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All Ireland Football Final-Who Wins?

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Kerry are shaking their boots tonight, Donegal to win by 1 point in a nail biter of a finish."
Possible but amount pundits picking over kerry surprises expected maybe 5 out 8 but 7 8 in independent all going donegak maybe they are right but I think not that simple

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 822 - 26/07/2025 19:47:23    2628151

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Replying To Trump2020:  "I'll go with Kerry by 6 points. I hope I'm wrong."
I will go with Donegal by 2pts

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2672 - 26/07/2025 19:48:18    2628152

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Hard to shackle the best players now with so much open space. Against armagh, first ball came to Clifford 2/3 backs descended on him. Just popped it to o Shea and over the bar.
Edging more towards kerry last few days. Donegals easy semi final, like cork in the hurling won't be much benefit

richiepmurphy (Kilkenny) - Posts: 25 - 26/07/2025 19:52:22    2628153

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Replying To GeniusGerry:  "I'm going to go against the inclination to give a 'yerra' prediction and say Kerry win by four points. It's not a confident prediction by any means.

For all the talk of Clifford, Kerry's defence has been quietly good in the semi and quarter final, very solid and well organised and never really let their opponents into the game. If they can do a reasonable job with Donegals forwards and we do t get wiped out on restarts I think we can score enough at the other end. That's a big 'if' of course, because Donegal will be better than Tyrone or Armagh.

I'm surprised to see so much talk and expectation of Jimmys game plan that is supposedly going to catch Kerry. Jimmys reputation as a master tactician is based on the old rules and is heavily coloured by the semi final against Dublin eleven years ago. People overlook that he was out-coached and sucker punched in the final that year by Fitzmaurice and O'Neill (on the sideline again tomorrow) who almost certainly had the lesser group of players to work with at that time.

That's not to say that he isn't a great coach or that his teams aren't well drilled and organised, which of course they are, but Jimmys greatest attribute has always been his ability to connect with, motivate and get buy-in from his players IMO, rather than tactics or game planning.

I'm not expecting any great innovation from Donegal tomorrow. If they win I expect it'll be because they win the battle around the middle of the field, which is a very realistic prospect. Kerry will be in huge trouble if they can't at least break even there.

May the best team win and I hope everyone enjoys the day"
They havent a hope.All 6 BBC tipsters,Independent ,Irish News and Times all give Donegal a confident vote to counter attack Kerry into oblivion.Mmmmm

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1760 - 26/07/2025 19:53:52    2628154

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Replying To boxtyburgerbuns:  "I have a feeling one team could collapse completely like in the hurling and be beaten by eight points or more...trouble is I don't know which county it will be!"
Both teams will be under the cost at some stage! Maybe whoever handles that time period better, will come out on top. Mental strength will be vital,who's brave enough to back themselves??

Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 11 - 26/07/2025 19:56:58    2628155

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Replying To boxtyburgerbuns:  "I have a feeling one team could collapse completely like in the hurling and be beaten by eight points or more...trouble is I don't know which county it will be!"
Neither team will collapse! They're not Leitrim!

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2352 - 26/07/2025 19:57:51    2628156

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Replying To GeniusGerry:  "I'm going to go against the inclination to give a 'yerra' prediction and say Kerry win by four points. It's not a confident prediction by any means.

For all the talk of Clifford, Kerry's defence has been quietly good in the semi and quarter final, very solid and well organised and never really let their opponents into the game. If they can do a reasonable job with Donegals forwards and we do t get wiped out on restarts I think we can score enough at the other end. That's a big 'if' of course, because Donegal will be better than Tyrone or Armagh.

I'm surprised to see so much talk and expectation of Jimmys game plan that is supposedly going to catch Kerry. Jimmys reputation as a master tactician is based on the old rules and is heavily coloured by the semi final against Dublin eleven years ago. People overlook that he was out-coached and sucker punched in the final that year by Fitzmaurice and O'Neill (on the sideline again tomorrow) who almost certainly had the lesser group of players to work with at that time.

That's not to say that he isn't a great coach or that his teams aren't well drilled and organised, which of course they are, but Jimmys greatest attribute has always been his ability to connect with, motivate and get buy-in from his players IMO, rather than tactics or game planning.

I'm not expecting any great innovation from Donegal tomorrow. If they win I expect it'll be because they win the battle around the middle of the field, which is a very realistic prospect. Kerry will be in huge trouble if they can't at least break even there.

