Once Connolly gets in the zone and is enjoying his football on the pitch he's probably up there as one of the best players in the country

I was fortunate enough to be at the game today to watch him at full flow

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 17/03/2014 17:19:47    1560975

That's how to play football Ulsterman.

Hard luck to Castlebar. Dermie was the difference. One of best individual displays ever in Croke Park.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 17/03/2014 17:19:53    1560976

Surely the Castlebar manager had to put Cunniffe onto Connolly he was destroying them from start to finish and never brought Cunniffe out to mark him?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 17/03/2014 17:21:39    1560979

Congrats to Vincents.What a display from Connolly.He is just a genius.That is 4 All Ireland medals between club and county for Connolly and Brennan now.

Gael85 (Dublin) - Posts: 1433 - 17/03/2014 17:29:33    1560993

And two motm performances from Connolly in both final's Vincent's have won.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 17/03/2014 17:33:58    1561003

Connolly was a joy to watch today. Players like him make Gaelic Football a great spectacle. I've always rated him even when people questioned his temperament. There can be absolute no doubt now he's a man for any occasion, big or small.

Former_Poster (Meath) - Posts: 394 - 17/03/2014 17:36:55    1561007

Hard luck castlebar, Connolly was the difference between the two teams today. He is class and does it in the big games for club and county.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 17/03/2014 17:45:45    1561014

Congrats to Vincent's....Connolly the difference in what was a masterclass display. Hard luck to Castlebar. Have to feel for Richie Feeney but I dunno why he did that. Another final lost for a Mayo team sadly.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11761 - 17/03/2014 17:48:10    1561018

Pure class from Connolly at Croker and the difference between the 2 teams. The most naturally gifted player in the game today.

fingalman (Dublin) - Posts: 233 - 17/03/2014 17:53:11    1561022

Former_Poster
County: Meath
Posts: 97

1546542 Honestly don't understand why Duffy gets such important games. I was watching today's game as a neutral and he appears to get so many decisions wrong! Both sides victims of his refereeing!

referee today was Eddie Kinsella from Laois. Didn't have a great game

Gael85 (Dublin) - Posts: 1433 - 17/03/2014 17:55:08    1561025

Absolute madness from Feeney and pure class from Diarmo.

A hard one for everyone to take as Castlebar were the better team I thought.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13839 - 17/03/2014 17:57:27    1561028

Mesmis Castlebar were the better team you thought?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 17/03/2014 18:07:31    1561034

Congratulations to Vincent's, even as a Castlebar Mitchel's man, I thought that they were the more composed side throughout. Connolly is a class act when his head is screwed on, and he showed that today.

As far as Castlebar are concerned, it's not the end of the world. They were not even fancied to get out of Mayo last year and ended up getting to a national final, so there is plenty to build on for the future. It has to be said that they did exhibit the ghost of Mayo past- panicked shooting, missed 13m frees, naive defending- but they also showed great resilience and never gave it up.

Feeney's black card was a moment of madness, no arguments there.

Thought the game really turned with Vin's third goal- for the ball to travel that far, from a line ball, without a Mitchel's man getting a hand to it is quite disappointing.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 17/03/2014 18:23:22    1561042

Thought that was an odd observation myself, Castlebar better team in the 1st half, Vincents by far the better team overall!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8818 - 17/03/2014 18:26:23    1561044

Clondalkin

Thought so man but they failed to put Vinnies away when they were on top. Particularly in the 1st half. Giving up the 2 goals in the first half lay them the game.

Vinnies, Connolly aside, were there to be beaten I think.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13839 - 17/03/2014 18:27:09    1561045

In truth at least two sides better than Castlebar in Connacht they were really lucky to win Connacht title. Today out of their depth St Vincents could have won by 15 points if they had taken their goals chances. Fine game from Connolly MOTM he would be some player if he could play like that every game.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3753 - 17/03/2014 18:40:59    1561054

Mes haha I forgot you hate Vincent's that explains your posts.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 17/03/2014 18:53:25    1561064

Mes Amis be sulking over his pint in Craobh glaring at the happy noises coming from down the Malahide Road :-)

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 17/03/2014 19:00:16    1561069

"Gaa_lover
County: USA
Posts: 1863

1561054
In truth at least two sides better than Castlebar in Connacht they were really lucky to win Connacht title. Today out of their depth St Vincents could have won by 15 points if they had taken their goals chances. Fine game from Connolly MOTM he would be some player if he could play like that every game. "

They dethroned the All-Ireland champions and also many people's favourites for the Connacht title in Corofin. Lucky nothing.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 17/03/2014 20:50:15    1561188

Well said gleebo. Castlebar are excellent side and had Vinnies run ragged at stages today. It was two teams throwing their everything at it and the only difference were the goals and Dermie. I a certain Castlebar will be back.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 17/03/2014 21:00:13    1561206