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A Change of Harte - GAA 2021

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    #26
    A bit of shadowboxing this afternoon, as one suspects Kerry are significantly closer to their Championship line-up than Dublin, but should be entertaining, none the less.

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      #27
      Finishes as a draw in the end - Kerry were very exposed defensively in the first half, not going man-to-man, and Dublin took full advantage, racking up a 3-6 to 0-9 advantage. TBF, after switching to a high pressing game, the Kingdom came much more into the game, levelling the scores before conceding a reckless penalty, but then Philly McMahon obliged by doing likewise, and the points were shared.

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        #28
        Crowds could be admitted to Irish stadia by the end of June, starting off at 5% capacity, and building up to 25-30k for the All-Ireland finals.

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          #29
          https://twitter.com/GAALeagueTables/status/1398667756111896578

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            #30
            Wicklow's stay in the third tier likely to be brief, I can't see them getting anything out of Cavan.

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              #31
              Dramatic end to Division One North, as both games end in late draws - unless Kerry switch off altogether away to Roscommon tomorrow, they are likely to play Tyrone, with Galway/Dublin (surely Dublin) meeting Donegal:

              https://twitter.com/GAALeagueTables/status/1398734516777361410

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                #32
                Taoiseach Michael Martin's son in goal today for the Cork senior side against Clare

                Comment


                  #33
                  Kildare, rather predictably, hammered Laois to reach the Division Two semis against Meath, but the drama came in the other tie, where Cork narrowly defeated Clare by a point, but the latter qualified on score difference to meet Mayo, while the Rebels should overcome Westmeath to avoid relegation. Meanwhile, either Laois or Down will make the drop to Division Three.

                  Comment


                    #34
                    Both games were tighter than might have been anticipated, but ultimately Kerry will play Tyrone and Donegal will meet Dublin. Armagh should defeat Roscommon in the relegation playoff, but Galway v Monaghan will be a close call. In Division Four, Louth and Antrim defeated Sligo and Leitrim respectively, and will play Carlow and Waterford in the promotion playoffs.

                    Comment


                      #35

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                        #36
                        Sadly, can't see elguapo's post, but presumably he was saying that Kilkenny have won their League group. In the other section, neither Waterford nor Limerick can finish top, but Tipp, Cork and Galway all have the potential to do so. Laois will meet Westmeath, as widely predicted pre-season, in a relegation playoff, while Offaly will return to the top-flight after winning Division 2A.

                        Comment


                          #37
                          It was a joke from the interweb, based on Gerry Adam's attendance at Antrim's draw with Wexford yesterday. Speaking of which, Antrim have had an excellent season so far.

                          Comment


                            #38
                            A shock result from Aughrim, where Wicklow deservedly triumph over Cavan, relegating the current Ulster champions to Division Four for 2022, while Cork survive in the second tier after a six-point victory against Westmeath. At 5, the first Division One semi begins with Kerry facing Tyrone, with Donegal playing Dublin later - due to the Championship structures, the only way a League final would be held is if Tyrone and Dublin both win.

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                              #39
                              My boss is a long term Wicklow fan ( yes there are such things) and he's obviously delighted.

                              Comment


                                #40
                                It has been expected to be a very tight game, with Kerry perhaps edging things by a point or two, but as it turned out, they absolutely blitzed Tyrone in the first half, scoring a scarcely credible five goals. Moreover, they maintained the pressure in the second half, and continued to play excellent football, winning by 16 points (6-15 to 1-14). Gavin White's major was a personal favourite:

                                https://twitter.com/officialgaa/status/1403749779943919624

                                Comment


                                  #41
                                  Terrific finish, Morgan seemed to be very slow getting back though.

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                                    #42
                                    The Division One relegation playoff between Monaghan and Galway has unexpectedly gone to extra-time, Galway were 2-12 to 0-13 ahead with 65 minutes played, and Monaghan hadn't scored since the 50th, but revived with a late 1-3, and normal time finished 2-13 to 1-16.

                                    Ups and downs so far:

                                    Division One:

                                    Co-champions: Kerry, Dublin
                                    Relegated: Roscommon, Galway/Monaghan

                                    Division Two:

                                    Promoted: Kildare, Mayo
                                    Relegated: Laois, Westmeath

                                    Division Three:

                                    Promoted: Derry, Offaly
                                    Relegated: Cavan, Tipperary

                                    Division Four:

                                    Promoted: Antrim, Louth

                                    Galway finished top of hurling's D1A and any Leinster championship meeting with Kilkenny will double up as a League final.

