The GAA Thread

[taz]

I think Cork will win the AI now...

[Thomond78]

In both semis. Hmmm. Dare we mention the "D" word yet, or do we keep that embargoed until after the semis?

[taz]

No,just the football.

[scotscor]

In both semis. Hmmm. Dare we mention the "D" word yet, or do we keep that embargoed until after the semis?

we are not allowed mention it, but paddy power will pay you 21.50 to 1 on the unmentionable

[scotscor]

Corks to lose in the football.

In the hurling, you wouldn't fear either Galway or Tipp

[Ruck Em]

Tipp to win hurling. Cork to win football.

[fitzy73]

KK and Dubs for me.

[garryowen2323]

What I want...........Cork (football) and Galway

What I think it will be............Donegal and Kilkenny

[taz]

What I want...........Cork (football) and Galway

What I think it will be............Donegal and Kilkenny

Now thats a prediction!

[busby]

If any other side hammered Kildare like that it would be the result of the weekend, not when it's Cork though. I've lost count of the amount of times they've destroyed teams like this but the emphasis always seems to be on the opposition crashing rather than Cork making them crash. I would venture that the Kildare side Cork beat was an outfit in better shape than the Kerry team Donegal beat. Ironically, Pat Spillane seems the only man that ever goes out of his way to give the Cork footballers credit.

I worry about Counihan's tactics and selections in the back line, but i feel this group of players are so strong the they could well overcome that. If they win this year, i think a new coaching team and overhaul of the backline next year could drive them on to leave a great legacy for themselves.

Kerry have gone well back, and are set to dig a bigger hole for themselves by getting rid of O'Connor who's kept their heads above water and the greatest tactical mind the in the game. At the end of the game yesterday they were relying on guys like O'Leary and Curtin. No disrespect to them but they are run of the mill footballers, and that's all that's coming through for them.

Not sure of Donegal yet. Aside from two or three, it's hard to see the top class players there that Cork and Dublin have, and they nearly threw it away against a what in the end was the worst Kerry teams (as in 15 on the pitch) of the last 50 years i'd say. Them seem to be relying on physically destroying teams which they simply won't be able to do to Cork. I think Cork's forward talent and bench will push them ahead of them, and Donegal won't exploit of weakest link, our half back line. It won't be pretty, and i expect Cork to be slated for dull football, rather than placing the blame for the spectacle in the obvious place. Also, Donegal (like Kerry against Tyrone) celebrated like the won the AI yesterday. That will come against them, no matter what McGuiness does.

One thing i'm convinced by is that Gaelic football needs it's rules overhauled if a team with that approach is successful. It's horrible, putrid stuff. Themselves and to a greater extent Kildare are examples of teams who are exploiting the irrelevance of the tackle law in GAA to bring themselves above where they should be.

[rua13]

With Lehane and Coughlan the two wing forwards its hard to see Cork winning many puck outs... Youd have to
fancy Galway but youd never know.. rebels abu!

[Piquet]

I heard two interesting stories (down the pub) last night.

Allegedly a well known forward backed himself to score nothing in a recent match.

Allegedly a midfielder was joking about putting a bet on himself to break a hurl at the throw-in. He was going to bring an already broken hurl onto the pitch. the joke grew legs and his Manager got to hear about it. The manager told him that if he went through with it, the Manager would make sure that he never played inter-county hurling again.

[busby]

They are two incredibly strange bets for a bookie to be accepting. Whatever about the forward scoring nothing bet (which is clearly set up to be taken advantage of), the broken hurl is the most random one ever and would surely prick a bookies ear.

[Piquet]

AS I said above the broken hurl one was a joke that grew legs. It's the reaction of the Manager that I admire.

If the player and the match that I was told about, are true, the player would have won the bet.

[busby]

Jack O'Connor is confirmed as leaving the Kerry job. Unless they can get Donnie Buckley in that's a massive blow, despite what many Kerry people feel he was their best asset.

[Old Dog]

Galway 0-22 0-17 Cork.

And Galway go through to the AIF. A comfortable win by the Leinster champs who must have hit at least a dozen wides. Enjoyable game, but nowhere near as intense and ferocious as the Leinster Final.

Gallimh Abu.

[Cowboy]

Galway 0-22 0-17 Cork.

And Galway go through to the AIF. A comfortable win by the Leinster champs who must have hit at least a dozen wides. Enjoyable game, but nowhere near as intense and ferocious as the Leinster Final.

Gallimh Abu.

They fairly bossed the middle of the field. Credit to Galway, they deserved their victory.

[taz]

Galway were very good,they never had to hit top gear they were so much in control.

[isola ciarrai]

I think Cork will win the AI now...

I agree, Taz, have been saying since last year that you have by far and away the strongest panel of footballers in the country, and one title is a poor return on such a group. Pressure on now after being ambushed two years running, and Counihan and this group need justify all the hassle with Teddy Holland. I expect them to do so. Is he showing a bit too much loyalty in selecting veteran Canty at 6?
Donegal beatable and had Kerry persisted with their initial gameplan, they could have beaten Donegal - we took it back to Cooper, Declan O'S and co in space and they hit long range points, but then we stopped that and played an ersatz version of Donegal/Tyrone football. Donegal unbelievable discipline and strength physically and mentally. But not a great football team, and expect Cork to do them, and if Cork get on top, a bit of a trouncing for Donegal. Would put Corks tallest forwards on edge of square and drop the ball into them for first 15 minutes at least. Donaghy was screaming for those balls into him all through the second half as he felt he had the beating of the Donegal FB line and keeper. The one time we did so correctly, he scored a goal. This GAA version of Route 1 ball would unnerve Donegal and negate this swarming game of theirs out the field. Doubt that Donegal could chase a game against Cork, who have a number of big, strong yet skillful players. At least your keeper is unlikely to screw up as badly as our Kealy did, giving them a soft goal and a cushion which they never lost.
Question is the eternal one about Cork football teams - will you make a balls of it yourselves? Good for Munster football if Cork win because we in the West will not be a factor beyond last 8 for a few years.
Despite what posters on here have said, glad that O'Connor is going because he has lost the dressing room and players confidence. A bit like McGahan - inherited an exceptional group of mature, skillful, decisive, thinking players who would have won under any number of competent coaches. Still, his holding operation is recalling Mike Mac and Eoin Brosnan worked well but then both Brosnan and Mike Mac left prematurely anyway. Would ignore scandalous rumours about O'Connor - he lost the dressing room for footballing reasons, esp the Donie Buckley debacle.
My own dream team? Donie Buckley head coach with John Evans as manager/mentor - will not happen though.
BTW, Dara O'Se turning out an excellent analyst esp in print and will improve on TV.

