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All Ireland Football Championship 2025

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Why did Donegal have 16 players in pre match formalities and in parade? Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2303 - 28/07/2025 17:19:47 2628768 Link
Replying To FullOfPorter: "Also when in possesion and the oppoenent is close to you move the ball quickly, Kerry played what looked like one touch football at times despite a crowded Donegal defense. Can't recall them holding on to ball too long and getting turned over too often." I recall Paul Galvin once saying in Kerry its all about letting the ball go and don't be taking too much out of it. There was no Kerry man yesterday trying to burst through 2 or more Donegal men. If they were outnumbered they move it quick to the next man. Fabulous team work. I hate to see lads (and its a big problem in Mayo at all levels) soloing into tackles and getting turned over. Or worse, going on big long solo runs instead of kicking into the space for a forward to get it. Donegal set up perfectly for the selflish lad who wants to do it all on his own. Kerry were a different story yesterday. At times, you could see Kerry lads in space inside the 40m arc, but Kerry didnt panic and showed great patience before picking off a 2 pointer, often turning down the chance to give inside for a 1 point attempt. That one phase of play, where one lad just palmed it down as he knew he would be swamped if he caught it, was unselfish team play at its best. tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1535 - 28/07/2025 17:24:09 2628774 Link
Replying To Gaaforlife2023: "He isn clearly obsessed ffs easy cork put it up to them this year and it doesn't always help kerry munster was over 2 months ago they beat all ulster teams in tough route win Sam. This makes gakway fans as bad mayo fans bitterness Connaught clearly this year kerry would won easily too . They beat oscommon as well who had galway mayo only so argument about provinces is nonsense this year anyway" Kerry 2025- Won League Won Provincial Won All Ireland, Beating the 3 next best teams in the QF,SF and Final. Over and out. Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 27 - 28/07/2025 17:35:22 2628779 Link
Replying To sam2024: "Brilliant performance by Kerry, congratulations!" Thanks Sam CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4059 - 28/07/2025 18:20:15 2628792 Link
Replying To Saynothing: "Congratulations Kerry and enjoy your celebrations to the Kerry folk on here. Sign of a great team when different players step up to the MOTM every game. They are no one trick pony team, a great team. Enjoy." Thanks Saynothing. CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4059 - 28/07/2025 18:22:39 2628793 Link
Replying To bdbuddah: "People overstate the easy time Kerry had it to win All Ireland's in the 1970s/ 1980s. Truth is Kerry had brilliant teams in the 1970s/ 1980s, unbelievable talent and would have been the team to beat most years back then regardless of the system. People who say they only had to get out of Munster ignore that Cork could give Kerry a better game most years than either the Connaught/ Ulster teams back then and Cork won 2 All Irelands in the 1970s/ 1980s themselves. In one sense it is easier to win a knock-out competition but you need a lot of consistency to dominate a knock-out competition over years as there is less room for error. The 1970s/ 1980s was a very different era to today, there were quiet a few strong counties (like there is now) but they were all located in either Leinster or Munster. Kerry won 9 titles in 1970s/ 1980s, Cork won 2 and the remaining 9 titles were won by 3 different Leinster counties (all who won more than 1 title). A common theme over the years in GAA is Kerry are always strong while other counties have cycles of success and then dropping off." There's no such thing as an easy AI. They only say it when Kerry win. Kerry are pretty consistent but go through cycles also like the late 80s/early 90s and also post 2014. It's natural as you can't buy players. Every county goes through cycles. Dublin and Mayo were very strong not so long ago and now have dropped down. Kerry will be very strong for 4 years at least and I think Tyrone are a coming force. HolyGhost (Kerry) - Posts: 4 - 28/07/2025 18:43:56 2628797 Link
Congrats to Kerry on winning Sam again.While it wasnt the best final to watch for us neutrals I enjoyed watching Kerry s plan.They drove at times at Donegsl and backed themselves even though Donegal are so good at attacking when they turnover the ball and Kerry got rewarded for it.They slowed it up when needed to and David Clifford (although scoring 9 points)wasnt on the ball near as much as youd expect but think that threw Donegal a bit.O conor in was very good and white caused Donegal serious problems,Paudie Clifford ran the show like a quarterback and geaney kicked a few lovely scores.The hunger around breaking balls was crucial and the inside line coming out and midfielders/half backs going in meant Donegal didnt know whether to stay or go.Jack o Conor got it spot on and I'm sure Cian o neil had a role in it as well.Some achievement 5 all Irelands with 3 different spells and wonder will go at it again next year and win back to back.Youd have to say Kerry get their first choice midfield back next year and will be even stronger. Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 407 - 28/07/2025 19:09:02 2628806 Link
