ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL 2011

[mario]

First time since 1995 that dublin are playing in the final, a sell out crowd of over 80,000 people are expected, come on the dubs

[mario]

ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL 2011

The 12th meeting of these sides in an All-Ireland final promises to be an intriguing affair, writes S?amus Leonard.
There has been much talk of the rivalry between these sides that reached its zenith in the 1970s and 1980s, but the familiarity that existed between the counties back then is not an issue today.

More importantly, the competitiveness which elevated the clashes of yesteryear to legendary encounters has not been a feature for a long time. Dublin could, and probably should, have beaten Kerry in the 2001 All-Ireland quarter final, but Maurice Fitzgerald's famous sideline earned the Kingdom a replay which they subsequently won.

That is as close as the Dubs have come to toppling the Munster giants since their last Championship win over them in 1977. Kerry are unbeaten in nine games between the two since then, including a comprehensive 1-24 to 1-07 win in the 2009 quarter-final.

But that is all history and Dublin, like Armagh and Tyrone before them, must put Kerry's past aside and deal with the Kingdom side that faces them.

Easier said than done. While there are question marks over Kerry up to and including midfield, few have any qualms about a forward division which includes Darran and Declan O'Sullivan, Kieran Donaghy and Colm Cooper. Manager Jack O'Connor even has the luxury of having 2009 Footballer of the Year Paul Galvin to introduce off the bench.

The Finuge clubman made an immediate impact when he was brought on against Mayo in the semi-final, and O'Connor no doubt hopes Galvin can repeat the trick if necessary on Sunday.

Kerry's backline has an unusually high average age, with five of the named starters over the age of 30. But with those old legs come wise heads, and the experience of winning four Sam Maguires since 2004 should compensate for any lack of pace.

But pace is not an attribute Dublin lack, and Pat Gilroy's charges have the physicality to back it up. Chastened by that heavy loss to Kerry in his first season in charge, Gilroy wasted no time in getting his men as fit as they could be and as difficult to beat as possible.

Whatever happens on Sunday, a repeat of the 2009 trouncing is not on the cards.

Dublin have matured nicely under Gilroy's stewardship. In previous years, qualification for an All-Ireland decider would have been the spark for a wave of euphoria across the capital. But the build-up to this decider has been decidedly low-key, which will take nothing away from the spectacle but is really helping to take the pressure off Dublin.

The manner of the win over Donegal in the semi-final also played its part. It would be hard to make a case for the Dubs winning the All-Ireland if you took that game in isolation. In the Metropolitans' defence, however, they were confronted with the most defensive game plan in GAA history and still managed to eke out a result.

And they will have learned a huge amount about themselves in that game. They will be disappointed that it took them so long to figure out that supporting the man in possession was the key to breaking down Donegal, but the fact they never panicked and survived the dismissal of Diarmuid Connolly must have reinforced belief in the camp that they can go all the way.

Dublin have named an unchanged XV, meaning they will have a very settled side but with plenty of options off the bench.

Kerry will be aware of the danger of Alan and Bernard Brogan and Connolly (if he can keep his temper in check), so the Dubs will need others to step up and carry some of the scoring burden.

Kevin McManamon contributed significantly when he came on as a substitute against Donegal, and Gilroy will hope the St Jude's clubman's direct style can do for them what Galvin is likely to do for Kerry.

Hunger has been touted as a possible deciding factor, but neither of these sides would be where they are if they lacked desire. Both sides have strengths and weaknesses and it will all come down with who performs better on the day.

Conventional wisdom suggests you have to lose an All-Ireland final before you win one. Armagh and Tyrone didn't adhere to that philosophy, but the Dubs might have to.

[mario]

ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL 2011

Zenstyle;1178788 wrote: Up the Dubs!!!!!!! (I'm the Ambassador for the Army Sports Support System!) :H

:l:l:l:l:l I love Army sports support systems

[mario]

ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL 2011

COME ON DUBLIN

[Tabbers (a.k.a. KTAB)]

ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL 2011

Is there a game on today then?

[mario]

ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL 2011

Just a little one mr ktab.

Whats your call ?

[Tabbers (a.k.a. KTAB)]

ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL 2011

Heart says Dublin after so many years, head says Kerry. Really could be any score today, difficult to predict.

[mario]

ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL 2011

My heart says Dublin,head says Kerry but the problem is my heart is in my mouth.

[mario]

ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL 2011

Dublin have won the all Ireland final.To say i am happy is an understaement.

[mario]

ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL 2011

RT? Sport: GAA - Cluxton the hero as Dublin win All-Ireland

[mario]

ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL 2011

Sunday, 18 September 2011 20:16


Goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton converted a winning free in stoppage time to give Dublin their first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title since 1995.

Dublin came from behind to edge out Kerry by 1-12 to 1-11 in a tense and exciting encounter at Croke Park.

