Donegal i think. Purely because of the Jimmy mcguinness factor. But after the hurling who can really predict anything

Donegal haven't met anything remotely near the quality of Kerry's forward line. Up to this point, they have consistently enjoyed the luxury of corner back Roarty and other defenders moving forward and contributing significantly on the score board. The question is how are they going to fare when their main task will be to put the shackles on kerry's scoring forwards. Time and time again, defenders of this ilk are found out, when they are forced into out and out defence.
Of course, McGuinness likes to give the impression he can "spook" Kerry and get inside their heads - utter nonsense imo. I'll be on hols. in Killarney and I'm confident Kerry will win pulling up. I've always admired Tipp. as a stylish hurling team and Kerry too in football. It's now great to see "hurlers and footballers" as opposed to athletes reaping the rewards.

I think Kerry will do it . Though I don't think it will be a walkover for Kerry either it will be close enough.

The return of Diarmuid O Connor alongside his namesake Joe may be the decisive factor that swings it for Kerry.

It's been Donegal all the way for me. Watch them do a number on Kerry's scoring machine. Fittest team in the country will prevail. They've far too much in the tank scoring wise and they've the legs for two matches on the trot. Armagh couldn't live with Kerry in the second half but this shower definitely will. Clifford will have a turgid time against the physical McCole and he'll have others breathing down his neck from the off.
I'm hoping O'Shea is on song because if he's not I can see Donegal squeezing the life out Kerry's attack.

Kerry for me , better footballers . It’s a way better Kerry team than the common narrative, they’ve won one , beaten in a final and lost in extra time in a semi to Armagh last year , could easily of won more than one but are coming into their peak years now with the greatest talent the game has ever seen in toe and on song . I expect them to win pulling up . I’m wrong more than I’m right but one thing I will give myself credit for is for not buying into this hyperbole the last few years of blowing up sides as extraordinary, it started with Derry , then Galway and now it’s Donegal . The Armagh train came after they won it last year ie this year . All very decent sides in their own right but as I’ve expressed before nothing extraordinary about them . There is something extraordinary about Kerry with Clifford , seanie o Shea isn’t far behind when in top gear , paudi Clifford is the finest engine in the game , I personally think Dylan geaney has serious potential with a glorious boot on him , Joe o Connor must be near 100 percent in the middle as regards the form midfielder in the country .

I’m backing them at 2/1 (-3 pts )

Word to self , last time I was this confident of an all Ireland winner was our bucks to beat Tyrone . Omens are good for Donegal lol

It would be good to see Donegal win, to further justify that a great manager can do great things with any team at his disposal, but Kerry will not want to lose this one, can Donegal win enough in the middle to keep D Cliff at bay ?, hopefully.
If Kerry lose we will probably see Jack O Connor go also.
For all those here that were saying Mayo are miles away, what would ye say if Donegal bate Kerry on Sunday?

@Batetheblanket are you implying Mayo are not far off Donegal as they ran them close in the group game?

Mayos record the past 3 seasons would indicate they are a good bit off. If Mayo were playing Kerry Sunday I’d be fearing a repeat of the National League final

@Rocco88

Whole I agree the next manager has alot of work to do things can change very quickly .

Sire I even saw Tipp fans going if you asked me 8 months ago would be in this position I wouldn't believe it.

Donegal will win by 3 points Michael Murphy to get man of the match 1-15 and from 16-26 they have game changers to win it for them and Jimmys got a plan he’s no lucky man and I tipped Donegal from the start of the year so it’s Donegal For Me

Kerry are starting to look like the Dubs of that era in that to beat them Donegal may have to be 2 points better as Kerry have more X faxtor with the Cliffords and Seanie than Donegal with Murphy and Gallen. Donegal are well capable of doing the same as Kerry but it won't be easy. As has been the case all year, a massive ammount hinges on kickouts. Not much in it there (Ryan being 2 footed vs Patten's range). Joe O' Connor has looked very pacey, Donegal need a plan for him. Langan and Thompson can kick 2 pointers. Notice a lot of the kickouts Joe O' Connor won recently have been on the wing so Donegal need to watch for that. If one team dominates the kickouts for 45-50 mins, it's likely their AI. Galway had the best tactics early championship with blockers helping Darcy win clean ball but they somehow stopped dominating so much possibly impacted by Conroy not starting (or possibly counter tactics from opposition) but would be interested to see if this tactic is used by either team. Ryan gave away a goal but he and his team never panicked in the aftermath so they look mentally prepared.
The teams are probably evenly eoungh matched but the David Clifford factor matters as he's peak age and fast vs Murphy who can do great things but is 35/6. Expect Clifford to score more heavily than Murphy and both are good team players (especially Murphy). Gallen blows hot and cold. Donegal better hope it's more on the hot side.
I would expect Donegal to have a good defensive plan for the danger Kerry posess. I'd say bar David and Seanie, let the others try their luck for the 2 pointers. Man mark Paudie and follow him all over the pitch. As soon as marker has the ball attack and put him on the back foot. Can't follow all 3 because of loss of shape so with Seanie I'd say marker follow him when he's in the forwards but elsewhere let team zonal play do the work. Dylan Geaney isn't as good as Paul (if he plays it's an extra headache for Donegal). Looks like Kerry are that bit better given their opposition in the last 2 games. Should be an intriguing match.

Hoping for Donegal but expect Kerry to do it. Donegals path to final was 3 Div 2 teams while Kerry took out Armagh and Tyrone. Donegals easy win v Meath in semi final was similar to Cork v Dublin in hurling and that didn’t do them any favours. Also the weather might have a bearing. Donegals running style is better on a fine day as the ball handling is crucial to their style. When Kerry beat them in 2014 the weather was not great. On the other hand if Donegal can limit David Clifford’s influence they have a great chance and no better man than McGuinness to come up with a plan. Fascinating game in prospect and I am looking forward to it.

Sean o shea has a habit of going missing in big championship games. Awesome against armagh. Not to be seen against Tyrone. Its easy to count the amount of games he has turned up in.

Sorry, but one final thing I omitted earlier-: Donegal have the gurrier (not meant to be pejorative) in them to upset key players which they displayed in tight, important games in the past (all under McGuiness' tutelage). Do or die for Murphy as no way he's hanging on with key punditry roles on both BBC and RTE going abegging.

I has been tipping donegal since the start of the year but I'm wavering a bit now I must say, kerrys last 2 performances were outstanding as it is but adding in Paul geaney and Diarmuid o Connor on top of that makes them formidable.

I'll stick with donegal to outlast them but its very very hard to call

Kerry for me with David Clifford coming away with something like 1-8.
Simply think Kerry usually hit a high level in these big games and they've a lot of attacking players around their career peak.
The Kerry defense is underrated. They're quick off the mark, quicker than anything Donegal have met.
Kerry have an excellent attacking bench also.

Donegal will put up a good fight and give nothing away easy but id expect Kerry to win it.

It’s painful reading and listening to everyone talking up Jim McGuinness.. yes , he has a very good bunch of natural footballers, who he has flying fit but Christ , you’d swear Jack O Connor was some sort of simpleton.
He too will have a game plan too .
If Kerry can do well around midfield/ kick outs and use long kick passes to the inside forward line , then the Northies could be in bother .
Fascinating game ahead

I'd normally go for Donegal against Kerry but as it seems it's now Jimmy McGuinness v Kerry I'll row in behind the Kingdom. Not a slur on Donegal but I'm not happy to see such emphasis being put on a manager instead of the players. Getting the right man in charge is paramount as we in Mayo know but regardless of who it is they have to have the players. Jack O'Connor has had far more success than JM but rightly the Kerry players get the plaudits and all winning managers should be applauded but not to ridiculous levels.

Donegal pacy running game and the scoring threat coming from well over half the team could prove the decisive factor in this final.

Kerry beat Cork, Roscommon, Clare, Armagh and Tyrone losing to Meath
Donegal best Meath, Monaghan, Derry, Mayo, Down and Cavan, drawing with Armagh (excluding extra time) and lost to Tyrone.

Kerry wins v Armagh and Tyrone are more impressive than Donegals wins v Meath, Down, Mayo, Monaghan, Derry

Donegal cannot go man to man as they havent tried it all year.
If your giving the 2 Cliffords and S O Shea 4-5 yrds if space it's going to be a long day if Kerry breaks even at midfield

Don't think they Doengal forwards are all that as they relay a lot on defenders breaking forward to create space for them.

If I was Kerry, I would sit deep and hit Donegal on the break, not allowing them hit you on the counter and negating Pattons long kick out.
I would let Donegal have a short kick out and defend along the 65m line

I don't think Donegal have enough top class forwards to win without the counter attack/kick out over the full press.

Hard to beat Kerry in a final, they would be better at the basics of gaelic football i.e kicking and high fielding, Murphy at his age won't have a big impact on the game his pace is gone, think McCole best marking full back at present will keep Clifford to a few points, Donegal will have advantage in fitness and if close game near end they will pull away in last 10 minutes, hard to call maybe extra time and penalties, Kerry to win on penalties, if Donegal are not winners at end of ordinary time, that's how close it is.