[isola ciarrai]

Do not agree with your 'worst Kerry team' for past 50 years comment ref finishing 15 V Donegal. You clearly do not recall the midget forward lines we put out against Cork in the losing early 90s/late 80s,with the exception of The Great Tanned One. We had one hand on Sam last August and errors on our part, esp a failure to kill them off when we could with another few points, and a debatable refereeing decision stopped a win. Father Time is merciless and remorseless in his actions. We will not be a factor beyond last 8 for a few years to come IMO.
O'Connor gone and it is his time to go, with player confidence in him low. Hope Castleislands Donie Buckley takes over on the coaching side and see what he can get out of Curtin, O'Leary, O'Donoghue, Enright, and (I pray earnestly) David Moran. A patient coach can restore young Padraig Reidy to the defence. Still some excellent players in late 20s there with a good mid term future - Sheehan, the O'Sullivans, Maher, Young, Bohane (if he can remain even slightly injury free), Donaghy, Gooch, even Marc O'Se. Father Time has caught up with some. Galvin plenty to offer if he can concentrate and stay free of serious injury. Would imagine Gooch back to the 40, Declan to 14.

[isola ciarrai]

'Wegian missus dancing about the house and saying bring it on, Tipp or KK. Her usual 'Wegian pessimism gone for the moment.

[busby]

Cork looked like a team filled with some pretty poor players today and have looked like that for most of the championship. They might be good hurlers, but they are so feeble physically that they are totally incapable of showing it, and there is a lack of any blinding pace and extraordinary skill to make up for it. I just don't see the talent in this group of players.

[Thomond78]

It's a sorry look-out for hurling when "more skilled, but less gym-monkey" equates to "poor". Football went down that road, and few favours it did it.

[busby]

It's a sorry look-out for hurling when "more skilled, but less gym-monkey" equates to "poor". Football went down that road, and few favours it did it.

I think a lot of Cork people are fooling themselves a bit with the notion that these are the most skilled hurlers in the country and are simply being held back by size. Paudie Sull is very skilful alight but slow as a turtle. Horgan just hasn't looked up to this level at times. Many others might be skilful in some league games or at club/underage level, but not at this level. Lehane is a great prospect but no ready yet.

[busby]

AS I said above the broken hurl one was a joke that grew legs. It's the reaction of the Manager that I admire.

If the player and the match that I was told about, are true, the player would have won the bet.

I just heard the name of the player your talking about. Juicy. Very juicy.

[Grandpasimpson]

Cork looked like a team filled with some pretty poor players today and have looked like that for most of the championship. They might be good hurlers, but they are so feeble physically that they are totally incapable of showing it, and there is a lack of any blinding pace and extraordinary skill to make up for it. I just don't see the talent in this group of players.

Cork played right into Galway's hands, high hopefull balls into small light forwards who were crowded by pretty much every Galway player on the pitch. The way to beat puke -sorry - intensive hurling is to take scores from distance, Cork looked like a club team in panic trying to hit the writing off the sliothar in almighty hit and hopes. The game was crying out for a bit of Niall McCarthy physicality to counter Tony Og Regan but for a spell the lightest forward in the championship was marking him.

However a lot of young lads got serious experience this year that will stand them in good stead for next year. I sincerely hope Galway go on to win it, it would be nice to see and good for the game.

Edit: Didnt like to see the play acting of Tannion and Canning yesterday, no place in the game for that, it seems to be creeping in at a very fast pace these days.

[Ruck Em]

Two of the "Big" city teams avoided the dreaded relegation match in the Cork Senior Hurling Champ tonight.

Blackrock beat Bride Rovers 2-11 to 0-14.

The Glen beat Cloyne 3-18 to 1-8.

Cloyne meet Bride next, losers are relegated.

Both the Rockies and glen area back in the championship after losing two games!

In the other games, Midleton beat Avondhu 2-15 to 0-17. Newtown drew with Na Piarsaighs 2-12 to 1-15.

[limkman1]

[QUOTE=Ruck Em;1100005]Two of the "Big" city teams avoided the dreaded relegation match in the Cork Senior Hurling Champ tonight.

Blackrock beat Bride Rovers 2-11 to 0-14.

The Glen beat Cloyne 3-18 to 1-8.

Cloyne meet Bride next, losers are relegated.

Both the Rockies and glen area back in the championship after losing two games!

In the other games, Midleton beat Avondhu 2-15 to 0-17. Newtown drew with Na Piarsaighs 2-12 to 1-15.[/QUOT
That Cloyne bride Rovers game will be a tough one,any date for that game?.Midleton got over the line but will need to improve to advance further

[SecondRowGal]

G'wan Tipp! Some game!

[Ruck Em]

G'wan Tipp! Some game!

Game of the season, Tipp doing well to be level, have hit more wides.

So intense, glad I am not playing!

Tipp one point up now at half time.