National Football League 2020

threeball · 22-02-2020 11:17pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Was waiting for this after they won. People are ridiculous.

No Howard and Small jumping on Murphy and Murphy getting sent off as a result is ridiculous.

Dyr · 22-02-2020 11:48pm

theoneeyedman wrote: »

Lots of cynicism form both teams at times, but really, the referee teams have to wise up to these situations - there is no way in hell Murphy was doing to start a row in those circumstances.

Murphy should have got the line 2 minutes in, would love to see how Deegans report explains away an elbow to the face as only being worthy of a yellow

he has no reason to feel hard done by

theoneeyedman · 23-02-2020 12:40am

Bambi wrote: »

Murphy should have got the line 2 minutes in, would love to see how Deegans report explains away an elbow to the face as only being worthy of a yellow

he has no reason to feel hard done by

Why I was reluctant to even comment, in case this was seen as a pro Donegal or anti Dublin comment.

It's more general than that - were pi55ing about with cynical play, but not willing to implement the rules properly. In this example, Small should have been sinbinned. You're now incorrect in saying they Murphy COULD have been sent off, but was a tighter call IMHO, certainly not that obvious in real time.

These incidents like the one at the end, a big scuffle with several yellow cards, are now commonplace. They need to be punished, either at the time or retrospectively.

ArielAtom · 23-02-2020 2:23am

Lads n Lassies, at the game and Murphy was excellent when playing football, an absolute pleasure to watch, but there is an extremely nasty side to his game, two head “tackles”, the Bugler one later in the game excluded meant he should have gotten the line earlier. All tonight was was shadow boxing anyway. Great to see the Dubs closing a game out again.

Poor_old_gill · 23-02-2020 8:43am

Why always John Small?

ArielAtom · 23-02-2020 9:37am

Why always Michael Murphy with the head tackles?

[Deleted User] · 23-02-2020 3:22pm

Cracker of a game in Tuam.

Sonny678 · 23-02-2020 4:20pm

I know Meath have not won a game, but I think there is an improvement from Super 8s. Remeber Meath have still 10 players injured. And Shane Walsh who was named to start today, couldnt play today with hamstring, meaning 11 injured players and most of them first team starters are injured. Leaving Donegal result to one side, 1 point loss to Mayo, 3 points loss to kerry ( who were very near full strenght today) is improving on 9 point loss to both teams last summer. Meath were very close to beating Mayo and if keoghan scored that goal today Meath could have sneeked a draw v Kerry today. For a young team developing, yes relegation is not good. And we will see how they do v other 3 in the div. Last sunmer Meath could go 60 mins with kerry and Mayo. They did go the full 70 today v kerry and v Mayo 2 weeks ago. I think Meath are improving and when they get Newman, Harnan, Lavin, Jones, Gallagher, Lenihan, Colgan and Walsh back fully fit for June and July, the improvements should continue.

Bonniedog · 23-02-2020 7:15pm

Dublin, Cork and Limerick only unbeaten teams out of 32.

Sad to see injury to McShane. Shows how fickle fate is after a week in which he was being lauded for rejecting Aussie Rules,

dobman88 · 23-02-2020 8:49pm

Sonny678 wrote: »

I know Meath have not won a game, but I think there is an improvement from Super 8s. Remeber Meath have still 10 players injured. And Shane Walsh who was named to start today, couldnt play today with hamstring, meaning 11 injured players and most of them first team starters are injured. Leaving Donegal result to one side, 1 point loss to Mayo, 3 points loss to kerry ( who were very near full strenght today) is improving on 9 point loss to both teams last summer. Meath were very close to beating Mayo and if keoghan scored that goal today Meath could have sneeked a draw v Kerry today. For a young team developing, yes relegation is not good. And we will see how they do v other 3 in the div. Last sunmer Meath could go 60 mins with kerry and Mayo. They did go the full 70 today v kerry and v Mayo 2 weeks ago. I think Meath are improving and when they get Newman, Harnan, Lavin, Jones, Gallagher, Lenihan, Colgan and Walsh back fully fit for June and July, the improvements should continue.

If you think that's a near full strength Kerry team you'll be in for a surprise come championship. 2nd choice goalkeeper given a run, a light Graham O Sullivan given his chance ahead of a solid Foley, a debut for Shaw, still missing Moran, Peter Crowley still out, James O Donoghue still out, Shane Enright tried at centre back (massive failure). Couple all that with the fact its about as bad as Kerry have played this season so far and its definitely an opportunity missed for Meath today.