Kerry haven't come up against any tough seasoned team so far. Armagh won last year and anyone could see the same oomph wasn't there. Tyrone shouldn't be where they found themselves at all, got lucky and easy for Kerry to be honest. I think Donegal are going to do a No on this Kerry team. No harm either. Kerry remind me of Cork before the Tipp match, Spillane can't get over how good this Kerry team are. Bring on the heartbreak.

Kerry for me. They are the better team and unless they do a Cork will win. This is not about the managers but if it is Jack O'Connor knows more about winning finals than Jim McGuinness. After all remember how he was outsmarted by Eamon Fitzmaurice in 2014.

Draw after extra time, Kerry to win the replay.

https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2025/0722/1524581-minor-gaelic-football-players-senior-grade-development-progression/

Good read on the difference from minor to senior

Speaking of meltdowns, I would put Kerry's second half collapse in 2001 AI semi v Meath on a par with Cork's on Sunday. From supporters' perspective it's difficult to comprehend. It may have something to do with an accumulation of testing matches that eventually catches up on players.

@Gizmobobs: Really great piece there by Karol.

It'd be fascinating to see a look at this from the club side (the lads that never made it up to the County squad) and how they felt the overall experience of academy/underage/dev squads was (both in terms of enjoyment & in football development) and how many felt it was worth the investments overall. I'd assume the overall sentiment would be a positive one, but with room for plenty of horror stories along the way. Way too many for us to be happy with.

I don't have apples to apples numbers to Karol (coming at it from the Minor side of things - something worth looking at in the future for sure), but glancing at the current Mayo squad that played League or Championship this year:

22/32 of our lads played Minor (68.75%)
4/32 played double Minor (12.5%)

29/32 of our lads played u20 (or u21) (87.5%)
25/32 of our lads played double u20 (78.13%)
10/32 of our lads played triple u20 (31.25%) (technically it's 9, but RO'D was part of the cohort who had the switch from u21 to u20 rob them of a year of 21s so I included him)

Most interesting numbers there probably the 10/32 (31.25%) of the panel never playing minor (D McHale, Phillips, Boland, Reape, Flynn, McLaughlin, McBrien, McHugh, Neary, Coggins) and 3/32 (9.38%) never playing u20 (Phillips, Neary, Coggins) with the same 3/32 never seeing minutes in any form of formal County underage.

Sorry WJ,
Am I in moderation? Don't think I posted anything wild!

Never mind - it's posting now! Ignore me.

Kerry have won it 38 or 39 times now to Donegal's 2, hopefully Donegal will avenge the 2014 defeat.

@Batetheblanket

I hope your wrong . Couldn't be listening to McGuineses winning matches till next year . Think Kerry will have to much for them .

Gizmobobs and TsuDhoNim. 2 very interesting reads in your posts. I think managers at all ages in clubs as well as county are really keen for the team they are in charge of to win. At club level it gains you kudos and recognition and especially with underage clubs managers etc are often parents as well. At inter county level managers are judged harshly at u 17 and u 20 if their teams don’t impress. You only have to look at this blog to see the criticism. Remember when M Sheridan was in charge of u 20s,,!!!Managers may say that they are developing players as human beings, as trying to help them make the transition to senior and so on but the truth is you are judged by results and if they are not positive you are seen as having failed. If an u17 or especially an u20 manager has any designs on getting the senior job then his underage results need to be pretty good

I think Kerrys meltdown in 2001 days was all about who should be captain.

Jim mc guinness is a great exponent of the dark arts-thats why i hope kerry win. I hope the referee is up to the job,and does'nt bottle the big calls e.g abuse of d. Clifford mcguinness knows he will have 80% of the job done, if he "nullifies" clifford & co..by the way , iam a sligo man!!. Up kerry

Clifford is a big strong fellow and well able to look after himself.
He is constantly mouthing at the officials and tends to hold off defenders with one hand
Kerry have won enough.

Exactly @JR, D Cliff does get away with a fair bit alright, Kerry have gave Mayo a fair few trimmings in finals also.
I think Donegal will keep it tight, more or less play under the old Rules as much as possible, plus some long range kickouts beyond the Kerry 45 m line.

Hard to nullify Clifford with new rules. I can see McGuiness throwing a curve ball by sacrificing Murphy placing him in front of the backs to soak up ball being fed in. The tactics will be fluid throughout and absorbing. Seanie is Kerry's ace this weekend as Paudie will have as many admirers as his brother. If Gallen and O'Donnell click it'll be a great spectacle.

It’s got the makings of a cracking final and hopefully it won’t disappoint us. I expect it to be a very tight, physical game and Donegal to sneak it. Some posters don’t like to talk up McGuinness but I think he’ll have this Donegal team playing with an intensity and a will to win that Kerry won’t be able to match over the 70 minutes. This is a good Kerry team but there is still a huge reliance on David Clifford. Fitzsimons kept Clifford to 3 points in the 2023 final and that was the winning of the game for Dublin. Donegal know what they have to do to win on Sunday.

@finding Sam. Way different game now to 2023
Clifford almost impossible to contain under the new rules.

These new rules nearly make it not possible to contain Clifford . It will be kerrys day and I will be cheering them on .

I know we have our own clowns in our county but at the semi v Meath the amount bitching about us and we were not even in it was ridiculous from Donegal fans ! And no one was talking about mayo bar Donegal ones !

I really hope Tommy C comes back flying next year cause the new rules will really suit him that guy gets no luck.

I thought there’d be far more posts under the ‘let’s talk about Mayo’ pod. It’s the most important pod the lads have ever released, in many respects, as will the entire series.

I’ve often said there’s a noticeable lack of senior intercounty players equally competent off left and right (hands and feet). Further, that if a county really put dedicated focus on it at national schools level that it would, in turn, have massive benefits for competitive second level schools teams and academy/underage intercounty teams.

It’s something I said on here a few times and on the Let’s Talk Mayo, thread. Another very interesting study from Karol Dillon…basically backing up the point I’m making:-

https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2024/0722/1456585-gaelic-football-bilateral-skill-sports-science/

Don't worry clare. We will be marching behind the artane boys band next year.

You're a golden oldie like myself Craggy, it's been a while since they had just boys in the Artane band. 😄

All this fawning over McGuinness and yet realisticially what has he won? A soft all Ireland against ourselves in 2012. Everyone knows you only have to turn up in an All Ireland Final and play for a few minutes and Mayo will end up beating themselves. Kerry are a different animal and Jack O Connnor will have them ready

Can tickets for Sunday be got in SuperValu or only online ?

Glorydays,

It’s not necessarily about what McGuinness has won, as much as it it is about how he transformed Donegal to be at the top table consistently.

Before he came in Donegal were nobodies and not even in a discussion for a crack at an Ulster title nevermind an All Ireland.

6 years of his management has yielded 5 Ulster titles, 3 All Ireland finals and I think a Div.2 league title. For a county no one would even look at before he came in, it’s not too bad going at all. Not to mention an Ulster U21 title and the only man to beat Jim Gavin in championship football.

His CV certainly stacks up better than some of the men that are paraded around mayo.

Kerry for me. Clifford is a genius in my opinion and still will be even if he has a quite day Sunday and anytime mayo aren't playing i want to see a genius win. @mayonaze. Interesting point regards left and right skill set. There was a piece on radio 1 last weekend with mickey kearns celebrating 50 years since they won the connacht final and he mentioned about how he spent 2 years just using his left foot until it was as good as his right and said it gave him great options when in front of the post so it can be done if the effort is put in. Now putting in the effort is well maybe too much effort.

@westkerry.talk to us.

Two insightful articles by Karl Dillon.
I one suggests minor success isn’t that important apart from lads in the team more than 1 season. Also saying many are burned out of motivation from all the trips to the Centre of excellence and scientific surveys and that playing more with people and coaches at school level is more important. The other saying players and teams aren’t as 2 sided as we think. In the modern game I can think of a few players consistently scoring under pressure on the weaker foot, Clifford and Dara Canavan come to mind. SF goal by Clifford he both hopped the ball round Morgan and finished with his right. Both Sean O Shea and Clifford had recent 2 pointers off their weaker foot. Of the Donegal forwards I’d say only Gallen uses both feet a good bit for pressure shots. Rarely see Murphy score off his left. That said in soccer Maradonna had a great array of skills but with the pressure of elite games was quite left sided as is Messi whereas Ronaldo can dribble and hit rockets off his left. Past greats who were tremendously 2 sided included Pelé, George Best and Bobby Charlton from an era before the massive analysis we have nowadays. So maybe half the greats play mostly with dominant side. I recall Kieran McDonald mostly soloed with his right and bypassed the opposition focus on stopping the dominant side using the banana shot off his left from the wrong side. Not exactly orthodox but effective because he was so skilled at it. For us Cillian has kicked some excellent scores off his left but probably needs to as not as nippy as most corner forwards, he’s reliant more on skill than pace to be effective.