                                    Comment


                                      #43
                                      Galway relegated after Monaghan score in the third minute of injury-time in extra time.

                                      Comment


                                        #44
                                        Where usually the Championship season conveniently fills the three month lacuna between soccer seasons, the delay due to the pandemic meant that the 2021 throw-in occurs tomorrow in both codes.

                                        Munster SFC:

                                        Kerry v Clare:


                                        While traditionally the Banner County have gone under the radar in such encounters, their spirited Division Two displays against Kildare, Cork and Mayo and the scoring rate of David Tubridy (now the leading all-time NFL scorer) has ensured that the Kingdom will be forewarned of their potential. Kerry's defence remains their glaring Achilles heel, with six goals conceded in their four games to date, however 13 scored highlights their Championship potential, and having remained unbeaten in the Championship at home since 1995, start as firm favourites.

                                        Limerick v Waterford:

                                        The Déise have traditionally been the weakest football team on the island of Ireland, with the exception of Kilkenny, and their league form, where they beat Wexford, but lost to Kilkenny and Antrim, suggests little improvement in that ranking. Billy Lee has improved Limerick in recent years, only just failing to win promotion to Division Two, and they should have little difficulty here.

                                        Connacht SFC:

                                        Mayo v Sligo:


                                        On the 70th anniversary of their last title success, Mayo's Sisyphean quest to regain Sam resumes in seemingly routine fashion. The All-Ireland finalists will be without Cillian O'Connor due to injury, but even this should matter little against a side who made little impression in the bottom tier last month.

                                        Ulster SFC:

                                        Down v Donegal:


                                        The Tír Chonaill men have been quietly impressive over the last month, giving exhilarating attacking displays against fellow Ulster opponents in the League, and pushing Dublin for long spells of their encounter. Down were in a rather tough section with Mayo and Meath in Division Two, and while the province is known for its upsets, little suggests that the home side are capable of progressing here.

                                        Leinster SFC:

                                        Offaly v Louth:


                                        Memories of the Noughties here, as John Maughan goes head to head with Mickey Harte. Both have already achieved success this season, claiming promotion from Divisions Three and Four, though the Faithful claimed more notable scalps in the form of Munster champions Tipperary, among others.

                                        Carlow v Longford:

                                        Not exactly a high-profile clash here, though the home side boast arguably the greatest inter-county nickname in "The Scallion Eaters". Not much to choose form-wise, though Longford have traditionally been stronger.

                                        Wicklow v Wexford:

                                        No Paul Galvin for the away side, as his coaching stint ended during the Covid period, and the Model County finished bottom of the entire League this season, Wicklow are always formidable in their Aughrim redoubt, and for once start as strong favourites to book a QF tie against the Dubs.

                                        Comment


                                          #45
                                          Leinster SHC:

                                          Dublin v Antrim:


                                          An intriguing quarter-final in prospect - last season, Antrim were in the second-tier Joe McDonagh Cup, and struggled to beat Kerry in the final, but have since defeated Clare and drawn with Wexford in Division One of the hurling league. Dublin have far more experience at playing at the top level, but I'll tip the Saffrons to cause an upset tomorrow.

                                          Laois v Wexford:

                                          Cheddar Plunkett remains in charge of the midlanders, but they had a season to forget this spring, losing all their League matches, precipitating a relegation playoff against Westmeath. Despite a Covid outbreak, Wexford finished second in the same group, and should win comfortably here.

                                          Munster SHC:

                                          Waterford v Clare:


                                          As ever with the Munster Championship, any team can triumph on any given day, and both have had similar form going into this encounter - home advantage may well swing it to the Déise, however.

                                          Comment


                                            #46
                                            Sadly, nothing shocking to report from Day One - Mayo, expectedly, put Sligo to the sword, winning by 20 points in Markievicz Park, Kerry were similarly comfortable victors over Clare by 17, though a David Clifford muscle strain will give minor grounds for concern, and Limerick, more surprisingly, had 18 points to spare over Waterford. Even the hurling offered little competitiveness, as Dublin had an 18-point margin over Antrim, and Wexford eased to a 20-point win over Laois.

