According to alot of people Gaelic Football has declined since Armagh put the sword to Kerry in 2002, but in todays Irish Independent Supplement "The 100 Greatest Games Played in Croke Park" 8 of the top 25 games in the were from 2002 onwards namely.

2. 2008 all Ireland Final Tyrone 1-15 Kerry 1-14
4. 2005 All Ireland Semi Final Tyrone 1-13 Armagh 1-12
8. 2006 All Ireland Semi Final Mayo 1-16 Dublin 2-12
14. 2011 All ireland Final Dublin 1-2 Kerry 1-11
17. 2005 All Ireland Final Tyrone 1-16 Kerry 2-10
19. 2008 All Ireland Quarter final Kerry 1-21 Galway 1-16
21. 2002 all Ireland Final Armagh 1-12 Kerry 0-14
22. 2005 All Ireland Quarter final Tyrone 1-14 Dublin 1-14

There were 3 matches each from the 70's and 90's and 2 matches from the 80's included in the top 25.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 13/05/2013 19:32:39    1383327

I think the reason for that is mainly because people cant and don't usually remember neutral matches apart from finals from 30+ years ago and beyond... Personally I feel 3 or 4 of them matches shouldn't be there.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13659 - 13/05/2013 19:44:32    1383336

Yeah, I would agree it has been the best 10 years. Why not? The 2010 championship was probably the most entertaining year football has ever seen at inter-county level. Say what you want about the effect of the qualifiers on weaker sides and maybe there's a better or fairer way to do it but it has really brought on teams and how they prepare. Teams know they won't just have one game and that'll be that. Everyone knows they've a chance of a decent run if they get a favourable draw. Tactically the game is unrecognisable and for me is far more interesting. We don't appreciate it enough.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 13/05/2013 19:53:39    1383346

Absolutely Gaelic Football has been better in the last 10 years than prior to that.

Just look at a match from the 70s or 80s and watch the amount of times the ball is booted wide from 30 yards or kicked up the field without looking who is there.

tyroneed (Tyrone) - Posts: 753 - 13/05/2013 20:13:04    1383367

Didn't see that supplement what was to entire top 25??

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3772 - 13/05/2013 20:15:16    1383370

waynoI
County: Dublin
Posts: 5694

1383336
I think the reason for that is mainly because people cant and don't usually remember neutral matches apart from finals from 30+ years ago and beyond... Personally I feel 3 or 4 of them matches shouldn't be there.

As a matter of interest which ones do you think shouldnt be there.The only one I would question being so high would be Kerry and Galway from 08 as the intensity wasn't huge but it was a terrific display of skill from both sides in terrible conditions and probably deserves to be included because of that. Thinking back all those other matches were great games and i can remember them vividly.

Kildare v Down in the all Ireland semi final in 2010 was a great game as was the Cork v Dublin semi that year.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 13/05/2013 20:26:53    1383382

Yeah, what was number 1?

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 13/05/2013 20:29:50    1383388

2006: Mayo beating Dublin AI Semi was an amazing game!
2010: Cork beating Dublin AI Semi was such an incredibly atmosphere of noise there were people hold their ears whilst wide eyed and shaking their heads and smiling they were stunned as to the atmosphere!....Greatest atmosphere ever witnesses in the history of the GAA!

Only a point between them in both those games!....Dubs lost both, but magic games nonetheless!

Regards,

Snufalufagus...Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 13/05/2013 20:33:51    1383389

Football is fantastic at the moment, the skill levels, speed and movement are the best they have ever been.

dufferman (Down) - Posts: 159 - 13/05/2013 20:39:34    1383397

8. 2006 All Ireland Semi Final Mayo 1-16 Dublin 2-12... Micheal o Muircheartaigh said at the time this was the greatest game he had seen in Croke Park.

beal (Mayo) - Posts: 1388 - 13/05/2013 20:43:51    1383400

Kildare v Donegal 2011 Quarter final for Kildare but it was a great game.

lilywhitemagic (Kildare) - Posts: 1693 - 13/05/2013 20:52:03    1383409

I think the 85 - 95 era was better. You had Meath, Cork, Kerry, Down, Donegal and Derry all winning with some great battles and some great football; you also had Dublin, Tyrone and Monaghan challenging as well and there was more success spread around. It was a golden era for Ulster football, for Meath and Cork and I believe the Down teams of 91 and 94 were as good as any side in Gaelic football history. I think footballers today are fitter and better conditioned but I wouldn't say they are better footballers.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9840 - 13/05/2013 20:53:28    1383412

2010, 2011 and 2012 were probably the worst years in terms of standard of football being played since the 1960s, apart from the eventual All-Ireland winners of each of those years.

Football in general has been in decline since around 07/08. Imagine any of the beaten All-Ireland finalists from the '90s or 00's playing that Mayo team from last year, the Kerry team from 2011 or Down team of 2010 - would have absolutely wiped the floor with them.

Great era was more like 1990 - 2006. At least 4-5 teams flying every year.

SeanieSense (Donegal) - Posts: 328 - 13/05/2013 20:56:00    1383417

uibhfhaili1986
County: Offaly
2008 all Ireland Final Tyrone 1-15 Kerry 1-14


2008 AI final
Tyrone 1-15 Kerry 0-14

Typo perhaps, but unacceptable nonetheless! ;)

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 13/05/2013 20:57:27    1383419

Dublin Kerry 1977 All Ireland Semi Final

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 13/05/2013 20:57:43    1383420

Surely the middle game of three between Meath v Kildare in 1997 was in the mix in that list

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3772 - 13/05/2013 21:03:58    1383426

Fair point Ulsterman, but I also agree the skill level has risen, despite what O'Rourke and Spillane might say, but I think they're coming around!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8821 - 13/05/2013 21:09:12    1383429

uibhfhaili1986
County: Offaly
Posts: 76

1383420
Dublin Kerry 1977 All Ireland Semi Final

You know your bigball sir, the '77 game was tops for excitement if a little sloppy!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8821 - 13/05/2013 21:11:00    1383432

Richie I think it came 5th

lilywhitemagic (Kildare) - Posts: 1693 - 13/05/2013 21:11:33    1383433

I'd think the 1st Tyrone V Dublin match in 2005 was one of the best I was ever at. I think the Galway V Kerry in 2008 is really over-hyped. It was completely obvious that Kerry would win..

HokeyPokey (Tyrone) - Posts: 1744 - 13/05/2013 21:47:31    1383471