This has to be concerning?

https://www.westernpeople.ie/sport/gaa/mac-yet-to-hold-first-meeting-in-search-for-new-mayo-manager_arid-65178.html

The only progress I can see is that the deadline for applications is today, so it will have to move forward quick enough surely.

But as the academy director, u17, u20 & senior positions are all to be filled, it does present a chance to really unite them all towards the one core goal

Re the game, some of the other Kerry forwards Geaneys (excluding Paul) Moynihan etc. don’t cause that much trouble in high pressure games where space is at a premium. Spillane has made big impacts off the bench in big games but for some reason they still don’t trust him to start. Limiting Paudie is extremely important in this game, his marker should follow him all over the field. I think contrary to some poster above SOS has performed in some finals and doesn’t appear short of motivation. But I’d say take your chances on him because David Clifford is generational, just beware of SOSs 2 point threat. If the 2 Clifford’s play fairly well but don’t cause the normal damage or havoc between them and SOS has a stormer it’s still possible to win. Armagh we’re well in it with SOS firing until Paudie came on.
All that said Donegal have more threats to stop than Kerry. Re Fitsimmons in 23, he played very well but Clifford was a few % off as well and a bit greedy trying to do too much by himself. He will likely have learned from that.
I’m not convinced McBrearty will make much impact off the bench. Heart says Donegal as I like to support the underdog which proved very enjoyable for the hurling last weekend but head says Kerry. I don’t like Jack’s dourness and actually prefer McGuinness who rarely smiles either but management isn’t a warm personality contest, winning is serious business. If Donegal win I’ll concede that he’s a great manager; Jack has managed more losing and winning teams than Jim. It’s one thing getting such a lift out his players as the whole setup from top to bottom was in chaos about 2 years ago, it’s another beating a great team in a final which I reluctantly admit Kerry are. It would be great if the underdogs won for 2 weeks running but odds against that.

@Shuffly the lack of players comfortable off both feet is a bit of a joke to be honest. Peadar Moggan is a superb player but he has turned down countless opportunities in games as they have fallen on his weaker side....Kerry will eat that up.

There is absolutely no excuse not to be able to kick a score off weaker foot from 20 yards out. I am 37 years old with two dodgy knees & I am able to kick fairly comfortably off both feet. I am no use to anyone now but all it takes is practice from a young age. And that's it. Persistence. It's inexcusable in the modern game where more time is spent coaching than ever before. They're too preoccupied with shape, possession & not taking risks.

“Jim mc guinness is a great exponent of the dark arts-thats why i hope kerry win”

And Kerry aren’t? Kerry invented the dart arts. Kerry have been fantastic, stylish footballers down the years but they have been well able to mix it when needed. Didn’t Paul Galvin take out a Cork player in the 09 final? Or maybe it was the lad who came back from Australia whose name escapes me.

Green and Red Donegal werent nobodys in 92 when they won the all Ireland and beat us in the semi final most of us on here have never seen Mayo win an all Ireland senior final we have seen Donegal win one under Brian McEniff prior to 12 and Jimmy I wouldnt mind us being nobodys if it meant we won Sam im the era of colour television hell theres clearer video of the moon landings than us winning Sam

“Tadgh Kennelly “. And more power to him

It was that other lad, Yew Tree! Tadhg Kennelly poleaxed Nicholas Murphy at the throw-in and Marty Duffy didn’t blink an eye over what was a clearcut straight red offence. The Kerry lads know all about the dark arts for sure.

I think there’s at least cause for some concern, Rusty Bridges, about progress (or the lack of it) on the management appointment process. Even with the tweaks they’ve made to it, the process is still overly convoluted and way too bureaucratic. This might work fine for, say, a senior post in the HSE but it looks utterly unfit for purpose in selecting a new Mayo manager.

Contrast this with Louth, who yesterday unveiled Gavin Devlin as their new manager. Did he have to fill in an application form and then submit to a public service appointments style interview, replete with BS competency-based questions? I think we all know the answer to that.

They absolutely were “nobody’s “ pre 92 , they have an abysmal history , don’t think they won a provincial title till 1972 .

Hopefully we may see some indication of progress in manager hunt today. One hour left to put name in the hat.

Will there be any nominees? May there only be one and a coronation? Hard to see very many.

The mick fitzsimons job done on david clifford is a total myth by the way, I was at that game and it was simply a case of clifford not having his shooting boots on. He roasted fitzsimons as he does to everyone, he won every ball off him and blew past him like he wasn't there, if he's radar was on he would have kicked 8 points. Fitzsimons was chasing shadows and didn't handle a ball or win a 50/50 all day long, and I'm a big admirer of his too BTW, but its funny how a false narrative can just be accepted as fact....

If you're brendan mccole and donegal you are looking at limiting the damage DC does, his goals give huge oxygen to the kerry fans and team so absolutely force him out the field as much as possible, if he kicks 5-7 points take that and hopefully to stop paudie/sos. All easier said then done of course

One of the podcasts made a good point that in finals the marquee players often get cancelled out or have their influence limited and its very often an unheralded player who sneaks in with a motm performance from somewhere. Think Chris Barrett 2017, Paul Murphy 2014, oisin conaty 2024. Always worth a cheeky bet looking way down the betting on the motm favourites....

Are we to assume having not heard otherwise that Tony McEntee, Andy moran and Austin o malley will all be nominees

Tony mcantee has left the Sligo set up

Andy left the Monaghan set up ?

Austin o Malley left Cuala ?

Plenty of nobody’s have won multiple all Irelands since last won one, Down, Tyrone, Armagh, Donegal. Very disrespectful to call another county a nobody. Especially coming from a Mayo fan, because we are seen as a laughing stock.

Sean - Austin stepped down from Cuala after the All Ireland I believe.

Supermac - 100%. Most other days Clifford kicks most of them over & Kerry win that All Ireland. By his very high standards, his shooting was well off it. Fitz did OK to contain him to a point, but for me it was more to do with shooing inaccuracy

Absolutely Willie Joe. The HR addition doesn't really add anything IMO, except that sort of stuff. Which is perfectly fine for a lot of roles, but inter county management is a completely different animal. Would Micko or Boylan have gotten appointed with this sort of nonsense in the process? I highly doubt it

Yew tree , Down would be one of the more traditional sides tbh and have backed that up with titles in the 90s to boot . Possibly is a little disrespectful to call them a nobody , my bad as they say nowadays .

I take great pride in our history and tradition , by god we’re no Kerry but at the same measure Donegal don’t have anything like our tradition in the game , Donegal I don’t think have ever won a minor all Ireland for example , we have several , under 21 we have 5 they have 2 , all stars we have more , provincial tittles we have more , league titles we have more , Sam Maguire we have one more . Let them snigger all they want at all Ireland final defeats in recent times . Laughing stock , my arse . Who’s names hang in the hall of fame around Croke park , Langan (ballycsstle ) Sean Flanagan , don’t see any Donegal . In the future they’ll probably get Murphy’s name up there [Mayo DNA ) Hup outta that

Sean it’s a bit more difficult to win Ulster than it is Connacht. When you look at our strike rate of provincial titles, leagues, underage then it’s proof our senior record considering the amount of finals we’ve been in is an absolute shambles.

@Sean Burke...
With all due respect that seems like incredibly bitter straw clutching.
If donegal pull it off on sunday then we have to acknowledge the achievement as sickening as it is.

Constantly patting ourselves on the back for 'putting dublin to the pin of their collar' imo does not match up to all-ireland success, off the top of my head now oustide of dublin and kerry 'Nobody counties' like Donegal/Derry/Down/Tyrone/Armagh/Meath/Cork/Galway have all gotten the job done, some with different teams, in my lifetime. Im pretty sure none of those counties would swap those successes for picture frames being hung up in the hall of fame.

Until we win one ourselves we dont get to sneer at those other teams

There was a lot of noise about transparency after previous appointments but the process can place is outdated and OTT.
Nominate the likes of James Horan to set up a team to pick a manager nominee to be ratified by CB.

Re the Tadhg Kennelly incident, I always wrote that off my own personal history books because of the level of cynicism involved. He even had the audacity to boast about it in his book. Complete chickening out by the ref to boot. Deprived Cork of their most influential player. Whoever said fair play to him is well out of order. Sport is meant to be sporting. Push the rules to the limits fair enough but that level of cynicism was way beyond what’s acceptable.

I can’t understand why so many want Donegal to lose as they’re underdogs like us. People claiming McGuinness is a master of the dark arts, I don’t see any proof of it. They’re no shrinking violets nor should they be but haven’t seen off the ball or much sledging and the cameras pick up a lot nowadays. Murphy let himself down after our game but that’s about all I saw and that’s after it ended. That’s one player / incident, can people recall any others this season? I doubt it. They’ve come this far because of mainly good tactics. Man for man no better than us which is why I think Kerry will win. But I’d be happier to see the underdog win if they can find a way.

Mickey Kerins was a good scoring forward but to say he was two-footed is a fair stretch. I can't recall him scoring with his left peg. He was also "well able to look after himself". Btw, the ref. robbed a fine Mayo team in '75. Incidentally, as regards refing young lads skills. This work is done at home with family members. As youngsters, David and Paudie Clifford regularly practiced all the skills in the garden. The high gable wall also came in handy - saved a few windows no doubt.

