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Replying To Lockjaw:  "This is very true. I would argue though that Donegal have more attacking players capable of landing the couple of big punches that would be needed to knock Dublin out. But we don't have the same tenacity and ferocious tackling at the back that we used to have under McGuinness. The job this year will be to find a balance. It won't be easy at all, can't look beyond Down in Newry in the prelim."
I don't disagree...Donegal absolutely have the talent and strength in depth to challenge and de throne Dublin however they must now go and do it. It's a big year for ye and hopefully ye can make inroads. Caught on the hop last year like Kerry. It will be very interesting to see how Donegal and Kerry get on this year.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11230 - 29/04/2021 11:18:03    2339270

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Replying To Ollie2:  "When you have 37 All Ireland's KingdomBoy, winter football is not for everyone."
That's true enough Ollie, best of luck to louth in the season ahead, I hope Mickey can work his magic in the wee county.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 29/04/2021 11:26:15    2339271

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Replying To yew_tree:  "I don't disagree...Donegal absolutely have the talent and strength in depth to challenge and de throne Dublin however they must now go and do it. It's a big year for ye and hopefully ye can make inroads. Caught on the hop last year like Kerry. It will be very interesting to see how Donegal and Kerry get on this year."
Totally agree. They've been talked up a lot these past few years but when it came to the crunch, Tyrone in 2018, yourselves in 2019, and Cavan last year we fell short. There are no excuses now, there is a nice blend of youth and experience there and for the first time in a long time there are no reports of any long term injuries. We'll hopefully have MacNiallais, McFadden-Ferry and Gillespie back in the fold as well.

But look, we're under no illusions. Last year was a big reality check for us. IF we were to make it to an All Ireland final I think we'd be looking at a run of fixtures like this:

Down
Derry
Tyrone/Cavan
Armagh/Monaghan
Kerry
Dublin/Mayo

A nice few difficult games there before you even consider what could be done to topple Dublin should they come through their side.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9133 - 29/04/2021 11:47:07    2339276

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Replying To TheRock2121:  "In my eyes the only teams who can beat Dublin are Kerry, Tyrone and Donegal. Don't think Mayo can get near them anymore albeit put some great battles up to them over the years."
Donegal haven't got near Dublin the last few years either, because Mayo and Cavan knocked them out of the championship.

MayoDan (Mayo) - Posts: 420 - 29/04/2021 12:23:59    2339284

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Just looking at the way they are opening the country up it makes no sense to me now that the leagues are divided into northern and southern sections, we'll likely be free to go anywhere in the country by mid May, I suppose the decision was made with the situation as it was at the time, but as they say when the facts change we should change with them."
Too much to be rescheduled Tirchonaill, even with no supporters going: training schedules, venues, refereeing/umpiring, the tv companies and a whole host of other things. Once the tv crowds have done a deal and published the fixtures there's not too much flexibility.

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 29/04/2021 12:45:04    2339291

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Totally agree. They've been talked up a lot these past few years but when it came to the crunch, Tyrone in 2018, yourselves in 2019, and Cavan last year we fell short. There are no excuses now, there is a nice blend of youth and experience there and for the first time in a long time there are no reports of any long term injuries. We'll hopefully have MacNiallais, McFadden-Ferry and Gillespie back in the fold as well.

But look, we're under no illusions. Last year was a big reality check for us. IF we were to make it to an All Ireland final I think we'd be looking at a run of fixtures like this:

Down
Derry
Tyrone/Cavan
Armagh/Monaghan
Kerry
Dublin/Mayo

A nice few difficult games there before you even consider what could be done to topple Dublin should they come through their side."
Tough run of Donegal make it to a semi final/final.

It's Ulster v Munster this year so Donegal v Kerry would be a tasty encounter.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11230 - 29/04/2021 12:50:43    2339293

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I think the best chance of catching Dublin would be at semi final stage, likely they will not have had a real tough test until then, if they come through a tough close game with the Connacht Champions then it will only bring them up to speed for the final against whoever, it will be very interesting to see how Mayo go in Connacht with so many retirements last season,
maybe Dublin will win it again this year as most are expecting, but hopefully some team will at least make them work for it,
sad times when it's likely there isn't really a team in Leinster that will bother them at all.
Great to have football back regardless, bring on Tir Eoghan on May 15th!!

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2747 - 29/04/2021 13:28:19    2339306

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Yeah I dont believe the likes of Mayo are that far away. Despite what people say about last years final, I think Mayo were well in it had they not shot themselves in the foot with that early goal. Mayo have certainly had the beating of them over the last 5 years but for some crazy managerial decisions (dropping David Clarke stands out as one) and on field player decisions (eg. Donal Vaughan red card). Would love to see a jim McGuinness or even a Mickey Harte get them properly organised along side someone like Ciaran McDonald, as theres still lots of quality players there.
Also contrary to what people usually say nowadays, I think there is still good value in the blanket defense against the Dubs, provided you have good enough players. The last good team to employ the blanket properly were Donegal 2014. Trying to go man on man on the most athletic team of all time is crazy. For all Dublins sublime athleticism, they still score the majority of their scores from the same place as every other team in the country - the D.

