Have to say from where I was sitting I thought the ref did ok, was a bit too lenient on steps for my liking but that went both ways, I didn't see any red card offences really, 50/50 calls I think both teams got them for or against at various stages. Both teams play the game with a physical edge so an over fussy ref would have ruined the game. If there was a foul he tried to let the advantage go but if none was there he'd call the free. Actually thought there was a good spirit to the game no players staying down too long unless genuinely hurt.
One thing that I noticed in the minor game was about halfway through the second half, on the cusack side, a water carrier for KK threw a bottle of water to their right half back, when the player he was marking stuck out his hand for a sip the KK player threw it back to the water carrier, who I can only presume was a selector, the look the water carrier gave the KK player, as he threw it to the Dub, could've cut you in two, he also had a couple of words for the young KK lad as he walked away. Good to see members of the coaching staff aren't condoning this unsportsman like behaviour especially given the heat out on that pitch yesterday!
Ulsterman perhaps says it best. Despite having been handed ass on plate yesterday, we are still there and need to get the heads right for July 24. No excuses. Kelly was immense so can't say that Tomás was the difference. Cats gave it their A1 performance yesterday and we were not good enough.
Cats gave it their A1 performance yesterday and we were not good enough. Don't necesssarily agree with that they found another gear when they needed it, found their scores easily look at when dublin scored their goal kats when straight up the other end and scored on. I think the kats have another couple of gears left in them yet and dublin didn't even try to exploit any weakness that could have been in their team. From me the big weakness kilkenny would have had was at corner back Hickey was put in there but if they tried to isolate him and use pace against him the might have got some change. For me the dublin full forward line was bunch around the middle for much of the game allowing the kilkenny full back line the advantage. also when dotsie did move out abit he was at wing forward with the other 3 half forward holding their position given no space.
The key i think is use your mobile forwards stay moving pull the backs out wide and give fast direct ball into space and isolate them that wasn't done at all for me the dublin backs won a fair bit of ball but didn't use it well it just came staright back at them. When the did move the ball it was over and back across the field playing into kilkenny hands. I think dublin went out with the mentality that we'll stand up to these lads physically granted do a bit of that but don't make it the game plan as dublin had lost their physical forward player. They had smaller faster players than kilkenny and they didn't use it to their advantage.