Dublin vs Louth

Pride Fighter

So Dublin kick off their Championship campaign this Sunday against Louth in Croke Park. I cannot see anything other than a Dublin win. Although they may be rusty in their first game they are not loosing to Louth in Croke Park. If it was in Louth maybe the wee county could have put it up to us.
So what do you all think

GAAman

I know i am biased but it has to be a Dublin win. But you know how it is with the Dubs, when they are predicted to have an easy win they scrape by and vice versa!

One Cold Hand

I predict a tight one, but Dubs to win out. 3 point Dubs win.

Killme00

I dont think it will be a tight game. I am expecting a messy game but a big win for the Dubs.

I have two other predictions
-If Dublin win big the media hype will start again must to my chargrin
-If a Dublin player gets sent off, the entire country will be up in arms about the dirty Dubs

Het-Field

Realistically this should be another rubber stam game. Louth have done little or nothing to suggest that they will trouble Dublin at all. Its easy to sit on the fence and say this will be a tight one. It may well be. Remember Longford in Parnell Park before Dublin dismantle Laois three weeks later back in 2006.

However as things stand I woud submit that the Dubs will win by 8 points +

popebenny16

Last time we played Louth in Croke Park wasnt a cakewalk.

I was just thining this morning..... given the way Dublin sprawl has gone, in ten or so years time will the future Dublin team be faced with lads ffrom Louth/Meath/Kildare/Laois with broader Dub's accents than their own?

Could happen.

Anyway. 5 point win. I hope. But

popebenny16

Last time we played Louth in Croke Park wasnt a cakewalk.

I was just thinking this morning..... given the way Dublin sprawl has gone, in ten or so years time will the future Dublin team be faced with lads ffrom Louth/Meath/Kildare/Laois with broader Dub's accents than their own?

Could happen.

Anyway. 5 point win. I hope. But it could still be giddy in the final quater.

The Rooster

Rumours that Vaughan has been dropped. Team should be announced tonight....

modmuffin

Dublin to win by 4-6pts

Louth +7 points is 5/6 on paddypower, bit of value there in my opinion.

aidan24326

I agree with Het-Field, Louth have done nothing in recent times to suggest they will cause Dublin too many problems. Dublin are weakened a bit by the suspensions with Bernard Brogan a big loss but I still think the Dubs will be too good for Louth. By the way this is the Dublin team that will line out on Sunday. Debuts for Fennell and Paddy Andrews.

DUBLIN (SF v Louth) - S Cluxton; D Henry, R McConnell, S O'Shaughnessy; P Casey, B Cullen, B Cahill; E Fennell, S Ryan; C Moran, J Sherlock, P Andrews; A Brogan, C Keaney, T Quinn.

Rooster you were quite right, Vaughan has indeed been dropped.

mise_me_fein

Guys, I listed out Louth´s progress in another thread so I´m not going to do it again. They have consistently been making progress in the championship over the last 5 years. I think there´s every chance Louth can win. They played a lot of games in Croke Park last year and got to the last 12 in the championship.

Fair enough, Dublin should win, but Meath should have beaten Wexford too. Kildare should have beaten Wicklow, etc, etc.

Paul Mc Gann

Paddy Andrews playing wing forward? I know he plays there for his club but never played a competitive game for Dublin outside the back 6. O'Shaughnessy back again but very little football with Dublin --big ask, Griffin not right? Dublin should win but its not going to be easy!!!

blackbelt

aidan24326 wrote: »

I agree with Het-Field, Louth have done nothing in recent times to suggest they will cause Dublin too many problems. Dublin are weakened a bit by the suspensions with Bernard Brogan a big loss but I still think the Dubs will be too good for Louth. By the way this is the Dublin team that will line out on Sunday. Debuts for Fennell and Paddy Andrews.

DUBLIN (SF v Louth) - S Cluxton; D Henry, R McConnell, S O'Shaughnessy; P Casey, B Cullen, B Cahill; E Fennell, S Ryan; C Moran, J Sherlock, P Andrews; A Brogan, C Keaney, T Quinn.

Rooster you were quite right, Vaughan has indeed been dropped.

Pillar has Henry playing out of position.Henry is usually a half-back.Maybe he is fitting in better in the full backs in the challenge games?I reckon Griffin will be back in the fold if Dublin make it to the Leinster Final.I'd hope he'd be there if we play Westmeath but its hard to know how fit he is or if he's off the pace.

I like the look of the full forward line but the half forward line apart from Jayo looks to be a very interesting one as Andrews has never featured in competitive matches for Dublin there and Collie Moran is probably better utilised in the backs but I think Collie Moran will actually have a good game this Sunday.Midfield will be a no-contest I believe.I think this is where we'll win the game to be honest.Fennell is such an amazing player and the breaking ball,if won by Ryan will be very hard for Louth to deal with.Ryan is so fast collecting those balls and running up the pitch.Speed and agility in Ryan and Fennell.