97Cavans (Cavan) - Posts: 317 - 29/04/2021 14:04:31    2339324

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Replying To 97Cavans:  "Yeah I dont believe the likes of Mayo are that far away. Despite what people say about last years final, I think Mayo were well in it had they not shot themselves in the foot with that early goal. Mayo have certainly had the beating of them over the last 5 years but for some crazy managerial decisions (dropping David Clarke stands out as one) and on field player decisions (eg. Donal Vaughan red card). Would love to see a jim McGuinness or even a Mickey Harte get them properly organised along side someone like Ciaran McDonald, as theres still lots of quality players there.
Also contrary to what people usually say nowadays, I think there is still good value in the blanket defense against the Dubs, provided you have good enough players. The last good team to employ the blanket properly were Donegal 2014. Trying to go man on man on the most athletic team of all time is crazy. For all Dublins sublime athleticism, they still score the majority of their scores from the same place as every other team in the country - the D."
They actually get the majority of their scores in easier positions and kicking when under less pressure than most teams. That's one of their greatest attributes. Your own county's semi-final last year being a good example. Some of Cavan's points were fantastic long-range scores. The problem of course is these are lower percentage shots and their won't be enough of them to win most games.
Dublin's ability to work the ball into the easier scoring zone more regularly than other teams, is one of the main things that sets them apart.
Stopping them from doing it and replicating it at the other end is of course the hard part!

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2039 - 29/04/2021 14:31:21    2339333

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "They actually get the majority of their scores in easier positions and kicking when under less pressure than most teams. That's one of their greatest attributes. Your own county's semi-final last year being a good example. Some of Cavan's points were fantastic long-range scores. The problem of course is these are lower percentage shots and their won't be enough of them to win most games.
Dublin's ability to work the ball into the easier scoring zone more regularly than other teams, is one of the main things that sets them apart.
Stopping them from doing it and replicating it at the other end is of course the hard part!"
That's as good a summary of the challenge as any I've seen.

Would have been interesting if Mickey Harte had gone to Meath instead of Louth. While he might have been criticised by some in Tyrone in later years, he never put out a disorganised side, things had just gone stale there. I think his know-how would get the best out of Meath, who have some very decent players, and Mickey would certainly imbue more positivity on match day than we've seen in recent years. What marked out his teams in the noughties is never taking a backward step when facing a very good Kerry.

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 29/04/2021 15:27:58    2339350

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On the 15th May, Galway go down to Tralee to play Kerry. This is a huge challenge for the Galway lads. If they can get a win, it will set them up nicely for the Summer. It is a big ask though, it can be done.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2519 - 29/04/2021 22:34:47    2339432

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "They actually get the majority of their scores in easier positions and kicking when under less pressure than most teams. That's one of their greatest attributes. Your own county's semi-final last year being a good example. Some of Cavan's points were fantastic long-range scores. The problem of course is these are lower percentage shots and their won't be enough of them to win most games.
Dublin's ability to work the ball into the easier scoring zone more regularly than other teams, is one of the main things that sets them apart.
Stopping them from doing it and replicating it at the other end is of course the hard part!"
The dubs play the % game and have it down to a fine art. It's almost robotic in nature...they all know where exactly they need to be and I've seen countless times a Dublin player pats the ball off without even looking...he knows the man is there.

I always thought despite Mayo being able to go toe to toe with them...we used much more energy up in producing and kicking scores in a more "off the cuff" playing style.

Dublin always seemed fresher in those final minutes but of course also had much more quality on the bench. In all the Dublin v Mayo games the Dubs bench contributed 0-9 to Mayo's 0-1. In one point and drawn games there's your tipping point.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11230 - 29/04/2021 23:18:59    2339446

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "They actually get the majority of their scores in easier positions and kicking when under less pressure than most teams. That's one of their greatest attributes. Your own county's semi-final last year being a good example. Some of Cavan's points were fantastic long-range scores. The problem of course is these are lower percentage shots and their won't be enough of them to win most games.
Dublin's ability to work the ball into the easier scoring zone more regularly than other teams, is one of the main things that sets them apart.
Stopping them from doing it and replicating it at the other end is of course the hard part!"
Your wright about the long range scores. Look great bit not a safe option. Few years back in Ulster final Tyrone beat Donegal with Sean Cavanagh and Peter Harte kicking 4 or 5 long range efforts in last 5 minutes. Lovely when they go over but not reliable.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2012 - 29/04/2021 23:23:10    2339449

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Unbalanced 2021 NFL exposed right here on HS -

https://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/316689

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2582 - 30/04/2021 00:26:58    2339451

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Your wright about the long range scores. Look great bit not a safe option. Few years back in Ulster final Tyrone beat Donegal with Sean Cavanagh and Peter Harte kicking 4 or 5 long range efforts in last 5 minutes. Lovely when they go over but not reliable."
I watched that game back over one of the lockdowns. It was very cagey and those outside Ulster probably considered it dour. But there were some absolute peaches of points scored that day. MacNiallais and McHugh scored some beauts from long range that day & Christy Toye looked like he'd won it for us only for Cavanagh and Harte to sicken us at the end with a couple of classics themselves.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9133 - 30/04/2021 14:21:54    2339510

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Couldn't give a crap about entertaining anyone...just want to win it. Mayo football is political no doubt but I'd argue every county is. It is not an excuse Galway hurling a prime example and what's going on in a Galway football? Tom Flynn another player opting out..."
Have had a few difference of opinion with you over the years but agree politics everywhere. Galway hurling a notable example. Was rumoured Tom Flynn opted out but it was social media rumour. Took his club to confirm he is in. Peter Cooke back. You might recall our best player when playing second fiddle to ye in Limerick in the 2019 qualifier. A few others back in or closer to full fitness such as Damo who has not being right since 2018 and John Daly but unfortunately Ian Burke and Adrian Varley opting out and 'rumours' circulating on Michael Daly not committing. Very uncertain where we are with no panel publicly announced in addition to talks of what successful u20s will be brought in. Connacht will indeed be tough to win this year. Ye are in the box seat and reading a lot of confidence coming from the Rossies.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1946 - 04/05/2021 15:29:41    2339952

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