                                            Comment


                                              #47
                                              Donegal easily take care of Down,although Michael Murphy going off with a hamstring strain* will worry the northerners.

                                              Time to change the thread title, as Mickey Harte's Louth go out early to a resurgent Offaly.

                                              Wexford win the dubious right to host the Dubs after overcoming Wicklow, in their first Championship win since 2014.

                                              * Michael Murphy has to be the oldest looking 31 year old since Prince Charles.

                                              Comment


                                                #48
                                                And after this weekend's fixtures, we'll be down to only 18 teams left in the hunt for Sam, with almost half the field left kicking their heels until February.

                                                Ulster SFC QFs:

                                                Monaghan v Fermanagh:

                                                The northern province has been going through somewhat of a decline in competitive standards recently, and while the home side should prove far too good here, they will struggle to match Donegal or Tyrone later.

                                                Armagh v Antrim:

                                                The Orchard County impressed in their Division One campaign, unlucky to reach the last four, and are likely to overwhelm the only Ulster county in Division Four before their promotion this season.

                                                Connacht SFC SF:

                                                Galway v Roscommon:

                                                In terms of national rankings, this is ostensibly match of the day, with two top-tier sides going head to head on Sunday. However, both were rather tamely relegated last month, the Tribesmen dramatically relinquishing their advantage in the final five minutes of normal time, and though Galway are tipped to prevail, they're unlikely to trouble Mayo in a Connacht decider.

                                                Leinster SFC QFs:

                                                Dublin v Wexford:


                                                With the Model County causing the only minor shock of the first round last weekend, it left the seven-in-a-row chasers facing the team who finished bottom of the League pyramid. The major question here is whether Stephen Cluxton will continue for another season, and that will be answered closer to throw-in.

                                                Offaly v Kildare:

                                                Arguably the most intriguing tie of the weekend, with the Faithful's Gaelic team showing their best consistency for 10-15 seasons, while the Lilywhites made a quick return to Division One, despite an early hiccup against Clare. On paper, it should be a Kildare win, but this would seem to have the best shock potential of all the games previewed here.

                                                Longford v Meath:

                                                The Royals pivotal defeat to Kildare in the promotion play-off was rather overshadowed by "spit-gate", where Andy McEntee accused a Kildare player of spitting on full-back Conor McGill, whose reaction caused him to be sent off. No such drama is likely here, and Meath are unlikely to have much trouble in their progression to the semis.

                                                Westmeath v Laois:

                                                Truly the "slow bicycle race" of the province here, as both sides were relegated pointless from their Division Two sections. That said, the Maroons were far more competitive in their fixtures, and get the nod here.

                                                Comment


                                                  #49
                                                  8,000 (10% capacity) can attend today's Leinster hurling semis - 25% capacity would have offered ample social distancing and a greater test of conditions, but it's a start at least.

                                                  Leinster SHC SFs:

                                                  Dublin v Galway:


                                                  The capital side have been rather going through the motions since their 2011 provincial final success, and while they did mount a famous comeback against Kilkenny last year, it's hard to see Galway stumbling here.

                                                  Wexford v Kilkenny:

                                                  Every year the question of Brian Cody's tenure comes more and more under the spotlight, and while they have qualified for a League final, they only played one Munster team in their section, and lost fairly comfortably. Wexford themselves have blown hot and cold, and while they could upset the odds here, the Cats should progress.

                                                  Munster SHC:

                                                  Tipperary v Clare:


                                                  The Banner County have the "advantage" of an extra fixture, although that was easily the worst Munster hurling game of the last decade. Tipp, accordingly, haven't played in three weeks, but look to have a narrow edge.

                                                  Limerick v Cork:

                                                  On paper, this looks like a mismatch, with the champions of 2018 and 2020 meeting a side who have been consistently inconsistent, to put it mildly. That said, league form favours the Rebels, who will be dependent on their star player, Pádraig Horgan, but bridging the Championship gap appears beyond them.

                                                  Comment


                                                    #50
                                                    Major shock in Croke Park today, as the Dublin hurlers reach the Leinster final, defeating Galway by 1-18 to 1-14, but did they have some international help!

                                                    https://twitter.com/conorkennedy99/status/1411318160070950928
                                                    Last edited by Discordant Resonance; 03-07-2021, 15:04.

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