The GAA Thread

[therock67]

bandage said:

I watched the games today and am confused about the humbug/rangers bet. What exactly is it again? The ref played 2 minutes injury time and let the play go on for that amount of time so who wins? Does the fact that he didn't award a soft free to one team mean he was protecting the draw? Though he gave Mayo a free near the end of normal time I think it was a foul. Decent game but not at the same level of intensity that Dublin and Kerry (the last day) are operating at.

The basic bet is that:

If a live televised game finishes in a draw and the referee has blown his whistle earlier than the he is supposed to then Rangers wins. If the match ends in a draw and the referee ends it on time or late then Humbug wins one round. Humbug needs 3 of these in a row to win the bet overall if I recall correctly. By my reckoning he now has 2 in a row so the next draw will decide the bet.

[iamthelaw]

fockoffrangers said:

Out of the next three games which finish in a draw (hurling and football) I will bet you that at least one will be blown up at least 30 seconds before the stipulated time.

Terms of the bet, to save everyone flicking back 3 pages each week. Mayo-Laois definitely didn't end early (late if anything) so that's one for Humbug, and the fact that Cork-Kerry was blown up only 5 seconds early was unchallenged, so must be taken as another for Humbug. Rangers subsequently inserted the terms that the bet refers only to RTE live games, & that there must be three such games drawn in this year's Championship or the bet is void.

So to summarise, 2-0 to Humbug & the big question is whether there will be another draw in the 5 (presuming all are televised)remaining games.

i see rock got here before me, but I'm too lazy to take out the bits i'm repeating

[bandage]

cully said:

didn't watch any GAA over the weekend however all my mates reckon the dubs will pump whomever wins between laois and mayo, i said that laois have been playing well since losing in the leinster championship and if they beat mayo might test the dubs, and they scoffed at that. whilst i never claimed to know my GAA, surely a team who's beaten tyrone and meath should be some use, no ? is it all set up for an old firm final between the jacks and kerry?

Both Laois and Mayo play a very open style of football with all the emphasis on free flowing attacking play and they can both be quite loose in their marking and lack intensity in their tackling. I have no idea who’ll win that replay but Dublin should have too much physical power for both of them. It’s been remarked before but the fitness, strength and power of Dublin all over the park this year has been very impressive. Then they also have 4 or 5 scoring forwards to convert their domination of possession into scores. Think they would be 6 or 7 points better than either Laois or Mayo to be honest. Laois have resurrected their season very admirably but remember Meath aren’t the force of old and Tyrone were riddled with injuries.

[iamthelaw]

I'd be more worried about Laois. I'm not sure if one could term it a turning point, but I thought they were competing very well against Dublin until Padraig Clancy was injured. And he's back now, so I can't see them being cleaned out as badly again by the Dublin midfield as they were then.

Whereas I don't think Mayo would have as much clean possession against Dublin as they did on Saturday, and it wasn't enough for them to win then.

(just waiting for WOW to rubbish my GAA knowledge)

[whyohwhy]

cully said:

is it all set up for an old firm final between the jacks and kerry?

Old School if it happens, natures proper order, imo. Would be a savage day out. Kerry to win though!!

Would Dublin suffer by not having been tested really so far in the championship, a handy leinster crown, facile victory over Westmeath, should have too much for either Laois/Mayo.

It happened Kerry last year, never tested until we met Tyrone in the final, and they were after 9 (or so) tough matches. We just couldnt up the intensity when required in the second half of the final. The Armagh match last week, will stand to Kerry, but would Dublin suffer from a lack of a proper 70 minute tight competitive match, if they made the final?

Law, i'd never rubbish anyones GAA knowledge

[therock67]

I think people are making alot of the quality of opposition Dublin have faced so far, but I don't see that much better in Kerry's run other than Armagh. I think Dublin have the trickier semi-final opposition to be honest.

Maybe if it was a flaky Dublin team of old I'd have concerns but these lads are looking supremely fit and strong so they'll be up for a battle and well able for it. As I said near the beginning of this thread a father of mine met Paul Clarke (selector) before the Longford game and he said the intensity they were training at was something else and he was sure they'd go all the way. I think that has stood to them because guys like Shane Ryan are taking on a whole new lease of life as real powerhouse runners with the ball.

[whyohwhy]

admin said:

I think people are making alot of the quality of opposition Dublin have faced so far, but I don't see that much better in Kerry's run other than Armagh. I think Dublin have the trickier semi-final opposition to be honest.

Maybe if it was a flaky Dublin team of old I'd have concerns but these lads are looking supremely fit and strong so they'll be up for a battle and well able for it. As I said near the beginning of this thread a father of mine met Paul Clarke (selector) before the Longford game and he said the intensity they were training at was something else and he was sure they'd go all the way. I think that has stood to them because guys like Shane Ryan are taking on a whole new lease of life as real powerhouse runners with the ball.

Fair enough, but my point is, they still havent been tested, Kerry were and came up with the goods in the second half against Armagh. Even 1 test is better than none, rock!

[therock67]

I agree with you to a certain extent - it's not ideal for Dublin. I jut think certain sections of the media are making a bit too much of it. I'd be more worried if they'd struggled past their opponents so far. They've played against weaker opposition and have beaten them comfortably on each occassion (other than the first game). I would worry for Cahill against Donaghy though - he hasn't had anyone like that to play against so far and he's not a natural full back.

[whyohwhy]

admin said:

I agree with you to a certain extent - it's not ideal for Dublin. I jut think certain sections of the media are making a bit too much of it. I'd be more worried if they'd struggled past their opponents so far. They've played against weaker opposition and have beaten them comfortably on each occassion (other than the first game). I would worry for Cahill against Donaghy though - he hasn't had anyone like that to play against so far and he's not a natural full back.

True the media do hype it up, it was like when Kerry won a 'weak' all-ireland in 2004 (against a poor Mayo), you can only beat whats put in front of you!

The only way to counteract Donaghy is either stop the supply of ball or have an equally tall full back! His aerial skill is mainly down to his basketball. Noel Garvan for Laois did well enough yesterday (seemed on sunday game anyway) in the full forward position but didnt cause the havoc Donaghy has in the last 2 kerry games.

[whyohwhy]

No changes on Kerry team for match on Sunday, Mike Frank is lucky that Bryan Sheehan fooked up his ankle or he would have been dropped.

Billy Morgan has got a touchline ban too for his pitch encroachments against Mayo! But i'm sure that fucknut Frank Murphy will find some legal loophole to get Billy out of it

[captainshan]

Can you imagine the gga heads having one fuckin thread these days.