https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2020/0415/1130667-thank-you-dublin-kerry-for-best-ever-footbali-game/

As we all know, there are only three criteria for inclusion in the list of greatest games of all time:

1. Must involve Dublin and Kerry; and
2. Have lots of great scores; and
3. Must have poor-quality defending.

As the writer admits:

"In fact, neither defence covered themselves in glory but we weren't bothered by that."

Of course you're not; you're just going with the crowd.

One of the worst games I've ever seen was the Tyrone-Down drawn Ulster final of 2003. Down stuck 4 goals past a very poor Tyrone defence. Scores were cheap - Tyrone got points easily and Down got goals easily. Cheap, and to me, eventually uninteresting. Everyone leaving the game was banging on about the "great game"; but if I'd have been the Tyrone manager or coach, I'd have been furious at such a display of defensive ineptitude.

Too many pundits confuse mass-hysteria in a crowd with objective quality. Sure, old-timers and day-trippers get very excited when scores are cheap and mistakes plentiful; but, for me, you might as well be watching basketball. Up the field, score; down the field, score. Big deal.

All the major phases of our game - defending, midfield and forward play - all should be high quality before a game can be described as the greatest game of all time.

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 15/04/2020 14:36:31    2276033

hate to admint it but i still havent seen a better game than dublin/kerry 2013

lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1363 - 15/04/2020 19:52:48    2276056

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2841 - 15/04/2020 20:06:19    2276057

Though the Donegal Kerrry game in the Super 8s was excellent. 2-40 scored between the teams.
Roscommon Armagh was a brilliant game in the qualifiers a few years back.
Being biased again but Donegal Dublin in 14.
Cork Tyrone in the super 8s was another excellent match.

The best was last year's under 20 final. Cork beating Dublin despite being 10 down in the first half. They went 1 up at HT and won by a fair few in the end. Great match.

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1140 - 15/04/2020 20:34:56    2276063

Suas Sios (None) - Posts: 1550 - 15/04/2020 20:54:32    2276066

Dublin Mayo in 2017 I'd have in the conversation too.

For hurling Kilkenny Tipperary 2014 is up there.

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 15/04/2020 21:39:15    2276071

what is wrong with a low scoring game?within reason now.
most hurling games are now 1-25 to 3-19 shoot outs.
yes it is exciting but are teams not coaching a corner back to defend for example?
i think hurling in particular is gone too much of a forwards game and they get frees way too easily.i often see a foul blown against a corner back and say "what ever happened to standing your ground"?
yeah,you probably know where i played a lot of my hurling and football....

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 16/04/2020 09:27:43    2276083

Best ever games I was at.
Meath v Dublin 4 game saga. 91
Meath v Kildare replay 97 (the Jody Devine game)
Best that I watched on tv Dublin v Kerry 13
Donegal v Kildare (life of me I can't remember year).

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 16/04/2020 09:38:24    2276085

In fairness to hurling corner-backs, poor defending on their part isn't the main reason for the increased scoring. A larger proportion of these scores are coming from much further out the pitch than in previous decades.
In terms of a great game, the following would be what I'd consider important:
- High skill levels displayed throughout.
- Serious intensity from both sides, with lots of open battles for possession and pressure being put on the ball.
- A competitive game in terms of scoring, with the result in doubt until the end.
- A high stakes occasion (with All Ireland finals obviously getting the highest weighting in this area).

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2038 - 16/04/2020 09:49:24    2276088

The Mayo Dublin game of 2006 always sticks out in my mind. It was man on man all out attack and a brilliant contest settled by McDonald's superb winner.

Kerry and Dublin in 2013 was a classic as well.

From my own county games that stick in the memory are the 2003 quarter final against Galway, the 2011 match against Kildare and the 2014 semi final against Dublin.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9128 - 16/04/2020 10:07:40    2276091

For me the best game has to be kerry v Mayo replay 2014, although the drawn game was also excellent we were a team deep in transision with a new manager and no 1 gave us a chance.

Kerry v Armagh quarter final in 06 was a brilliant game to watch as well and it had every thing.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 16/04/2020 10:49:36    2276096

Best Donegal Games I was at:
Donegal v Dublin 1992
Donegal v Galway 2003
Donegal v Kildare 2011
Donegal v Cork 2012
Donegal v Dublin 2014

Best other game's I was at:
Derry v Down 1994
Kildare v Galway 1998
Tyrone v Dublin 2005
Kerry v Dublin 2011

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 16/04/2020 11:17:47    2276097

Down v Derry first round Ulster championship 1994 an unbelievable game against the 2 best teams in ireland that year, if there was a back door this would have been the All Ireland final. Some brilliant scores and great defending, i would suggest everyone watch this.

Yourjoking (USA) - Posts: 704 - 16/04/2020 13:26:53    2276100

The Dublin v Kerry All-ireland football semi final of 1977 won by Dublin was considered to be a classic and to be one of the best games ever.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2160 - 16/04/2020 14:04:56    2276102

For me it was obviously matches that I attended, it would be the Meath v Dublin played on Saturday in very sunny conditions. Many good games but Kerry v Tyrone final would be up there with the best. Now there have been many great games and some of the recent ones are up there with the best. I suppose if you were from Offaly (football) it would be the Seamus Darby final.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 16/04/2020 14:11:36    2276103

In terms of a hurling game under the OP's criteria, the 2005 AI SF between Clare and Cork was excellent, despite not being a shootout and or goalfest like most of the hurling games labelled as all time greats

eoghan6688 (Galway) - Posts: 154 - 16/04/2020 14:32:46    2276105

Tyrone v Armagh All Ireland Semi Final in 2005.

The third meeting between these teams in championship football that summer. I waa at the Ulster final replay, not a real Ulster final for me when it wasn't in Ulster. The ref did Tyrone no favours in that game. To say there was no love lost between the teams ans supporters would be a massive understatement Point for point either set of supporters rose to their feet to cheer their team and vex the opponent's support. Some atmosphere, some game, a privelige to be there. Magic!

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7342 - 16/04/2020 15:09:25    2276106

lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1363 - 16/04/2020 18:33:03    2276120

For me a "great" match needs a few factors.

1. Goals! Goals change matches in a way that a run of points just doesn't. They shift momentum and add to the drama. Obviously there can still be very good games without goals.

2. The result to be in doubt going into the last few minutes. Some matches can be great up until one team pulls away in the last 10/15 and equally some matches can be poor enough but be saved by the tension in the last few minutes if they're still close.

3. No team to ever get too far ahead during the game. Comebacks are great to watch but it is better for the game overall if they're close throughout.

4. Stand out moments of skill, be they scores, saves, blocks, high fielding, turnovers etc

5. A low free count, frees ruin the momentum of a game and make the play very stop start.

6. A lot on the line. I've been to league matches that have had all of the above and were very enjoyable but just not the same as a big knockout Championship match.

Any game that has most of the above (but defo number 6) will leave you buzzin afterwards and that's the reason we watch!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13706 - 16/04/2020 20:21:16    2276126

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1057 - 16/04/2020 21:24:53    2276129