Leinster Football Quarter Finals

cruiserweight

The biggest game of the summer so far (in my unbiased opinion;) ) is almost upon us as Wexford are taking on Meath!Hopefully this will be our year, it has been 61 years since we last won Leinster and that is far to long!

But seriously there will be 2 tight games on, with all 4 counties confident of success, so all chat about it here please!

Offaly have named their team for Sundays game, leaving a vacancy at full forward!

P Kelly; G Rafferty, S Sullivan, N Grennan; P McConway, S Brady, K Slattery; C McManus, A McNamee; C Quinn, N Coughlan, T Phelan; T Deehan, AN Other, N McNamee.

squire1

Kildare will not be naming their team until Sunday. John Doyle is fit and will be playing. It should be a good game. Offaly will improve from the Westmeath game so it's a tight one and hard to call. On their day Offaly can be devastating but so can Kildare. It depends which teams turn up on the day. Not looking forward to an extended Summer for either team however.

I'm looking forward to the Meath Wexford game too. I'm going to go for Meath purely because they looked a better side when they played Kildare in the League than Wexford did. Meath, however, have developed a propensity to self destruct so if Wexford can keep it to a tight game anything can happen.

Just wondering what the attendance in Croke Park will be for these games. Anyone else notice the crap atmosphere since the new stands opened? 30,000 or 40,000 people seems like a small crowd in it.

cruiserweight

squire1 wrote:

Just wondering what the attendance in Croke Park will be for these games. Anyone else notice the crap atmosphere since the new stands opened? 30,000 or 40,000 people seems like a small crowd in it.

Yeah the smaller crowds often means the atmosphere is not that good, but it also depends where you are sitting and in particular who you are sitting with! There will not be a lot of Wexford fans there, unfortunately people are not getting behind the team, but just watch that change if they make the Leinster final and then there will be a good atmosphere!

Waylander

cruiserweight wrote:

Yeah the smaller crowds often means the atmosphere is not that good, but it also depends where you are sitting and in particular who you are sitting with! There will not be a lot of Wexford fans there, unfortunately people are not getting behind the team, but just watch that change if they make the Leinster final and then there will be a good atmosphere!

If a Dublin fan wrote that there would be all kinds of talk of band wagon hopping etc Such double standards

cruiserweight

Waylander wrote:

If a Dublin fan wrote that there would be all kinds of talk of band wagon hopping etc Such double standards

I am not saying it is a good thing, but just what will happen! Anyway you are right I would give out if it was Dublin

But with a small band of supporters there is a bond between them and they can create a good atmosphere!

solskjaer20

IMO the Championship really starts this Sunday.

But Derry vs Tyrone is the big one this week.

