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Are we all strapped in and ready for a little bit of history?
In a few short minutes, Limerick man Conor Niland will step out onto Wimbledon’s Court 17 for his Men’s Singles first round match against Adrian Mannarino of France. Just in case you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of days, this is the first time that an Irishman has made it to the main event at the All-England Tennis Club since Sean Sorensen was beaten by Rod Laver in 1977.
Which is to say, this is a pretty big deal.
We’ll have game-by-game coverage of the match this afternoon, so stay right here and you won’t miss a thing.
So, who is this Adrian Mannarino chap anyway? Is he any good?
Here’s a quick introduction which I penned earlier:
Adrian Mannarino is a 22-year-old from France, currently ranked 55th in the world. Like Niland, he plays most of his tennis on the ATP Challenger circuit where he has won twice and come runner-up on five occasions. He has picked up plenty of Grand Slam experience over the past few years, though he is a no stranger to an early exit. His only previous appearance at Wimbledon was in 2009, when as a qualifier, he was beaten in straight sets by fellow Frenchman Marc Gicquel in the first round.
Read more of the bluffer’s guide to Conor’s Wimbledon debut here >
Conor is out on Court 17 getting warmed up as I type. All week, he’s been talking about how, of all the tennis Grand Slams, Wimbledon is the one everybody wants to play at. Let’s hope that, amidst all of the buzz and hype, he has a little bit of chance to savour the moment.
Niland 1-0* Mannarinio (* denotes next server) Niland holds to love. The perfect start.
Niland 1*-1 Mannarino I don’t know a huge amount about Mannarino, but boy can he serve. He holds to love, taking the game after Conor’s attempted lob just drifts slightly long.
Niland 2-1* Mannarino The early ground strokes from both players seem very positive, and Conor is patiently waiting for Mannarino to make mistakes. He gives his opponent the run-around, dragging him all over the court to go 40-0 up. Mannarino forces Conor’s second serve on game point wide and that’s the game.
Niland *2-2 Mannarino That’ll go down as a chance missed, but regardless, this is some cracking tennis from Conor. A wonderful passing shot on the move scurries down the right line to send him 0-30 up and before we know it, he’s sitting on three break points. A backhand from the service line ends up in the net for the first of them, and a pretty wild forehand scratches off the second. Mannarino saves the third with a big serve and then serves out the remainder.
Niland 3-2* Mannarino That’s another solid service game from Conor. The two points which Mannarino won there are the first two which he’s managed on Conor’s serve so far today. The Limerick man is looking more than comfortable out there.
Niland *3-3 Mannarino That was our longest game yet. 15-0 up, Mannarino comes chases his cut into the net and Conor slams a backhand past him down the line to make it 15-15. The Frenchman has a chance to take advantage at 30-30 but, at the end of a quality rally, drags his shot wide to bring up Conor’s fourth break-point. That’s saved, largely thanks to a big serve, and some pretty tennis from Mannarino brings up an advantage to him. Conor’s hitting his ground strokes pretty accurately in this opening set and he stops Mannarino from serving out the game on five successive occasions. At the sixth time of asking, the Frenchman obliges.
Niland 4-3* Mannarino Conor holds serve 40-15. He really is playing some great stuff.
Niland *4-4 Mannarino The first point of the game produces a cracking rally in which Niland prevails with another fearsome forehand. He tries a tricky little drop-shot to catch Mannarino off guard, but the Frenchman is alive to it and ties it up at 15-15. Niland looks like he can tussle with the best of them once he gets going on the baseline, drilling another forehand into the corner to make it 30-30. It’s a game effort, but the Frenchman hangs on to serve out.
Niland 5-4* Mannarino That really is quite brilliant. 15-0 up, Niland slips mid-rally but somehow manages to scramble to his feet and save the point. An unforced error from Mannarino, slamming a forehand into the net from close range, hands Niland a 5-4 advantage. Still on serve here in the first.
Niland 6-4 Mannarino Another unforced error from Mannarino at 15-30 and all of a sudden, Conor has two set points in his pocket. A delicate little slice on the first ends up in the net and, with the second, he tries to send a running forehand down the line but just can’t get the direction on it. A peach of a shot brings up set point number three and, when Mannarino’s shot clips the top of the net, the Irish supporters in the ground squeal, only to see the ball drop on Conor’s side. Mannarino is making quite a few errors now, handing Conor his fourth set point. The Frenchman drags this one wide on the right, and that’s first blood Niland. Get in!
