 few ships there. What do you think, Kevin? There's a few moose still in there, the old deal debate jingle. You can thank Osh and Kelly for that one. Listen folks, thanks so much for tuning in. Thank you, McKayla for the news and the legend that is Ivan Borland and the power are plus. And of course, I've got another legend of a DJ here, Kevin Fury, producing the show this evening. Of course, Ivan's pictures up in the hall there, Kevin, where we haven't got there yet. Maybe maybe someday there'll be that might happen. It'll happen for you before it'll happen for me. I would imagine, Kevin, coming up on tonight's show, I'm going to have a few words from Donny Gall boss, Maxie Kern, after yesterday's tough defeat in the All-Ireland Ladies Senior Quarter Finals. Also here from Amar Gallagher, who gives a great insight into the future of Donny Gall, even in the depth of that defeat. A lovely chat to Amar, and she gives us our views on the hopes for the future. And on that future, our minor ladies footballers are playing Lytrum and Lissonski, this Wednesday evening, through and 7.30 at All-Ireland semi-final. A huge game for them against Lytrum. Get along there and support the girls, if you can. On the other huge games at the weekend, I'll be speaking shortly with Monah and legend Paul Finlay and top GA correspondent Jason Byrne. Paddy Bradley couldn't make it this season. His weekend rolled in from Sunday to Monday. I suppose he's due that, the Derry boys licking their runes a wee bit, so Paddy wasn't able to make it this evening. We'll talk to the two boys on just what happened with Derry and Monahan. Listen, we all expected the big two in Ireland to be in this All-Ireland final, but they certainly hadn't got their own real gutsy stuff from Monahan and Derry. And the locals seen here at the weekend, Senior Harlan group, Satanta, aged out Burt by four points. Burt must have been a few of the main men too, Liam McKinney and Rona McDermott. Closing the gap was small, but maybe on Satanta, he seemed a far away a few seasons ago, so Burt, coming back, Conor Garland, hitting ten points for them. Satanta's Jared Gilmour, as often as the case, was a standout player on the pitch, hitting nine points for Satanta man, Burt Plays and Union's next Satanta play, Bun Krana. But as I say, first we're going to look back to the studies game in Balabafe and I caught up with boss Maxi Kern after the match and he gave us an honest assessment of the game and the season that was. Maxi's been a season of highs and lows for Donegal ladies, but going up short against Dublin here, a very talented Dublin side today in the All-Ireland quarter final. Yeah, look, we were, as you said, we just came up short, you know, we knew we were up against a very formidable opponent and they definitely had brought their A game today and they put us to the sword, you know, they were very physical and it was a very intense battle and definitely something our guys haven't come up against before and, you know, referee today is known for letting it go and I think that, you know, that definitely should have done because they brought them, they really brought the fire and we weren't able to match it and I think that, you know, really blunted our forwarding and they're about to get scores and, you know, they picked us off then on the counter. So, listen, hats off, best team won today by a mile. Maxi, that's a Dublin side, of course, been in eighth of the last nine All-Ireland finals, so there are bouts every time we went through. We would have a rebuild this season. You got players back, you know, at half time, Kerry and Karen, come on, we'd give it a bit of a go at the start of the second half, you know, there was fight there. But at the end of the day, she said that Dublin team very well drilled defensively. It was like a two-on-one every time we came inside and then the pace that they broke was phenomenal. Yeah, look, you know, hugely athletic and, you know, they've kind of changed, I suppose, their way of playing this last couple of years. They've gone for these real athletes and, you know, they've, they are, look, they're, as you say, very well coached, you know, well able to defend and which, by whichever means fair or foul, you know, and, you know what I mean, that in the most respectful way, you know, they just don't let you in and, like, we all coach that in terms of trying to get her to play like that, but, you know, they definitely have achieved it and, like, hats off to them as a full value for the victory. Yeah, and Maxi, I suppose a lot of things had to go right for us today. You come into the game, you know, Jirlien was back. She obviously couldn't, you know, get into the team. Tanya Kennedy heading away and those players, you know, if you had those couple of players involved, what would have meant any difference here today? Ah, look, I don't know, maybe we would be disrespectful to Dublin though, they were just far superior today. You know, I don't think it's having them today would have been the big thing. It was maybe having them around for a while, where you had time to train like it just doesn't, the magic just doesn't happen on the day. You have to work hard and prepare for these things. And, you know, we've been up and down all season in terms of who we had available and, you know, an injury is one thing and other. And, but look, as you said, look, it was an absolute, it was a roller coaster, it was a huge privilege to be involved with that group. You know, we have some young girls coming in there and they were just absolutely amazing. And, you know, they can see the year out with their head held very high and that's all you can ask of your players is to give their level best and give everything. And our girls did that. So listen, that's the greatest compliment I can pay them. Yeah, in five years yourself, Maxie at the helm, you've put in some time to do any golf football. Can you just kind of give us an overview of this season? Because, you know, you've blotted a lot of youth in the league. It was a real tough league, the relegation. But then we come back one all-star and make it the All-Ireland quarter-final. What's your overview of the season? Look, you know, we've ended the year with a trophy, you know, which we didn't do last year. We got to All-Ireland semifinal and we had no silverware. So, look, the guards are able to finish up the year with a medal in their pocket, which is always lovely. But, you know, I think the other side of it is, I think we've left the team in a good place going forward. You know, there's seven or eight young girls there, you know, 21 and below that will be the backbone of this team for years to come. Yeah, look, there are a couple of older, you know, the state's ladies will call them, you know, that their days are coming to an end and, you know, and that's always sad. But listen, that's what happens every team. You know, you go into a transition and, you know, on cycles and there's a new going to come from Donegal with a minor team in an All-Ireland semifinal Wednesday night and, you know, and that's the future now and, look, I think we have to really tip our hat and bow our heads down to the service that some of the older guards have given and clap them on the back if they decide to right off into the sunset because of, you know, the there and that's right to do so. And, you know, we just get excited and get behind the younger group now and try and support them and, you know, get them to a level where they're