respect and/or key players under-performing. Durkan looked to be spooked (charging out and letting the ball go over his head) as a result of the first goal. Mind you he has done this several times over the years and got away with it. Hope there is a large reception for the Donegal teams this evening.
opiniated wrote: » I'd dispute that, based on some of the Kerry supporters I know. I was in Kerry for the Kerry v. Galway match. I was shocked to hear a dyed in the wool Kerry supporter rooting for Galway. Her reasoning? She wanted a tough match for Kerry because she felt they needed one for the experience for the younger players! Even if that meant losing. She was looking to the long term - not what she thought the players "owed" their fans. I'm both looking to the long term, and stating the honest truth when I say the players owe us nothing. We don't pay them, rarely appreciate their hard work when things don't go as well as we'd like, and quite a few of us are experts on tactics on the keyboard - and couldn't kick a ball to save our lives! So, yes, the players owe us nothing, whether they play to their full capacity or not. They've worked to a system that has been calumnied the length and breadth of the Country. They've sacrificed their own individuality as players, and the praise that usually goes with it, opting instead to give their all for the team, and the County. They've taken the criticism, without a word in their own defence. Now - for the long term - I have a question for all those who've bemoaned yesterdays game. For those of you who've bemoaned the "end" of "pure" gaelic football - Did Eamonn Fitzmaurice "sink" a level yesterday - or did he train his players to adapt to their opponents, creating a more versatile team? And would he have done so if he weren't playing Donegal? Unless every manager in the Country is a complete fool, they're going to realise that any one style of playing football wont cut it any more - and they'll develop strategies to suit, resulting in a greater skillset among their players. Win for Gaelic football, and the fans. Love or loathe Jimmy McGuinness, and Eamonn Fitzmaurice, between them they've forced Gaelic football to become a game where the players have to be more adaptable. For that we should be grateful, imo.
2moreMinutes wrote: » This is the biggest cause of my biggest disappointment as we just didn't perform like we can. Too many fellas just didn't show up for us and ideas were very thin on the ground. Getting beat by Kerry in itself is no great shame on the face of things but losing when we just didn't show up is frustrating as hell.
babybuilder wrote: » It Kerry are beaten Kerry people don't say "the team owes us nothing". At least not the Kerry supporters I know.
Nidgeweasel wrote: » No I'm not, Kerry played well yesterday and were set up excellently but there was enough from our little bursts of play to convince me that a sustained patch could have reaped rewards. I used the term stationary during the game and that's what it was. We were flat and didn't perform as we know we can.
corny wrote: » You're completely ignoring the role Kerry had in Donegals performance. Seemed to me they near enough copied what Armagh did in the quarter final and Donegal weren't great that day either. The extent to which they affected Donegals performance can probably only be guessed at but personally i felt they beat you at your own game (ie. stopping the opposition playing).
babybuilder wrote: » Not sure you'd hear Kerry folk saying this.