Niland 6-4 1-0* Mannarino Niland holds to love in his first service game of the second. Quickly, some stats from the first set. Conor won 79% of points on his first serve versus 56% for Mannarino, and won 90% on his second serve while Mannarino only managed 63%. 16 unforced errors for the Frenchman; only 4 for Conor so far. The numbers don’t lie, that’s a great start.
Niland 6-4 *1-1 Mannarino Anything you can do, I can do better – Mannarino holds his first service game to love.
Niland 6-4 2-1* Mannarino Mannarino makes Conor work to hold this next service game and, at 30-30, tries to stick a lob over the head of an advancing Niland. It’s long and, when the Frenchman puts his next shot into the net under little pressure, that’s another important hold.
Niland 6-4 *2-2 Mannarino Controversy on Court 17, a realm in which Hawk-eye holds no sway. Conor suggests that Mannarino’s forehand is wide, but there’s no call from the line judges. Replays show that they were probably right. Mannarino holds.
Niland 6-4 3-2* Mannarino Another belter of a game and that is a huge, huge save for Niland. The first real signs of a wobble as he concedes two break points, but he gets out of jail at 30-40, slamming another of those powerful forehands right onto the line. “Deadly,” says my man on TG4 – or is that “deadlaí?” He beats Mannarino in an exchange at the net to bring up an advantage but cannot convert and quickly finds himself facing another break. He gets off the hook when Mannarino hits a fairly straightforward forehand into the net, but again passes up an opportunity to serve out the game. Mannarino whips another drop shot out of his arsenal when nobody expects it, bringing up another break point which he again fails to take advantage of. He throws his hands into the air as if to say “what do I have to do to win this game?” It seems the answer is nothing, with Niland (finally) closing it out two points later.
Niland 6-4 *3-3 Mannarino That’s a hold for the Frenchman, 40-15. Nothing much else to report from that game.
Niland 6-4 4-3* Mannarino Bam, bam, bam, bam. A huge service game for Conor proves to be the perfect antidote to these mid-set wobbles. He holds to love and that’ll do the world of good for his confidence.
Niland 6-4 *4-4 Mannarino There’s not a huge amount between the two in this second set. Conor appears to be finding it slightly harder to put Mannarino’s serve under pressure as the Frenchman starts to find his feet. He holds to 15 and we’re still on serve.
Niland 6-4 4-5* Mannarino Mannarino’s getting a little bit frustrated and, to be fair, I can’t blame him. At 15-30, his forehand can only find the net again and then, with a break point in his pocket, he can’t quite get enough racket on Niland’s return of service. His service in recent games has been hugely impressive until two successive double-faults hand Mannarino another break. He takes this one and the Frenchman will now serve for the set.
Niland 6-4 4-6 Mannarino Some clever, well-executed shots give the second set to Mannarino, proving that the Frenchman is ready, willing and able to pounce on even the slightest mistakes from Conor. Time to regroup and go again.
Niland 6-4 4-6 0-1* Mannarino Oof, that’s an early blow. On serve in the first game, Niland saves two break points, the second of which is squandered when Manarrino’s lob has the height but not the direction. Another service-double fault gives Mannarino a third chance to break in this opening game and he really doesn’t need to be asked again. Advantage to the Frenchman early in the third.
The second set stats indicate just how much of a shift of momentum we’ve seen. Conor’s now only winning 60% of points on his first serve and 59% on his second (versus 89% and 60% for Mannarino). The Limerick man made thirteen unforced errors and not even five saved break-points were enough to keep him in the set.
Niland 6-4 4-6 *1-1 Mannarino That’s how you respond. A cracking cross-court forehand wins the game and Conor breaks back immediately. Let’s hope that he can build on that now as he has been clearly second-best for the last little while.
Niland 6-4 4-6 1-2* Mannarino And no sooner than we seem to be getting back on track, then Mannarino breaks again. That’s Conor’s last three service games which have been broken – we’re yet to see a hold of service in this third set. Let’s hope that trend continues for one more game.