Taking me completely out of context there supermac . I understand people shrugging of history / pedigree /legacy at times but it 100 percent means something , swapping it for an all Ireland today is just waffle , what does that even mean , it’s like believing in Santa Claus stuff .

Point is we had a great record till 1951 , 3 sams , league titles and respect . It’s been a shit show since decade after decade . That is also a factor in my road down memory lane , the legacy they left has been let down . Mayo should win at least one all Ireland every decade with everything we have in this football mad county

@Craggy Boglands

I really hope your right !

I don't think I've ever wanted Kerry to win come Sunday as much as I do this time .

@Shuffly Deck

It's just the arrogance they have I despise I mean fair play to them it's gotten them to the final and we need a bit of that to . I just don't like them to be honest.

Regards the Clifford's with work done at home with family members you could say the same for the O ' Connor brothers. I don't think we will be seeing Cillian back next year judging from his tone in his latest interview. I don't think he got enough credit over the years .

Ultimately, Kerry are a better team than Donegal and if they match them physically then Kerry will win. However if it ends up being a tight game, then I think that Donegal may shade it as favourites can struggle if game becomes tight.

I do want Donegal to win though, not that i am a big JMcG fan but Kerry have won more than enough, DC while undoubtedly a brilliant player is a moaner if someone marks him very tightly, and if people think that Kerry do not know the dark arts then they have not watched closely down the years.

Hopefully this will be a final befitting what has been a thoroughly enjoyable season.

@Shuffly Deck: No angels ever make it to a final, so you'll always have 'something' you can put to any side that manages to get there (ourselves included any time we've made it). I wouldn't be anti-Donegal at all, and will probably be slightly shouting for them come Sunday (but it'd be 51%/49% or even closer), but two memories stand out this year:

- Murphy has been caught with 3 or 4 nasty running 'fist' tackles, especially earlier in the year. Any could have been red or done a bit of damage to the lad he swung them into if he'd caught a rib the wrong way.
- The goading (with allegations of sectarian abuse) to the Armagh bench at the end of the Ulster Final one that possibly could have ended with a significant ban (or potentially a number of shorter ones for either side on the shemozzle that followed it).

I see keegan has backed Andy for the job .

If he got it one of the positives he’d bring is positivity and Sam would be his genuine ambition that’s for sure .

I generally back the underdog so I hope Donegal win it. As mentioned they have just won it twice. Kerry have bucket loads of All Irelands and will more in the future for sure.

Probably best to delete it, Size 5, seeing as nothing is confirmed as yet.

Just a query, does anyone know how many All Irelands Jack O Connor has won as a manager?, Senior, minor, U20 etc.

He hasn't lost many either, 2011 and 2005 maybe.

2023 also, Dubs beat Kerry.

@Batetheblanket: 8 wins from his 12 finals if you're including the Hogan Cup with Coláiste na Sceilge. 7/11 County only & 4/7 at Senior.

Senior All Ireland Wins: 4 ('04, '06, '09, '22)
Senior Finals: 7 ('05, '11, '23)

U21 All Ireland Wins: 1 ('18)
U21 Finals: 2 ('19)

Minor All Ireland Wins: 2 ('14, '15)

Hogan Cup Wins: 1 ('09)

Green and red. Your dead on. Nobody in mayo has a CV like Jimmy. I welcome new management but what has Andy moran really done in management. How closely connected to the players he is. Maybe with another. Manager I don't think so. A big plus for the forward s and hopefully more direct approach. Ever the optimistic. Yes I'm a golden oldie. Seen alot of barren periods.

Andy is too close to some of the players still on the panel.
Did we learn anything from 96.

@TSU, that's some record, I think he was part of Paudie O Se's management team in the 1997 final also.
Hard to beat that statistic, 75% wins in All Ireland finals.

On Tipp' s hurling win, won 29 lost 13, 69% wins.
Kilkenny won 36 lost 29 or 55% wins.
Cork won 30 lost 22, or 58 % wins
Galway won 5 lost 20 or 25 % wins.

Kerry Senior football, won 38 lost 24 or 61% wins.
Donegal, won 2 lost 1, or 66% wins

Interesting statistics.

Micheal Murphy gets away with way too much .
Alot of his cross the line tackles are dirty and cowardly sneaky late dig

Evening folks,

The build up continues in Ernest and it's hard to keep the mind on anything for long as it drifts to Sunday.

Its been an incredible championship as Kerry have literally been decimated with injuries but have managed to clear each hurdle.

I find thd build up and narrative around McGuinness remarkable you'd swear he was winning sam year in year out.

Plus ill add we have these new rules because of his template which worked fine for him but was copied by every awful club coach and ruined the game.

As for Kerry,

No yerras here I think Kerry will win based on,

- Age Profile
- Experience 5th final since 19
- OConnors 8th final
- Fitness, Kerry are in thd best shape I've seen in years.
- Scoring average
- Tougher run to the final.
- David Clifford.

Need a pint and its only Wednesday.

Fair play WestKerry! Enjoy Sunday. You're not a Yearra.

@West kerry

It's fair to say me and you have had our differences over the years haha

But best of luck come Sunday genuinely hope you do it .

I am not particularly bothered who wins on Sunday as mayo are not involved and it won’t be as stressful as last year’s final so I can watch it objectively.For what it’s worth I think Kerry should win but I will be fascinated as to what tactics are used to blunt David Clifford.Michael Murphy does get away with alot of sly digs and could get caught out on this.he made it look accidental his late tackle on Meath player in semi final and his antics in getting Kevin Keane sent off in 2015 quarter final was not a good look .

I totally agree on Michael Murphy getting away with digs and dirty tackles on what could have been easily red carded to . Nearly gets away more then Clifford does.

That tackle on the Meath player was disgraceful in semi to be honest . He's a great player but has a nasty streak to.. but as the saying goes nice teams don't win all irelands unfortunately.

Will we have to wait for the next county board meeting to find out who the managerial candidates are?

Everyone is entitled to their views on who they would like to win the AI and why. Some people who like good footballers and an excellent tradition would like to see Kerry winning. Who could not but admire D Clifford. Others feel Kerry have won plenty and would like to see Donegal do it. Donegal was a county not rich in GAA football history with a lot of the northern part of the county more fond of soccer but Jimmy has done brilliantly with them not alone getting a buy in from their players but also their people. Some say they wouldn’t like to see them winning because of Jimmy yet have been extolling his virtues here all summer. Jack O Connor has been disparaging enough about Mayo in the past See his comments about the 2 blonds before 2006 AI. People want other counties to win or loose for different reasons. I was delighted to see Galway win in 1998 and was equally delighted to see them lose last year as I grew tired of their jibes about us not winning. So on Sunday I am looking forward to watching Clifford, the greatest player I have witnessed but also looking forward to seeing what plan Jimmy, for me a super manager, comes up with. I would like to see Donegal win. I feel that when these counties win, like Armagh last year, it just shows what is possible for us to achieve. Should Kerry win I will say fair play to them. The traditionalists will be delighted with Kerry as football champions and Tipp as hurling winners.

I think Kerry will win fairly handy.
To be honest normally I would like Donegal to win this but I just don't like Murphy and I agree with West Kerry on McGuinness.....sure a good manager but like he has won one All Ireland.....she as good as Jack OConnor??....is he as good as Eamonn Fitzmaurice?...or the likes of Brian Cody....or McGeeney....or John OMahony & Eugene McGee way back I am not so sure and if he wins on Sunday I wouldn't change that view.
Reality is every team that wins has a good manager and someone wins every year but McGuinness seems to just transfix people.....that's not to take from what hehas done or will do but for me I would have all the guys named above probably before him

https://www.winwitharmaghgaa.com/the-project/

Armagh training facility valued at 10 million how the hell is ours up at 15 million, we should scrap the project been located in Foxford straight away.

@Willie Joe. I completely concur with your description of the manager selection process as"convoluted"-I couldn't come up with a better word. The expressions "a camel is a horse designed by a committee" and "too many cooks spoil the broth" spring to mind. There are too many involved and why on earth is there a HR person?

Since the Ulster final, Donegal have only beaten one team that played Division 1 football in 2025 — and that was us, a side that was barely hanging on to avoid relegation ourselves.

I think they're now coming up against a team that's operating at a level far above anything they've faced in recent months. It'll be interesting to see how they handle it. To be honest, this has been one of the softest knockout paths to an All-Ireland final we've seen in a long time — Louth, Monaghan, and Meath. While Donegal have looked strong, the quality of opposition hasn’t really tested them.

For me, Kerry win this by 5 or more

Thank you Clare,

We are all GAA people at the end of the day.

We will all start back at the same spot next January.