cruiserweight

Wexford have named their team for the game against Meath

There are three championship debutants on the Wexford Senior football team to play Meath in the Leinster quarter-final in Croke Park on Sunday next (2.10 p.m.). Wing-back Graeme Molloy, wing-forward and captain Ciarán Deely, and corner-forward Liam Murphy are all starting at this level for the first time. Indeed, Molloy - a member of the county Under-21 team for the past two years - will be playing his first-ever Senior game for the county. Full-back Philip Wallace, who broke a bone in his right hand in the last league game against Armagh six weeks ago, has been selected after returning to full training last week. PEIL SINSIR LOCH GARMAN Dathanna: Corcra is Órga (Purple and Gold) 1) S. Cúipéir (JOHN COOPER) Adamstown 2) C. Ó Muiris (COLM MORRIS) Castletown 3) P. de Bhailéis (PHILIP WALLACE) Gusserane 4) N. Ó Murchú (NIALL MURPHY) Bannow-Ballymitty 5) P. Cúirtéis (PÁRAIC CURTIS) Clongeen 6) D. Ó Murchú (DAVID MURPHY) St. Mary's, Rosslare 7) G. Ó Maolmhúidh (GRAEME MOLLOY) St. James' Cool R. Stafort (RORY STAFFORD) St. Anne's 9) D. Cinseallach (DIARMUID KINSELLA) Castletown 10) C. Ó Duíghiolla (CIARÁN DEELY) Horeswood, capt. 11) P. Coilféir (PADDY COLFER) Clongeen 12) R. de Barra (REDMOND BARRY) St. Anne's 13) L. Ó Murchú (LIAM MURPHY) Clongeen 14) P.S. de Beanabhál (P.J. BANVILLE) Horeswood 15) M. Mac Giollarnáith (MATTY FORDE) Kilanerin FIR IONAID: 16) I. Rúiséil (JASON RUSSELL) Starlights 17) L. Ó Bríain (LEIGH O'BRIEN) Horeswood 1Cool C. Ó Cinnéide (KIERAN KENNEDY) St. Finbarr's, Cork 19) S. Ó Cuilinn (SHANE CULLEN) Gusserane 20) B. Ó Dúill (BRENDAN DOYLE) St. James' 21) D. Ó Fógartaigh (DAVID FOGARTY) St. Anne's 22) T. Ó Húilín (THOMAS HOWLIN) Horeswood 23) E. Ó Brolcháin (ERIC BRADLEY) Adamstown 24) S. Ó hEigeartaigh (JOHN HEGARTY) Kilanerin 25) S. Hudson (JOHN HUDSON) Starlights 26) A. Ó Floinn (ADRIAN FLYNN) Gusserane 27) D. Ó Feoráin (DARREN FORAN) St. Mary's, Rosslare 2Cool N. Laimbéart (NICKY LAMBERT) Volunteers 29) G. Ó Grádaigh (GARRY O'GRADY) Gusserane 30) B. Ó Maoileoin (BRIAN MALONE) Shelmaliers

cruiserweight

solskjaer20 wrote:

IMO the Championship really starts this Sunday.

But Derry vs Tyrone is the big one this week.

Well the Derry team has been named! Were your hurlers playing not the real start of the championship for you

DERRY XV (v Tyrone): B Gillis; K McGuckin, K McCloy, F McEldowney; L Hinphey, P Flynn, J O'Kane; J McBride, J Diver; M Lynch, B McGoldrick, F Doherty; E Muldoon, P Bradley, E Bradley

solskjaer20

Don't even mention the hurlers.

Apparerntly they went on the lash the two days before the game.
Very professional.

Trampas

solskjaer20 wrote:

Don't even mention the hurlers.

Apparerntly they went on the lash the two days before the game.
Very professional.

Its not a professional sport

Will the final be in NY

The Rooster

squire1 wrote:

Just wondering what the attendance in Croke Park will be for these games. Anyone else notice the crap atmosphere since the new stands opened? 30,000 or 40,000 people seems like a small crowd in it.

No, although everytime I've been there, its been pretty full

cruiserweight

The Rooster wrote:

No, although everytime I've been there, its been pretty full

Well I might see you there at a full house later in the year, if ye make it that far

squire1

The Rooster wrote:

No, although everytime I've been there, its been pretty full

Yeah, love it when the Dubs are playing. Always something special about the Dubs in Croker. But I was down in Portlaoise last week and didn't notice may of your county supporters. Was there something else on

Waylander

squire1 wrote:

Yeah, love it when the Dubs are playing. Always something special about the Dubs in Croker. But I was down in Portlaoise last week and didn't notice may of your county supporters. Was there something else on

There were 4 counties playing in PL that day, didn't notice many of any counties fan in fairness.

cruiserweight

Anyway back on topic

Forde happy with new Model

By Brendan O’Brien
MATTY FORDE admits it is now or never for this Wexford team if they are to finally reach a Leinster final.

To the average man, it may seem like this particular boat has sailed. Look at the facts. Last year, they lost an NFL final to Armagh, this year the same team consigned them to Division Two.

