Gaa 2013

Watched the full Tyrone game from yesterday. Easily Cavanagh's best performance in years. Also, Brolly has gotten to just be a comedy act.
 
Big Papi said:
If Cavanagh had not scored that point that secured the 2-pt win, I'd be winning the prediction comp in work by all of 9pts! Instead, I'm 60 pts down.

I think Cavan are the weakest of the bunch. They last reached a semifinal in 1997, where they were beaten by Kerry, haven't won it since 1952. In recent years, their Qualifier performances have been abject - losing to shit teams or getting hammered by respectable teams. I predicted them to win all their matches so far this year, but will not be doing so next weekend.

I think Donegal are struggling. Laois were back to two having let them drift ahead and a couple of missed chances could have levelled us up yesterday. Mayo are an unknown as they have faced no-one substantial but they won't be short of motivation after last year's final. It will be a battle of weary, battle-hardened Donegal and fresh, untested Mayo.

Cork struggled over Galway, who I didn't rate too much. I think Galway will improve over the next year or so and will be back in the semis but this year, they were weak. Cork were poor in Munster and although they won a 'lucky' All Ireland in 2010, they never drove on from that. I can see Dublin walloping them in front of a big crowd in Croker.

Tyrone and Monaghan is the hardest to call. Tyrone kind of look like their old selves again. Monaghan surprised most people with thpowerful display against Donegal. STG, did Monaghan celebrate this win or was it a case of being a step towards Sam. I know Westmeath went doolally in 2004 and week's later, they were still celebrating it. This is definitely the match of the weekend. I love Tyrone's mixture of brawn and brain, coupled with the heartaches incurred by the teams, going back to McGirr in 1997. I've seen them as a mouthy team, they just get on with it. I'd love to see them win one more before the core of the team is gone. I just cannot call this yet - I may put down a draw.
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Apparently a few drinks Sun night, then a tour of main towns, on Monday, for customary civic reception. Back training Tuesday evening!
 
Get your ticket yet? Getting mine now, not many left on ticketmaster, or are you getting them through the club?
 
I have no car at the weekend so if I go I'll have to get the train from Sligo to HQ and then try to nab a lift to Cavan/Monaghan so I can meet the missus.

Are you driving up STG? If so I may be begging for a lift with you if you go anywhere near Cootehill Shercock direction. I can get picked up anywhere withing half an hour from there.
 
Jesus, there's feck all tickets left. A few under the big screen at the hill. Would a Tyrone man survive in there??
 
Ah yeah since Tyrone are playing Monaghan and not the Dubs. Once you're sensible during the Dublin match you'll be grand.

There were a good few around section 711 and 322 a few hours ago. None left there, no?
 
Yeah but I'm not a fan of the skyscraper seats and I always liked the terrace.

Also, I'd love to be on the hill during a Dublin game for the experience. I'd be up for Dublin if anything during that game and wouldn't be mouthing anyway.
 
Nah Dude, I stopped going when we won the last one. The drive was killing me, and I get too much stick if I just turn up in the later stages.
 
Right. It's a pisser living down this neck of the woods and trying to go to Tyrone games. My brother used to go with me but he's done with it and now if I go I either go on my own or bring the kids. Croker's a long way to go to stand watching a game on my own and it's a pain trying to get tickets beside anyone travelling from home.
 
Aye, I hear you. Them few latter stage hammerings/capitulations (Mayo, Cork, Kerry) before we won it made the drive back to Easkey very fecking long. They wore me down man. I was 6'4" in 2007.
 
Irwynwastheking said:
I have no car at the weekend so if I go I'll have to get the train from Sligo to HQ and then try to nab a lift to Cavan/Monaghan so I can meet the missus.

Are you driving up STG? If so I may be begging for a lift with you if you go anywhere near Cootehill Shercock direction. I can get picked up anywhere withing half an hour from there.
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Heading up from Galway, on hols, so making w/end out of it....... some decent Monaghan person will take pity on ya after the game & give you a lift
 
Already the best hurling championship in years and years. If the three remaining games are as tight as they look on paper it could be the best ever.
 
Yeah, I can't wait for the Dublin-Donegal final, hopefully it'll be even better than the epic '11 semi...
 
Donegal won't get within an arses roar of the final IMO and unless you believe all the shite Spillane and Brolly say this has been a semi decent championship with some of the qualifiers being good games.

As per usual the real business starts now when it gets to 8 teams which funnily is more than the hurling really even starts with. ;)
 
Yeah I actually reckon Dublin-Mayo but I came across that match on youtube earlier and wanted to get a mention of it in.
 
Huge weekend. Still cannot call the Monaghan-Tyrone game.

PP odds to reach the semis:
Kerry 1/8, Dublin 2/7, Tyrone 4/11, Mayo 4/7, Donegal 5/4, Monaghan 15/8, Cork 9/4, Cavan 9/2.

I can understand that Kerry & Dublin are favourites....but by so much? I thought Tyrone/Monaghan would be much closer.
 
The cousin (who was on the Monaghan panel at the start of the year) sent me a text earlier about a bet he's done. Monaghan, Dublin, Kerry and Donegal @ 12/1. He always gets giddy about Monaghan's chance every year. I told him to go away and have a lie down for himself.
 
nahealai said:
The cousin (who was on the Monaghan panel at the start of the year) sent me a text earlier about a bet he's done. Monaghan, Dublin, Kerry and Donegal @ 12/1. He always gets giddy about Monaghan's chance every year. I told him to go away and have a lie down for himself.
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Good chance that bet will come up man. I think we'll struggle badly against Monaghan.
 
Irwinwastheking said:
Getting excited now about this weekend.
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Same. Heading in both days. Reckon it'll be Dublin, Tyrone, Kerry and Mayo in the semis. All the favourites, I know, but I don't really fancy Monaghan against Tyrone. Donegal v Mayo will obviously be very close and is a tough one to call.
 
Monaghan v Tyrone a very hard call. Still, I just feel our lads will be "gunning" for Tyrone, just to put "that hoodoo" to bed.

Therefore, I have done 2 bets with PP which I feel are outstanding odds (should be shorter), Monaghan = win 2/1. & Monaghan to win H/T+F/t =5/1.
 
As a small aside, looking at the Ulster SFC:

Nordie3 - 59titles
Nordie6 - 56titles

The last time Nordie6 led was in 1917, when they were 10-9 ahead. They drew level in 2010 before Nordie3 pulled away again. The largest lead was 29, in 1949.

Cavan & Monaghan (32 years) won all the titles from 1914-1945. Connacht's longest duopoly was Galway/Mayo (14) from 1929-1942. Munster has Cork/Kerry (56) from 1936-1991. Leinster had 15 years Dublin/Offaly 1971-1985.
 
We had the small matter of Brits to contend with since 1920 where-as the free-staters could skip and play in a carefree manner ever since.

Also, Cavan were a phenomenon up to the 60's. Take that record out and the 3 are very short of numbers.
 
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