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Dublin GAA thread - 10 Like(s)
https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2023/0430/1380034-ryan-we-dont-get-fair-crack-of-the-whip-against-dubs/
Have to agree with Ryan here, when the game was in the melting pot Dublin were awarded close in free's that very few if any other ref would have deemed to be frees.
martinjoe (National) - 30/04/2023 22:29:25
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Leitrim GAA thread - 4 Like(s)
I rarely venture into other county threads but would like to share something that I think is worthwhile. When Andy was considering taking on Leitrim he spoke to managers who have in the past and in some cases still do, work with so called weaker counties. I am referring to counties who are 9 years out of 10 in division 4 and are unable to gain promotion or, if they do, retain it for more than one year. JM and JOM and Micko are well known for their achievements with lower ranked teams. JM was supportive of Andy and encouraged him. However, he also made clear that expectations of commitment needed to be realistic. "If you think these lads are going to make the level of sacrifice and commitment that you made with Mayo you can forget it, was the gist of it. Why would they not, and even more inquired AM. Because they believe, and it is ingrained in their belief, that even if Jim Gavin and his backroom took them over, the very best they can hope for is 1 year in Division 3, and in terms of the championship, beating London or Sligo. The Leitrim supporters I would suggest are, second only to ourselves, when it comes to enthusiasm for the team, and although a small county in terms of population, a big diaspora ensures there is no want of resources for the county team. There is now quick fix to this. Leitrim will have to achieve success from underage right the way up to bring belief to the players. Hyland says more or less the same today here https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2022/0508/1296747-hyland-leitrim-lads-know-theres-not-an-opportunity
martinjoe (National) - 08/05/2022 19:29:17
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Galway Football thread - 3 Like(s)
History has shown us that regardless of recent form Galway/Mayo championship matches can take on a life of their own. From a Galway point of view this has to be their only hope. While Mayo are no great shakes and have seemingly declined since the NFL win last year, the Galway decline is far more profound. Before I go on, let me state that I do not expect Mayo to even make the quarter finals. What Galway supporters seem to forget, apart from the undoubted injury crises they have been in all year, is that they now have an ageing team. Conroy, Comer, Walsh, Silke and Heaney are or will all be the wrong side of 30 this year. These are Key players for the team. Their most recent form has been shocking. Only superior cardio fitness got them over the live against div 3 Sligo. The time on the ball and space Sligo were afforded in the semi was jaw dropping. While I do not expect a repeat of the 2013 first round, this is likely to be a comprehensive win for the Green and Red.
martinjoe (National) - 30/04/2024 11:40:02
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Leitrim GAA thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To farneygael3: "Heard Mickey left because of disagreement with board. Was asking for equipment to drive the camp on and was told no. Joyce then asked him in after seeing he was available." Don't blame the board in this instance, he wanted a bag of those plastic marker yokes teams use in the warm up and for training drills. The board rightly felt they invested more than enough during the previous 3 years. Anyway happy ending as a publican has sponsored the training aids.
martinjoe (National) - 22/10/2024 15:01:12
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Football Is Finished - 3 Like(s)
It can be denied repeatedly but the facts are clear, and they show that Dublin have a number of huge advantages over every other county, not just in funding. They are sponsored officially by AIG who previously sponsored Man Utd. Their near neighbours, from a very wealthy county, are sponsored by a sliced ham company. The funding generated by the huge support base within the capital allows them to be a professional team by any measure. Players who have work commitments that will not allow them to be available on a more or less full time basis have to drop out, no matter how talented they may be. Dr Jack for example. Contrast that with county boards who are warning their players not to swap jerseys at the end of games because they cannot afford to replace them. Then you have Croke Park, the home ground of Dublin. A unique surface to any other pitch which on which Dublin play the vast majority of their games. Was it 1 or 2 championship games that Bernard Brogan played outside of Croke Park during his long stint with the team? This is an advantage that cannot be denied. Then there is the maxim "the big teams get the big calls" when it comes to officiating. Nowhere is this more clearly visibly than in the great RTE documentary "All Ireland Day" from 2017. Link here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhNzf31pgc0
It shows, starting in the 9th minute, the match officials for the final being prepped in Croke Park 4 days before the final V Kerry. The Dublin presenters of the event proceed to show the ref videos of a number of incidents from earlier games and ask him for his opinion on them. The incidents shown involve fouls on Kerry players, 1 a very late challenge, the other a trip. The presenter is very keen to downplay the seriousness of the challenges. What could the officials take away from that presentation? Do not be giving frees to Kerry unless you are very sure and be very reluctant to give cards. Surely in the interests of fairness clips shown to give examples of incidents should not have included either of the teams playing the final a few days later. In the subsequent game the ref claimed not to have seen what Kerry claimed was a red card offence. Then move on to match day itself, the ref, on arrival is greeted by the great and the good legends of Dublin football from the past. I am not in any way questioning the integrity of the ref, but we are all human and it would be very hard for him not to feel pressurised. I wonder, with covid and all, will the ref for this year's final be summoned to a presentation before this year's final? I will not bother going into the overturning of punishments on the back of the odd red card that is issued, was there another one last week?