Boom__Boom · 23-02-2020 9:26pm

Sonny678 wrote: »

I know Meath have not won a game, but I think there is an improvement from Super 8s. Remeber Meath have still 10 players injured. And Shane Walsh who was named to start today, couldnt play today with hamstring, meaning 11 injured players and most of them first team starters are injured. Leaving Donegal result to one side, 1 point loss to Mayo, 3 points loss to kerry ( who were very near full strenght today) is improving on 9 point loss to both teams last summer. Meath were very close to beating Mayo and if keoghan scored that goal today Meath could have sneeked a draw v Kerry today. For a young team developing, yes relegation is not good. And we will see how they do v other 3 in the div. Last sunmer Meath could go 60 mins with kerry and Mayo. They did go the full 70 today v kerry and v Mayo 2 weeks ago. I think Meath are improving and when they get Newman, Harnan, Lavin, Jones, Gallagher, Lenihan, Colgan and Walsh back fully fit for June and July, the improvements should continue.

I don't know how any Meath supporter could take any encouragement from today. Kerry were very bad, Meath were worse. From what I saw Meath definitely didn't look better than the game against Kerry in Navan last summer, even though the scoreline was closer today. Can't see Meath avoiding relegation; can't see Meath doing anything more than making up the numbers come the summer.

Don't hold out much in the way of hope for Kerry either - defence has been a disaster zone so far this year - absolutely nothing has been learned from the two All-Ireland games - you get the feeling that if you put out any average club team, they would probably score something like 1-6 or 1-8 against Kerry at the moment, with the amount of cheap scores, goal chances and stupid frees the Kerry defence are giving away in every game. Horror show stuff.

TheRiverman · 23-02-2020 11:14pm

John Small is a ruthless nasty player.

Fann Linn · 23-02-2020 11:23pm

TheRiverman wrote: »

John Small is a ruthless nasty player.

Murphy's no angel either. Tried to take the head off Davy Byrne in the third minute.

TheRiverman · 23-02-2020 11:29pm

Fann Linn wrote: »

Murphy's no angel either. Tried to take the head off Davy Byrne in the third minute.

He did,led with elbow and should have been sent off,but Small is always "involved" during games.

ProudDUB · 23-02-2020 11:33pm

Murphy's has form for those high elbows to the head. Pure dirt. Remember him nearly taking the head off Brian Fenton a couple of years ago. Fenton's eye socket had already swelled up before the medics even left the pitch, but MM got off scot free. The hit last night should have been a straight red, but he knows no ref has the balls to give a player of his stature a straight red that early in the game, so he'll keep on doing it. He's a brilliant leader for Donegal, no doubt about it, but he doesn't get called out for the nasty stuff by star struck commentators & pundits near as much as he deserves, compared to what non superstar players from other counties have to listen to.

Lundstram · 23-02-2020 11:50pm

ProudDUB wrote: »

Murphy's has form for those high elbows to the head. Pure dirt. Remember him nearly taking the head off Brian Fenton a couple of years ago. Fenton's eye socket had already swelled up before the medics even left the pitch, but MM got off scot free. The hit last night should have been a straight red, but he knows no ref has the balls to give a player of his stature a straight red that early in the game, so he'll keep on doing it. He's a brilliant leader for Donegal, no doubt about it, but he doesn't get called out for the nasty stuff by star struck commentators & pundits near as much as he deserves, compared to what non superstar players from other counties have to listen to.

A Dublin fan who cheers on the likes of Connolly, Small, Cooper etc calling other big players dirty..

Good one. :pac:

ProudDUB · 23-02-2020 11:55pm

Boy. Well done on adding 2+2 and arriving at 76.

Cooper, Small etc deserve to be called out on their $hit when they act the scut. All players should be. Regardless of who they are, or their stature in the game. Murphy's acts of violence rarely are & it's not fair. That was my point. Nothing more. Nothing less. Well done on missing the point in a rather spectacular fashion.

Lundstram · 24-02-2020 12:08am

Called out last night on TV. Sent off a few times during his career and rightly criticised for it.

The world against the poor unfortuante Dubs. Cry me a river.

Slattsy · 24-02-2020 12:15am

ProudDUB wrote: »

Murphy's has form for those high elbows to the head. Pure dirt. Remember him nearly taking the head off Brian Fenton a couple of years ago. Fenton's eye socket had already swelled up before the medics even left the pitch, but MM got off scot free. The hit last night should have been a straight red, but he knows no ref has the balls to give a player of his stature a straight red that early in the game, so he'll keep on doing it. He's a brilliant leader for Donegal, no doubt about it, but he doesn't get called out for the nasty stuff by star struck commentators & pundits near as much as he deserves, compared to what non superstar players from other counties have to listen to.