May the best team win and I hope everyone enjoys the day"
Arguments all ways. Kerry are better tomorrow than they were in 2014 and they have David Clifford. For Donegal back in 2014, it was their fourth year under McGuinness and they had probably peaked winning the 2012 All Ireland. Didn't Mayo beat Donegal easily in 2013. This is McGuinness's second year of his second coming and maybe Donegal peak tomorrow. After that hurling final last week, who would make any confident prediction about the football final. Both teams are good enough to win it. It should be close but maybe one team pulls away.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2555 - 26/07/2025 20:00:18    2628157

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I've changed my mind numerous times during the week..I just think Kerry will have the better forwards and get over the line..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2576 - 26/07/2025 20:18:32    2628159

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Replying To boxtyburgerbuns:  "I have a feeling one team could collapse completely like in the hurling and be beaten by eight points or more...trouble is I don't know which county it will be!"
Yep, i was thinking the same. Great minds. Lol

thegadfly (Cavan) - Posts: 296 - 26/07/2025 20:25:31    2628160

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Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "Possible but amount pundits picking over kerry surprises expected maybe 5 out 8 but 7 8 in independent all going donegak maybe they are right but I think not that simple"
Never knew a Kerry team to shake in their boots, I think this will be a cracking game between the two best teams in the country Kerry for me by 1 or 2

germac (Down) - Posts: 574 - 26/07/2025 20:26:21    2628161

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Replying To endgame:  "Arguments all ways. Kerry are better tomorrow than they were in 2014 and they have David Clifford. For Donegal back in 2014, it was their fourth year under McGuinness and they had probably peaked winning the 2012 All Ireland. Didn't Mayo beat Donegal easily in 2013. This is McGuinness's second year of his second coming and maybe Donegal peak tomorrow. After that hurling final last week, who would make any confident prediction about the football final. Both teams are good enough to win it. It should be close but maybe one team pulls away."
2014 isn't really that relevant in the context of tomorrow but I was just using it to illustrate that McGuinness and Donegal don't necessarily hold some great tactical advantage tomorrow as many seem to believe.

I agree both sides have the capability to win it and literally anything can happen. Finals are funny things and we can expect the unexpected

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2116 - 26/07/2025 20:48:06    2628165

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My logical brain says Donegal but something in my gut is saying Kerry. Very hard to call. Donegals scoring return in the knock out stage is unreal but then in hindsight they were all Div 2 teams. Kerry had tougher opposition. But Donegal came through Ulster so they are already battle hardened. Really looking forward to it. In a way is there a bit more pressure on Donegal? This was the purpose of Jim's return. And counties like Donegal need to make the most of when they do get to All Irelands, add in trying to right the wrongs of 2014. While Kerry will more likely be back in an All Ireland sooner rather than later. No better man than McGuinness to manage the psychology of it all. What is the buzz and build up like in Donegal?

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 266 - 26/07/2025 21:21:40    2628170

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Kerry to win by four points. You heard it here first.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2352 - 27/07/2025 00:54:03    2628186

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Best of luck to both teams this afternoon. It has all the makings of a cracker. I hope one team doesn't run away with it, which wouldn't surprise me. I think whichever team mops up most breaking ball at midfield will win.

I'll be cheering on my Ulster brethren and hoping Sam comes north. There'll be serious celebrations in Donegal town tonight if it does.

A few Kerry lads over on another forum whinging about someone caught spying on their training sessions during the week. Probably bull. I don't think that would be McGuinness' style.

Donegal by 2.

thegadfly (Cavan) - Posts: 296 - 27/07/2025 10:12:17    2628200

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I think donegal will win the kickout battle giving them more possession around the middle third for their running game to see them home by a few point's

Flynn55 (Kerry) - Posts: 1 - 27/07/2025 10:28:47    2628202

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There's no denying that Kerry handled Armagh and Tyrone recently, and lot more easily than Donegal handled them earlier in the summer. It'll be Kerry, if there's anything in that formline.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4343 - 27/07/2025 10:37:15    2628205

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "There's no denying that Kerry handled Armagh and Tyrone recently, and lot more easily than Donegal handled them earlier in the summer. It'll be Kerry, if there's anything in that formline."
Those form lines don't work. Meath beat Kerry and Donegal hammered Meath. Counts for nothing. Doesn't mean Donegal will beat Kerry.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2555 - 27/07/2025 11:50:34    2628219

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I really don't know. Donegal are a very good, fit physical side with some cracking players. They can run up and down all day. This Kerry side however have something about them. As well as brilliant individual players they are battle hardened and have a steely resolve.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9830 - 27/07/2025 13:49:57    2628239

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Replying To endgame:  "Those form lines don't work. Meath beat Kerry and Donegal hammered Meath. Counts for nothing. Doesn't mean Donegal will beat Kerry."
Meath beating Kerry was a less significant result than the others mentioned imo. Would Meath have beaten Kerry 2 weeks ago at a semi? In a word, no.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4343 - 27/07/2025 14:30:14    2628249

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