As for dropping Vaughan,it was quite expected.He hasn't been anywhere near his best this year.You could see it from October in the Dublin Senior Club Championships that he was slowly starting to go off the boil and with the on-form Mossy Quinn back in full swing,his place was under big threat and self-admittedly he was right in that he felt his own position was in jeopardy.However,I believe he will be brought on as a sub.Maybe for Jayo or Andrews.

The Rooster

blackbelt wrote: »

Pillar has Henry playing out of position.Henry is usually a half-back.Maybe he is fitting in better in the full backs in the challenge games?

Henry always plays corner back for Dublin. I don't recall him ever starting a championship game for the Dubs in the half back line, but certainly 90%+ of his starts have come in the full back line, and all his championship starts in the previous two years have been in the full back line (he did play a few games in the half forwards in the O'Byrne Cup/NFL a couple of years back).

When he plays for Raheny its usually at midfield or half forward.

I agree that Griffin could well be back in 2 or 3 games time - depends on his fitness after his trip to Oz. However, Pillar won't be happy about his "lack of committment" by going away in the first place! So Shocko is now the man in possession of the number 4 jersey.

Paddy Andrews had a couple of starts at corner back during the league. But given he has almost always been a forward for both Brigids and Dublin underage, that was a big surprise to me. He is regarded as very flexibile, but appears to me to be more of a natual forward than defender. Be interesting to see how he gets on. I'm sure McMenamin is disappointed to lose out.

I wonder is this the beginning of the end of Mark Vaughan' brief intercounty career, or just a kick up the jacksey? If he doesnt come on, or doesnt make an impression if he does come on, then with Bernard Brogan and Diarmuid Connolly returning for the next game, he could end up being pushed a long way back. I hope not, as I believe he's a far better free taker than Quinn. His biggest weakness is his total inability to follow tactics.

ibh

From a Louth perspective it is a game that we are not expected to win but we are not going to be afraid to take on Dublin. Our strongest points will be Paddy Keenan in midfield and probably Shane Lennon in the full forward line.
Fennell or Ryan will have their work cut out for them in there if Keenan is on song. He is a player that is underrated because he is from a weaker county but as a forward thinking midfielder, there are not very many that i would choose ahead of him.

I think Lennon is fit to give McConnell a tough day in the full back position. He is a good player, well fit to win his own ball and can score freely. He is however recovering from injury so who knows how fit he's going to be.

I think if Dublin take their eye off the ball then Louth can do it. If Dublin are on song they should be capable of overcoming us but I don't see them doing it by a huge scoreline.

dfcelt

The Dubs are well aware of Lennon given that he won the Dub championship for UCD with a fine score against St.Vincents 2 years ago with Billings (of Vinvents & Dub selector) & Mullins mentoring him down there. In saying that I think hes good enough to really test McConnell & odds of Louth +7 points at 5/6 on paddypower will get a lot of my money this weekend. As long as the occasion doesn't get to the Wee men this game should be tight enough with the Dubs just scraping by

Mad Dog

Looking forward to the start this Sunday and should be a good game.

I expect it to be a bit tighter than a lot of people think and we should get through by about 3pts IMO.

Steve_o

popebenny16 wrote: »

I was just thinking this morning..... given the way Dublin sprawl has gone, in ten or so years time will the future Dublin team be faced with lads ffrom Louth/Meath/Kildare/Laois with broader Dub's accents than their own?

Could happen.
.

No it couldn't...not in Laois anyway... STAY OFF OUR LAND!!!

OP, Dublin to win by 5+ points!

Het-Field

Again, an opposition like Louth cite two or three players wh they feel could give the Dubs a rollocking. Fennell is a good new player, while Ryan is as strong as they come. Keaney, Quinn and Alan Brogan are as good a set of forwards as a team can have, save Donaghy, MFR, and the Gooch. Cullen is one of the best players in Gaelic Football.

I dont think one or two decent louth players can make up for an all round mediocre-poor team.

Plus Kildare need not have beaten Wicklow, while Meath threw it away

ibh

Het-Field wrote: »

Again, an opposition like Louth cite two or three players wh they feel could give the Dubs a rollocking. Fennell is a good new player, while Ryan is as strong as they come. Keaney, Quinn and Alan Brogan are as good a set of forwards as a team can have, save Donaghy, MFR, and the Gooch. Cullen is one of the best players in Gaelic Football.

I dont think one or two decent louth players can make up for an all round mediocre-poor team.

Plus Kildare need not have beaten Wicklow, while Meath threw it away

Who mentioned giving any Dubs a rollocking?? All i did was highlight Louths strongest areas of their team. I also balanced it with saying that if the Dubs are on their game they will win it.