Niland 6-4 4-6 *2-2 Mannarino Simply superb battling by Conor Niland and once again, he’s right back in it. From 30-0 down, a combination of Niland’s determination and Mannarino’s inaccuracy brings him back into the game at 30-30. Mannarino drills another forehand into the net to bring up a break point and – whaddya know? – Conor whips out another of those forehand scorchers to break back. Again.
Niland 6-4 4-6 3-2* Mannarino There are a lot of “pointí mór” going down here in this third set. From 15-30 down, Niland manages to get back into it before Mannarino forces the game to deuce. Niland serves it out though and, after five games, we’ve our first hold of service in the third set. Now, let’s get back to those breaks …
Niland 6-4 4-6 *3-3 Mannarino Mannarino holds to love. A big few games in the context of this match coming up.
Niland 6-4 4-6 3-4* Mannarino Uh oh, 0-40 and Mannarino has three break points. Conor saves the first by drilling a cross-court backhand past an advancing Mannarino but a service double-fault on the next gives the Frenchman an important and timely break. That’s four breaks in Conor’s last five service games.
Niland 6-4 4-6 *3-5 Mannarino Two points against the serve bring up 0-30 in Conor’s favour and the Limerick man lets out a Murray-esque “come on!” Mannarino claws his way back into it at 40-30, but Niland is not going to let this one go without a fight, forcing deuce. He chases a Mannarino drop shot right into the net but just can’t get enough racket on it to lift it over the net. Niland’s next forehand goes long and he’s now serving to stay in the third.
Niland 6-4 4-6 4-5* Mannarino Mannarino motors to bring up three set points very quickly. Niland saves the first with an ace, despite Mannarino’s protestations and then plays the shot of the match to save the second, curling a delicious forehand around his opponent into the tightest of spaces. The third point is saved when Mannarino finds the net before Niland’s sixth ace of the day brings up an advantage. It’s a save – no, let me rephrase that, a massive and crucial save – but Mannarino will still serve for this third set.
Niland 6-4 4-6 *5-5 Mannarino A little bit of “leadóg den scoth” from Conor makes it 15-30 and, for a split second, there’s a chance he might be able to stay alive. Those huge forehands grind a break point at 30-40, but Conor’s shot just clips the top of the net. An unforced error brings up another break and … we’re back. From one corner of the court to another, Niland’s whips a forehand past Mannarino and somehow it’s 5-5 and back on serve. Big service game coming up …
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-5* Mannarino How about it, lads? How about it? Niland holds to 15 and all of the pressure shifts onto Mannarino who is now the one serving to stay in the set. Come on!
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-6 Mannarino I’ve devised a tactic. Niland just needs to keep playing his forehand and we’re in business. Mannarino’s passing shot just skips outside the line to bring up 15-30 and, as Conor stretches to lift the ball back over the net from close range, we’ve got two set points against the serve. The first is wildly wide but there’s nothing he can do about which Mannarino saves with aplomb. Niland’s very next return of service goes long and it’s advantage Mannarino. Again, a Niland forehand – what else – is too hot to handle. He’s leaving it all out on the court, that’s for sure. Back at deuce and the court is at Mannarino’s mercy, but his forehand is off target and we’ve another set point … which is saved by a huge overhead smash with Niland miles out of position. He eventually holds his serve and we’ll have a second set tie-break.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 Mannarino Conor concedes a mini-break with the very first set of the tie-break but by the time we get to Niland 3-2, we’re back on serve. He breaks one of Mannarino’s two serves to go 4-3 up on serve, but hands back the initiative immediately when a curled forehand drifts wide. A big serve brings up Mannarino 4-5 and, shortly thereafter, Conor has a chance to serve for the set at 6-5 but cannot capitalise. 6-6 and Conor holds his serve to make it Mannarino 6-7, but the Frenchman saves set point before breaking Niland to take the third set 9-7 in the tie-breaker.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 *1-0 Mannarino We’re back in business with an early break in the fourth set. Conor is starting to tire a little bit, but you can be sure he’s going nowhere without a fight. He breaks Mannarino to 30 and a service save would be very nice now.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 2-0* Mannarino Conor’s in a little bit of trouble at 30-30 but a big ace (his eighth) brings up game point and a little bit of sloppiness from Mannarino seals the deal.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 *2-1 Mannarino The mistakes are coming thick and fast from both parties now. A glimmer of a break at 30-30 is snuffed out by a Niland unforced error before a powerful Mannarino backhand gets him off the mark in this set.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 3-1* Mannarino A couple of long service returns from Mannarino quickly brings up 40-0, allowing Niland to hold serve easily. The Frenchman struggled with Conor’s serve a little bit there. Promising signs thus far in the fourth set.