Replying To tirawleybaron: "I recall Paul Galvin once saying in Kerry its all about letting the ball go and don't be taking too much out of it. There was no Kerry man yesterday trying to burst through 2 or more Donegal men. If they were outnumbered they move it quick to the next man. Fabulous team work. I hate to see lads (and its a big problem in Mayo at all levels) soloing into tackles and getting turned over. Or worse, going on big long solo runs instead of kicking into the space for a forward to get it. Donegal set up perfectly for the selflish lad who wants to do it all on his own. Kerry were a different story yesterday. At times, you could see Kerry lads in space inside the 40m arc, but Kerry didnt panic and showed great patience before picking off a 2 pointer, often turning down the chance to give inside for a 1 point attempt. That one phase of play, where one lad just palmed it down as he knew he would be swamped if he caught it, was unselfish team play at its best." Yeah that was a lovely score. Great appreciation of space & those around him. As you say, had he caught it, he'd likely have been smothered and lost possession. But the palm down to the support player for an easy score was brilliant. Just encapsulated Kerry's extremely high footballing IQ perfectly. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9954 - 28/07/2025 19:10:37 2628808 Link
First of all congratulations to Kerry on a excellent attacking display and all Ireland win, they have some forward line but for me Joe O'Connor has the grit and fight and dog work that allows the class of others to shine, brilliant team they are. On the whole championship I am a bit all over the place regarding it, yes there are far more scores but there was 11 knock out games and there was 8 that where comfortable wins or even hammerings, I don't think that's a good look and as the season went on there was more hammerings I'd say this is a sign of things to come, last year I'd argue outside the final the games where generally of a good quality and also alot closer, yes something needed to change but I have always thought they went way overboard with changes and now we have more sandbox games trialing more changes! I just wish they would stop. I know I'm in the minority but the game isn't the same and I'm not sure for me if it's changed for the better, first of all they chopped and changed the rules throughout the championship which is a joke, another is most of our games are in late winter and spring which when in Ireland will always have mixed weather, I liked the idea of the 2 pointers but for me I seen too many games influenced by wind which isn't what should be happening, I don't like that rte is filled with members of the FRC constantly saying how great the rules are we don't seem to get anyone on who can be objective about them, the game has swung from being overly defensive to the rules being way too far in the attacking teams favour, for me and iv said all year we needed 1 or maybe 2 rule changes, the 3 up v 4 back and keeper can't touch in his own half was enough to change the game for the better without everything else, the kick out having to go beyond d the mark is silly as the rule that the goalie can't get a back pass would give teams a reason to push up as it stops a kick out to the corner back and straight back to the goalie which is what was happening last year, and the 4v3 would give the room for attackers to move and get space, i would rather a 0-16 to 0-15 tight game anyday over the big scoring hammering we have and I think will see going forward Liftball (Armagh) - Posts: 39 - 28/07/2025 20:06:27 2628821 Link
Congrats to Kerry - deserved winners. Enjoy the celebrations! Tough day for Donegal but you deserved your final spot & hope you all enjoyed the Summer. No doubt you will have a say in the 2026 championship ! greysoil (Monaghan) - Posts: 968 - 28/07/2025 20:31:04 2628825 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "Why did Donegal have 16 players in pre match formalities and in parade?" I didn't notice but probably because captain McBrearty was a sub, wearing 22 sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 997 - 28/07/2025 21:23:10 2628831 Link
Replying To sligo joe: "I didn't notice but probably because captain McBrearty was a sub, wearing 22" Has that ever happened before? I'd say not as the captain usually starts the game unless injured. peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1299 - 28/07/2025 21:44:04 2628836 Link
Hope Connacht will rise again. And put down the Munster pretenders of Kerry. And the Ulster ones too. Gaillimh abú galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2651 - 28/07/2025 22:08:28 2628840 Link