Have had an eye on Donegal since the league, think they will do it. Kerry are like a dragon with a missing scale, they are fearsome but have a chink in the armour. Take out Paudi and double up on DC and Donegal will win.
(Mind you I backed Cork last week :-) ,I hope its a game for the ages )
Hon Maigh Eo and Keep the Faith

Tony Freeman I think you make a very valid point. Add to that they drew with Armagh in Ulster Final before scraping by them in extra time. In fairness they had to play 4 games in Ulster championship and in not finishing top of their group they had a preliminary quarter final. I was not over impressed with them the day they played us either. Having said all that I feel they will be fresh on Sunday and Jimmy won’t allow them to be complacent because they beat Meath easily in semi final. He only has to reference Corks easy win v Dublin in hurling semi final.Everything is very structured and methodical with Donegal. They got their business done early in the league and then avoided league final as first round of championship was the following Sunday. It really has the makings of a fascinating game. We had 2 average semi finals so I really hope we get a good game on Sunday

Ah here lads, Any team that wins an ulster championship from the preliminary round has not had a soft run. They will have played 12 matches by Sunday. Nothing soft about it

Funnily enough, the best thing to happen to kerry was lose to meath, as they needed the tuneup v cavan and the tough game v Armagh, a soft run to the final would have done them no favours

Id like to see Kerry win but very hard call

Is this to be decided on the day or is a replay possible?

It’s too close to call so I’d be swaying towards a draw.

@highorlow: Replay if needed after extra time.

"Winner on the Day
The All-Ireland Football Preliminary Quarter-Finals, Quarter-Finals & Semi-Finals will be Winner on the Day. The All-Ireland Final will have Extra time in the original fixture and will be Winner on the Day in the event of a replay."

I don't think it will be that close . I think kerry by at least 5 . Donegal haven't been tested much . I wouldn't judge them on the display v Meath either .

As Meath where absolutely awful . Stop Murphy and Kerry will pull away . Something about Donegal they do rub it in your face after a win just pure arrogance.

Which is why most neutrals are supporting Kerry they are far more gracious .

In fairness to Kerry they are always there or there abouts .

You mustn’t have been in Limerick in 14 Clare. Nothing gracious about them that day.

Picked Donegal at the start of the year so will stick with them now. If Jimmy masters a plan for Kerry's top 3-4 players they will win. They'll have to keep DC to 4-5 you'd feel. Anyway best of luck West Kerry should be a great game !

I very much doubt that the neutral support will swing towards Kerry. It may not be 31 v 1 but it won’t be far off that. Not that Kerry will mind or anything.

@Thedarkyfinn: I'd say the plan for Paudie and Seanie will be "trust the system", which will work grand as long as the Donegal lads are firing on all cylinders and going into every press & block at 100% (which you'd fully expect -but isn't easy, even for Jimmy).

McCole will tag Clifford, they'll have the system pushing cover to keep him off his left boot anywhere near the danger zone, they'll try and force Kerry transitions down the left rather than their preferred right channel, try and ensure none of their kickers get much time or space around the 60 to find the dangerous balls inside and then tag/press hard everyone once they get inside the 45. I wouldn't expect any big surprises from Donegal, they've been playing to the template all year and it always looked a template designed for Kerry's style of setup (or even Kerry specifically).

The big question for me will be what Jacko does to try and pick the holes?

Down originally and then Monaghan showed there are plenty of ways to manipulate and penetrate the system (Cahair O'Kane with some great content this week diving into that), it just wouldn't be Kerry's natural game. So whether they go the Down route playing to the lads between the lines (you'd imagine Meenagh's fingerprints all over that), focus on playing & shooting outside (Meath tried it, but Kerry's kicking under pressure likely a lot stronger with Clifford, O'Shea, Ó Baoill & co) or trust their kicking game can avoid the turnovers and play a more fast-paced or even counter-attacking setup (this wouldn't be natural to Kerry, but would be right in Cian O'Neill's wheelhouse).

Pros & cons to going any of them, a much harder one to predict what they'll aim for, which helps make for a really exciting build-up & a far less predictable game.

@Willie Joe

Yeah im probably wrong there on most neutrals supporting kerry not that kerry will mind to much as you say !

@Nephin

No I wasn't sadly couldn't make that one but I was releived I couldn't in the end. .

It's a hard one for neutrals to decide who to shout for . I guess with Kerry your used to them winning it in ways.

Just Donegal ones recently have made me want Kerry to do it.

Anyway I will be glad once it's all over and we can concentrate on the club scene !

I can't see Ballina doing 3 in a row but you never know . Cross could do well by the looks of it and I wouldn't begrudge them at all either !

Well I'll probably shout for Kerry. I just don't like McGuinness and the messiah status that is bestowed upon him.
I used to love watching Murphy play, and there's no denying he's a top player even at his age, but he's also got a nasty streak and an arrogance that I dislike the more I see of him.

Is our management selection process convoluted really though?.I seem to remember it was well received when it was launched before the last appointment when everyone wanted something structured and transparent.The last appointment went smooth and was well received all around.
I seem to remember complaints previously that there was no proper process in place now we have a process it's our process and will probably be concluded around August 20th.
Just because other Counties have different ways of doing things shouldn't influence us.We have our system.Stick to it in my view.It gives plenty of scope for us to approach candidates and encourage them toapply or just give everyone a fair hearing.

@williejoe. What is your opinion who do you think will win?
@clare. You must be in awful hard luck where you sit at the games as you see and hear alot of abuse. I have to say I don't see much of it or else I'm too dumb to realise what's going on around me.

FreeTheEastBank. The problem I have with the selection process is the ridiculous numbers involved-you would'nt have anywhere near that number involved in the appointment of a CEO of a huge corporation. Why do need so many and why oh why do we need a HR person?

I’d be leaning towards Kerry, No Doubt, partly because I can’t get out of my head the point Nigel Reape made on the pod some weeks back about Donegal’s looseness at the back. If ever there was a team to exploit that then you’d imagine Kerry would be that team. All the more so if Clifford gets the usual godlike protection from the ref. To be honest, though, the outcome of this final ranks extremely low on my giveafuckometer.

@No doubt

Fair enough . I hear what I hear what else can I say .

In the match previews Kerry's meltdown against Meath and Donegal problems with Mayo and Tyrone are airbrushed away.

Thanks Tsu - insightful as always. I think a good tight marker on Seanie can nullify him, it has worked a few times in the past. White, JOC and the 2 Clifford's are the ones to contain or at least reduce their influence...

all seems to be gone quiet on the manager front. no harm i suppose. the way Armagh players have been speaking about Donaghy shows the esteem in which he was held. Not just another name on the ticket. He's has played and won at different levels in different sports. Id love someone like him or Jason Sherlock involved with Mayo. I think that the CB will go for the safe option in their eyes and pick Andy. I don't know if those lads would take another supporting role but it would be brilliant to have them in there.

@WJ Still Laughing at the last comment, I am going to invest in such a meter :-)

Hard to care really who wins, its more who do i not want to win the least. Been awhile for Donegal and found that most people from there are pretty sound. If it was Mayo going out on Sunday, I'd be looking for the nearest Mayo for Sam bandwagon. I'm sore for the county year to be curtailed so early yet again.
Best of luck @WestKerry all the same.

Maybe moose79 , I still feel they’ll go with mcantee , maybe Aaron kiernan , Kev mc too if he’s worked well with him at Sligo .

Jesus WJ that takes me back to about 2009 on the blog....language in those articles was maybe a bit less polished than today

@williejoe. Great answer. I'm heading to the middle isle to pick up one of those.

No Doubt - they're available here: https://tenor.com/view/give-a-fuck-o-meter-fuckometer-gif-27264620.

I've had mine for years and it's never broken down once on me.

You're right, FreeTheEastBank - those were different times, in so many ways.

Ah lads never Kerry. Ever. Donegal with the help a god

Looks like you’ve No more fucks to give WJ.

On this topic, that would be right Nephin!

I am one who has been raving about Jimmy mcguinness. Reasons. 1. Zero underage success. 2. Picked up a team from the lowest base. 3 No superstar s. 4. His ability to get the ultimate from otherwise seen as average enough footballers.. I still want kerry to win. Mikey sheehy was one of my favourite players of all time. Didn't like Murphy s attitude in Hyde park when the deal was done. Lacked class particularly from a half mayo man.

@,WestKerry,, Hope Kerry win the final and enjoy your posts on here the last few years.
I've a Kerry football culture question for you.
How is kicking technique so good, is the technique really focused on in underage in clubs? Finally is the solo from left hand to right foot or right hand to left foot if left footed instructed in underage coaching?
I've also noticed Kerry players use the bounce solo to settle up or create space for shots.
I dunno, ye even seem to carry the ball different, out in front with hands ready to bounce solo.
Is this all coached or it's moreso mimicking players around you?

Ah lads mind the language id hate to see this blog descend to the levels of resevoir Dubs or Hoganstand. For what its worth I hope Donegal win. Winning Sam means nothing to Kerry Supporters anymore something akin to us winning the now defunct FBD league even if West Kerry will say different their supporters dont like to lose but they dont go mad celebrating either. So I hope they are partying in Glenties Gweedore and the Rosses on Sunday evening

Not a big fan of either county but criticism of players for having a bit of an edge is laughable. It's the difference at times with a talented "nice" player. I think if you ask the Dubs or any of our other big rivals and they'll tell how horrible Lee Keegan, Cillian O'Connor and a few more Mayo lads were. If the likes of Murphy or Diarmuid Connolly played for us we'd adore them.