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 *3-2 Mannarino If Mannarino keeps making some of the mistakes he’s making, the chances will be there for Conor, that’s for sure. He pushes a lazy drop shot straight into Conor’s path to allow him to bring up 30-30. Unfortunately, a long forehand on the very next point hands that little bit of momentum straight back to Mannarino who holds to 30.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 4-2* Mannarino There’s some welly going into these Niland forehands now – he kicks the ground in disgust as he goes 0-15 down. A slip costs him any chance he had of getting to a Mannarino forehand, but he bounces right back to tie the game up at 30-30. Mannarino goes long, allowing Niland to hammer a ferocious serve for an important hold. Although they’re all important at this point …
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 *4-3 Mannarino A couple of words are exchanged between Niland and umpire as Mannarino goes 30-0 up. The Irishman clearly felt that the chair should have overruled the line judge’s call as the ball was an inch out. “You want me to overrule for an inch?” the umpire asks. I didn’t quite hear Conor’s response. Mannarino holds.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 5-3* Mannarino At this stage, every mistake could be a game-changer. A wayward forehand hands Mannarino a break point and Niland looks to be in trouble. He wins two on the bounce to bring up an advantage, but then squanders it with another wayward forehand. Eventually … somehow, don’t ask me how … Conor holds. Mannarino serving to stay in the set.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 *5-4 Mannarino Mannarino saves. Conor serving for the fourth set. It’s do-or-die time for the Irishman. Come on, Conor!
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 6-4 Mannarino 40-15 and two set points for Conor. Under a bit of pressure, he miscues and skies a forehand high into the sky. It matters not – Mannarino’s return at 40-30 is long and that is set four to Conor. People have been saying all day that this one would go the distance – looks like all of you were right. A second-round tie with Roger Federer awaits the winner, but who wants it more?
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 6-4 *0-1 Mannarino We’ve two tired players out there as Mannarino holds to love in the first service game of the decider. They’ve been playing for three hours and twenty minutes at this stage. This one will probably go to the fitter man, whoever that it. There’s nothing to choose between them, tennis-wise.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 6-4 1-1* Mannarino Technically-speaking, this may not be the best tennis that any of us have ever watched, but it is gripping. 15-30 down, Niland wins a great battling rally and then serves ace number nine of the afternoon to give himself a game point. He holds and he’s off the mark in the decider.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 6-4 *2-1 Mannarino 30-0 down, Conor plays another of those cross-court forehands just out of Mannarino’s reach before an unforced error from the Frenchman takes us to 30-30. Mannarino slaps a forehand into the net and a hush descends over Court 17 as Niland tires to take advantage of a break point. He absolutely leathers a backhand down the line and the place erupts. Break Niland, game Niland. Here we go.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 6-4 3-1* Mannarino Mannarino shows his frustration, throwing his racket the ground as he goes 40-15 down. Never mind, he’s got plenty more in his bag and he grabs one of them so we can carry on without delay. A lovely lob brings us to 40-30 but Niland whips out an ace to hold.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 6-4 *4-1 Mannarino Is this Niland chap for real? The game is finely poised at 40-40 and he pulls out a beaut of a forehand to pilfer a break. Mannarino saves it though and – again – this could go either way. And then … oh baby, break time. Conor opens up his body, plays a stunning forehand across the court and he’s two games away from a game against R-Fed.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 6-4 4-2* Mannarino Alright, let’s not get too excited too quickly – there’s still a bit of tennis left to be played as Mannarino reminds us all by bringing up two break points. He only needs one and what seemed cut-and-dry to some two minutes ago is back into nail-biting territory.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 6-4 *4-3 Mannarino It looks as though Mannarino is about to hold to love, but just as pretty much everyone bar Conor had given up all hope of getting anything out of the game, he gets it back to 40-30. Mannarino prevails though. These last few games are not gonna be easy.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 6-4 4-4* Mannarino “Come on Conor, hold it together” is the call from inside TheJournal / TheScore HQ. He battles his way back into the game from 0-30 but can’t help conceding one break point. He drags his forehand wide and, as one of my colleagues says to me, “this is getting messy.” We’re back on serve at 4-4.
