Kerry v Tyrone is first up on the agenda. There were so many sub plots to this one but let's start with the way the match was played - what did ye think about the style employed by Kerry?
I had no problems with it at all, actually enjoyed. Had Tyrone well rattled too. Kerry took a lot of criticism on here last week. I was delighted to see them respond like that.
Effective football from Kerry, more so than what they played against Tipp, Cork and Westmeath. The bit was between their teeth. They were kicking the ball again.
They won well, were impressive going forward and were impressive in some aspects but what about that systematic fouling. I went through tape for an article and 14 times in last 30 minutes they hauled players down from kickouts. Declan O'Sullivan, Kieran Donaghy, Aidan O'Mahony and Darran O'Sullivan should not have been on the pitch by the end but David Coldrick too weak to book players for professional fouls.
That was Coldrick's fault, not Kerry's. Fouling in the right areas is a tactic employed by many managers. If it works, why not?
So it's the Gardai's fault for not catching drug dealers and not the drug dealers fault if that logic is to be continued on Jackie?
By a worse token, Ewan, Tyrone should have had a handful off for some seriously dangerous football.
Yes, Conor Gormley and Ryan McMenamin and Patrick Curtin should have gone for filth but I'm talking about systematic fouling which is far more disruptive and a bigger threat to the game.
Also, why would I be biased?
It doesn't make it in any way acceptable but all the top teams have their cynicism. Look at Donegal v Tyrone. Scrutinise that. Kevin McStay made a good point last night - where is this move to punish the third man tackle/blocking more severely?
expand on "bigger threat to the game". from experience of playing in club matches, you'll foul when you can and in areas of the field where the opposition can't hurt you.
Violence is a more serious threat to Gaelic football. Won't garner the hearts and minds with such behaviour.
Dunno about weak, he doled out 17 yellows! It's the 21st century, it's professional football now, and fouling in the right areas is part of it. It's up to the ref to do his job. And yes, that applies to both sides. It's the game now. Sure didn't Kevin McStay give out that Limerick hadn't the sense to drag down the Kildare lads en route to the late equaliser? Kerry were very good on the day but remember a couple of months ago how I said that Tyrone were hugely overrated? Mind you, I thought Kerry were so gone Tyrone might still win. I wouldn't think Kerry are going to win an All-Ireland or anything though.
i'm not saying Tyrone and Sligo and Limerick or whoever don't do it as well John but I'm talking about the Kerry-Tyrone game and I've never seen a more blatant and obvious example of it. And violence is rare in the game and usually punished with red but where is the second yellow when a guy rugby tackles a man from the kickout. Nowhere.
Kerry were my team for the All-Ireland at start of season and still were despite defeat to Cork. Saturday has blown a gale in their sails.
Hard to believe that Maurice D did not send Conor C off last Sat. I rem the 2008 A I final too and Gormley persistently and consistently fouled Cooper. One knee in the back as Cooper was on the springs to mind. Rem Gormley going over to shake hands with Maurice D @ half time. Now why would he do that?
@oldstander I'm talking about Kerry-Tyrone, which is what was brought up at the start of this discussion and I'm dealing in facts!
I presume Ewan's point is that a ref gives a yellow for something but won't give the second yellow for the same. And that's part of the common refereeing inconsistency. The advantage rule is another joke referees mess up completely. They actually don't seem to understand it. And as for tackling? Well that's not the refs' fault in fairness, there isn't a rule that the finest minds in the game can coach
Interesting point, Ray. Tyrone, as Kieran Donaghy said, didn't like Kerry were so on top in first-half. Kerry were going to kill the game by hook or by crook. That's the legacy of last September.
Teams are being rewarded for breaking the rules and I think it's fair to say everyone is getting annoyed with it. A bit like rugby and the breakdown, if you can read the referee early in the game you can set your own marker.
What's the solution though? How do you get it out of the game?
@kean2097 great shout. The 50m penalty in the AFL, turning a foul into a scoring opportunity has cut out a lot of the cynical stuff Down Under
@Daragh but there were instances where Kerry hauled down the man after a short kickout, stalled the free, then hauled the man who received the free, stood in front of that to stop it being taken quickly and nothing was done. No other sport in the world rewards cynicism like Gaelic football and Saturday was a great example.
Where's the Tipp game John?
@Ewan - thought you were a bit harsh on Dublin in today's Sport's Supplement. Apart from Kerry - I don't see who else from the qualifiers would bother them in the All-Ire 1/4 final. And then they will be in the last 4 standing. Gives them plenty of time to fine tune things. Gilroy is right. No Celtic Crosses given out in July....
Agree with Ewan on cynicism in football - that's why Liam O'Neill wants it looked at.
@Ray If they continue to lack in so many areas, there are quite a few teams that will trouble them. Without Alan Brogan their forwards are like sheep wandering around a field. Aimless.
Tipp v Down, Cusack Park, Mullingar 4pm
@Terry - can u post the 4 fixtures for next Sat. Cheers.
They won well, were impressive going forward and were impressive in some aspects but what about that systematic fouling. I went through tape for an article and 14 times in last 30 minutes they hauled players down from kickouts. Declan O'Sullivan, Kieran Donaghy, Aidan O'Mahony and Darran O'Sullivan should not have been on the pitch by the end but David Coldrick too weak to book players for professional fouls.
Dunno about weak, he doled out 17 yellows! It's the 21st century, it's professional football now, and fouling in the right areas is part of it. It's up to the ref to do his job. And yes, that applies to both sides. It's the game now. Sure didn't Kevin McStay give out that Limerick hadn't the sense to drag down the Kildare lads en route to the late equaliser? Kerry were very good on the day but remember a couple of months ago how I said that Tyrone were hugely overrated? Mind you, I thought Kerry were so gone Tyrone might still win. I wouldn't think Kerry are going to win an All-Ireland or anything though.
Hard to believe that Maurice D did not send Conor C off last Sat. I rem the 2008 A I final too and Gormley persistently and consistently fouled Cooper. One knee in the back as Cooper was on the springs to mind. Rem Gormley going over to shake hands with Maurice D @ half time. Now why would he do that?