For Wexford, the reality is that they have promised much but delivered less and it’s a track record like that which has persuaded the bookies to make them 16-1 to win their province this year. They are a tempting 11-4 to overcome Meath, who are an unbackable 1-3 to win on Sunday.

Sift through all the evidence, however, (including the fact that Meath joined them through the trapdoor this spring) and a persuasive case begins to build for Paul Bealin’s team.

For a start, with Laois and Dublin due to meet on the other side of the draw in the last four, the path to the final is a far less treacherous one for the four sides involved in the weekend’s Leinster double-header at HQ.

“We’ve been coming the last four or five years, but the last one or two particularly,” admitted Forde. “Our performances have been getting better and we’ve been beating some of the bigger teams in the league.

“I feel now is the time to put those performances together in the championship. It only takes three games and you’re in a (Leinster) final. That’s the aim for us. That’s the carrot.”

Most of Wexford’s difficulties were confined to the earlier rounds when, after the late appointment of Paul Bealin as manager, training commenced months behind schedule.

A raft of injuries meant that, by the time the ship returned to even keel, the hole in their bows had shipped too much water.

As it is, a win on the last day would have kept them up.

A disappointing end to their league campaign, admits Forde, but hardly a disaster. “I felt our performances were starting to pick up greatly near the end of the league when we started to get a few players back from injury. We were a bit more used to playing with each other and Paul was getting used to us.

“We’re probably coming into a bit of form at the right time. Okay, it cost us in the league but if we can go on and win Leinster nobody will care whether we’re in Division One or Two.”

Forde accepts that the current lack of interest in them will be more to their liking. Favouritism never sat well on their shoulders.

Their strengths haven’t changed much, a solid backline and Forde’s talents being the key elements, but the onus for scores has lessened significantly on the Killanerin man.

At least twice in the league, Wexford finished games with eight different names on the scoresheet even if Forde remains the fulcrum, having scoring 2-35 in the league.

All but 1-10 of that came from dead balls though and the truth is that Forde hasn’t hit the heights he reached in 2003.

Injury has played it’s part in that.

“I had come back from Australia with a fairly bad back injury. It was giving me a lot of hassle, but it’s only really started to come right over the last five or six weeks. My form and my fitness has definitely improved in the light of that.”

Forde’s temperament hasn’t helped him at times either. Having been named Footballer of the Year and winning an Allstar in 2003, the corner-forward soon found himself routinely marked by two or more uncompromising defenders. He didn’t always handle such attention well.

Signs of petulance surfaced again early in the year in games against Dublin and Laois and, when the volcano finally erupted with a red card in the dismal defeat to Derry, Bealin had enough and publicly criticised his short fuse.

Other players may have bristled at that but Forde had no qualms with it. His tally of 1-7 against Armagh last month suggests he has put his problems firmly behind him.

“Paul is always talking to the players and I would talk to him a lot as well about my own game. That’s something that has definitely helped and it’s something I have to keep a lid on. I’ve talked to a few people about how to deal with it and I’m better prepared for it now.

“I think we have a very strong panel in places, probably stronger than we had in the past. We’re really looking forward to playing Meath.”

Atomic Pineapple

The hill is the best place to go for the atmosphere if you can hack standing, all the supporters group together and the atmosphere does be great, laying into the louth crowd two weeks ago was very satisfying

if you want to sit i usually find the canel end to be the best for atmosphere then, the two big stands just seem to have the crowd spread out too much when theres not a big crowd.

singingstranger

Seems to be going fantastically* for Meath at half time!




* Note my bitter defeatist sarcasm.

LegacyUser

Full time in Croke Park:

Wexford 1-19 Meath 1-14

singingstranger

Wasn't it 1-13?

robo

Offaly 3-9 V Kildare 0-15

RTE - Offaly's three-point win over Kildare could be in doubt after they allegedly made too many substitutions in the Leinster SFC quarter-final at Croke Park.

The Faithfuls were seen to use three substitutes in the first half and three in the second - one more than the allotted five.