Niland 6-4 4-6 6-7 6-4 *4-5 Mannarino This isn’t easy to watch. Betfair have just been in touch to say that Niland was as low as 1/33 to progress a few minutes ago and now, as a flailing forehand just misses at 40-30, he finds himself serving to stay in the match. The pressure is on but as Stephen Kelly (whose judgement I trust) tells us, this is “typical Niland.” He’s confident that Conor will stay mentally strong and we should be too.
Mannarino def. Niland 4-6 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-4
Well, that’s that – game, set and match Mannarino. At 30-40 and serving to stay in the match, Conor comes to the net and watches his volley drift agonisingly long. So, rather than Niland, it is Adrian Mannarino of France who will progress to the second round of Wimbledon for the first time in his career. Niland has a huge amount to be proud of in defeat, though. Judging by my Twitter timeline and other fairly accurate barometers of public interest, he’s won an awful lot of new fans for himself.
Incredible coach, no matter what happens this Sunday Jim you’ve done donegal some service.
He got lucky.
We’ll done Alan, officially the least intelligent remark since the Bush administration
I think it’s going to be fascinating to see what Donegal bring on Sunday. Probably the only team with the organisation and discipline to carry out the sort of game plan required to take down the Dubs!..
We know what he’ll bring mortar bricks and water
Either way it should be a good game of football on Sunday!
The second in a series of mind-games from the Donegal camp this week.
Dublin – keep your focus!
Typical shite from him what a fool thinking dublin buy into it
Paul he’d be a fool for not trying it! Even the dogs in the street know that if he allows this to turn into a football match then Donegal have no hope! I love a bit of the cynical side of sports, it’s what makes the spectacle, nobody wants to see Dublin steamroll their way to an AI!
Another poor attempt by Jimmy to nominate Gavin for a puke bucket challenge!!
Paul Grimley gets slated for not talking to the media, Jim talks to the media & guess what?
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
How anyone could read that interview & decide that it’s Jim playing “mind games” is beyond me.
Some people need to go back to the tablets!!
I suppose your spin is that Armagh were just holding their counsel this season. Stupid comment – it’s mind games if he praises and it’s mind games if he says they are like professionals.
The panel of players Dublin managed to pick from over 1 million people should beat Donegal! The same team who never play anywhere else except croke park, and they still trail Kerry by a long way in titles! C’mon Donegal and beat these bunch of luis Suarez impersonators!
I’ve never heard any of those points being made here before Cathal . Well done on your originality!
Anyone who wants to see Donegal and their style of play beat Dublin is not a fan of Gaelic football.
That’s one stupid comment
@Aideen: Donegal should, of course come out, play open football and get obliterated by Dublin in order to satisfy the “true” football fans.
Anyone who can’t understand another way of playing football shouldn’t be allowed comment on the game! I suppose Tyrone should give back their medals because they didn’t play like the dubs! Is there no camoige site you can comment on?
Sexist as well as obnoxious! Almost a triple threat Cathal! Your mother must be so proud. Oh and by the way, I’m in work since 7, no collecting the dole for me and I didn’t wear my pyjamas either, sorry to disappoint you!
Wel said Aideen same old bull from him
Cathal, I didn’t realise every single person in Dublin was a male who played Gaelic football? In reality the pool of people that play in Dublin is significantly less than the total population.
Without checking the latest census I’m fairly sure that is the case in most counties.
Golden thinks 1m people play GAA in dublin I wish lol
Aideen,
I’m no fan of the sexist language but in all honesty your original point about people who want to see Donegal win not being fans of footbal, is silly in the extreme.
There is more than one way to play the game & while Dublin are great to watch, I am really looking forward to seeing the contrasting styles come up against each other
At work since seven ? I hope your boss isn’t watching you post on this forum. To say someone is not a fan of Gaelic football if they want to see Donegal win is arrogant in the extreme.
