Kerry GAA discussion thread #2

Fair enough. Your posts came across like you were moaning so I'll apologise and take em at face value.

I've already mentioned an alternative. Dublin should be required to renovate PP. You're much better off making them play at the county ground instead of removing the all Ireland final out of croke park.

Don't think it was me with the weather. Its the same for both teams so not really worth mentioning.

It did make sh!te of the 1st half tho and both teams lost possession more than once because of it. We all want to see the final on a nice summers day but the players need to adapt too. But sure look, as I said it's the same for both teams so fek it.

D Clifford has to an extent so does Paudie. Can see it in D o Connor at times, thats about it really. One player who really needs it is Sean o Shea

I agree. Captaincy doesn't matter either way.

You'll have different characters in every dressing room.

Vocal and experienced older lads, shy and quiet young fellas and everything in between.

Excellent points. But people will still flog those points to the death just to keep the argument that the final must be played in Croker.

That Dublin team were just a little bit better than us on Sunday. And I'd argue that just a little was a combination of experience, mental toughness and confidence, not footballing abilities. And I wonder how much of the former three were impacted by home advantage, the two point margin at the death perhaps?

I'm well aware that sporting victories depend on inches. Which is why I'd be a stickler for fairness. I'm happy to be accused of sour grapes and all sorts but I still stick to my opinion.

I agree but I think we've a good backline and structure for the foreseeable future.

At the 51st minute we led by 3 points.

After that we had 12 attacks and scored 2 points.

Dublin had 10 attacks and scored 7.

That's the story of the game. We malfunctioned.

We only needed to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

It's hard to pin down why exactly but collectively as a team, we lots our heads a little. If we played with more composure and worked the ball into a good scoring position, we'd have won comfortably enough.

I agree though that other teams seem to come by scores easier and we've to work hard for them or rely on magic from Clifford.

His speed off the mark and his stride is heavy-laden and labored, he only scored one point from play also in the final. He doesn't work at full-forward either. He is a one-trick pony with his free-taking. We need more movement & cohesion in our forward play and I don't see S o' Shea being an asset for that to happen. Blood in Barry Dan at full-forward and Donal Down in the corner for the League games until they get battle-hardened.

Against the stronger teams he puts in a big defensive shift so appears to disappear from games but in reality he's playing as a 3rd midfielder. If you watch him, he filters back to the D protecting the scoring zone.

I think our attacking patterns aren't getting the best out of him. Geaney neither. Both are good kickers from distance off either foot. Why aren't they coming around on the loop for kicking points!?

Even David Clifford has too work too hard for scores. Maybe the top teams defensive system prevents it.

Barry Dan doesn't have the pace for midfield so take a chance with him at FF to see what happens. Dwyer had to bring in Liston and Jack had to bring in Donaghy at FF, both were not pacy either. Clifford ,Geaney & O'Shea are not FF's and are better in other positions. Donal Down can drop a shoulder and go past a man like K Spillane can and has sharp feet. S o' Shea needs to work on his speed & conditioning and has time on his side to do it. P Clifford is way better than him for sure atm. As said earlier we need a forwards coaches to come in to recify the problem, ex players like M Sheehy,M Fitzgerald & D Murphy are not the answer. Go outside the county if need be!! Jack o Connor is a good organizer for sure but he needs more experts like Paddy Tally with him.

No way Fitzmaurice...he should have been gone after the final in 2015. He got a lucky AI in 2014 and was hyped up to the max after it. We need to scour the country for an attacking coach if need be. Our forwards including D Clifford must be coached in how to kick scores under pressure. Leave Barry Dan up front and let D Clifford track back as I think Clifford has the brain to create & make something happen anywhere on the pitch. We need to try that in the League. Okunbar is a worry injury wise but when fit he is a good option for midfield or the half-back line. When Donaghy came on in the 2015 final he caused havoc in the Dublin defence as did Tommy Walsh in the 2019 drawn game. Geaney Clifford & S o Shea are tall men who can field yet no high ball delivered into them when it was one on one...

David Clifford looked very pumped up before match in the pre match warm up, it was obviously a very emotional day for him and his family. I can remember as well when Darragh o se was captain was it 2005 but he didn't have a good final and kerry lost on the day Darragh tried too hard and to do too much. Football in the last decade has gone to very fine margins and a game can swing from one way to another they are still some Galway lads talking about that free in kilean Spillane got in last years final and it swong the game to Kerrys favour, kerry ladies are up next Sunday hopefully they can do it.

Which is why this captaincy lark has to change. Shane Ryan is the only one I can see being captain in the current set up. D o Connor would be ideal but he needs to impose his game more, hopefully next year he will. Very fine margins indeed as one mistake can prove fatal in the modern game but what really killed us last sunday was our composure in front of the posts.