Nalced_irl

Dubs by a couple of points i think. Dont think there will be much between them with suspensions and the fact its the first game of the championship coming into play. Really depends on how Louth approach it but i certainly cant see a walkover happening. Think it will be close enough so Dubs by 2-4 points.

Marse

Dubs by one will do me. I work with too many Louth men to lose this one. The level of stick I'm likely to be exposed to if Dublin don't win just doesn’t bear thinking about.

redzerdrog

think dubs will win by 10 or 12:(

niallo32

popebenny16 wrote: »

Last time we played Louth in Croke Park wasnt a cakewalk.

Don't know what you call a 'cakewalk' but Dublin won by 13 the last time they met in Croke park...

paulocon

Lads... a wee bit off-topic here but I was told yesterday that there is very restricted parking around croker, is there any truth to this.. bringing the young lad so hoping the usual parking spots will be available..

Paul Mc Gann

I agree that Vaughn is a better free taker than Quinn on his day--but that's the operative term--he has'nt had a good game in several months. Also mitigating against him is his lack of ball handling skills which can cost!!! Quinn is a better overall player and his performances for Vins were impressive. I agree with Whelan, B Brogan, and Connolly coming back he will find it very hard to get a start.

Paul Mc Gann

Het-Field wrote: »

Again, an opposition like Louth cite two or three players wh they feel could give the Dubs a rollocking. Fennell is a good new player, while Ryan is as strong as they come. Keaney, Quinn and Alan Brogan are as good a set of forwards as a team can have, save Donaghy, MFR, and the Gooch. Cullen is one of the best players in Gaelic Football.

I dont think one or two decent louth players can make up for an all round mediocre-poor team.

Plus Kildare need not have beaten Wicklow, while Meath threw it away

Cullen is good----but keep an eye on his distribution from frees and in general play****

popebenny16

niallo32 wrote: »

Don't know what you call a 'cakewalk' but Dublin won by 13 the last time they met in Croke park...

I knew someone would say that. I have seen so many 5 + points leads lost that I was going form my memory that I was anxious all through it. I tend to forget those parts of games when we waltz through the last 10 mins scoring for fun, always remember the bit before that.

Noli

in all fairness i reckon that their fitness will tell in the end,it should be a warm up game to gain more fitness and shooting practice, if Dublin dont win by a big score theyll be deemed as failures and written off

dublinmadyoke

Here, fair play to Louth they are trying to play a good match. Dublin missing so many points and Louth are also.

My main reason for posting this message is the match commentator on TV 3. Why the hell does he feel it necessary to shout down the microphone??Its doing my head in! I bet he was/is a radio commentator and not a TV sports commentator- absolutely horrendous match commentary, he hardly give Joe a chance to talk at all. :eek:


TV3 please change your match commentator!!!!! :mad:

aidan24326

Just watching the first half there on tv3 and it's been a dreadful game so far. Louth getting plenty of chances but they're making such hard work of getting scores. Dublin playing way below their best but they will probably just do enough.

Raoul

Yeah, he keeps cutting across Joe and won't let him get his 2 cents in!

Its slightly annoying.

kmart6

Square f*cking ball!!!

dave13

kmart6 wrote: »

Square f*cking ball!!!

certainly was, seemed obvious to everyone else.being at d hill end must have helped.

kmart6

I'm waiting for the rush of Dublin fan's to come along now and say it clearly wasn't!

aidan24326

kmart6 wrote: »

Square f*cking ball!!!

Yes it was, but Dublin are winning easily anyway regardless of the goal. Louth simply not up to this level so they can have no complaints.

They had plenty of chances in the first half but didn't take them and once Dublin crept 3 or 4 ahead there was only going to be one result after that.

patmac

Waiting for the Louth v Louth thread and the Dublin v Dublin thread, is one thread not enough:rolleyes:

aidan24326

patmac wrote: »

Waiting for the Louth v Louth thread and the Dublin v Dublin thread, is one thread not enough:rolleyes:

Quite right Pat. This really didn't warrant a whole new thread seen as there's a dedicated Dublin v Louth thread already. TV3 commentators are crap. Hold the front page.

kaimera

relax lads.

Internets trouble is what kept the merging

Gavin "shels"

See yous on the 29th.:p



*Feels a repeat of the 2004 Leinster*:D

Paul Mc Gann

good second hlf. but a couple of nervous performances--Andrews, cahill cullen . we lack depth in defence but forwards are ok with connolly and young brogan coming back----great games from fennrll and brogan another god game from jayo

MementoMori

Reasonable game - not too impressive from the Dubs overall.

Fair play to Louth - they gave the Dubs quite a game in the first half, but in the end the better quality told.