martinjoe (National) - 07/12/2020 07:40:06
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Sligo 2019 - 3 Like(s)
With 12 goals given away in the first 5 games, is there not a case for giving the number 16 a chance?
martinjoe (Sligo) - 03/03/2019 19:26:02
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Mayo V Tyrone All-Ireland Football Final - 3 Like(s)
I might be alone but I thought Kerry the better team on Saturday. They got more scores, have several ref calls go against them, and had one of these days when everything went against them especially with the goal chances. Morgan landed a once in a decade free which in the end was the difference. Tyorne were well on top in the rough and tumble end of things yet again but I cannot see that happening v the new Mayo. I expect David Gough to ref the final and he will be much sharper in dealing with off the ball fouls, verbals and more.
martinjoe (National) - 30/08/2021 07:19:49
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Mayo 2021 - 3 Like(s)
Replying To jacktheboy: "anyone have an update on injuries and Covid on the players for next Sunday." DOC to start, no team selection issues due to covid.
martinjoe (Mayo) - 23/07/2021 09:30:12
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All Ireland Final 2023 - Dublin V Kerry - 2 Like(s)
In the last 2 All Ireland Finals massive late on ref decisions changed the momentum of the game in favor of the eventual winners. Kerry benefited last year but the Dubs got the calls this time. The hidden pressure on refs to give the big calls to the big teams is huge as is clearly shown on the RTE documentary All Ireland Day which can be seen on youtube. Kerry were the big team last year, this year it was the Dubs. Strangely, the hidden pressure is not near as intense in semi finals, Dublin did not reach the final in 2022 or 2021, had they done so, I have no doubt they would have won both.
martinjoe (National) - 31/07/2023 06:28:24
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Leitrim GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
No reason why ye won't beat Tipp next weekend. Andy deserves credit for having the team peak just at the right time. The local (Cavan) ref should do ye no harm either. I hope ye make it to Div 2, best of luck.
martinjoe (National) - 17/03/2024 19:29:00
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Leitrim GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To southleitrim_mafia: "We were confirmed today as the highest scoring team across all the divisions. It really shows that defense is our weak link. I believe that the lads are good defenders I don't think it's down to the players that we've shipped so many scores. Maybe tactically it's something Andy and the lads can look at before the championship maybe set up a bit more defensive against tougher opposition. I think Andy in the past few games has got his team selection wrong. Jack heslin has been one of our best players in this campaign besides Keith beirne. Even coming on in the past two games he's had a big influence. Ino he had two wides yesterday but when he settled into the game he set up loads of chances and the goal. Can't understand why he's been dropped the past two games and speaking to members of the panel they don't know why either." While it is factual to say that Leitrim are indeed to top scorers in all divisions of the league, and that Leitrim came within a score or two of promotion, it is no less a fact that the county remains in the bottom half of Division 4 along with London, Carlow and Waterford. I am sure the 24 teams outside of division 4 would have chalked up fancy scores v the 4 teams at the foot of div 4, if they had the opportunity! Hopefully players, mentors and supporters will have a great few days in the big apple and rack up another impressive score against a team that have never won an intercounty game, a team who haven't played an intercounty game in over a year, and give it everything then to get over Sligo. While my own county have 2 very tough assignments if we are to reach the final I hope we can do it. It would be such a carnival atmosphere meeting Leitrim or Sligo in the final, rather than the nailbiters of the past decade. The pundits, and indeed some of our supporters, will be hand wringing about the mismatch and the need for seedings etc, but in all truth, there nothing more satisfying than heading to a final, with the only question to be decided, yes, will they hold the deficit to 20 points?
martinjoe (National) - 27/03/2023 17:50:10
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Tailteann Cup 2024 - 2 Like(s)
This is a great cup for the players involved but apart from the final its of little interest to supporters. The early rounds should be ran off over a weekend or 2 in a blitz, 30min per game. The finalists should go forward to play New York and London in the first round of the following years championship. It would be a great experience for counties outside Connacht to head off to NY and also mighty for the Exiles out there. It would also make for a proper game between teams of equal standing, and not the humbug of having division 1 teams rout NY and London as happened last month.
martinjoe (National) - 04/06/2024 13:40:36
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What Now For Mayo - 2 Like(s)
Very hard to see this team getting back involved in the latter stages of the championship in the next few years. I think JH will decide to move on now and that will likely spell the end for Keegan, McLoughlan, AOS and maybe even Cillian. The county have to try and figure out why no top drawer natural forwards are coming through. McDonald really the last top notch we have produced. Credit has to go to JH and the players for the fitness and guts and never say die they have shown over the years but as many point out the lack of even one super finisher has cost All Irelands.