You're only breaking your own heart engaging with these kind of people PD.

ProudDUB · 24-02-2020 12:22am

Well, as another very famous, very wise, very eloquent Dub (apart from us, obviously) was wont to say....evil prospers when good men do nothing.

Sonny678 · 24-02-2020 4:45am

dobman88 wrote: »

If you think that's a near full strength Kerry team you'll be in for a surprise come championship. 2nd choice goalkeeper given a run, a light Graham O Sullivan given his chance ahead of a solid Foley, a debut for Shaw, still missing Moran, Peter Crowley still out, James O Donoghue still out, Shane Enright tried at centre back (massive failure). Couple all that with the fact its about as bad as Kerry have played this season so far and its definitely an opportunity missed for Meath today.

Ok kerry have a few missing Meath have near a team missing. 12 players missing, 11 out of the 12 players injured.

Meath Players missing everyone injured but One not injured. Many of them Meaths best footballers.

Meath 12 Missing Players/ 11 out of 12 injured

1 Ronan Jones ( back in USA )First choice midfelder
2 Michael Newman injured - best forward
3 Andy Colgan injured - first choice goalkeeper
4 Seamus Lavin injured- first choice left corner back
5 Shane Gallagher injured - first choice right corner back
6 Padraig Harnan injured - first choice centre back
7 Shane McEntee injured - Mentons midfield partner 2019
8 Shane Walsh injured - First choice full forward
9 Dara Campion injured- Last on team starting at 11
10 Niall Kane injured- last on team starting half back
11 Joey Wallace injured - Started all league games so far
12 Ben Brennan injured - First choice wing forward last year

Donal lenihan and Paddy kennelly. Both named on bench. Coming back from injury, lenihan is best inside forward in Meath.

If you add Lavin, Gallagher, Harnan, Jones, Campion, lenihan, Walsh and Newman to that team those 7 playere are Meaths 2 best man markers, Meath 3 best forwards and Meath best midfielder. An injury crisis is when you have double figures injured. Meath have had 10 players injured since early Jan. We get Devine back, Wallace gets injured. 11 players injured is a serious headache for any team trying break into div 1 from div 2.

Losing by 1 point and 3 points with 11 players injured is not bad going against two best teams in the country. We lost by 9 last summer to both.
Meath are not going stay in div 1, but when they when they get all of those players all actually on the field that will help.

One thing Meath have going for them is defence. Meath have good defenders even without 3 best defenders this league v Meath Tyrone scored 14 points, Donegal.scored 8 pointw and Mayo scored 9 points. I know Donegal scored 3 goals, but Meath had one best full backs in the country Conor MGill was sinbined for 10 mins Donegal scored 2 goals and young Clarke was strugglinh v. J Brennan. Lavin kept him very quite in super 8s last year.

Lavin McGill Gallagher was as good as full back line in the championahip last year. People talk about Meaths scoreline in leinster final but Meath kept Dublin to the lowst score in frst half in chsmpionshop in 9 years going back to 2011 v Donegal. Lavin and Gallagher are good quality corner backs. Harnan is one of Meath best defender still only 24. Clarke has struggled but is a prospect in the future. David Toner and Ronan Ryan have bern good finds, Toner has had good league and Ryan has really impressed me. Then you have attacking half backs liker J McEntee, Kane. And Brian Conlon. And of course Donal keoghan one of the best Meath defenders of last 50 years. Midfield Jones and Menton has potential at midfield. When Meath get all.their 3 best forward playing together, ( Incredibly none of the 3 have ever started a game for Meath together ). Add Newman, Walsh and Lenihan baxk fully fit, Meath team is substabtially different then today.

S many teams are poor defensively. Lack of quality defenders. McEntee is no Sean Boylan but he is a good manager and a good motivator and seems to be able to find hungry defenders who can defend. Meath have a defence which is strong with allot ot good defenders. This is an era where there is lack of good defenders compared to 15 or 20 years. Mayo and Dublin have great defenders. Many teams are shakey at the back. Meath were shakey at the back for 15 years. But since start of last year Meath are defensively good with good natural defenders. Meaths defence is the reason Meath were promoted and reached super 8. Meath do lack up front they need ro find 2 to 3 top class forwards, but having a good defence is a good foundation in every sports.