able to get to quarterfinals and semifinals in the years ahead, then because I say this group of, I think that's our faffathollar and quarterfinal in a row or something, you know, so, look, they've done their bit and, you know, everybody is to say today you can hold their heads up high in terms of their effort. We didn't get over the line and, look, sometimes you just come up against a superior opponent on the day and I think that's what happened. Yeah, very awesome. Honest assessment there from Maxie Kernan. He said those players certainly deserve a clap and a back for everything they've done from Donegal and someone who has been on the trenches now a while herself, Emma Garras. She gave us his words after the game. We're in Balbalfe pits here after another one of our Dublin Donegal sagas. We come up short this time, unfortunately. Yeah, and, you know, as disappointing as it is, you know, we have to hold our heads high. I think they were a fantastic team and, you know, they really came out with a sense of vengeance today after last year and they definitely took their chances whenever they were on. We just couldn't stop them whenever the goal chances were there, so. Yeah, and favours for the All-Ireland and, of course, we had this top three tournament season. You know, with the relegation, a lot of new players in. They got some of the cavalry back and one All-Star, you know, beat me. So, a lot of highs and lows in the season but that team today weren't going to be beaten. That's it, and, like, I suppose, if you were to set us at the end of the league this year, that we'd be contesting an All-Ireland quarter-final like it wouldn't have been in our wildest dreams. Like, even at that stage, you know, our main goal was avoiding relegation and not falling down to intermediate championship. So, to come out from that, to win Ulster, to beat the All-Ireland champions, you know, in Meath two weeks ago and, you know, to give Dublin a fair enough run for their money today, it has been a really positive season whenever you're thinking like that. And, like, I have to say, if you look at the 16- and 17-year-olds in our team that have stood up and played against some of the top players in the country over this whole season, they've just really held their own. And I think there's a very, very positive future in store for Johnny Gough football. Yeah, and we just mentioned, you know, the opening period of the game, the pace that Dublin were breaking at, you know, we played to a possession, but we were finding it hard to punch holes in them and then many of the other end of the pitch seemed to be able to get that extra player in the round the back. There was a week kick at the start of the second half where we came at them, and we were in an unfortunate turn-over, and they broke up the pitch. And just at that point, I felt the crowd was getting behind us, and there seemed to be that wee bit of a kick, but it didn't materialise. Yeah, that's it. And, like, I think at halftime, whenever we went inside, we were definitely, you know, playing a bit too safe. You know, each of us were doing our man-marking jobs, and we were just solely focused on that. But they were just being more physical than we were being, and, you know, whenever there was a 50-50 break, you know, they were winning all of those 50-50 breaks. So we had to make a decision in the second half. Either we were going to go for it or that we were just going to play safe, and we weren't going to win the game by playing safe. So at the end of the day, there's no difference to getting beat by one point or 12 points, and that's the choice that we took. And unfortunately, we did lead goals then because of that. But I don't think any of us will regret that. Like, we had to give it our best foot forward, and, like, nobody is playing games football to just be safe. Like, you have to go out and try and win no matter what the consequences. And I don't think that the scoreline reflects maybe certain periods of the match today, whenever we really brought it to them. But their physicality definitely gave us a lesson today, and I think, you know, as the game went on, we definitely became more physical, but I think, you know, it was probably a bit too late then. Yeah. And just look into the future. You're out here with all these young girls and wee boys, and for a player you've been very kind with your timing. Signing autographs. You're happy now that not only this age group, but the young players that are on the team, there's a good future for Danygo. Absolutely, and, you know, I probably wouldn't have thought the same at the start of this year. Like, even whenever I came back in late December, there probably was maybe a seven or 80-year age gap between me and the next player, which is never a nice place to be, as one of the senior players, of course, but, you know, we did sort of slowly and surely come back, but these young girls were forced into position that, you know, maybe wouldn't have... Other counties wouldn't have players in that maybe for three or four more years, and, like, they've had to layer, and on their feet, they've had to layer on how to play senior football. There's been no adjustment period for them whatsoever. You know, you're looking at, like, even Abigail and Kitty Douds again. I know we keep speaking about these two girls, but these are two girls that are just out of under-16 football, never mind minor football, and, you know, they've just had to... to just been throwing them the defense and layering on their feet, and, you know, what a year they've had. But, you know, there's other players there that you also have to, you know, call out. Like, even the likes of Nicole McLaughlin there, you know, girls that are being called back year after year, whenever they're sort of half of a decision made that maybe they're not coming back, but just that love that they have for the county jersey, you know, it has always been there. So, like, I think it's really important, you know, to give those girls the credit as well. When it's year after year, and, you know, the excitement maybe isn't there as much anymore, but your love for the jersey is. And, you know, that's our real credit is those girls that are coming back when the chips are down, when they think that their time is up. But yet, they don't want to leave these younger students by themselves. But I think at this stage, whenever you're looking at the future of Donegal and, you know, what we're leaving behind, you know, I'm really, really hopeful for, you know, what's coming down the line as well and how these girls have coped in the year that we've had. They've just been immense. Yes, Amir Gala there for a play there. Lovely to talk there after a match. And now we turn our attention to the All-Ireland semi-finals from the weekend. I'm joined, I'm delighted to say I'm joined by Top Sports. Call them us with the sun and proud Killy Beggs, man. Jason Byrne, Jason Milcombe, the show. Hi, TV. How are you? Oh, turn away, my man, turn away. I'm glad to say you said this was a good full forward line when you text me earlier. We're joined by the Ballet Bay bomber, Paul Finlay. How are you, Paul? Good, Brendan. Not a bother, thanks. Paul, you didn't have any nicknames to get. No, that would be a good one for you, the Ballet Bay bomber. I can see that, that big boom in the air for you. I don't think you're referring to as bomber, if it's a bomber listen or somebody else you have in your mind, but no, Japp is as much as it went for