You sound like an anti dub , my grandparents are from Mayo Sligo and Galway I always supported them when the dubs went out . It’s funny how when Kerry and Dublin played in 2011 everyone wanted Dublin to win and now because there still winning the whole country is jealous of them . Ya should be congratulating the dubs for there hard work and effort not begrudging them they don’t get payed they work hard for there success get a grip ya loser I’d say ya never kicked a ball in your life ya dope
If the amount of people in the county meant success surely Dublin would win it every year?
Donegal idiot
Jim Mc Guinness is the greatest manager of the modern era. It’s not all about management though. Dubs might be too strong this weekend.
He won one all ireland how is he the greateat manager of the modern era .
And a fairly lucky one at that.
Explain how it was lucky please? Waiting with great anticipation of an astute, insightful answer!
If Gus Poyet wins the league just once with Sunderland then he would be one of the greatest managers. It’s not unfair to suggest taking a team who were knocked out by Antrim and beaten by 15odd points by Armagh and turning them into All Ireland champions is a serious achievement.
Some understandably don’t like his tactics but it’s his job to get the best results for his county, not to play the most watchable football.
Jim Gavin should equally take pride in turning around an underperforming Dublin panel and making them ferociously competitive. Both teams deserve success for the way they are maximising their resources.
Of the modern era, Mickey Harte deserves credit as manager who achieved most! That being said, I imagine Jim Gavin is going to notch another two All-Ireland titles before he’s finished with Dublin to put himself in the mix of the debate! If you’re to say McGuinness deserved equal plaudits, so too does every other manager who bagged an All-Ireland in past 20-odd years!
jims wining games ( jim Gavin that is )
Ah jesus if there was ever a statement so off the mark that was it!
Gavin turned around an underperforming Dublin panel?? They won the All Ireland the year before he got the job!
McGuinness is worried about a rail strike next week. He figures that there will be no busses left in Donegal to park in front of Hill16!!!!
Up the dubs!!!!!
Theres is no train lines in donegal anyway.
And there is no rail strike planned for that weekend in any case.
Wow I didn’t expect to get any rebuttals until at least midday! Good job on getting up lads and lassies in Dublin, now hands up if any of you have collected the dole yet in your pyjamas!
Ul be talkin out of the other side of your mouth come Sunday and if I were u I have a look round other parts off the country when it comes to the P J s we set trends up here in the smoke use rednecks follow them sure the dirt down here stops wearing pjs two years ago can’t say the same from some other kips I been to outside the pale
Golden as long as dublin bank roll you you’ll continue to be able to afford a pc to type trash so you can thank us now
Well that’s just indecipherable Rildo.
What is
F..k you that clear enough gabby
Alan Clarke I suppose Kerry had more jobs more people more money when they were dominating for years ya fool. I was at every game since 95 it took 16 years to win an all Ireland and it was hard work under age ! Dublin are the most skilled team and clearly they have worked hard for there success don’t be a jealous sour bogman
Well said Ryan. Dublin supporters had 16 years of being laughed at. We never took it to heart because we knew we weren’t good enough. I’ll enjoy these days now because they won’t last forever. And the fact that it makes some country cousins bitter makes success all the sweeter :)
Well said – Donegal fans feel the same. We’ve a great coach and many wonderful players in a squad that’s grown. Looking forward to the minors playing at Croke park with the seniors.
It’s so much more difficult to get to Croke Park through the ulster SFC so we’re just going to savour these moments until someone takes our place.
Donegals a lovely country and so are it’s people but I’d love to see that “football” system they play staked through the heart by the Dubs on Sunday.
Greatest manager of the modern era. That’s like a Fine Gael statement saying the country is no longer in debt and spend away mad pure horse shît.
Sounds like a manager that has very little faith in his team. Making all these excuses before a ball is even kicked!
Hope Donegal beat the S@#te out of Dublin, the Dubs have an unfair advantage over the other 31 counties. More money, more players, more training facilities, more jobs, only 7 players on dub panel with full time Jobs the rest are working for the Gaa. A joke and all of their games played at HQ.