A second-minute goal from midfielder Alan McNamee helped Offaly lead 1-06 to 0-08 at the break. James Lonergan brought John Reynolds down for a 42nd-minute penalty which McNamee dispatched.

Offaly then lost centre back Scott Brady to a second yellow card but McNamee set up Thomas Deehan for a clinching 66th-minute goal.

andrewie

singingstranger wrote:

Wasn't it 1-13?

It was 1-13 not 1-14

Atomic Pineapple

yes desparate, damn team give us a bit of hope by beating louth and then crumble against wexford, poor poor poor poor!!

nlgbbbblth

Fantastic win for Wexford. One of our proudest moments ever.

The day was spoiled somewhat by Offaly winning the other game - my most disliked team (both hurling and football).

An interesting semi-final in both codes awaits. I would love it if we could win both. But seeing as it's the Biffos who we're playing, nothing is guaranteed.

robo

Wexford played really well and are well in contention for the Leinster title.

robo

GAA Site

Sunday, May 28

The Leinster Council of the GAA have stated that they are aware of uncertainty in relation to the position with regard to substitutions made in today's Bank of Ireland Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter final between Kildare and Offaly. The Council have said that they will consider the full circumstances of the matter in the coming days.

squire1

Very dissapointing to loose to Offaly yesterday but it has to be said that Offaly played with more determination. Kildares full back line (normally very strong) was dreadfull throughout the game and Offaly could have had another couple of goals. I really think playing the extra game helped Offaly yesterday.

No problem with the subs as far as I can see so I don't know what all the fuss is about. Kellaghan was blood subbed in the first half and didn't come back until the second half. No problem there.

A very bad decision by the Kildare bench yesterday to use up their last sub with 20 mins to go. In a game of such intensity, injury is a certainty. The effect of the decision was that Kildare played the last 13mins with 14 men. I don't think it effected the result but hopefully it is a lesson learned.

Wexford were excellent. Such high skill levels. They need to be aware however that it was probably the worst Meath team in 25 years to play in Croke Park. They were dreadful, and the only threat they posed was because of the long ball the pumped into full forward which could easily have led to a few goals only for the Wexford keeper. Meath hardly made a tackle in the game and allowed Wexford carry the ball.

The contrast between the two referees yesterday was huge. The first game was free flowing because the ref gave a free for the least contact. The second game was like a rugby match at times as the referee only gave a free if there was a risk of a life being lost.

I wonder how Wexford would have fared in the second game, are they up to the physical stuff. Three weeks time, we'll find out. If they can stand toe to toe with Offaly they will have a great chance.

cruiserweight

My observations about yesterday's match:

1) Great performance by the forwards. Forde and Deely played very well, 4 of the starters scored, although Barry can be excused as he played most of the game in defence.

2) A very shaky performance by the full-back line. If Meath had have taken at least one more of their 5 goal chances, the result might well have been different. Wallace is just back from injury didn't look fully fit and Morris had a tough time from Regan but has been one of our best defenders in recent years. We can't afford to be as pourous again.

3) It was John Cooper's best ever performance in goal for Wexford. He was to blame for two of Tipp's goals in the Tommy Murphy Cup last year and owed us this performance.

4) It was a stupid sending-off for the Meath no. 12. He had to go, but it was a complete overaction by him to being tackled robustly. If he had have stayed on, it might have changed the course of the game, but I reckon that it had less effect on the outcome than Meath's crucial misses in their goal attempts.

5) Bealin used intelligent tactics: it was a masterstroke to use Redmond Barry as the extra man when Meath were reduced to 14. Bealin obviously saw that the full-back line were in trouble, so he used Barry in sort of a sweeper role to tidy up at the back, aswell as getting the ball moving to the forwards. Also on the kick outs Cooper took a lot short after the sending off, this meant that possesion was retained and was worked out using the faster players that Wexford seemed to have. Meath had bigger players around the middle but Kinsella and Stafford in particular did very well in the battle for possession. It was a refreshing change to see a Wexford team play with intelligence.