me. I'm sure you heard that one about the players. Well, yeah, I did, I did, I did, I did, surely. Tell me, I was just wondering, lads, from the weekend there, of course, we'll start with Monaghan, Paul and yourself. And, you know, the script for the weekend was certainly torn up in many ways by both sides. I know in Monaghan talking, a lot of friends, of course, killing the Velser, Cousin of Mine and the Odds and all that, you know, Monaghan, we're going up there, they won the match, I'd seen you messaging, there was a bit up about yourself and Desi Moan and that. It was the only belief for this game was inside Monaghan, but certainly for the first hour of that game, that belief, you know, you was well trusted in terms of the team and how they applied themselves. I would have to doubt, look, it's for us all to chat about, you know, the odds and, you know, what's the chances. But I have no doubt that, you know, Vinny Corey's mind was set on a win and he had instilled that in the team. You could see the way they went about their business and they had only one thing on their mind. Look, an off lot, I was quoted as saying, an off lot had to go right for Monaghan in order for them to tackle Dublin. And one of the things being, you know, that they would have to bring an absolutely brilliant performance and the Dubs would have to be somewhat off. I think Monaghan did bring a pretty huge performance and to their credit, you know, just probably in the first 20 minutes, just could have done, could have got more on the board. You know, there was a couple of scoring opportunities there that just didn't come off a couple of goal opportunities for Conor McCarthy and Reymek and Espy. That's another day, you know, they hit the back of the net and I felt even watching the game when they didn't go. I sort of felt these are the things we need to be going on our way today in order to get the win. And sure enough, it came to the end and we were still right in it. But, you know, just level pegging with Dublin just wasn't enough and they were able to, you know, finish the stronger. So, you know, I have full belief that the lads went up, you know, expecting to win, expecting to get over the hurdle of Dublin, whereas everybody else, you know, maybe felt it was a, everybody else outside Monaghan were maybe looking at the bookies, looking at the media, you know, Monaghan written off, but it suited Monaghan, you know, going into the game that way but a few of us, like, while I didn't expect Monaghan to win, I felt that if they delivered a huge performance, you know, they could come close and, you know, I suppose that's what they did in the end. Interesting. Jason, you know, what Paul's talking about there with the gold chances that there's the feeling that there was going to be a strong finish from Dublin, you know, that was the expectancy. So, in his heart, he was thinking Monaghan probably would need maybe a five-point lead or something, get it half-time, to stem that inevitable tide that did come. Was that your feeling throughout the game were you impressed with how much Monaghan stayed in the match and how many holes they were punching and I suppose the way they took the game to Dublin? Yeah, they were just, they were just fair to sprint and fairness, like, and as Paul said, just those gold chances, like, you really need them going in against the Dublin team in Croke Park but, like, they caused Dublin so many problems and, you know, Dublin looked lost at times in terms of what Monaghan were bringing to the table and just that sheer intensity, like, you know, Dublin were looked completely shadow of themselves in terms of the team that hammered me on the other and in quarterfinals and, you know, like, you have one expected that, you know, third quarter press that Dublin put on to come and Monaghan got through that and, you know, it was really, really game on coming down this stretch and, but, like, it must be so demoralising when the tanks kind of come in close to empty and it's 10 minutes to go and next thing, Karen Kilkenny lands in and Dean Rock lands in and Jack McCaffrey lands in and then Brian Fenton just takes the game but the scruff of the neck and Rock gets that scrappy goal. I definitely think the seven points flattered Dublin and, you know, no way was there seven points between the teams, absolutely not a chance and, like, it's just Monaghan just ran out of gas, like, and it's, you know, it's so hard to, but it's so hard to just stay with Dublin for that long, but Monaghan did that and they were just so unlucky to kind of unravel near the end, like, but, you know, Monaghan's been performing, performers is always, like, we're just outstanding, like, then, you know, Connor McManus and it was been a lot of commentary on whether he was there, will he go, but, you know, everyone in Monaghan will be praying these days, like, because it was just another absolute masterclass for him, it's, you know, it's a joy to watch this man playing football and, you know, it would have been awful shame if we weren't watching him playing for Monaghan again next year, because he's still right up there in that elite level at the age that he is and please God, he sticks around and I'm sure, I'm sure Paul will agree and, yeah, like, they've so much hope going into next year, like, you know, this was only Vinay Kori's first year. No one would have said in a million years that Monaghan would get to another in semi-finals, but just the resilience that they have that came from staying in division one and then, you know, all these big clutch moments, the clutch seemed to be the buzzword during Monaghan this year, you know, in terms of beating through on with the last minute goal and getting through the group stages and then the penalty should have went over our mat. They just never know when they're beating and, you know, Vinay's only in year one. They've so much to look forward to, you know, Bugsy Malone, Dermot Hidham in the early minor final and, you know, hopefully, like, the likes of McManus and none of the rest of them kind of decided to call the day because they've been massive to 2024 to look forward to it despite this appointment and despite the fact that they fully went to Crook Park believing they would beat Dublin and that showed in their football and it's just, it's an off the team they never got there, but, you know, it's hugely exciting for them going forward, I think. Yeah, exciting, surely, Paul. Listen, Jason makes a couple of good points here, you know, McManus and his effect. I mean, it's the same as Michael Murphy here, you know, I'd count them two things some there in terms of his effect on the squad and the team and his ability in match play. Listen, Jason was in, you know, survived division one, Aggie, and, you know, the second half against Jerome, the rematch against Derry. There's the thing we've won about, you know, a wee bit of an extra grind with teams. You know, the Donegal defeat, you know, was hard to fathom. Then you come back and beat our mass. So what Jason's on about Derry, you know, Vinnie Corey and, of course, his brother, Martin, highly regarded coach. There seemed to be a lot of learning from Monaghan this year, you know, there was highs and lows on it, but certainly huge progression and on the back of the miners coming through, you know, there's great buzz in Monaghan football currently. There certainly is, and, you know, the expectations were low because Vinnie was appointed late and, you know, there was this feeling