Comhghairdeas to Kerry, a great display yesterday and we never got near enough to apply any real pressure, a game we will have to learn from, thought we got a lot of things wrong yesterday. Kerry were in top form though, most of our lads were in their first final so that was a big factor too. 39 All Irelands for Kerry is some stat, I'd say number 40 isn't far away either with Clifford around. Enjoy the celebrations, we'll lick our wounds and get ready for next year. Massive crowd in Donegal town tonight to welcome home our team in the pouring rain, says a lot about our fans and the people of Donegal, we needed no rallying cries to get behind our team. Tír Chonaill Abú Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3404 - 28/07/2025 22:11:03 2628843 Link
Replying To sligo joe: "I didn't notice but probably because captain McBrearty was a sub, wearing 22" That's exactly it. The captain wasn't starting, but as per protocol he was to introduce his teammates to the president. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2474 - 28/07/2025 22:59:06 2628857 Link
Replying To winatallcost: "Ha you are right! I know Kerry were off and down key men but Meath were exceptional on the day and that was Meath's peak this year. Meath did not perform great versus Galway by any means at all and obviously were error ridden in semi. I think Meath were out of juice physically and mentally for Donegal game as you would expect an inexperienced team to be after overcoming the likes of Dublin, Cork and Kerry. Meath shoukd have taken Louth and got bogged down by doubts and inexperience and fair play to Louth on the day! I think a Kerry win especially against the Conservative rubbish does wonders for the game and expect Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Galway and Cork to improve and hopefully grasp the nettle. If Meath pick up a few more players plus get all injuries back, teams may forget about taking them for granted again." But here's what you said about mere few weeks ago about Kerry: Truth is football landscape has changed dramatically and the team coached best combined with good natural footballers and shooters will go far. Kerry are perhaps neither of these and fall into the group of teams including the successful ones that were mainly athletes and not really footballers except for a small number. and Armagh will be ready and waiting in Croke Park and expect a straightforward victory for them. There will be nothing saving Jack at that point. Kerry have not introduced enough good young players last few years and have been one of the poorest teams in implementing new rules.[/I] So maybe you should spare us your 'analysis' ? Aibrean (Kerry) - Posts: 351 - 28/07/2025 23:37:33 2628861 Link
Replying To greysoil: "Congrats to Kerry - deserved winners. Enjoy the celebrations! Tough day for Donegal but you deserved your final spot & hope you all enjoyed the Summer. No doubt you will have a say in the 2026 championship !" Thanks! Monaghan will have a say in 2026 as well. I was expecting your first half in the quarter final. Thought there was going to be a clean sweep of the four underdogs getting through to the semi finals. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9060 - 29/07/2025 07:21:29 2628877 Link
Congratulations to Kerry on winning the All Ireland, better team won on the day. Gutted for Donegal GAA, but overall it wasn't a bad year and we will hopefully take the learning's from this and bounce back. Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1448 - 29/07/2025 10:33:51 2628930 Link
Replying To Aibrean: "But here's what you said about mere few weeks ago about Kerry: Truth is football landscape has changed dramatically and the team coached best combined with good natural footballers and shooters will go far. Kerry are perhaps neither of these and fall into the group of teams including the successful ones that were mainly athletes and not really footballers except for a small number. and Armagh will be ready and waiting in Croke Park and expect a straightforward victory for them. There will be nothing saving Jack at that point. Kerry have not introduced enough good young players last few years and have been one of the poorest teams in implementing new rules.[/I So maybe you should spare us your 'analysis' ?"]Ouch! avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 2025 - 29/07/2025 11:56:03 2628962 Link
Replying To avonali: " Replying To Aibrean: "But here's what you said about mere few weeks ago about Kerry: Truth is football landscape has changed dramatically and the team coached best combined with good natural footballers and shooters will go far. Kerry are perhaps neither of these and fall into the group of teams including the successful ones that were mainly athletes and not really footballers except for a small number. and Armagh will be ready and waiting in Croke Park and expect a straightforward victory for them. There will be nothing saving Jack at that point. Kerry have not introduced enough good young players last few years and have been one of the poorest teams in implementing new rules.[/I So maybe you should spare us your 'analysis' ?" Ouch!"]If said that you were way off it own it he or doesn't have to explain you made the point and back fired Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 855 - 29/07/2025 14:13:09 2629012 Link