NFL-Round 3-Saturday/Sunday

Mushy

Nearly forgot about it. Fixtures:

-- 24.02.2007 (Sat) @ 7.30pm --

Division 1A
Páirc Uí Rinn Corcaigh v Tír Eoghain *Live Setanta
Referee: Aidan Mangan, Ciarraí

-- 25.02.2007 (Sun) @ 2.30pm --

Division 1A
Ballyshannon 2.00 Dún na nGall v Baile Átha Cliath
Referee: Brian Crowe, An Cabhán

Kingspan Fear Manach v Ciarraí
Breffni Park Referee: Michael Hughes, Tír Eoghain

Castlebar Maigh Eo v Luimneach
Referee: Martin Duffy, Sligeach

Division 1B
Pearse Stadium, 1.30: Gaillimh v Ard Mhacha
Referee: Frank Flynn, Liatroim

Newbridge Cill Dara v Doire
Referee: Pat Fox, Iar Mhí

Cusack Park An Iarmhí v An Dún
Referee: Gary McCormack, BÁC

Portlaoise Laois v An Lú
Referee: Syl Doyle, Loch Garman

Division 2A
Clones Muineachán v Ceatharlach
Referee: Seamus McGonigle, D. na nGall

Hyde Park Ros Comáin v An Clár
Referee: Vincent Neary, Maigh Eo

Pearse Park Longfort v Uíbh Fhailí
Referee: Declan Corcoran, Maigh Eo

Ruislip 1.00 Londain v Liatroim
Referee: Brian O’Shea, BAC

Division 2B
Dungarvan Port Láirge v Aontroim
Referee: Seán O’Shea, Loch Garman

Ardfinnan 1.00 Tiobraid Árann v An Cabhán
Referee: Michael McGann, An Clár

Markievicz Park Sligeach v An Mhí
Referee: Eamon O’Grady, Liatroim

Aughrim Cill Mhantáin v Loch Garman
Referee: Maurice Deegan, Laois


This is possibly the most vital match in the League for Wicklow. If they win it, it'l be a great win, and set them up very nicely for getting a top-4 finish, which they need badly. 6 players called up from the U-21 team who lost to Laois last week, 2 of whom are starting. Paul Earls out, massive loss. Hopefully the O' Byrne Cup match is still fresh in Wexford minds. Prediction is for a very close match, while hoping Wicklow are on the right side of the scoreline

netwhizkid

Cork were back in business tonight when they Tyrone gave a fine trouncing. Cork first win over the Ulster men in quite some time. Owen Mulligan was given a straight Red Card for his attempt to break Michael Shield's Jaw.

Final Score 15 - 7. Tyrone were well lambasted by Cork with James Masters kicking points for fun. I even heard people saying Tyrone were the best team in the Country

Lest I remind people, Cork are Munster Champions, Kerry are All-Ireland and National League Champions and have three clubs in All-Ireland finals coming up, Duagh in the Junior All-Ireland Final, Ardfert in the Intermediate All-Ireland Final and Dr. Croke's into the Senior All-Ireland final against Crossmaglen. Kerry are the best team in the Country and Cork are hot on our heels as 2nd best.

My Prediction for Tomorrow:

Dún na nGall v Baile Átha Cliath; Donegal are in good form now while Dublin struggled to beat Limerick.
Verdict: Donegal to win.

Fear Manach v Ciarraí; Fermanagh haven't shown much form, however Kerry will be weakened due to Club Player Commitments. Kerry will win by a small amount a close war of attrition will ensue.
Verdict: Kerry to win

Maigh Eo v Luimneach Mayo are dubious at the best of times while Limerick nearly took Dublin and are improving the whole time under Mickey Ned O'Sullivan.
Verdict: Limerick to Win

Gaillimh v Ard Mhacha Galway have adopted a down themselves type image recently and Armagh are desperately trying to get recognised again as an Ulster Football Power. The Mehans will cause trouble for Armagh but Armagh will take the game to them and have a point to prove I fell. Donegal are currently 2nd in command to Tyrone in Ulster Football right now and Armagh need to improve and let the nightmare of Kieran Donaghy and Croke Park behind them.
Verdict: Armagh to win but only after a scrappy affair.