that the team was really going into transition and, you know, while Connor and Darren and these fellas, Carol and Connor, had all stayed on, you just were sort of questioning the effect that they would be able to have on the game and at the top level that the game is. So these guys all, you know, came perfectly managed, it must be said, by Vinnie. Like, you know, what a first series you have to have. And like, so he's got so many things right, you know, he's been, he hasn't been afraid to make big calls, maybe leave to like a corner, Darren sitting on the bench when he felt the time was right. And he's, he ran into a few bad performances and then was able to get the team to adapt, both defensive or both tactically and, you know, just trying to, you know, move the game on and getting lads to lift their play. Like, I go back to the semi-final, the Ulster semi-final versus Derri and Monaghan were way off at that day. Like, you know, Derri had them beaten, you know, maybe 25 minutes into the game, like they were six or seven up and Monaghan were so sort of void of anything that you would associate with them. Normally, you know, really intense and, you know, getting in Derri's faces, et cetera. So they obviously had to address themselves down and look at that performance and they certainly come back to set the park a few weeks later and, you know, put an awful lot of things right. And, you know, that's when their season took off again. And, you know, you talk about all those clutch moments. You know, it's just a really good sign of a team that just, you know, come out with performances like that and come out with victories, you know, when defeat looks sort of, you know, that it's on the cards. And, you know, teams can sort of just go off, like, you know, lesser teams and lesser players will just maybe accept defeat on some of those days when, you know, they've sort of said, well, you know what, we regained our status in division one. We found a way through the group and, you know, maybe a defeat to kill there. But the never said attitude was instilled by Corey. And, you know, that is Vinnie in a nutshell. Like, I played with him for a long time. And, you know, that is, he believed in himself. Every day he went out, there was nothing could face Vinnie Corey. Like, he took on all the big players down his career. And he more often than not had good days on them. And you can see that in his team as well. He's really, he has them steeled. And then, as I said, very good tactically and we're able to adapt and change, you know, game to game. And, you know, right up to the match on Saturday evening, you know, there's a few unexpected calls. I went into the ground myself, not expecting to see K&Q start and possibly not, I wasn't expecting Conor McManus to start, you know, but he just went with his big players, the guys that he, you know, knows well down the years and he went with them from the start, knowing that Manu, who needed a big one, and if they're gonna win the game, they needed a big performance from all those guys and he couldn't afford to leave them on the line. So, you know, it's just all these calls. You know, Conor having such an effect and an influence on both, you know, the RMI game and the game on Saturday. Carlo Conor playing such good football this year. Darren's still been the warhorse that he always has been. He's just really, really positive. The question is on everybody's lips, is there more for those guys to give? I've been sort of thinking that we can't expect any more from these fellas over the last couple of seasons and yet they keep on giving and keep coming back to give more. And I'm not gonna write them off this evening either because although they're probably not even thinking about it right now, they're off having a good time some or I hope I'm having a few beers. You know, they let the winter settle in and, you know, I'm sure Vinny will have a few conversations with them and, you know, he'll give them plenty of time to make the calls for themselves. But as you say, lads, it is positive for Manuel and it bodes well. Really strong management team in place now in their first season. I'm sure they look forward to next season and maybe making some more changes and bringing some players in. And with the miners coming on as well, like they're a few years away with the 17s. But even for those fellas, seeing Manuel in that senior level, playing in All-Ireland semi-final, it can only give them great impetus to want to stay involved and to keep doing the things that they need to be doing to make sure that they're playing at the senior level. And yeah, it is very positive for Manuel. But, you know, it is hard to get away from the fact that you don't want to be coming across like, oh, didn't we do well to get to an All-Ireland semi-final? I can assure you Vinny Corey will be thinking of how can we actually win an All-Ireland title over the next, you know, four or five years? And, you know, that's where his mindset will be. Yeah, well, it's good even to have that mindset. I like it, Paul, indeed. I'm just looking at these. Was it still Jason, again, that was built more on defence and even though the two teams in Monon went about them, you know, we talk about the Magic 20-point mark to one of Crow Park. I mean, Dublin got that, Monon were in 13. I suppose it was the All-Ireland, the pitch actually maybe Dublin defending. Maybe that we hadn't maybe given enough credit for in terms as a group and individually because really, I suppose, Wiley and Bascale and, you know, Manny and Duffy, you know, Connell Kille and the Valfa and even Mohan and Fenton. Like, Monon were, I suppose, stopping the lifeblood of a lot of the Dublin attacks. But it's maybe the other end of the pitch where Dublin's defending was maybe the actual foundation for this game. Yeah, it's a good point, Brent. And, you know, the Dublin forwards get a lot of the kudos from that. But they can defend as good as anybody, like, you know, like in terms of dropping bodies back. But just as a general point, like I just highlighted in the Sunday game last night as well, you know, Michael Fitzsimons has just been absolutely outstanding for them and fall back once again. You know, I think he's just been, you know, James McCarthy's getting a lot of the line out as well and rightly so for what he's doing around the middle of the field and what he's doing driving forward. But, you know, Mick Fitzsimons has just been super and Debbie Byrne alongside him as well. You know, own merchants got a great engine on him as well. Like, sometimes the matchups can go against him in terms of size and that kind of trouble doubling early on when he was kind of coming up against David Duchet in the quarterfinal against Mayo. But, you know, that, that Dublin defense, John Small is just an absolute warrior as well. You know, he always picks up the token yellow card and he's always kind of on the nice with the referees. But, you know, God, you'd love to have him in your team every day you go out. Like, he's just outstanding. Like, and because he's a bit rougher in the edges, maybe he doesn't always get the credit he deserves. And, you know, you have to hand it to them as well. In terms of when you look at the list of quality defenders they've lost in recent years, in particular, like you think of Johnny Cooper, Philly, McMahon, Kane, O'Sullivan, you know, the transition there has been seamless, even though like the big part of the puzzle has been that man, Stephen Clarkson, coming