Bitter much Alan
Clarke your just making the rest of the country look moronic
Kerry won more all Ireland’s than dublin
Kilkenny won more than any other county by a mile
They must have all the lucky jobs as well
‘only 7 players on dub panel with full time Jobs the rest are working for the Gaa’ – you couldn’t be more incorrect. You might want to do your research before you throw out incorrect info. Which of these 17 (not 7) work for the GAA?
http://www.dublingaa.ie/teams/senior-football
Bank clerk, account manager, accountant, business advisor, sales rep, tax consultant, stockbroker, Quantity Surveyor, 3 teachers, Leinster Rugby fitness coach, gym instructor, insurance clerk, h&s advisor, business owner, physio.
Alan Clarke, the fact of the matter is we are better than you and you are bitter about it. It has nothing to do with jobs or money. In fact if you’re not working, surely you have more time to practise and train? It has all to do with underage coaching and the fact that Dublin has left the rest of the country behind in that matter. Hard work = success. Teams like Mayo and Kerry understand this. People like you obviously don’t.
Ah jesus so having a job makes them better players…what the hell has happened to me then!?
Winning all Ireland’s is all the more sweater when you know how much it annoys some of our country brethren!! We’ll have 6 or 7 points to spare against Donegal.
Go and have a lie down in a dark room Cathal that child in your picture would talk more sense than you .
She is fairly advanced for her age john! I put it down to good genes!
I’m hoping for a good game on Sunday, with both team having complete opposite tactics it should be interesting to see how goes. As a Donegal person of course I would love to see us win but with the current form of the Dublin team it will require something special for Donegal to come away with a win. Like what was said in the article “Every single player in the side is crucial.” for Donegal, if all 15 players aren’t on top form on Sunday then it only makes the task of overcoming Dublin a lot harder, unless Dublin decide to have an off day which I high doubt will happen.
As for Donegal’s ‘system’ or play style, deal with it. At the end of the day they are there to win matches by whatever means necessary, not entertain or put on a ‘good show’
Agreed, I hope the Dubs win but this nonsense about Donegal’s style of play is tiresome. Play to your strengths – nobody in Donegal or the rest of the country would thank them for playing so called ‘open football’ and then getting beaten out the gate.
I think it will be an interesting clash of styles this time and Donegal are the first real AI contender or even Division 1 team that the Dubs have met so far.
Hel be remembered for making a shit Donegal team into a good side who play the worst type of football ever seen ! Hopefully the dubs give them a good spanking and we never see that horrible shit ever again from Donegal ! Dubs to win by 8
Hey why can’t we all just get along and accept that the Dubs are arrogant sophisticates with unlimited financial resources and guaranteed home advantage whereas the rest of the country is populated with uneducated boors who can hardly be trained to tie their own shoe laces?
Who said the rest of the country was ‘populated with uneducated boors who can hardly be trained to tie their own shoe laces’? If anyone’s intelligence or work etchic was questioned here it was the Dubs ‘Wow I didn’t expect to get any rebuttals until at least midday! Good job on getting up lads and lassies in Dublin, now hands up if any of you have collected the dole yet in your pyjamas!’
I said it Aideen. Its right there in the comment you just replied to.
Where ya from ?
I was going to just say I’m an arrogant sophisticate but realised that only the dubs would understand.
I’m from Dubbelin (and I don’t mean anything that I say).
It’s an illusion that Donegal play actual football. Roll on Sunday get rid of them once and for all out the championship
Sligo for Sam 2015! I got the ould jackeens riled up yippee! Do you anything in that job of yours aideen? Get them dishes washed for goodness sake! My mother would not be proud of me because I was brought up by a same sex couple! I love me daddies so I do, jaysus!
Sligo, the Accrington Stanley of GAA. As in “who the hell are they? Exactly!!”
Camogie that would be Cathal ~ the level of spelling on this thread is shocking. Dublin will beat Donegal by more than 12 points.
Aideen
Your are obviously the Dublin physio. Dublin are over hyped, I am pretty sure if you guys draw with Donegal that you would not have to go to Limerick or anywhere else to play your replay. You get an unfair advantage that is not afforded to other Counties, this is my point really.
Unfair advantage that has only been mentioned since Dublin started winning All Irelands again. It’s like a broken record here