Hello and welcome to our blog discussing the weekend's All-Ireland quarter-finals with our GAA correspondent Shaun Cronin. How are you Shaun, excited about the upcoming games?
Yes Pete some great draws and mouth watering games coming up especially on Sunday!
I presume being from Cork you are talking about the Cork v Kildare game. How do you see that going?
Cork have had a long break since their last real competitive fixture which was the Munster semi-final win over Kerry. Kildare have come through the qualifiers well. I can see Cork getting on top in midfield so Kildare will need to go for the kill early if they are to progress!
The perennial question: Will the break favour the Rebels? Or will Kildare benefit from game time?
@Baz Dunne Who do you see winning it for the Lilywhites?
By all accounts the A v B games in the Rebel county have had some massive hits going on but you can't compare it to a proper Championship game. Kildare are now an amazing 13 for 13 in qualifier games under Kieran McGeeney. That being said even with the break Cork have the better forwards even if Seanie Johnston plays. Cork by 4 for me!
Obviously Canty's return won't do the Rebels any harm, but who do you see featuring for the Lilywhites Shaun?
@Baz Dunne Cork had no break last year went through the qualifiers after they battered Down they met Mayo it was injuries to key forwards that cost Cork last year.
@Baz Dunne I don't know about that. Kildare have been knocking on the door as they say for a few seasons now. It could be their time.
No harm at all still think Cork are weak in the corner back slots though. If I was McGeeney thats the area I'd target get the aforementioned Doyle in there.
As for the other game on Sunday, how do you think Kerry will fare against the Donegal defence?
@Baz Dunne I can't disagree there. Cork will need to pin down Emmet Bolton though who is a serious ball carrier for the Lillywhites.
This is the big game of the weekend for me. I find it incredible that RTÉ picked Dublin v Laois over it. Sorry to fans of northern football but Donegal while they have been impressive have played some poor teams for me. I do think however that Kerry will have never played a team like this before even the great Tyrone team didnt have so many players behind the ball.
You mean the mediocre performance where they beat Clare 2-22 to 1-06. Most teams in the country would love to have that result after a mediocre performance. I agree Donegal won't have come up against a forward line better than the Kingdom's, but northern football has a habit of teams literally beating their way to finals.
@Shaun Cronin I think that just shows the Leinster bias at Donnybrook.
@Peter Towe They are going for viewership numbers over quality and that worries me big time.
It just means we won't be able to see Joe Brolly and Pat Spillane commentating on a Kerry v Donegal game. That would have been priceless after Brolly calling the Gooch a choker. What's your stand on that lads?
@Cóilín Duffy RTÉ had the choice of the first 3 of the 6 All Ireland quarter finals in hurling and football. They showed the 2 hurling games and then had the choice of the best football quarter-final and went for Dublin v Laois. Leaving TV3 with the next 2 picks which is way they got Cork v Kildare and Donegal v Kerry. That left RTÉ with Mayo v Down. I still think its wrong.
@Peter Towe @Cóilín Duffy You can't call the Gooch a choker he is quite simply the best forward in a generation but to be fair Brolly does have a point when it comes to when its a tight game and team put it up to Kerry when is the last real tight important game that they have won.
@Shaun Cronin Maybe RTE were thinking of trying to promote hurling before football?
@Cóilín Duffy We'll be here another 10-15 minutes at least. Still to talk about Saturday's games.
@Peter Towe As I said Pete its viewership figures over quality of game end of. No offence to fans of Dublin and Laois I really hope thats its a good game for RTÉ sake.
@Baz Dunne You would have to say he is entertaining, probably why RTE keep him for the viewership figures.
@Daire Walsh Agreed mate not his biggest fan either but he has a point there. His point on the Cooper is ludicrous though.
@Shaun Cronin How do you see that going. I have to agree with Baz that the Dubs look dodgy.
I actually wished they would just use a Championship Matters and let Brolly, Spillane and Tony Davis go at it for a half hour!
Saturday, May 18, 2013