back in as well. And, you know, Saturday was the 13th championship clean sheet in our own. He's going for the big 1-4 now against Kerry and he's going for all-erland medal number nine. I think himself and Simon's and McCarthy can get that ninth medal to be the first poppers ever to get there. Like, so there's a lot of history at play here. It doesn't seem possible, but there you go. You know, you had a thought even when we were growing up, you know, that if you get your hands on one, you're doing well. You know, it just seems crazy. But listen, that it's been totally deserved. Yeah, absolutely. Like, you know, like Clarkson is such an enigma, you know, when he went away, everyone thought, oh, that's it, we'll never see him again. Like, you know, but he just waltzes back in as number 16 in the Lester Championship game against Low, the next thing he's back in the team. And once he got back in the team, he was never going to be out of the team again, was he? You know, probably hard for those younger keepers trying to come through. But like, you know, what he's done and to come back and not even reinvent himself, but to just come back and, you know, portray it that he's just, it's like he's never been away. You know, what a fella. The two of yous came up against him many times as well, lads. Like, you know, it's hard to believe he's still going. I think he turns 42 in December. So it's just unbelievable. What a talent they have, what a career he's had there. You know, just on a bit, all them forwards were shut down or the forward play, Paul, of course, the one that wasn't on the day was Costello. And six points from six shots in that first half, you know, and you just think even taking that out of it, you know, adding to the brilliance of McManus, there may have been something for Monning to grip on. The fact that they couldn't get a goal as well, that had a huge sway in it. He was the only one that really shone in that forward line. He was the only one that shone. And look, if you're nitpicking and in hindsight, it's great. We all look back now and look at the effect that Conor Costello had in the game, and especially in the first half and, you know, maybe ask the question, as I say, in hindsight, you know, you're braying on tools sitting on the bench. You know, was he a better man, Mark? Or, you know, on the leg of Conor Costello than Conor Boyle, who's got used to playing in the halfback line for Monning, from centre half, or wing back. And he does a lot of go-forward work for Monning. So, look, Costello was having a big impact. He was the guy that was getting the scores and keeping, you know, doubling, taking over when Monning were stifling them and where Monning were taking the energy out of their attacks. He was the one guy that was standing up and kicking those points. So, you know, that was highlighted and rightfully so on the Sunday game last night. And, look, it is something that Monning will look back on. But, you know, it's a game of football. There's so many things, you know, makes up the game. There's so many things that happen, you know, referees' calls, sort of, chances missed. I think, overall, you have to, you know, balance it all up with how the game went. Monning will look back and say that there was opportunities there to get more scores on the board. And they probably, you know, on a different day, they would have hit the back on the net, you know, just didn't happen for them. And, you know, and those were the chances that you felt that Monning needed to really, you know, get under Dublin's game more. And they might have had a favourite six-point lead going in at halftime. Who knows what that had been enough, because, you know, doubling, you'd have to expect what came with something more earlier in the game. I was quite surprised by how, and I'm not sure if it's a vulnerability in Dublin's game, but Monning actually dominated possession. And, you know, I was expecting Dublin to come after Monning and have a hell of a lot more, you know, and they really, you know, right up through that third quarter, as you mentioned, Jason, like Monning and we're all in possession, playing it on their terms, slowing it right down to the way that Monning have liked to do this campaign and, you know, playing to their system. You know, I didn't feel Dublin was going to let Monning do that, but, you know, that did it, and it took to the last. Now, they ended up getting it right, you know, the time they're on and, you know, they come in in the last 10 minutes and, you know, got the scores that they needed. But if things that went differently, you know, they might have found themselves in a worse spot, but it's all here, say, and as I say, it's grand, talking about these things now and hindsight, you know, I think, say, Monning probably and the management team probably got 99.9% of the calls right on the day, and, you know, it just wasn't enough. So, I guess you just have to look at it as a game of football, that there's so many things happening within the game, that the air gets thinner at that stage, like all Ireland's semi-final in Crow Park, you know, the place would rock and the dubs were in. I could count a few seats, maybe up on the top rows that were missed, you know, that were empty, like, but out from that, it was a full house, and, you know, the bison blue were giving it sucks on the hill every time Monning went to, you know, Rory Beggin, et cetera, went to take a free kick and Connor and that, and, you know, to their credit, they stood up and, you know, nailed a lot of their kicks and even with that pressure on them. So, that's just the nature of the game. It's the nature of the stage that you're at at the All-Ireland semi-final, you know, it played out the way it did. Yeah, yeah, they were indeed, even though the Meath crowd tried to take a few of them out, just a few flares, but, you know, just on that last 10 minutes, you know, before we flip over to Derrigame there, one, five to two points. Listen, Vinny Corey did unload the bench. He realised that there was going to be an opening up of the match and tried his best to stem the tide, but as we spoke about the class that was on the pitch, then, just was going to prove too much in the end. Yeah, absolutely. Like, you know, I thought, you know, like, the likes of Kieran Kilkenny must be very annoyed that he's not starting for Dublin now. It's something he hasn't been used to in recent times. And when you throw a player like that into the fray, like, later on, like he has in the last two games, he's kind of like a man possessed when he comes in. And McAfley's getting better and better all the time. He got a great score. And that kind of seemed like a bit of a turning point for Dublin as well when he got that. And, like, not only does it bring in the fresh legs, it seemed to kind of lift everybody else, you know, and as you said, when the likes of Pascal didn't fire, like the likes of Fenton then stood up and, you know, Dean Rock is a man who can't be happy with having to sit on the bench either. And, you know, if he's just going to be that impact player now, he's so great. But they call those great Dublin teams under Jim Gavin. It was always when they rolled out the cavalry and those all-earning finance against me over, they actually won, they always won those games. Like, and it's back to that again. Like, and Dublin seemed to be missing that a bit, maybe in the last two years when they lost those all-earning semi-finals against Mayo and Kerry last