Worst weekend ever. No underage success for years. The notion of just going out with skilful hurlers and expecting them to do the business just won't work any more. There are only 5-6 of them doing the business and that's not enough. Arguably less than a handful would have made the 03-06 panel. The footballers have the players.... But not the nous. That Armagh ****ing ref the first day out in Killarney has ****ed my summer. I was out yesterday and had the match recorded I was trying to avoid the score.... But when I started getting text messages I knew something was up. The first time since 98 that no Cork team has played in Croker and the first time in donkey's years that cork have failed to win a Munster title from minor, u21 or senior in both codes. I take it really badly. Truth be told the best 4 teams in the country are in the semi finals....as it should be.
Plenty of G.A.A on over the bank holiday weekend. Thursday Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 hurling final Clare v Limerick, Cusack Park, Ennis, 7pm Friday TG4 All-Ireland intermediate ladies football championship Clare v Limerick, Kilmihil, 7pm Saturday All-Ireland senior football Round 4B qualifier Sligo v Tyrone, Croke Park, 4pm, (Live Sky Sports) Donegal v Galway, Croke Park, 6pm, (Live Sky Sports) Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor football quarter-finals Derry v Longford, Brewster Park, Enniskillen, 2pm Kildare v Cavan, Páirc Tailteann, Navan, 4pm Liberty Insurance All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-final Cork v Tipperary, Venue TBC Wexford v 3rd place Group 2, Venue TBC TG4 All-Ireland ladies football championship Senior Mayo v Tyrone, Ballinamore, 2pm Intermediate Roscommon v Sligo, Ballinamore, 3.45pm Sunday All-Ireland senior football quarter-finals Kerry v Kildare, Croke Park, 2pm Dublin v Fermanagh, Croke Park, 4pm Liberty Insurance All-Ireland intermediate camogie championship Group 1 Cork v Galway, Venue & Time TBC Meath v Wexford, Venue & Time TBC Group 2 Kildare v Waterford, Venue & Time TBC Monday Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor football quarter-finals Kerry v Sligo, O’Connor Park, Tullamore, 2pm Galway v Tipperary, O’Connor Park, Tullamore, 4pm TG4 All-Ireland ladies football championship Senior Cork v Meath, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 3pm
Monaghan and Tyrone first up today with Mayo vs Donegal lining out after. The northern derby will be tight, Monaghan won't be giving up much space and I can see them winning it by a few points, they appear just slightly ahead in terms of quality between the two so far this year. The second game should be good. I was impressed with Donegal early in the season but as it has played out I would lean slightly towards a Mayo victory here this evening. It will be close but Mayo have more firepower and strength in depth than Donegal and they can see this one through.
Good to see Tyrone win. Holding on a bit at the end hence the professionalism, but on the whole they were better and outfoxed Monaghan today.
Much the better side. Did you notice the change in Monaghan compared to the Donegal win?..against them they were patient and happy to hold back and keep ball around the middle and backs but Tyrone got them so wound up and tore into them so early that Monaghan fell hook, line and sinker for it and tried to go to to toe and attack and be aggressive every instance. Harte and his men had a plan and Monaghan fell head first so as you say well done Tyrone. Missed the Mayo game, was on duty myself then but they cruised through comfy enough as I had half expected.
No I tend to switch on to Tyrones games only although I did see the Cork match a few weeks ago. My wife is from Tyrone and all the brothers are passionate Red Hands. I love watching it though as it is so fast. I will def tune in for the Kerry match up.
It has to be said, that was pretty disgraceful stuff from Tyrone players in Croke Park on Sat. It was a typical Ulster game as in it was an embarrassment to the sport gaelic football but im beginning to wonder if these players have any shame in the first place. Anyway, Kerry will put them back in their place with a good humping.
he up ended him didn't he ??? ..that is pretty poor behaviour and it's the fact that so many kids see this and replicate it at their own games. As County players they must realise they have to set a better standard than that. Tyrone did what they had to do to win. Kerry will be a different beast though for sure.
Kilkenny saw off Waterford comfortably in the end. I was best man at a wedding on Saturday lots of the wedding party wee Mayo so the speeches weren't until after the match. One of the gags I wrote was dependant on Mayo winning. Watched the whole thing on telephones dotted around the hall.
That's the problem with modern football, teams like Tyrone will do whatever it takes to win even if they have to drag the whole sport down to the gutter like they did on Sat. Mickey Harte has done some good things for the gaa and he seems like a decent bloke but for me he should be ashamed of a lot of the stuff he has brought into the gaa.
Its about winning though. Sure Kerry may be a step too far but Tyrone are a good team given limitations.....you may not care for the Ulster brand but they also deserve credit for getting there.
Its about winning alright but if they could just show a shred of integrity whilst winning everyone would respect them. I doubt they need to act like complete cowards to beat the mighty Monaghan in a game of football, they have good enough players to win without resorting to diving and faking injury like Italian soccer players.
I don't see it. I think they are limited enough compared to the elite teams. They need to be bastards to get close to the elite teams. Kerry are one of those and there's no bigger shower of bastards at the moment than Kerry.
Im not sure if they are limited compared to Monaghan though. I could sort of understand if they were playing somebody like Kerry but its just embarrassing for them that they have to behave like that to beat Monaghan.
Can Galway upset Tipp the weekend lads? Can't see it myself...think it would be a closer final were Tipp to get there anyway. Last week's semi final was a dull affair so hopefully this will be more enterprising. In the Football Mayo will face Dublin, who we fancying there In what could prove to be game of the season ??? Tyrone and Kerry, will be very fiery and expect an awful lot of cynicism from both sides, Kerry perhaps just have the edge in terms of footballing ability overall? Answers on a postcard please
I think Galway can do it, they seem to be working hard for each other now rather than relying on individuals like Joe Canning, im half hoping Tipp win though because Galway would get smashed by Kilkenny in the final. Im not confident of Dublin beating Mayo to be honest. Mayo seem to have a better system now that suits them and they look better in defence. A real 50/50 game for me. I hope Tyrone beat Kerry but I cant see it. It could be very interesting if its close with 20mins to go.
I think Monaghan are a good team and deserve the recognition as a D1 side and deserved Ulster finalists for the last 4 years, winning twice. Just getting into Croker is a real sticking point for them. Twice in three years they have ran into Tyrone.... Lucky for Tyrone. I genuinely believe it could have been anyone halfway decent and Monaghan would have bottled it.
Incredible game. Now that is what the championship is all about. well done to the Cork Camogs who battled back to beat Kilkenny..... Oh and Galway beat Tipp too.