I won't comment on the others. Time will tell I guess.

dcr22B

Tonight's result in Pairc Ui Ruinn makes it even more imperative that the Dubs do the business tomorrow. I wonder how much last week's McKenna Cup defeat will be still praying on the Donegal players' minds??

netwhizkid

dcr22B wrote:

I wonder how much last week's McKenna Cup defeat will be still praying on the Donegal players' minds??

I reckon it should not affect them too much, However it could have a different affect, I always tend to recognise a bounce effect when a team is beaten. It could just inspire them to victory and what better way to claim victory than to claim the scalp of the yet unbeaten league side Dublin.

Kojak

My thoughts on tomorrow's action:

Division 1A
Ballyshannon 2.00 Dún na nGall v Baile Átha Cliath - This will be a very tough match for Dublin to win - Donegal are in good form in the league at the moment. Donegal to win by at least 3 points

Kingspan Fear Manach v Ciarraí - Kerry to win, Fermanagh look to be in a bit of trouble this year, so far. Kerry to win by 5+

Castlebar Maigh Eo v Luimneach - Limerick should have been encouraged by their performance against Dublin and their win against Fermanagh. If this match was in the Gaelic grounds I would nearly put Limerick as winners but seeing as it is in Castlebar, Mayo get the nod by 1


Division 1B
Pearse Stadium, 1.30: Gaillimh v Ard Mhacha - Galway have been very poor this season. Sure Ford will use the excuse of injuries, etc. but the bottom line is that the players aren't in Galway at the moment. Armagh to have an easy day out in Salthill and win by 6+

Newbridge Cill Dara v Doire - Kildare will still be missing the Moorefield players, but I still think they will win this one, but it could be by only one point.

Cusack Park An Iarmhí v An Dún - Down are in a shambles. Westmeath are flying at the moment - they get the nod by 4+

Portlaoise Laois v An Lú - Laois to win by 3+

MikeTheMan

C'mon Tir Chonaill :-)

dcr22B

netwhizkid wrote:

I reckon it should not affect them too much, However it could have a different affect, I always tend to recognise a bounce effect when a team is beaten. It could just inspire them to victory and what better way to claim victory than to claim the scalp of the yet unbeaten league side Dublin.

The problem netwhizkid is that we have already been beaten!!!! :cool:

K-9

dcr22B wrote:

Tonight's result in Pairc Ui Ruinn makes it even more imperative that the Dubs do the business tomorrow. I wonder how much last week's McKenna Cup defeat will be still praying on the Donegal players' minds??

The scoreline in the McKenna Cup Final seriously did not reflect the balance of play. Donegal should have been at least 4/5 points up after 10 mins. of the second half. Just one of those days where nobody, full/half forwards/ backs could score. As people who have been trumpetting Donegal recently need to to be reminded it's only the McKenna Cup. Armagh on May 27th matters.

Tomorrow will be close. Donegal do have a point to prove. Team selection seems good. Defence as usual will be solid, midfield could be brilliant on paper and the full forward line given quick ball will be good. Support play needs to be matter than last week. Off loading before the tackle at pace is the way to beat Dublin/Tyrone.

muffler

We are 7 - 3 up with 3 mins gone in 2nd half

Kojak

Galway 0-10 Armagh 0-08:

Great result, but terrible performance - I watched the match on TG4 this evening. A very poor quality match with too many shots dropping into the keeper's hands (on both sides).

Galway were always told they had good forwards, but the last 3 games they haven't even broken past 10 points. Forde needs to take them on shooting practice, I think.

K-9

Donegal had a good first half and first 10 minutes again in the 2nd.If we can't finish a team off properly Tyrone and Kerry will. Be interesting to see how we get on in those two.

kaimera

Laois 1-13 Louth 2-10

Mushy

Eugh, another loss for Wicklow...enough said I think.

kevmy

Was at the Mayo v Limerick game in Castlebar and was shocked at how poor Limerick were. It doesn't bode well for Dublin if they could only beat that team by a point. Mayo weren't great they played some good football in the first half but the pretty much couldn't be arsed doing any attacking after Kevin o Neill went off near the end of the first half. The second half was dire football with Mayo not trying and Limerick not able to score from play.

