The Holy Show in Parnell - player by player ratings.

[Lone Shark]

Kelly - Didn't really look like he was rock solid, and nearly got caught out for a howler of a goal early on - against that he could do nothing about Keaney's goal, and did okay with the kickouts too in difficult conditions. Not where the problem lied.

Lynam - Won't meet a more moderate intercounty forward from play than Mossy Quinn, and didn't dominate. If he can't really get on top of a lad like that, there's no hope for him against Dessie Dolan in 9 weeks.

Casey - Not the worst - a little bit inclined to break high ball, which is sometimes dodge for a full back - struggled to keep up with Shane Ryan, but Shane Ryan is a fine all round footballer. Not sure about full back for him, but again wouldn't blame him.

Grennan - O'Callaghan took him for three points, but I actually though he did well - his pace continues to compensate him for not being the most natural defender in the world. Sherlock targetted his corner in a big way, and Grennan didn't disgrace himself.

Mooney - No leadership from im at all until he went off - gave away a few cheap balls, and was nowhere to be seen trying to steady the ship mentally among the younger ones when we were shipping a lot of water. Not sure what Kilmurray will do, but even allowing for fitness he might get a rest next week.

Brady - Woefully mismanaged, though his fitness is not all that it could be. Was left stranded watching balls go over his head, and it did him no good - he'd have every right to throttle management afterwards for doing that to him.

Slattery - should help Brady out with a few punches. His instruction to stay in his own half was lunacy - knocked out one of our biggest attacking threats. Found Lally hard going, but Lally is seriously fast - you'd fancy Slatts to be able for him given a few games back though.

Coughlan - He's not a midfielder, but I thought he tried hard and kept putting the effort in. Was more inclined than most to run up blind alleys, but I still thought he did okay - belongs in the forwards in my opinion.

McNamee - A poor display - he had the ability to dominate Magee, and he didn't do it. Was very guilty of over playing the ball, and won't have been happy with his display.

Shaper - Wasn't at the races. Tried hard all right, but doesn't belong in the half forward line - again, needs to be full forward line or nowhere.

Mac - Nobody ever questions his commitment - games like last night are why. Didn't have a phenomenal game in terms of stuff working out for him, but effort, mileage, decision making - all top class. Could have finished up with four goals if he hadn't hit the post in the first half - surely would have been some kind of record. He's the main reason we didn't suffer the kind of defeat we'd be hearing about for a generation. More than anyone he's entitled to personally behead this management for wasting away one of the few years he has left.

Mooney - I'm sorry, but I don't see that he brings that much to the table. Was extremely peripheral on Saturday.

Coughlan - Could have scored the first one, should have scored the second, and possibly should have been given those frees. Needs to play a bit of club ball for Doon and get his groove back - I don't think he'll feature strongly in 2006, but he's young yet.

Paschal - Sloppy fouls, lazy way of trying to win the ball, and just all round poor from a guy who's a senior player now and should be acting like it. Bad day for him.

Niall - not a free taker, and not a withdraw forward - yet keeps getting asked to do these thing. Had an ineffective day, but needs to be put back where he belongs - corner forward - immediately.

Subs:

Deehan - Probably the pick of the forwards, assuming you call Mac a midfielder. Tried hard, won his share of ball, kicked one score - I felt sorry for him having to do it - and generally proved that he shouldn't have been dropped.

Connor - There is something to be said for the big full forward, but he's got to contribute more. Not good as the first line of defence either.

McConway - Gave away one bad ball, but generally did fine - albeait at a time when Dublin forwards just weren't trying any more.

Rafferty - Stood up to Vaughan's antics, which was commendable - I didn't realise Ger was back in harness, so he could be worth a look. Vaughan still took him for speed a few times though - although maybe that's not his best quality.

Quinn - For ages we've been saying that he's a great man to bring in near the end as things loosen up and his playmaking works out. Howeve he'll probably end up starting again now - which is not perfect.

[Bogman]

Sean Casey did well enough. He stood out to me in the full back line. It was the corner forwards Mossy Quinn and Dotsy O'Callaghan, along with Conal Keaney in the half forwards, who did the damage.

I wouldn't be so hard on Shaper and Leonard Mooney. I thought each of them gave hard-working displays.

Re-living the horror on TG4 yesterday it showed that Ross Connor had something to do with two of the goals - for the first he seemed to push Darren Magee back as Magee went to catch the ball and for the third a hopeful punt in to the box ended up with Ross picking the ball up and giving it to Ciaran McManus. 99.9% of the credit goes to Mac for the goals but in future desperation situations like that it might be no harm to put Ross and Mac up there together for the "Hail Mary" balls.

[minor]

barry mooney put out his shoulder will be out for 2 months min

[Hocker]

I hear Richie Browne from Shannonbridge was called into the Offaly panel two weeks ago and that he'll be in the panel for next weeks match with Tyrone..
Perhaps he'll be worth giving a try-out on the half forward line???