The All Ireland

[PRC-UTE]

It's going to go Cork's way. Not by a head and a neck, but it will be a win

After they polished off Tyrone, I have no doubts. The Kingdom aren't in great form anyway

[ComradeOm]

Cork will definitely be favourites. Not only did they beat Kerry in Munster but they've stepped up a few gears since then. They've put racked up some very impressive performances. In comparison Kerry have had one good performance against a desultory Dublin side. Other than that they've been very flat. But... this is still Kerry we're talking about. They're born and bred to play in Croker and must have a huge mental advantage (always do important in football) over their neighbours

I'll still be going for Cork though on the basis of their form. I thought that Tyrone would step it up when they got to the serious part of the season but they fell flat and had no answer to the Rebels. It'll be interesting to see if Kerry can replicate their form against Dublin against a real quality side

Unfortunately I'll be in Germany this weekend so I'll have to try and find an Irish pub that's showing the game. Should be great to watch

[Redmau5]

Well Cork comfortably brushed aside the best team in the country, Tyrone. Whether or not that means that Cork are a "better" side now than Tyrone or that Tyrone just had a rare off-day is up for debate. I fancy Cork to beat Kerry, as Kerry put in a series of very questionable performances before their victory over Dublin, including a reasonably lucky win over Antrim in the qualifiers.

I don't really care either way, as there are no Ulster teams competing this year's final. I do love the All-Ireland football final though, probably more than the hurling final. I prefer hurling as a sport, but there just seems to be a bigger and better buzz surrounding the football final. It's always a great day out.

Can't wait! :D

[PRC-UTE]

Can't wait! :D

Exactly ;)


Other than that they've been very flat. But... this is still Kerry we're talking about. They're born and bred to play in Croker and must have a huge mental advantage (always do important in football) over their neighbours

I'll still be going for Cork though on the basis of their form.

Yes, I think Cork will come out on top, but not by a very wide margin. Kerry will still want Sam, will still fight hard for every ball.

[Dóchas]

ye id say cork will pip kerry to it. did any of you see the hurling final? pretty epic in fairness!!!

[Black_Flag]

I agree, it'll be a close match but i still favour Cork due to recent form.

Shame i'll miss it seeing as I have to work.

[Holden Caulfield]

they play football in Ireland?
news to me,

whats this thing then?

'all ireland'?
is it like the FA cup final or summit?

[PRC-UTE]

they play football in Ireland?
news to me,

whats this thing then?

'all ireland'?
is it like the FA cup final or summit?

No, a chara, it's the Sam Maguire Cup for Gaelic Football, a national game of Ireland. Like a cross between...basketball and association rules football. Fairly similar to Aussie Rules Football.

The other popular Gaelic Game is hurling, which is similar to field hockey. There's other Gaelic Games such as handball and rounders.

Here's a link if you want to know more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaelic_Athletic_Association

[ComradeOm]

did any of you see the hurling final? pretty epic in fairness!!!I'm not a big hurling fan but even I can appreciate that game. I was sick for Tip at the end though - I was definitely rooting for them and that 'penalty' changed the whole game

Although it was great fun watching Brian Cody have a go (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWgp-vSs7zI) at Marty Morrissey after the game :lol:

[Hoggy_RS]

they play football in Ireland?
news to me,

whats this thing then?

'all ireland'?
is it like the FA cup final or summit?
They have soccer as well(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAI_League_of_Ireland)

[ComradeOm]

Damn

[Andropov]

they play football in Ireland?
news to me,
The League Of Ireland.
If you want to understand the culture around the LoI then I suggest you get "Theres only one red Army" by Eamon Sweeney, its a good depicition of what its like to be a LoI supporter in Ireland.

[Holden Caulfield]

The League Of Ireland.
If you want to understand the culture around the LoI then I suggest you get "Theres only one red Army" by Eamon Sweeney, its a good depicition of what its like to be a LoI supporter in Ireland.

OR you could give me the gist

[LeninBalls]

PRC-UTE gave you the gist.

Basically, lads in shorts running around with leather balls throwing them at each other and getting hurt.

It's good fun.