Meath are going to be relegated, but McEntee is building a team.slowly. It took Sean Boylan 4 years to make a breakthrough, it took Dwyer 5 years and Eugene McGeee 4 years. Jimmy B Murphy and Nicholas Englidh took years of up and downs and bad defeats to turn their hurling counties around. It takes years to turn around traditional county in the doldrums. McEntee is only half way through his job, 3 years done of 6. Meath are going in the right direction and in next year or two Outside the top 6 or 7 teams after Roscommon the teams that performed best v best teams in the country is Meath. Meath are clearly not getting over the line. But Meath are not far away eitheir

2017 Meath beat Galway by two points in the league
2017 Meath lost by 1 point to Donegal in championahip
2018 Meath lost by 1 point to Tyrone in the championship
2019 Meath lost by 2 points to Donegal in Ballybofey leag
2019 Meath lost by 2 points to Donegal in div 2 final
2020 Meath lost by 1 point to Mayo in league
2020 Mesth lost by 3 points to kerry in kerry in league

Then there is 3 super 8 matchs last summer were Meath were ahead in 3 games at around 60 min eg Donegal, kerry and Mayo. And keeping Dublin to the lowest score in first half in champiomship in a decade.

Over next 24 months can Meath turn those 1 or 2 point loses into wins. Maybe they wouldnt. If you look at the past most teams who suceeded had to go through moral victories , hard luck loses. Outside div 1 top 6 or 7 teams leave Roscommon to one side, no county has put in those close loses as Meath. Yesterday was 5th time in year and a half Meath lost by point or 2 to best teams in the country. And Meath should have won 3 of those games eg Tyrone 2018, Donegal 2019, Mayo 2020. Meath have trouble getting over the line. But if they continue put themselves in the position they should gain more experience to get over the line. Meaths aim.is turn into consistent top 6 or 7 team, super 8 team , div 1 .team. We are going to get relegated but I can see us getting Super 8 and getting a win this year. Over next year or two Meath are building and improving. And when Meath get to June and July with most of these 11 players back I think we will see a Meath team in 2020 which is better then 2019. If say no well I have 5 games now in 18 months against the teams in the country which are evidence Meath are going in the right direction. If u look closely u can see Meath are improving.

Gael85 · 24-02-2020 1:17pm

TheRiverman wrote: »

John Small is a ruthless nasty player.

John has had a couple terrible years off the pitch with his father ill and passing away. Yes he deserved red cards but I seen a lot of other players do worse and never a mention.

Dyr · 24-02-2020 2:49pm

TheRiverman wrote: »

He did,led with elbow and should have been sent off,but Small is always "involved" during games.

Murphy caught Fenton with a closed fist a few years back, not his first time with that sort of carry one either, he has a nasty element to his game.

Cant remember John Small lamping anyone like Murphy does but apparently he's a dirtier player

dog_pig · 24-02-2020 7:21pm

ProudDUB wrote: »

Murphy's has form for those high elbows to the head. Pure dirt. Remember him nearly taking the head off Brian Fenton a couple of years ago. Fenton's eye socket had already swelled up before the medics even left the pitch, but MM got off scot free. The hit last night should have been a straight red, but he knows no ref has the balls to give a player of his stature a straight red that early in the game, so he'll keep on doing it. He's a brilliant leader for Donegal, no doubt about it, but he doesn't get called out for the nasty stuff by star struck commentators & pundits near as much as he deserves, compared to what non superstar players from other counties have to listen to.

Murphy was yellow carded for the challenge on Fenton, but sure don’t let accuracy get in the way of paranoia.

The_Kew_Tour · 24-02-2020 10:40pm

Been hearing about this Meath second coming for long time now without anything to back up that they are going challenge for Sam

Happyilylost · 29-02-2020 9:03pm

People love throwing a few slaps in Omagh.

threeball · 29-02-2020 9:06pm

Happyilylost wrote: »

People love throwing a few slaps in Omagh.

The Simpsons should do a Whacking Day episode about the Dubs and Tyrone. Its like an annual event now.

PCeeeee · 29-02-2020 9:07pm

In fairness its not a bad game considering the conditions.

Naggdefy · 29-02-2020 9:08pm

Gael85 wrote: »

John has had a couple terrible years off the pitch with his father ill and passing away. Yes he deserved red cards but I seen a lot of other players do worse and never a mention.

Many a player has to deal with a parent passing away.

It's not a license for thuggery.

robbiezero · 29-02-2020 9:10pm

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Been hearing about this Meath second coming for long time now without anything to back up that they are going challenge for Sam

They are a country mile off that.
I wouldn't think thats even on their horizon. The next significant step for them is to get up to the likes of Monaghan. A solid Div 1/Super 8 team that can give most of the top 5/6 teams a run for it (bar the Dubs) in championship.

National Football League 2020

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