6) The level of support for Wexford was pathetic. Although none of the counties had a great turn out. But I was a purple and gold oasis in the middle of a sea of Meath green.

7) I am glad that we are playing Offaly rather than Kildare, I think the big men that Kildare have in the middle could have created a problem for us in winning primary possession, I think that we can have the better of the Offaly midfield and win more primary possession than them.

8) Great day overall, and hopefully Wexford will make (and win) both Leinster finals

Waylander

A good result for Wexford, hopefully they can go on and build on that but any time they show they can play they generally let you down in the next game. Great display of point kicking from Mattie Forde, he took some beautiful scores. A respectable debut also for Deely, although it is a bit bizarre, and wasteful to have a guy making his championship debut as the captain. Such a player cannot be an effective leader on the pitch, even though he played very well, if things had gone against Wexford with one of the early goal chances, he would not have been able to rally the team as well as others would have.

cruiserweight

Waylander wrote:

A good result for Wexford, hopefully they can go on and build on that but any time they show they can play they generally let you down in the next game. Great display of point kicking from Mattie Forde, he took some beautiful scores. A respectable debut also for Deely, although it is a bit bizarre, and wasteful to have a guy making his championship debut as the captain. Such a player cannot be an effective leader on the pitch, even though he played very well, if things had gone against Wexford with one of the early goal chances, he would not have been able to rally the team as well as others would have.

Well Deely and Banville were the only representatives from Horeswood that started the game! Leigh O'Brien is the team captain AFAIK, he came on for the last few minutes!

I would be very confident of Wexford winning in the next game! I think this year they have a bit more steel and a mental edge that they did not have before!They have learnt from losses to Armagh and Dublin last year, and other losses over the past few years, the last 4 teams to knock Wexford out of the Leinster championship have gone on to win it!

Even in the game yesterday, Meath seemed up for it at the start of the second half and had the best of the start of the half, but whenever they scored Wexford responded! In contrast when Wexford were on top they capitalised (although they were on top for most of the game), something they were not doing before!I want to see the full back line tighten up and we should be okay against Offaly!

scargill

-- new thread started with above topic --

Waylander

cruiserweight wrote:

Well Deely and Banville were the only representatives from Horeswood that started the game! Leigh O'Brien is the team captain AFAIK, he came on for the last few minutes!

I would be very confident of Wexford winning in the next game! I think this year they have a bit more steel and a mental edge that they did not have before!They have learnt from losses to Armagh and Dublin last year, and other losses over the past few years, the last 4 teams to knock Wexford out of the Leinster championship have gone on to win it!

Even in the game yesterday, Meath seemed up for it at the start of the second half and had the best of the start of the half, but whenever they scored Wexford responded! In contrast when Wexford were on top they capitalised (although they were on top for most of the game), something they were not doing before!I want to see the full back line tighten up and we should be okay against Offaly!

I fancy Wexford to get to the final, but lose once they get there. There full back line is weak, and except for outstanding goalkeeping they would have conceded a couple of goals against Meath. Also Meath only had 14 men on the pitch, it MAY have been different had one of the Meath players not thrown a stupid punch. Having said that, it is good to see Wexford beat a traditional power in a champioship game. The last few years they have not had the bottle to do this.

cruiserweight

Waylander wrote:

I fancy Wexford to get to the final, but lose once they get there. There full back line is weak, and except for outstanding goalkeeping they would have conceded a couple of goals against Meath. Also Meath only had 14 men on the pitch, it MAY have been different had one of the Meath players not thrown a stupid punch. Having said that, it is good to see Wexford beat a traditional power in a champioship game. The last few years they have not had the bottle to do this.

Wexford are a traditional superpower

Even before the sending off Wexford were on top, I think the game would have been tighter had but Wexford would have won out in the end!