summer because the likes of McCaffrey and Manning in particular weren't there. And they've had Pascal step up big time this summer, even though he didn't have a good game at the weekend. You can bet your bottom dollar, he'll be, you know, feeling a bit of hate to maybe keep his place in the team for the finals. So, you know, that Dublin training ground over the next two weeks is going to be a very interesting place to be, to say the least. And, you know, Jack O'Connor was speaking afterwards, saying that they didn't bring all these lads back to the crack and back for the cracks, you should I say. And Pat Gilleroy's back in there as well. And, you know, a man who's such a deep thinker of the game and a genius of a coach in many ways. And he seems to be the fixer, just knitting that's needed. He sorts it out, he brings people back in. He seems to be this person, just knits everything together. That's what you hear in the background. And then he is carrying the water, you know, so humble. And if you like, you know, he doesn't want to be the man that's behind the scenes. The words that you hear is that he orchestrated a lot of these guys to come back in. Yeah, I wouldn't doubt that for a second either. Like, you know what I mean? Like, you know, you've heard stories of times in the past as well, when Jeremy Connolly would have been a bit rough around the edges, but it was always Gilroy who could keep him in check and get the very, very best out of him and make sure he always had that commitment. And, you know, what a player he turned out to be. And he always credits Gilroy as one of the main influence in his career, because obviously they were club mis, at St. Vincent's as well. The Dublin have been very coy and cute and very quiet about what his exact role is in the set-up. But I'd say just having him there as a man manager and sounding board for a lot of the players, particularly the younger ones, I'd say his impact in there is more than we'll ever know. Yeah, certainly. Paul, you know, you were saying obviously from a mono perspective, you were heading up there to win the match. The Dairy Camp went down very much on the radar this season. You know, for a team that won back to back Ulsters, there was very little talk about them. Very, you know, business-like performance, you know, without ever setting the world at light against Cork. So they put into this game a bit like yourselves, team of the teams that they've written off, you know, and they really, again, took the game to Dublin. We were anyway surprised by that. A lot of us were thinking it could be very cagey, given Dairy's last few performances at Crow Park, but it was anything but. And I think they're realising a bit like Monaghan, you've got to go and take the game two teams, otherwise you're going to be just worn down and beaten. So, again, an unbelievably brave performance from the Dairymen. Yeah, seriously, Bray, they really took the game to Kerry. There was no such thing as them sitting back and trying to defend or, you know, keep Clifford quiet by doubling or tripping up on him. The left, Chrissie McKay, to his own devices as such, and they went after Kerry. Garth McInless was outstanding the whole game through. Like, he really carried the fight to Kerry. Numerous occasions, he got the early... He set up the early goal for Brendan Rodgers and was very, very unlucky not to get it on the scoresheet himself for the goal in the second half. And Young Toner, maybe, you know, McInless again right at the bottom of it, you know, could have made the game that bit different, had those chances gone in. So, Dairy, look, it was perfectly set up for them, wasn't it? Like, no more than Monaghan, everybody writing them off, which was probably a tad unfair like Monaghan, but, you know, when you're in that setup, you know, you can use that to your advantage. And I'm sure they're wearing knuckling down, you know, feeling that they weren't getting much respect for what they put in over the last couple of years. And as I say, here in the all... Let all the outside nice, like, the media and the supporters will maybe chat, you know, let them have a cry about it, possibly, but the Dairy footballers and the management team, I'm sure, were, you know, licking their lips and really knuckling down to the task. And you could see that that's what they did. They held no fear for Kerry, that they came out to... They went to win the game and it was credit to them that they'll probably feel more aggrieved than Monaghan this morning or to this afternoon or evening that they probably would feel at the left-up behind them, because they had umpteen chances, you know, with both goals and points laid on in the game. You know, they put themselves in a really prominent position and, you know, they had Kerry on their all sorts of pressure and trouble. And just where are they able to get the scores when they needed the most? And then, you know, Kerry just, you know, having the answers, like, you know, the same as Dublin when, you know, the game was coming to that final stages and coming to the melting point, you know, they had the guys to step up and, you know, Stephen O'Brien had a massive impact from, you know, from the second half and, you know, Clifford being the guy that he is, like, he's absolutely off the charts, like, in terms of some of the points he's kicking and the pressure that he's under while he's taking them on. You know, he's going to be a real thorn in Dublin's side, as we know, it's kind of a... That goes without saying, like, but, you know, who they're going to get to actually pick them up is something that we can look forward to seeing unfold. But from a dairy point of view, they can be very proud of their efforts, but I'm sure they're well-disappointed this evening and that they didn't actually get over the line. Yeah, yeah, listen, it was a huge chance. I just knew you're on about evolution and dairy coming and getting better. And as Paul was saying there, you know, McKinnon is, of course, McCloskey, Rogers, McGuigan, some of the performances there were top-top-top. Everybody was doing their job. The one Chris and McKiggy can't fault me, did his job to the best any defender. You just can't legislate for that. But what 11 at halftime? Like, you know, I couldn't believe this. I was rushing back from the ladies' game in Balbuffet. And like, I was never expecting that. And I was just saying to Paul there, but Monhan's 13 points, you know. Listen, you know, they had that kicked at halftime. I was thinking to myself, well, if we do that again, you know, they're going to be all there in the final, of course. It was only four points in. They were managed to muster up in the second half and really, you know, they just seemed to run out of steam. Kerry seemed to grasp that wee bit of a hold of the game and of course, you know, you're mixing them. Of course, Clever, Graham Sullivan, Sean O'Shea, when the game opened up as well, I thought was telling, but he needed that bit of space. And I suppose that very rigid, rigid defense just opened enough to allow those few gaps to come through. But again, it was Derry's best performance this season. We hadn't really seen it coming. But again, as Paul was saying with Monhan, they were coming to get on down all there in the final, even though the rest of us weren't expecting it. Yeah, absolutely, Brandon. Like, you know, we were talking to Karen Mina after the game and he was just absolutely devastated. And shock was the word he used because