Ah surely ye want the Underdog to win, if Donegal win it gives hope to the likes of Mayo.
I expect Murphy and D Clifford to be given thec"dirty streak stuff" as they probably know they will get away with it more than the others.

A recap on my statistics, Jack O Connor has a 66% win rate in All Ireland finals, but at Senior this is down to 57%, won 4, lost 3, but 2 of those wins were against Mayo in 04 and 06, and in 2009, the Gooch saved Kerry by Engineering a good few frees, in 2022 v a weaker Galway defence.

The figures tell me Donegal should win, 66% success rate.

Mea culpa, Glorydays - it was me that started it on this occasion. As has already been noted, though, the language here used to be far saucier back in the day. Reservoir Dubs were only trotting after us!

I'm on the lookout for a ticket for the game.

Was only half messing Willie Joe its your blog use whatever language you want

Glory days.

I can assure you winning Sam means everything to us.

Would normally want the underdog to win but it would just add further insult to injury if Donegal were to win a 2nd All Ireland in the space of 13 years, after all the years when we had seriously good teams & didn't bring it home.. that said, if Donegal can do it, it just goes to show what can be achieved in a short space of time. So that would give hope.

I honestly can't call it. Donegal are like a machine gun, bullets coming from every angle.. Kerry more like a sniper rifle. But but but I just can't see Donegal sustaining the outrageous shooting efficiency they've had for most of the season. They were inefficient against us & we should have taken them.. if they are inefficient on Sunday, Kerry will beat them.

I don't understand the logic that if Donegal win, that's good for Mayo.
Whoever wins on Sunday has no bearing on how Mayo get on next year or any other year.
We have to sort ourselves out and not be clinging to anything else.

@Tubberman

Well said .

I'm just glad that there's no leaks on who applied for the Mayo job so far abd its gone queit on that front . Unlike the last time and I hope it stays that way .

JoeG - Agree completely. I laugh when I see posters disliking Murphy because there’s a hard edge to him and that he’s not afraid to put it about. There’s a good chance we would have won at least one All Ireland if he played for us. Yes, he’s ruthless on the pitch but that’s what winners have to be. The current Mayo team could certainly do with players that have more of an edge to them and we might start to close out a few games.

Murphy was brought in to do a job, whatever job McGuiness chooses for him in a particular match. He's not there to be likeable or cares even less. He's a nasty bastard when it counts and he's precarious at times. If, as I expect, Donegal win, he couldn't do wrong in the eyes of the forgotten county whether he commits two murders before, during or afterwards in the Harcourt. Nice guys have no place in McGuiness' sides.

In a way I admire Murphy for being so ruthless and maybe I am bitter that we dont have guys like that who are willing to put in the dirty tackles .

He's a great player no doubt about it.

You dont win all Irelands by being a nice team . I've said it since our best team we ever put out went . We are far to nice .

It sounds harsh but as others said being nice on the pitch won't get you anywhere gaa world .

Clare are you for real? We’ve had a few lads who are well versed in dark arts. Our own record points scorer being the prime example.

I too find this choirboys tag we seem to have in some people's eyes,a strange one.. I can't imagine the likes of Diarmuid belting out 'ave Maria's ' in Ballintubber Abbey or David McBrien doing similar down in St.Nathys or Jordan or Ryan or Paddy or Mattie.
It's in all these lads and plenty more to do what's needed,when needed. But no point in being daft about it. That too has cost us

All the slang here about dark arts and northwest.
Kerry and Dublin ruled the roost, traded All Irelands from the 70s. Connaught's contribution was meek. That great Down side of the 60s/70s (Sean O'Neill, Colm McAlerny & co.) inspired these "Northies"
Innovation and tactical masterclasses created a new precedence for how football was played, inspired by "Northies"
Kerry we're dire to look at for last 10 years, they were as defensive as everyone.
Not to mention referees pandering to the aristocrats (Kerry & Dublin).
They still do it today, and i am concerned Cawley will show this towards Kerry on Sunday.
However, hats off to Jim McGuinness, Donegal are still more tactically aware, fitter and unified to bring Sam back to the North. Dún na nGall Abú

The last management s statement. I quote. We want a type of players that represent the county with dignity and honour. I then posted. We will never win anything with a bunch of choir boys. Nothing wrong with good hard players but when the game is over.... a real man shake s hands. . I never seen Dublin goading mayo player s after defeat That's the point I'm making.

That nonsense didn't work for o hora on Clifford either

O Hora and Pat Spillane on the 2 Johnnies Pod this week. Worth a listen.

In 2014, Aidan O’Mahony kicked the you know what out of Michael Murphy, all match long. I was right behind them on the Hill, and he got away with murder. That was also when K Donaghy told the interviewer afterwards, ‘what do you think of that Joe Brolly?’ Class or what.

Don't worry about the bad language @williejoe sometimes a bit is needed.

Hang n cat cool , O Mahoney put manners on Murphy that day , that’s exactly what you want from a man marker , we need to visit the retraining of this art too as there are more defenders playing today who can’t man mark than can . It’s actually one of the reasons I think we have a couple of gems in this department and as the new rules come on more and more it’s my opinion that a certain type of defender will be worth his weight in gold .

Kerry defence is so underrated , I can’t fathom how this has gone mostly unnoticed but they won’t mind come Sunday .

Exactly yew-tree, numerous ex players including Andy's book have taked about how great and clever Cillian was at the dark arts, manufacturing an extra 13 yards from a free, getting a nice bit of contact in late etc

Not sure where this Donegal hatred comes from @clare. You were at the Meath match and while they were hammering Meath, numerous Donegal fans started slagging Mayo of all teams? Were you on the hill or what? Their rivals are Tyrone mainly who had been beaten the day previous, would seem far more logical they'd be slagging them

Tbh ive never once met an arrogant Donegal person in real life. Probably the most liked set of people in Ireland in my experience, coming with a general happy go lucky attitude and great craic despite being disadvantaged more than any other county. Im fairly certain 90%+ of the neutrals will be shouting for them

Clare does seem to have had a rough year of it between the wild cursing at the league final and the mayo chicken and the bad language at the Cavan game to getting abuse from Donegal supporters

Finding sam . I cry when I hear posters on about seeing games out. What about putting more score s on and finishing the job out like real teams do. This rubbish rethoric came from the last management. Absolute nonsense and how many times did we get caught out with that negative mindset. . Kamikaze football and mindset. We got away with it just about en route to the 16/17 finals. Rubbish tactics.

A lot of excellent comments made. Its very hard to call but i would give slight preference for kerry, if they can absorb donegals gung ho attacks, they will leave gaps in the defence when mangan, eoghan ban are on the attack. Clifford has also being coming out more to the half forward which will mean he can't be bottled up as much. Also its crucially murphys isn't allowed to dominate / bully around the midfield. Donegal have also played 3/4 more games than Kerry this championship where they have brought this intensity to almost every game and it may catch up with them, but then again they also have a strong bench. Lets hope for a good game.

Agreed stephenite/1985...

Not sure where Clare is getting this insistence that Donegal are arrogant, from my experience they are pretty much the last county I would describe as that, always the most affable friendly people you could meet in my experience. I have lots of friends there from my college days and the slagging is always very good natured.

Can only assume she is trawling hoganstand/boards etc looking for examples of it. Let's be honest those type of forums are no reflection of reality, total cesspits.

Tickets very very hard got, was hoping to tip in myself to it but not a whiff of tickets from my usual dependable sources

@1985. I think clare was just unlucky. I worked in Donegal for three years and you could not meet nicer people.

Craggy Boglands - not going to disagree with you there. When I refer to closing games out I mean pushing on and winning the damn things. We also have a be much tougher mentally and more ruthless when games do go down to the wire. In the last few years we’ve seen too many games slip away from us in the final minutes, and they are the ones we have to learn to win.

@supermac

It's just an opinion .

I am not on hogan stand Forum either for your information. I don't go on trawling on other forums either looking for info as you say.

It's an opinion. I'm not the only one who had it either.

Clare can you go back to your statement that we don’t have guys like Murphy who can put in the dirty tables? I cant let this one go because it’s simply a lie.

@yew_tree

I meant that we need our guys to be a bit tougher is all not necessarily dirty but tougher .

Murphy tackle on the Meath player was dirty to be honest .

Maybe it was the part on the head going unpunished, but in my experience and in my travels the Mayo people are as tough a bunch of bastards as what's out there. , might not start the row,but by Jasus well able to finish it...
This thing of Mayo teams being soft gets my blood boiling,I must admit and very disrespectful to the players.
You're not actually meant to run around for 70 minutes trying to decapitate lads ,like.

*patt

Clare we have plenty of “tough guys” I suggest you take a look at a few club games. The off the ball stuff in the Mayo v Dublin games in the past was happening by both sets of players in equal measure.

