Hiya Terry - just checking that all is AOK? Cheers R
Ray, we'll start alphabetically, ie football. Down and Monaghan - did Monaghan try and defend lead too early?
Purrfect. Hard not to feel sorry for Leitrim yesterday on their "hammering" - being beaten by 22 no joke.
@ John. Think Monaghan proved themselves to be a bit flaky yesterday. 0-11 to 0-2 was a super position to be in. Silly tackle on the penalty and then as u point out...they went very defensive - very early and then they could not change their mindset - after Tommy Freeman's goal - a better, more confident and a team with more leaders should have pushed on.....
Down would see that penalty as some justice for other decisions in first-half, Dave.
No question it was a penalty, and Monaghan's goal should NOT have stood.
Monaghan were very similar to Laois against Longford and how they attempted to protect a lead. No doubt, the natural instinct was caution but you have to override such emotions to win games.
What about the refereeing, Ray? The topic du jour.
@ Pat - Dick will feel sorry enough today after his late wide when he should have nailed a draw.
You see it in every sport and I can never understand - what got you into the lead in the first place? Then why stop doing it and beat an unnecessary retreat?
A stamp is a stamp whatever province it's in.
Agree dcr, that didn't look at all accidental.
We seem to be banging on about refs almost every year...more a topic per annum....the Down defenders were a bit sheepish letting Tommy in @ thee back.
Ray, one was being called over the ref to be noted in his book, the others going with him to appeal his case - the game was officially stopped.
Monaghan are sure capable of it, Pat. Look at Kildare game this year. But the frailties were shown up too sadly for them.
And Pat, yes Monaghan were playing superbly - they then withdrew, helped to beat themselves. So many teams...
Thought the intro on the Sunday Game for Joe B and Tony D was stomach churning....and in the red corner, etc etc....almost made me switch straight off. And the look on Brolly's face summed up his view on the matter too. "he shoots from the hip and the lip".....Aaaaaaghhh.....bring back Dara Ó Cinneide for some articulate and pertinen analysis. Please. And a new fac or two - such as Eddie Brennan - in the hurling would be a major plus too...
Don't think it's going to matter though, Donegal's year again in Ulster, even more emphatically than in 2011.
And in the maroon corner...
Colm O'Rourke came in for some heavy criticism on Twitter regarding his comments re Down before the game. Worthy of an "investigation"? :-)
@ Diarmuid. Rule 1 for defenders - protect the goal....rule 2 - protect the goal -etc etc - the booking can wait....and as for the others going out to appeal the decision.....enough said....
Ray, the bookies were telling us Mayo were so far ahead of Leitrim they were a spot on the horizon. Did you see that margin of victory?
No Ray - when the referee sounds his whistle, takes out his notebook, beckons you over, play is STOPPED until he has done his business, then restarts.
On the Sunday Game - I just think that some of the senior analysts are gone a bit stale...I liked that Eddie B could say " well in the league Final last year - they gave us a bit of a trimming" - etc etc - Anthony Davis won his two All-Irelands in 1987 & 1988 - and as for Pat....I thought Dara O C was excellent and one or two guys who have only finished playing in the past 2/3 years would add a more relevant and fresh analysis....
Checked it this morning, Diarmuid. The referee can delay yellow card but can't allow quick free when he has summoned a player.
All these hammerings, hurling and football - gulf developing between haves and have-nots? Money screaming, not just talking?
Spot on John - Brian Gavin did it yesterday in Cork, came back to Conor O'Mahony, but he HADN'T stopped play.
Mayo go into a Connacht final without the slightest hint of a challenge. Horan will be mindful of that.
Agree with Mr Silke on the age profile of the analysts. I've always thought none of them should be more than five years out of the game as a player or a manager.