martinjoe (National) - 26/06/2022 20:00:05
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Galway Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To unclegerry: "Mayo were only average yesterday.. Galway wasted the chances to win the game" Galway were unable to cope with the Mayo backs who had the better of their men. They came so far and then went back or sideways except for a handful of occasions. The 4 goal chances they created, which to me were really half chances, came from smart medium length passes that allowed a player to get inside. When they took the ball into contact in the first quarter as PJ himself alluded to afterwards, they were quiet easily overturned allowing Mayo to do what we do best break forward at speed. Some are trying to make a story out of Mayo scoring very little from play, but their is no story their except that to prevent us scoring from play Galway had to foul us in the scoring zone. It is believed that the top teams, teams in contention for SAM, are targeting certain games and going full tilt to try and win them, but not overly concerned about other games. Galway targeted the Armagh and Kerry games and were a bit lucky in both, scoring goals from long speculative shots, which were the difference. I expect they will target their next game and be much more tigerish than last Sunday. Be that as it may I think we will overcome them and Roscommon. Looking at the bigger picture I see Ourselves, Tyrone, Kerry and Galway getting to the last 4. The only scenario where I could Galway getting the better of us would the return of a fully fit Liam Silke, which may happen over the spring. Himself and Tom Sullivan are probably the only 2 players capable of keeping AOS out of the game, legally. I am discounting the Dubs, with their 6 points in a Croke Park final, a score they would rack up in 5 minutes a few years ago. The Ross pose a different threat than that of most other teams, in their ability to kick long range scores and the fact that they fear no team. I am sure we will be putting intense pressure on them anywhere near the 45 line, and think they simply do not have enough class players to do damage. They are 66/1 for sam ten times a bigger price than Mayo or Galway. I see Cavan's Noel Mooney is in charge of this fixture, he is not very experienced at the top level so hopefully all goes well for him.
martinjoe (National) - 04/04/2023 14:30:24
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Leitrim GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Lockerroomboy: "Phew ha ha" Congrats on another great win. Andy has now led yez to league promotion, and 2 back to back wins in the Cup, with a right chance of reaching the latter stages. 10 remaining teams are now longer odds than Leitrim.
martinjoe (National) - 19/05/2024 19:02:35
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Leitrim GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To 3rdmidfielder: "Andy not up to it. I'm saying it since end of his first year. A monumental waste of resources!! A nice guy but he should have went after New York last year. He's not up to the task." I beg to Differ, ye are 2nd in the table with 2 games to go and in with a right shout of promotion and will at the very least finish in the top half. The break will be a chance to work on a few things for sure, but 2 or 4 points is well doable. All teams are in the same div at more or less the same level.
martinjoe (National) - 03/03/2024 20:19:53
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Mayo GAA Thread - 2 Like(s)
McStay made a few strange calls IMO, very quick to take of AOS I thought, he was involved in almost all of our 1st half scores and was one of the few who could match Dublin in the Rough and Tumble. Did not bring on the championship top scorer of all time until the game was already over, abandoned the "keep the bear in the square" mantra that had been such a success all year. It was a bit too much to expect that any county could magically replace the likes of Keegan, Higgins, Barrett and Boyle with players of the same caliber and so it has proved. Still a League Cup in his first year is fair enough.
martinjoe (National) - 02/07/2023 19:30:08
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Leitrim GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To boxtyburgerbuns: "Is that a rhetorical question?" My point is, the U20s were deemed to be such an integral part of the senior team, that the seniors were unable/unwilling to field without them. Based of the result last evening with the Galway FF scoring 1-09, and based on the margin of defeats suffered in the League to date, I am wondering what awaits when they play a team that could in Theory be NFL DIV 1 Champs by then, a crown they held just 2 seasons ago. How are U20s (from any county) expected to cope with a hardened division one senior team. In terms of S&C alone, it seems to me it would be a bad decision if they were asked to play in this fixture. It is simply wrong. For all their real or perceived failings the county board do not (I hope) pick the squad, panel or team.
martinjoe (National) - 20/03/2025 11:38:43
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Leitrim GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
I know ye don't like posters who reside outside Leitrim contributing to the discussions here, but I can't get over the lack of constructive criticism being directed at mgmt following the results so far. I have thus concluded that we are in for a much tighter affair than expected on Saturday. Poucher is publicly ruling out even the possibility of a run in the T Cup, but has everything secretly been geared towards the Mayo game? Yes, I fully expect a Mayo win, but by the narrowest margin for many, many years. It will be all but impossible for McStay to prevent complacency creeping into the camp, in spite of the Sligo effort. I understand Moran addressed the players at training earlier this week in an effort reduce complacency. Happy Easter.
martinjoe (National) - 17/04/2025 10:38:14
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Leitrim GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Leitrim twenty to one ON to win the opening TC game. What a turn around and that surly is a first.
martinjoe (National) - 06/05/2024 12:06:08
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