I hated when my club played against a club I won’t name and a now former Mayo player was getting up to all sorts of crap on and off the ball and getting away with it (county players and refs at club level is another debate) Nice guys don’t compete at the business end of inter county GAA.

@Yew_Teee

Fair enough.

Yes definetly the on / off stuff between Dubs and us was happening both sides .

That's what I mean nice guys don't compete at business end and we've not been at the business end since 21 . We've good players not saying otherwise .

Michael Murphy is a class act, no doubt about that, he has to be a bit ruthless to play the way he does, he fears nobody.
Mayo over the years were classed as lovely footballers, great style but lacking teak tough tackling & going in very hard to win 50/50 ball, no they were nice lads, unfortunately that frame of mind wins nothing. I'm a great believer in not backing down from any team or any fancy football player, get stuck in from the off, no mercy, + good skills, that has to be the mentality of Mayo footballers. Mick Lyons who played for Meath was a hard man, he controlled his area made sure those around him did the same, great full back.

Finding sam. I agree with you for most of it but negative play leads to negative results. Did we go after the kick out in the Hyde in the last play. No we didn't. We were happy with the draw. Louth nearly caught us. Cork did. Galway did. Dublin. Donegal. Derry. Trying to play keep ball. Absolute rubbish tactics by a big mate of mine

@Left boot

Well said you've said exactly what I've been trying to say .

I think keegan Boyle Barrett Vaughan the o sheas Andy Moran and the o Connor’s could all be described as teak tough..A lack of physicality certainly wasn’t the reason we didn’t get over the line .it was deficiencies in other areas that cost us in those finals with Dublin.The current team might lack that bite particularly around the middle of the field but over the years we have given as good as we got

In terms of M Murphy I think there is a difference between tough hard edged play, niggly off the ball pulling and dragging and then what I see, at times with Murphy, over the top dangerous nasty acts.

My two examples of this was a “tackle” on Diarmuid Connolly in 2014 that can only be described as a punch in the ribs, something he repeated this year in a match. The second “tackle” was on McBrien which could have left him with a severe concussion.

I’m not saying either Mayo players in past didn’t have some questionable acts with the two OConnors perhaps but I can’t recall tough competitors like SOS, Barrett, Boyle, AMoran throwing wild strokes. It’s a part of M Murphy’s game that seems to get overlooked because he’s such a generational talent

As for the sense on Donegal arrogance, I would say it’s Kerry that could be labelled and rightly so. They are the kingdom after all. I still resent Donegal for 2012 though so hoping for a draw and no winner of Sam this year

When I say toughness didn't get over the line I certainly don't mean the team of keagan ,barret , Higgins, Vaughan etc

I mean our team now . We have class players not saying otherwise at all .

I heard on a podcast Boyler goes do you think the likes of Chris Barrett would let a guy pat you on the head without a team mates reply ...

Do you think if keagan or any of us still there we wouldn't give a reaction to late tackle on Diarmuid O Connor v Galway..

I don't mean be nasty as in get a red or black card but give it back a bit.
Our great you g players learning but they will in time learn you need to giveif back sometimes

Clare I think I agree what you are saying about our current group. I don’t see an edge or toughness to them. Bar McBrien, ROD and AOS, there is a severe lack of what we are describing evident

Kevin Cassidy when he was booted out of Donegal in 2012, an issue was he revealed that the senior players at that time in Donegal agreed they had to get nastier. Cassidy broke the code of silence but it illustrated it’s a deliberate thing and can be added to your game

Kinda hidden in the GAA plus subscription under the tab 'extras' is all the old finals and lots of the semi finals. I've watched a lot of them back recently

Very ironically given Donegals reputation under Jim as very cynical Ulster, and us as choir boys seemingly, from watching the 2012 final back we were by far the most physical team that day. In the first half we must've had 3 times the fouls they had. Jim had them drilled not to foul or engage whatsoever.

We actually seemed to go away from that after as there wasn't near that physical edge in the 2013 game. Maybe Horan was spooked as we could easily have seen a red in 2012.

As for Diarmuid o'Connor and his relationship with Galway, plenty there surely stems from him breaking Paul Conroy's jaw, in 2018 I believe. Doubt he minds the odd strong shoulder now in what might posture as a very small percentage of retribution. These players have relationships even in inter county circles that none of us on the outside would understand or comprehend. Interpros, college, club challenges and sponsors days out

I don't think they come much tougher than McHugh,a real stickler for Mayo as a man marker.
Unfortunately winner write the history and everything they do is right in hindsight.
No tougher man than Cillian.

Throughout the country whether for club or county a player is either hard/tough and loved if he's one of yours or a dirty bastard and hated if he plays for the opposition. Human nature at work.

A lot of nonsense about Mayo not being tough. Do you think we would have gone toe to toe with Dublin if we had not been tough with a hard edge. Why do you think the dubs disliked us so much. It was because of our intensity both physical and mental. Read the comments from some Dublin players after the 2013 final, As regards Murphy a brilliant player and if he did hit a belt on a Meath fella big deal. I am sure Meath wouldn’t complain as they were the absolute masters of the dark arts. Cillian was more than well able to look after himself and a few others while he was at it. Mayo did not lose games because they were soft and lacked physicality. The present team is younger and may not have gained that hard edge yet, but it will come because they know they have no chance of winning anything without that toughness. David Clifford is the best footballer of this ( or possibly any other generation) but he is so well able to look after himself. As for supporters well there are idiots in all counties but fortunately most of them hide behind the keyboard as they hurl their abuse, Rarely at matches have I been subjected to any abuse from opposing supporters. They might have a go at one of our players or have a little dig at our unfortunate losses Galway fans back in the day telling PJ to show his AI medals but if that sort of thing upsets me then I wouldn’t go. The vast majority of match going fans are sound except for a minority who had a few pints too many. Even Cork supporters on Sunday were saying how sound Tipp supporters were after their collapse but when you trawled through social media you say the keyboard warriors laying in to them with a few jibes thrown in our direction for good measure.

If Kerry win, they retain or grow that arrogance of winners. Donegal never did back to back. Did ye hear about the Kerryman with an inferiority complex.. thought he was a Corkman. Keep Kerry down is my take, anything to dent their confidence for next year and for Jack IMO is good for Mayo. If Donegal win, what about it. We know we can beat them. If Kerry win hAts off but they’ll be very hard to dislodge.

Stephenite ! That conroy incident has really left a mark on you . You’ve highlighted it numerous times in here , you’re also very vocal on certain narratives that paint Mayo in a bad light . Is there a Stephenite club in Galway I’ve always wondered . Ummm

@Stephenite, With reference to the 2012final from memory am I right in saying during first half every ball that was kicked into mayo full forward line was won by a Donegal defender

@To win just once

I was not talking about the team that went toe toe with the Dubs not being tough . As I said it's the team we have now I meant that don't have that same toughness. Even Colm Boyle said on a podcast a while ago.

Though I put that down to lack of confidence which I hope whoever comes into the mayo job puts that back in them.

The nerves are shot.

Best of luck westkerry, hoping for and expecting a cracker, 24 hours out and I still can't call it. As is often the case it will be something absolutely nobody seem coming that will tip the scales.

Been tipping donegal since January but as the week draws on I'm flip flopping, i think diarmuid o'connor has to and will start for kerry which would be massive for ye as otherwise Langan could run amok.

Got a ticket so I'll be tipping in myself though it will be in Hill 16 with all the pissed up teenagers :-)

Good luck west kerry .

I'd love to have that nervous feeling back before a final day . Hopefully we get back there again soon .

I disagree on any lack of toughness. I think the perception stems from the ruthlessness needed to win an AI. Boyle may be correct that his team collectively have been a bit more physical but not much in it. More a case that they had more talents. I think plenty of present day players are tough, some borderline getting unnecessary cards. Lots of teams are tough but few are ruthless enough because few win. Ruthless doesn’t have to mean means and dirty, just that nothing will stop us attitude.

@Supermac, I'm looking for a ticket also, you are correct about that the young fellas and girls going to games now seem to have to carry the drinks around in their hands as they walk to Croker, it's a new type if fashion guess.

Good luck west Kerry , for what it’s worth I honestly think everyone has got this one wrong and if Kerry perform to their potential this could possibly be a drubbing . Kerry to win by 8 pts plus , Dylan geaney motm .

Kevin Keane
Ben Doyle
Oisin Moran
Conor McGraynor
Pat Lambert
Liam Shevlin
John Grady

Soen B team players for Westport in junior final.

Thanks folks,

Thanks for the kind words its really decent and kind and look it only reinforces my opinion of Mayo people that we have a lot in common on the wild Atlantic way.

Look i wint begrudge Donegal either ill take my beating if thats whats to come.

It's 50/50 I think, Kerry are favourites & rightly so, but that suits Donegal perfectly,
Jimmy will have a plan A & a plan B I'm sure, it will be a physical tough game alright, I hope no player gets a red card, it could spell disaster for either team, looking forward to the game & Donegal to win.

Left boot Kerry are even money , Donegal are 6/5 . That is the slightest of favs . The bookies can barely separate them . €50 on Kerry returns €100 , €50 on Donegal returns €110 .