they fully expected. And, you know, he fully expected standing on the line with 10 minutes to go, that they were going to be in that final against Dublin in two weeks. As you said, all the big players were just absolutely outstanding. McKinless, you know, was just absolutely superb. Connor McCloskey as well. You know, Karen McFall was back blocking on the line when Kerry were coming through. Like, you know, there was a lot of near misses in that second half. Like you said, they direct up on 11 in the first half. They did six wades in the game and five of those came in the second half. There was something about when they were kicking into that whole 16-end, the ball just didn't seem to go over the bar. And now your toner kind of sweated a decent gold chance when they were a point in front. And that would have opened up a four-point gap. And then McKinless went through again. And, you know, German O'Connor gets back for Kerry and produces a mammoth block. And then when they're two points up with six minutes to go, like, Kerry are coming through. And that's when McFall makes the block to deny Jason Poli, I think it was. And then McKinless is done for a stupid free. Like, I didn't think it was a free at all. The other ones were going off the head about it. And, you know, Kerry popped that over and then it's back to a point. And then they get five points in a row after that. That's right. You know, Stephen O'Brien was outstanding when he came on in fairness. A really, really set up the shift because Kerry were getting battered on that right-sided offense. Graham O'Sullivan and Paul Morphilic, you know, when Derry ran it then, Kerry were getting really, really, like the holes were being punched left, right and center. But again, like just no more than the opposite day before, but maybe even on a finer level, just Clifford and Moshe and Stephen O'Brien when he came on, just absolutely excellent. Like, like some of the things Clifford was doing yesterday, I was there, like the first two scores he got were probably the best two. Yeah. Can't do anything about it. No, nothing. Like he was just dancing in front of Chrissy and just bang over the bar with the left. But like there's a picture of him. And there's a picture of him that's doing the rounds in social media today. Like, and it's just, it just defies logic. You'd nearly need to get the foam roller out for them. So you've just been looking at it like it's, you know, he's just absolutely outstanding and, you know. Some of us have to work in a Monday. You see, you're having the crack across social media. Like me and Paul out in the road, they're saving. Paul, I know you're an underage game there. Do you have to fly on? I actually could need it. No, Paul, I know you're just listening. Paul made his stuff. I know you're catching up your young lads playing there. I appreciate you have to go. Paul, as ever, thanks so much for those words. And I'll catch up later on the year, right? Thanks, lads. Thanks, man. Paul Finlay there. Monaghan Legends. That'll go well with Ballet Bay. Watch out there in the Monaghan Club Championship now. I had left. What's going to be going on? Jason, would you hang on there? We're going to take a quick break. I want to just ask you a few questions about Donegal as well, if you have a minute. Lovely. Good man. Green Shoes' big summer sale is now on, both in store and online, with up to 40% off men's, women's and children's footwear. Get great savings on the biggest names in footwear, including Riker, Skechers and Tamaris. Also Echo, Heavenly Feet, Oona Healy and many more. Shoes, boots, sandals and trainers. Bag of Argan today, a Green Shoes' big summer sale now on, in store in the Rikenean, Fokara and online at greenshoes.com. Hey, John, quick, write this number down. 91 48 234. Say that again, Mick. 91 48 234. So what's that, Mick? The number for Fleming Doors. Fleming Doors? No, no, Fleming Doors. You know, industrial doors, garage doors, roller doors, insulated doors. Ah, OK, Mick. Give me that number again. 91 48 234. Fleming's Engineering Solutions for 150 Years. Call us now on 074 91 48 234. 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And there's free admission entertainment every weekend. Yes, welcome back. Final few minutes of the show I'm joined by the one and only Jason Byrne. Jason, you've had to go a long way for a good woman, which is part of life. You know, you're away out in the afternoon there. How's life down there? Ah, good D.B. Good. Yeah, we're getting married in three weeks, so it's so good to manage. Yeah, it's so good. Yes, boy, stag's done without any hindrance. You know, we speed wobble the stag at you. Everything went well. Everything went well. Yeah, I think we only won hospitalisation and won less, so I would have taken that on the Friday. I think he told me about it, because you weren't there. Ha, ha, ha, just as well, I just as well. A quick question there. Don't worry, just asking on Facebook there, do you think Kerry'll target any Dublin players like they did Shane McGuigan? I'm not too sure if that was a targeting or it seemed to be a couple of them collisions came from different players. Was that if McGuigan was in the wrong place at the wrong time or did you think he was targeted? No, I don't think he was targeted. I just think the way the way that Shane Ryan was coming through with the ball, that McGuigan was just a bit deeper than he was. And, you know, you could see why a free could have been given, but just, you know, Kerry'll make the argument that Ryan was kind of protecting himself. But it's just the fact that he happened to put the ball over the bar then that Kerry probably felt a wee bit more aggrieved by it. But then like on the flip side of that is, Clifford was booked for a challenge on McGuigan that probably looked like a bit of a harsh booking. So maybe there was two kind of canceling each other out. But the main ones, the main one that the Derry people kind of feel aggrieved with was the one when McKinless was charged to have fouled Stephen O'Brien. And that point could Kerry back within one and then when they kicked the five in a row. So like the Shane Ryan incident, Bernickener is getting a lot of air time today. But I think it's just the fact that he scored that maybe Derry supporters and a few people think it should have been flagged like. But, you know, maybe he was protecting himself as well. But he plays outfield for his club. I don't know if people forget that too. So we probably knew what he was up. Yeah, yeah. Listen, it was a couple of great kicks. This is this keeper thing. I still can't get my head around it. We didn't even mention begging in the last chat, you know, unless in that series. Just now, I want to ask you a question just a bit before I get there. Just can you give us your your winner in the final? Are you aging like the rest is? Well, I am annoyed towards the dubs. But what are you thinking? And this is just on the back of maybe the semi-final last year when Dublin were missing the All-Ospirit Manion, McAvery, you know, and obviously Conn was injured as well. Now, you can't just judge a game on a game, but it looked like Dublin maybe had that extra bit there that Kerry hadn't. And from the semi-final, I'm still thinking that way. What's your what's your head telling you? I'm based on the weekend purely the way I'm leaning slightly towards Kerry, because I think they came up against a more skilled outfit than Derry. And that's no disrespect for Monaghan. Like Monaghan