[Andropov]

OR you could give me the gist
Lets see where to start.
Well back in the 50s and 60s the LoI was not far off the English First Division attendance wise.
The like of Shamrock Rovers Vs Drumcondra would easily attract sell out crowds in Milltown and Tolka of well over 20,000.
The same would be true for the old Cork City derby.
Then as time went by the crowds dwindled until where we are now with only about 20,000 going to all games on a friday and saturday night.
The reasons for this are many and complicated and not so easily summarised in one post.
Hooliganism was a big problem in the 70s with the bootboys where LoI grounds resembled more like the Wild West.
Then there was the growth of the GAA in the LoI heartland which was working class urban Dublin.
There was the constant mismanagement of clubs and resources by a corrupt and inept elite like what happened with the Kilcoynes in charge of Shamrock Rovers where they sold Milltown for development, pocketed the money and left the club homeless until this year.
There was also the growth of the EPL which harvested a new generation of football fans in Ireland for the English Consumerist experience and made the LoI seem very untrendy.
Also the growth of the Irish National Team in the 90s didnt help as it ment that no longer did the team play in Dalymount (Bohemians home ground where foreign teams dreaded playing because of the atmopshere) and the EPL consumer jumped on the bandwagon of the Irish National Team where as pre-1990s the Irish National Team was almost exqlusively followed by LoI supporters.
Also there was the constant pillaging of Irish youth talent to waste away in English academys.
Now these are just a few of the reasons for why the LoI collapsed from its highs in the 60s.

As for now the LoI is followed by a few thousand zealots who keep it alive in the face of National Media indefference (our own national leagues scores are not even mentioned on the national broadcaster) not to mention little to no games televised. The constant prostitution of the EPL to barstool supporters in Ireland who wear their Liverpool or Merchandise United Jersey with pride but would burst you for wearing an English National Jersey, the hypocricys are mind boggling.
The LoI fans now are mainly comprised of the urban working class of Ireland with isolated outposts outside of its Working Class Dublin heartland.
Such areas as Cork, Derry, Dundalk, Sligo, Waterford and Athlone.
Its still deeply unfashionable in Ireland but the Germans seem to love it, its like a time warp with regaurds a footballing experience, not half as consumerist as The EPL.

Alot of generalisations exist in this post as really you should read the book I mentioned and also "Who stole our game" to gain a deeper understanding.
Personally speaking I wouldnt change it for the world, I love the experience, the terraces, the familiar faces, the rivalaries, the fact that its ours and not the mainstreams, the fact that supporters get away with murder in comparison to the product across the water.
Its dirty, unpolished but its what real football is all about.

[Dr Mindbender]

The thing that i love about gaelic rules football is that its the only sport i can think of that has a decimalised scoring system.

It has goals and points, a goal being worth 3 points.

[PRC-UTE]

The thing that i love about gaelic rules football is that its the only sport i can think of that has a decimalised scoring system.

It has goals and points, a goal being worth 3 points.

Yeah, it does create interesting games. Teams that will just win by scoring points from further out, that is by putting them between the uprights, or moments in a game when you know the side that's behind has to put the ball in the net to get the three points.

It's also much more offensive than defensive which i prefer

[Guerrilla22]

Who's competing for it? Is Sligo? I have never seen a Gaelic football game, but I ahve a sligo jersey, I bought at an Irish festival here. lol. I wish they broadcasted the games in the states, I'd definitely watch.

[Andropov]

Who's competing for it? Is Sligo? I have never seen a Gaelic football game, but I ahve a sligo jersey, I bought at an Irish festival here. lol. I wish they broadcasted the games in the states, I'd definitely watch.
Sligos GAA team is a farce.
Sligo are lucky if they are in contention for the Connaught Championship not to mind the All-Ireland.

[Guerrilla22]

Sligos GAA team is a farce.
Sligo are lucky if they are in contention for the Connaught Championship not to mind the All-Ireland.

DAMNIT! Well who is good so i can get their jersey?

[ComradeOm]

DAMNIT! Well who is good so i can get their jersey?Louth

[LeninBalls]

DAMNIT! Well who is good so i can get their jersey?

Co. Monaghan, the most legendary GAA team to ever grace this Irish soil.

[PRC-UTE]

DAMNIT! Well who is good so i can get their jersey?

Kerry's the Brazil of football. Big culchies that live for it. Tyrone, Dublin are often contenders. Cork is sometimes good in football as well, but not reliably so. Every fifty or so years Galway produces a great panel. A few years ago Armagh was a big surprise to everyone.

Cork and Kilkenny are the big counties for hurling. oh, and Tipperary. Cork's produced some of the greats like Christy Ring.

and the county and club shirts for each sport are basically interchangeable

[LeninBalls]

Clare are good... sometimes. :(