C Mort or A O'Malley didn't start but I don't think they'll be to worried by what they saw in the full forward line. Dillion clearly not suited inside and while Campbell showed some good touches his inexperience was obvious. Defence was very good, Kilcullen still looking good at full back (he was brought on a tour of the field today but handled it well). A bit disappointed in the midfield especially once DB went off. O Neill played well before he went off but thought the forwards weren't great on the whole.

All the same a deserved victory if we win against Dubs at home and Fermanagh and Cork away we'll be looking very good.

AthAnRi

Kojak wrote:

Galway 0-10 Armagh 0-08:

Great result, but terrible performance - I watched the match on TG4 this evening. A very poor quality match with too many shots dropping into the keeper's hands (on both sides).

Galway were always told they had good forwards, but the last 3 games they haven't even broken past 10 points. Forde needs to take them on shooting practice, I think.

They needed that otherwise we were playing D3 football next year. Makes f all difference if they were because they won't be challenging for any honors for a while yet.

Kojak

AthAnRi wrote:

Makes f all difference if they were because they won't be challenging for any honors for a while yet.

Agreed - the way they are playing at the moment, they'll be very lucky to win the Connacht title anytime soon.

kevmy

Galway badly need to be playing at least Div 2 football next year so the win was good for ye. Ye will improve up front with Joyce playing Armstrong back soon and M Meehan hopefully over his tragic loss. While Mayo are defintely better we all know form goes out the window when we play in the championship and the rest of connacht is piss poor this year so if ye fluke a win in Pearse ye could be on for a connacht

cruiserweight

Mushy wrote:

Eugh, another loss for Wicklow...enough said I think.

Yeah apparently it was an awful game, but Wexford had the better of the game. I am disappointed to hear that Wexford had 15 wides, they will need to improve that. Also another red card, but hopefully common sense will prevail and Kinsella will have his red card from the Tipperary game over turned.

As for Wicklow, I think they will find it difficult to stay in the top 4 to get into Division 3 next year.

patmac

As a Westmeath man living in Roscommon who supports Celtic and Man Utd and enjoys rugby, Carlsberg don't do weekends but if they did......

Westmeath were fortunate by all accounts, but it's good to win when not playing well. Some tough games to come Louth and Armagh away, Kildare and Galway at home two more wins could make the semi final, one more should guarantee Div 1 status next year.

squire1

Kildare overcame a poor Derry side by playing for the last 15 minutes. Fitter and more determined than Derry, they deserved the win. Not the finished article yet but with the Moorefield contingent due to return they will be stonger going into the final games of the league. Nice not to loose to any three of the Ulster sides in 1B but sterner tests to come with an improving Galway side next up. That game will be huge for both teams, Kildare to go on and compete for the league or Galway to avoid Div 3 next year. Things moving along nicely but too early yet to say if we are going anywhere.

I have to say I'm not surprised with the Galway result against Armagh although they went about it the hard way. I've seen Armagh in two league games now and they are very poor, missing a good few players but I thought they had a stronger squad. I was very surprised that they got a win against Louth but by all accounts they were very fortunate. I'm sure come Championship time they will improve but they have a long way to go at this stage.

Also saw they "highlights" of Dublin/Donegal and it was probably the most impotent Dublin display in years. What's going on there?

smashey

Donegal sitting pretty at the moment. Tyrone (away) and Kerry (home) next. We will know more after that but I think we will make division 1 next year as well as a semi-final place this year.

K-9

Dision 1 ia the best place to be. I think if your testing new players it's a better indication playing the top counties even if it is the league. Thought the Buds would have being going all out to do well in the league. With Leinster being the way it is it would do no harm. Tyrone and Kerry will be a good test for Donegal alright. With Limerick and Fermanagh after that and 2 at home we should get the 10 points that will probably be needed for the semis.