As for bottle, that is what they have been lacking to get to the next level in the last few years!But through a change in management and the experiences of a few heartbreaks I think they are gaining a mental toughness and experience that will stand to them!

I am just hopeful, no final since 1956, no title since 1945, hopeful we can put that to an end!

Waylander

Wouldn't begrudge you a final appearance but obviously I am hoping the cup ends up here in Dublin:)

Fair point about Wexford being the traditional super power, but I was talking in more recent terms:)

cruiserweight

Waylander wrote:

Wouldn't begrudge you a final appearance but obviously I am hoping the cup ends up here in Dublin:)

If Wexford do make the final I wold rather play Dublin rather than Laois! The last two occasions that Dublin won Leinster they have beaten Wexford on the way, by 4 points the last time and just 1 point on the previous occasion!I feel that this could be our chance against them! Where as I feel Laois have the capacity to run up a bigger score than Dublin do, and Wexford do not possess the physicality to knock them out of stride!

Anyway it is better to beat the traditional team in Leinster!Offaly stand in our way in both codes to upsetting the big boys!:)

Waylander wrote:

Fair point about Wexford being the traditional super power, but I was talking in more recent terms:)

The last 50 years are over-rated

mchurl

Didnt see the games as i was away, but heard Mattie Forde was brilliant foe Wexford. I fancy them to make a leinster final now, i dont think this Offaly team are up to much at all. Then if us Dubs get them in the final, i would be quite confident about our chances. I know this may seem arrogant, but i think if we beat Longford the Laois game is our Leinster final.

cruiserweight

mchurl wrote:

Didnt see the games as i was away, but heard Mattie Forde was brilliant foe Wexford. I fancy them to make a leinster final now, i dont think this Offaly team are up to much at all. Then if us Dubs get them in the final, i would be quite confident about our chances. I know this may seem arrogant, but i think if we beat Longford the Laois game is our Leinster final.

Bring it on, I hope you Dubs are good enough to meet us there

mchurl

cruiserweight wrote:

Bring it on, I hope you Dubs are good enough to meet us there

So do i:D

squire1

mchurl wrote:

i dont think this Offaly team are up to much at all

.
Agreed. They conceded 15 points to a very poor Kildare side. Wexford should be able to knock up a big scrore. The only reservation I would have would be Wexfords ability to stand up to the physical side of the game in Leinster. It has yet to be seen if the are up to it.

mchul wrote:

. I know this may seem arrogant, but i think if we beat Longford the Laois game is our Leinster final.

I agree with this too. It is very arrogant;) Many a team went to a Leinster final in the past as favourites but failed to win. Meath 1997, Dublin 2000, Kildare 2003, Laois 2004.

cruiserweight

squire1 wrote:

Agreed. They conceded 15 points to a very poor Kildare side. Wexford should be able to knock up a big scrore. The only reservation I would have would be Wexfords ability to stand up to the physical side of the game in Leinster. It has yet to be seen if the are up to it.

I think the physicality will be no problem, it is the physicality of some of the other teams outside the province that would worry me! What would worry me more is the full back line, Cooper had his best game ever, but we cannot rely on that!Having said that Wallace was not fully fit (or did not seem so), and Morris was not up to his usual high standard!

squire1

We'll see. Personally I hope you're right. Be nice to see Wexford wipe the eye of Laois and Dublin.;)

It was amazing to see on Sunday but all four full back lines were very poor. If that is the standard that Leinster are going to produce then God help us in the AI series. Maybe Dublin have improved since last year (I did not see them in the league) but I know Laois are having problems in that area. A few years ago that was the one area where Leinster teams were stong.

cruiserweight

Well to be honest I feel the reason that the second game seemed more physical, 1 or 2 big hits apart, was the referee! In the first game the referee seemed to favour the player in posession, where as in the second game the referee seemed to favour the defenders! This allowed for more of the swarm like defence with 3 or 4 players surrounding the man in possession! Also a lot more passes seemed to go astray in the second game meaning a lot more contested possession!