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Joe Brolly & Pat Spillane share contrasting predictions for All-Ireland final between Kerry & Donegal

Joe Brolly & Pat Spillane share contrasting predictions for All-Ireland final between Kerry & Donegal

The Irish Sun23-07-2025
JOE Brolly reckons Donegal are a near certainty to lift Sam Maguire - while Pat Spillane is backing his fellow Kerrymen.
The Derry native has already been on the record about how
2
Kerry icon Spillane is giving the slight edge to the Kingdom
2
Brolly was far more definitive in his view
He'd made that initial prediction about "not seeing any flaws" in Jim McGuinness' side on his
But he expanded on why he's so gung-ho in that belief while appearing alongside Spillane and hurling greats Eddie Brennan and John Mullane on the
The 56-year-old set out: "I think Donegal will win because they're multi-purpose. They're not relying on one individual.
"They've worked with a basketball coach. McGuinness actually said it the week that the new rules were unveiled.
Read More On GAA
"He said 'We're going back to the old game, this is all about scoring rate.' They're scoring 1-27, 1-28, 3-25.
"Paddy McBrearty was asked after the All-Ireland semi-final about how he'd be pushing for a place in starting fifteen and he said he'd be pushing for a place in the matchday 26!
"There's massive competition there because Jim has this messianic quality."
A few minutes later Spillane then gave his view that he'd marginally give the edge to the Kingdom. When he mentioned that Donegal had a few weaknesses, Brolly called on him to be more specific.
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To which the eight-time All-Ireland winner replied: "Their running game is a hard game to sustain for 70 minutes.
"Zonal defence is a weakness. There's space to be exploited there by a kicking team.
Sharlene Mawdsley takes part in hilarious road race as part of Tipperary's All-Ireland celebration
"The first half against Monaghan showed that as Monaghan switched the play from one side to the other. They'd an overload and took them on one-on-one and were very impressive.
"So zonal marking, running in transition and Michael Murphy - no different from David Clifford - if he's contained (Kerry can win).
"The new rules suit Kerry, Croke Park suits them as a heads up kicking team."
He also added that his "hesitant vote for Kerry" was partly down to the weather forecast being good for Sunday with dry conditions further helping their prospects.
The two counties did of course contest the 2014 decider with McGuinness saying this week that
One instant improvement this time around will be that
The Kerry county board have confirmed that Jack O'Connor's charges will line out in their alternative dark blue kit.
Following on from the
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