were outstanding as well. But I think just Dublin's performance in some aspects of their play in Saturday will definitely worry them. I think Kerry have a lot to improve on, obviously, as well. You know, they've only considered two goals in this championship, but Derry could have got three or four yesterday. And, you know, Paddy Talley will be fuming over that when they're training down in the centre of excellence between Tralee and Kalarney over the next two weeks. But, you know, I think Kerry don't really have any injuries coming to the final either. And Dublin have no real high profile ones either. But I think like some of Kerry's lads don't get a lot of the blood. It's like Gavin White was outstanding, you know, and their midfielder surviving very well without David Moran. German O'Connor's really, really improving and stepped up to that mantle. Jack Barry didn't have his best day yesterday. He can only get better. Few lads like Dara Moynihan and Adrian Spillane have a bit to touch up on as well. But once David clappers in the pitch, as you said, there's nothing you can do about it when he's in form and he's only going to be better in two weeks. So I think he can be the difference. Yeah, yeah, could be right. Could be right. I could be wrong. You never know, Jason. Alex, you've got me on the fence now. But listen, the weak question, what do you fare? You're just at the end. Jason, the fact that you're Dunnegalma, obviously you're steep in GA, Kelly Beggs and your work now, how did you see the Dunnegal saga this year playing out around the rest of the country? Because it was a wee bit of dirty washing, you know, being aired and all that there. What was your feeling looking at it from outside the county? Well, obviously, like I was always looking at it as a Dunnegalman, but the reaction everywhere else. Like, I was going to games and going and going to games, like all around Leinster and Connacht. And, you know, everyone was coming over to you saying, what's the story in Dunnegal? Like, every single game you went to, four or five people were coming up to you from county board folk to ex-players to other journalists to everything. You know, the Academy Saga was probably the big one. And you always had the shadow of Murphy retiring, kind of hanging over everything. The Academy Saga was the big one. And then obviously you had Paddy Carr leaving his manager with just a lead game to go and team all pretty much relegated. But, you know, in terms of all in the pitch, that result down in Ennis was massive for the group because they just couldn't buy one. You know, Dave Decgrade went against Kerry on that dirty night in Balboffay in the league, but it just all went downhill from there. But, you know, for the group, I remember chatting the one ban after that one in Ennis and it just meant so much to them. And I was delighted for them for that. Like, and then beating Monahen as well, really put them into the bonus territory, even though they got that big reality check again against Taron in Balboffay. But like, the only way is up. And we were chatting to Michael Murphy last week. He was doing promotions for the De Mineral Erdent Final. And, you know, he said, and I think no one will disagree with him. The big thing is now is to not let the managerial saga roll on again as it did last year because that had such a big impact on the 23 campaign and they can't let it happen again. So hopefully that appointment is made swiftly and made properly. I have no idea who's going to be in the frame for it. Murphy had made it as well. No one's going to be queuing up for it. Maybe that's the case, I'm not sure. I'm so busy with everything else having a time to delve into it. But like, just that appointment is vital because they're going to have a stronger squad next year, regardless what the lads who have to come back in. So that's a good thing to look forward to. A lot of young players got really vital champ Egypt experience this year. In terms of the academy, hopefully that whole thing gets back up and running. There's an external review that's on the table. There's a lot of finds from it that need to be addressed. That's going to take a long time. All this will come the lights at the end of the tunnel after a dark few months and hopefully across the board, not just for the senior team, but for everyone involved in Gunningall GA. Things can be on the up and we can get back talking about football matters instead of things that are going on in the boardroom and everything else. There's a lot of great people in the County board who are dedicated their lives to this thing. So hopefully everything can just start on that upward curve again for 2024 and we can get excited about Gunningall again because the County as a whole has just taken an awful kick in this year and we don't want that. No one wants to see that. It's an amateur organisation. There's volunteers left, right and centre and hopefully we can all be positive in our chat about Gunningall again next year because it has been a very, very tough time for everyone involved. Yeah, we're just doing the last minute. If you just take it, there's an implementation, as you said, advice from that Crow Park, looking or set up in the fallout between the Academy. There's now been a group set up from outside the County to go implement that and look at the strategy, which I was a bit surprised at. That seems like you're taking it another level in terms of we can't do anything for yourself. I wasn't that happy about that, but just if we get those players back, those six or seven players missing, you know, where Gunningall competed, particularly that game they beat Monaghan. You know, there is a core group there. You know, we're just down to the last 36, but it's still a job where Gunningall now, I'm not just saying the only way is up, you can't take that for granted, but certainly with the progression of the team now and getting those players all back, you could go back to Division One. Yeah, absolutely. Division Two will be a great place for those players to come back in and to start this transition again. Like, you know, there's a spine of a great team there, as it is, between Onba and Sean Patton, Jason McGee, Michael Langen, and like, Oshengallon was phenomenal, hopefully, right in the QM back in the... Jimmy Brown at 11 seemed to have worked in those last couple of games, too. Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. Like, a big McGonigal, the only drug-made QM fan that can play in various different roles, and, you know, would lobby down to the manager who comes in as to what he does and how he solves all these various pieces of the puzzle. So, you know, I'm excited about next year. I think Division Two is a great place for them to kind of hit reset, and hopefully they go straight back up to Division One, because that is going to be vital as well. Yes, indeed. Hope that too, Jason. Listen, as ever, thanks so much, and good luck with the wedding in a few weeks' time, my man. Lucky lady, I'll tell you. Cheers to you. Good man. That's Jason Burton there for our premium. Comments with the Sun, thanks so much for some put tonight. And my other guest, thanks very much to Kevin Fury for producing Head of Sport, Oshengallon. Stay tuned for the next one. Monday next season, I'll speak to you next week with more DL Debate. The DL Debate with Sister Sarah's Ladder Kenny, serving food you'll love till 9pm daily in Sarah's kitchen. And there's free admission entertainment every weekend.