Only one plan when playing Kerry in a final, hit them for scores early, get ahead and stay ahead, remember Kerry were behind in a few games this year, get in front and slow the game down as much as possible, possession etc.
A bit like Mayo's tactic v Donegal in the Hyde.

2 entertaining games in McHale park this evening, Andy Moran back in action? Ballaghaderreen to strong for Davitts in the first game.
Conor Moriarty who was kept quiet for the minors last week exploded into life start of second half with 3 quick goals I think.
Ballaghaderreen 4-11 v 0-09 Davitts

Westport despite having 11 players I think the pod said that have played county senior or underage came up 6 points short of Knockmore in the A final. High scoring game, both teams would be well able to compete with many of the teams in intermediate, and be strong additions to the junior competition.
Knockmore 3-18 v Westport 2-15

I would like to see Donegal win it but agree with Sean Burke if Kerry get into their stride they are looking at a 6+ win. All the pressure on Donegal...Kerry have played it smart. It's all about McGuinness when in fact O'Connor is simply streets ahead based on achievements todate.

I can't see past a Kerry win.
Donegal will put it up to them and you can be sure they will be sending high ball into Murphy but i think Kerry have the edge.
Kerry by 4.

I'm going for a Kerry win tomorrow.
In our formative years me and my buddies all wanted to emulate Matt Connor eventhough no affiation whatsoever to Offaly.
David Clifford is inspiring another group of youngsters all over the country now in the same way. I agree too there are some things about his game I'm not a fan of,but there's no doubting his football ability and I really enjoy watching his range of skills and I think again tomorrow he will be the difference.
Kerry by 4.

Good luck tomorrow west kerry. Great to see mikey sheehy and Ger power on up for the match

Enjoying Up For The Match as always.RTE is the home of GAA .Where would we be without them.

I think Kerry will pull away to win by 5 ir so and it will be the Clifford's show .

Just a few things on Jack O Connors finals at Senior level.

In 2004, met a weak Mayo team, beaten when the Gooch hit the net on 26 minutes into the 1st half.

Final of 2005, lost to a tough Tyrone team.

Again in 2006 beat a poor Mayo team.

In 09, beat a Cork team primarily on free kicks.

In 2011, beaten by the Dubs and left a concussed or injured player on the pitch late on, O Sullivan, he let McMenamin through on goal

In 2022, got 2 soft frees, I would say they were not frees at all, close to the Galway goals when the game was in the balance in the final 7 minutes.

We have heard so much bullshite from the media and former players this years, firstly they were building up Armagh as the best , then it was Galway and now it's Kerry and the golden boy D Clifford.

After the game today, hopefully we will see a Donegal win, and I stick by what I have been saying that Mayo are not that far away.

I hope the Referee has a good fair game.

Won't be as warm as it was in the semis which might suit Kerry. Can't see Donegal imploding like Armagh and, to be honest, fail to see how anyone thinks these guys aren't the real deal. Clifford, as brilliant as he is, won't get a moment to show his array of skills. He'll think he's getting examined by a proctologist if Murphy is assigned to unsettle him. May the best team win.

@Bate the blanket

I agree to still think we are not far off it. We just need the right manager and confidence back.

I really miss the buzz of us being in a final.

It's still a hard one to call but I'm sticking with kerry . The only thing is if kerry win it they might go on and win next year to where as I couldn't see Donegal doing back to back .

I think kerry will win today probably with a bit to spare in the end 6/8 points even...and there is more AL's in kerry after this.

I'm going for Donegal to win, the two Cliffords are great players no doubt about that & Seanie O Shea can be brilliant on his day but I think Donegal are a very well balanced team, the have fantastic footballers & if they all get really going at Kerry they will upset the favourites.

Amazing this is kerry's 69th AL final..with 38 wins...

I'll go Kerry by 4.

Mayo lost in 2004 and 2006 because we ignored the proven Tyrone blueprint of how to beat that Kerry team

Yes for some reason we’re not far away given how close we ran Donegal and beating Tyrone who were below 100%. That’s without a generational player like Kerry (Clifford), Armagh (Conaty will be), Tyrone (Canavan), Galway (Walsh), Donegal (Murphy) and Duns (Con O C) all have. Ryan O D has been one of the best forwards around the Country for a few seasons but that’s without enough supporting cast threat elsewhere to distract teams attention so the could focus on stopping him in 25. Also without the best tactic set. If Davitt Neary continues to improve, that will go a long way in 26. Nevertheless Kerry beat us by 6 in the League final and we’re good value for it. If we could find one or 2 of those (forwards) the outlook changes a lot. Kobe, Kuba (going by club stats), Dawson (2 footed) and Hurley and Beirne from the U20s.

Kerry are flying Donegal look like they have stage fright. Though things can change very quickly in 2nd half.

The Clifford's are some players.

And to think, some people didn't think 2 pointers all that important....

Congrats @west kerry !

@Gizmobobs

I know right ! Hope the new manager has our guys practising those 2 pointers 24 7 !!

Kerry were exceptional, particularly Paudie Clifford and Joe O’Connor. Truly deserving champions.

A very entertaining final. Kerry fully deserving champions. No team adapted to the new rules better than them. Paudi Clifford ran the game like a conductor and as for David,what more can be said. We are blessed to have him in this era.

What a team they are...high performance stuff almost every time from them. As a Mayo supporter for over 40 years, Jack OConnor and Kerry really sicken me!!! Why oh why some day can't it be us

Kerry not at full pelt over the 70 mins but still far better , why ! Because they have better footballers and they are tough cookies too . Well done to Kerry and I’ll enjoy my few quid winnings .

As a football fan I’m delighted that Kerry won today playing real football, a respectful team, who have manners and ability coming out their ears.
A team that don’t need psychological rubbish from McGuinness and his sort. Rubbish spouted from pundits including that tool from Derry residing in our own good county, all now back in their box. Where was Murphy? He looked his age today, anonymous…
You just have to applaud Kerry today, best team in the country.

Better team won. As the Mrs said to me just now, Jim Gavin made this possible after he ironically had to adjust his own brand of football thanks to Jim McGuiness in 2014. Well done Sean Burke, enjoy your winnings and congratulations to all Kerry fans. They'll be hard to stop now.

Someone in Donegal should see about their management not being up to speed with the new rules! Apart from the late goal, the two pointers were the difference on the scoreboard. Donegal didn’t try one. If that was Mayo…
Having said that, Kerry were much the better team, but ten to go, four down, that was the time for a two pointer.

Our sideline would be massacred if they did not man mark Paudie Clifford.
Best team won by a mile.

Congrats west Kerry ye were exceptional today and puts the one man team nonsense to bed .the angles of running create the two point opportunities and you have to have the players to execute.we are a long way off the level of performance Kerry produced today

2 pointers won the All Ireland, and thats why CB did the right thing in letting Kevin and Roch go they totally ignored it.New manager has to identify the best long range kickers for next season.

The myth of McGuiness really exposed today.
His defence, zonal defence found out badly.
To leave Paudie Clifford and Sean O Shea in marked and unchallenged in possession for 605mins is unforgivable.

Kerry never carries the ball into the zonal defence and Donegal couldn't get breakaway scores.

In fairness to Rochford, Kerry did exactly what Mayo did, except they had the shooters to punish Donegal.

The people on here who claimed that Mayo " aren't far away" because they ran Donegal to a point, got their answer today.

@observer 2

Donegal bottled it . We are not far away still stand by that .

Clifford's ran riot today fair play to them.

But we are not far off . Paddy durcan more game , Tommy C back with new rules , young talent coming up yes we are not far off..

Excited for 26

Ah come on Clare, surely we in Mayo have more class (and self-awareness) than to be throwing the bottlers jibe at teams that have just lost an All-Ireland final. As a Mayo person I never want to hear that term again, in any direction. Donegal did not bottle the final, they were well-beaten by a better team in the end.

Kerry are a class act, no doubt now about their huge talented players, what a display of absolute brilliance. The whole team were outstanding, well done Kerry. Hard luck Donegal. Kerry are back.

I think to bottle it you have to be in a position to win it,and then contrive somehow lose it.... Donegal were never in that position today in my estimation. Just the better team, playing to a better plan won out. Donegal can't complain about that outcome.
Could easily see a period of dominance ,80's style from Kerry now. Age profile is about right and unless Tyrone or someone else (hopefully us) slip in there and nick the odd one, there's plenty more to come whether under Jack or not.

Clare,

Once again, im not sure how you could look at that Kerry performance today and conclude 'we're not far off'.
The new rules just highlight we are miles off their level, where skills are king, 2 footed players are king, actual scoring forwards and ballwinning fielders are key. In which of those areas do you think we are not far off. kerry arr playing a different sport to us

@Supermac

Eh I mean obviously we are a good bit off kerry.

We're not far off the likes of Donegal , meath, Galway etc who made it to the semis .

Clare not far off means not being far off winning the championship .so you meant we are not far off Galway who lost to Meath in the quarter final and they in turn got annihilated by Donegal who then got hammered by Kerry