Colm Cooper slotted home a superb 19th-minute goal, but two points each from the Brogan brothers helped Dublin to a 0-06 to 1-02 interval lead.



Kerry were four points ahead when substitute Kevin McManaman scored a 64th-minute goal for Dublin.

And in a gripping finish, Cluxton kept his cool to make history as the first goalkeeper to score an All-Ireland final winner.

The Jacks are back, roared the banner on Hill 16, and Pat Gilroy's side finally emerged from the shadows to revisit the Promised Land.

They did it in a manner befitting the steel and courage of which Gilroy has constructed his team over the past three years of toil, turbulence, torment and ultimate triumph.

This was one of the most gripping Sam Maguire Cup deciders of the modern era, a game that appeared to be heading inevitably in the direction of yet another Kerry success.

But the Dubs dug deep, and staged a resounding finish to rescue a dearly held cause and score a remarkable win, and a 23rd title, in front of their delirious supporters in a heaving Croke Park.

In front of a crowd of 82,300, Declan O'Sullivan's early fisted point was Kerry's only score of the opening 18 minutes, their danger men squeezed out of the game by the intensity of Dublin's foraging, chasing and tackling.

It took the Dubs 10 minutes to get their opening score, an Alan Brogan finish from brother Bernard's assist.

And it was the elder Brogan who shot Dublin in front in the 15th minute, punishing defensive hesitancy to thump over from 40 metres.

But the Kingdom struck for a goal in the 19th minute. Darran O'Sullivan sliced through the Dublin defence with electrifying pace, off-loaded to Cooper, and the Kerry skipper beat Stephen Cluxton with a sublime finish, planted in the corner of the net with power and precision.

Barry Cahill's direct running gave Bernard Brogan the opportunity to get his opening score from a free, and Alan fired in a shot on goal, only to be denied by a stunning Brendan Kealy save.

Kieran Donaghy, having moved to full forward after starting at midfield, was also denied a goal by Cian O'Sullivan's courageous block, but Donaghy's departure from the central area helped Dublin gain the upper hand, and they swept forward for Cluxton to convert a 50-metre free, his 11th point of the championship.

They pushed further ahead with two Bernard Brogan efforts, as Kerry were held scoreless for 15 minutes until Paul Galvin - in as a sub after 24 minutes - found the target.

Dublin led by 0-06 to 1-02 at the end of a low-scoring but entertaining first half, and surged further ahead with points from Bernard Brogan and Denis Bastick.

But Kerry stepped up the tempo, and after Bryan Sheehan had tapped over a free, Donaghy soared high to field Tom?s ? S?'s route-one delivery, and with a goal at his mercy, he fisted over the bar.

Cooper brought the sides level for the third time from a 45th-minute free, but the Kingdom had a let-off when Bernard Brogan slipped in behind Killian Young, but his angled shot dipped just wide at the far post.

Kerry's vast experience began to tell, and the value of an accurate place-kicker was emphasised by Bryan Sheehan, who stroked over a '45 and a free, as well as thumping over an excellent effort from play.

Cooper also nailed a free as Dublin were punished for a rash of clumsy challenges, and the Kingdom eased into a four-point lead with seven minutes to play.

But the game took a sensational twist in the 64th minute when Dublin dragged themselves back into it with a superb goal.

Alan Brogan made the break, off-loaded to Kevin McManaman, and the substitute skipped past Declan O'Sullivan and fired low past Kealy.

The sides were level for a fifth time a minute later when wing-back Kevin Nolan split the posts from distance.

And when Dublin won a free in stoppage time, Cluxton stepped up to send Hill 16 into raptures.

Kerry: B Kealy, K Young, M ? S?, T O'Sullivan, T ? S?, E Brosnan, A O'Mahony, A Maher, K Donaghy (0-02), B Sheehan (0-04, 2f, 1 '45), Darran O'Sullivan, D Walsh, C Cooper (1-03, 2f), Declan O'Sullivan (0-01), K O'Leary.

Subs: P Galvin (0-01) for O'Leary, BJ Keane for Walsh, D Bohan for Brosnan

Dublin: S Cluxton (0-02, 2f), C O'Sullivan, R O'Carroll, M Fitzsimons, J McCarthy, G Brennan, K Nolan (0-01), D Bastick (0-01), MD MacAuley, P Flynn, B Cahill, B Cullen, A Brogan (0-02), D Connolly, B Brogan (0-06, 4f).

Subs: P McMahon for McCarthy, K McManaman (1-00) for Flynn, E O'Gara for Cahill, E Fennell for Bastick

Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan)


printable version

[madmans]

ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL 2011

well done Dublin , hope you and damo were good last night Mario

[mario]

ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL 2011

Still floating in a blue cloud,

Wonder how domo is doing haven't seen him around in a while hope he is ok.must send him a pm.