Def think the fact that they were playing Division 3 football didnt help Louth as in the second half they seemed to tire significantly. Also if they were going to run Dublin close over the 70 mins, they probably needed to have been luckier especially with the goal chance in the first half and the square ball for the Dublin goal. Don't know if it would have changed the final result but would have made the second half a bit more exciting, as once the goal went in it was lights out. In fairness Dublin closed the game out solidly but I wouldn't exactly be overjpyed if I had money ondublin for Sam.

As regards Dublin's chances for the AI, it wasn't exactly a massive statement of intent. Obviously the main plus for the Dubs was Alan Brogan who looked head-and-shoulders above everyone else on the pitch. Looked threatening ever time he got the ball, 1-7 is an impressive tally in anyone's book. However would have to say in the bigger games he'll be up against a bettter class of defender. Fennell was impressive in a Championship debut and obviously offers an alternative at midfield. For a player of his calibre, thought Shane Ryan didn't really perform - very quiet in the first half. Although this might also be a case of an experienced player not exerting themselves too much too earlier. Ryan falls into the kinda of older player who I reckon would be able to do this. However the amount of ball Louth won in the middle of the field in the first half, even in spite of the some impressive catches by Fennell, would be a cause for concern for Caffrey I'd imagine. Combine that with what I thought was a very poor performance by Cullen, think this could be an area where Dublin have trouble in the future.

The main problem in the first half was Dublin's lack of cohension in the first half. Definately didn't look like a team who had a plan and knew what everyone's job was. Apart from Brogan,obv. One example of some incredibly silly play by an experienced player who should know better was Henry's decision to shoot for a point in the first half (which went wide) when Sherlock was in a much better position. Only a small thing, but just poor play. As for Sherlock, had a very good game I thought, but I wouldnt be a bit surprised if he got shut out of future games by better (faster/tighter) defenders. Also in general the Dublin backs didnt especally convince, particullarly in the first half - allowed Louth forwards quite a lot of space in the first half and I get the impression that they will give better teams goal chances, which would have to be a worry. I suppose the only positive with regard to this is that in Cluxton they have one of the top keepers in the country.

Overall they got a result which it I suppose is all that matters at this time of the year and I'll be well suprised if they don't win Leinster again this year. However I'd be equally surprised to see them pick up Sam come September.

paulocon

Sitting directly in line with the goal and definitely a square ball - said to my mate after the goal that it was game over after that and predictably the arse fell outta Louth after that. Hard to know how good that Dublin side is as they pretty much all the time in the world to clock up points after the goal.

As a Louth supporter, had to pick the bones out of that. Obviously outclassed overall but played some great football in the first half (but couldn't score). Midfield looked good in phases - Judge looked a threat when we could get the ball to him - Back line looked a few yards off the Dublin forwards throughout..

Killer now is the wait until 19th July for the Qualifiers - I know it's been said before and it's obviously particularly a problem when you go out in the first round but it's a killer to have such a wait between games.. after the run of games last year, my young lad can't understand why we're not going to a game next week!!

thecoolfreak

Got to take today's game in context. First game of championship. No team comes out and plays the perfect game. Often the bigger teams will slip up. Dublin negoiated this poteintial banana skin and won comfortably. Can't ask for much more. Some good performances and the likes of Fennell introduced to Championship football and showed he is up to the test. Dublin will improve as the summer goes by

OK, I know I am gonna get lambasted for this but it wasn't a square ball. When Sherlock passed the ball Brogan was outside the square. No doubt about it. It was incredibly close but even the in-ground replays seemed conclusive.

Dublin were kicking points for fun at that stage anyway and continued to after the goal. I was glad it was such a clean game too. Mostly Louth yellow cards but can't be blamed for frustrated tackles really, it was a tough second half to have to play in.

kmart6

Weren't they only up by 3 or 4 at that stage?! Don't think that's kicking points for fun!

paulocon

Kayroo,

Have to disagree with you there - sitting beside a few Dubs and they reckoned square ball as well - like I said, I was in line with it and called it straight away..

I wouldn't say Dublin were kicking points for fun before the goal - they had kicked 3 on the trot at the start of the second half before Louth replied with 2.. The goal was a bad break for Louth as they had just scored those 2 points on the trot to bring the deficit back to 3 and had just won the ball back and won a free before breaking the basic rule of playing the ball back infield to a congested area.

Thought once that went in, Louth heads went down. I still think Dublin would have won without the goal but I certainly think it helped the margin of victory - there is a big difference kicking points when you have a substantial lead and the pressure is off - having said that, they kicked some exceptional points in the 2nd half..

Dublin should take the Leinster title but I'm not sure if they'll be up to it after that - while their forwards are excellent, you'd have to question if their backs are up to it...

kmart6

paulocon wrote: »

Dublin should take the Leinster title but I'm not sure if they'll be up to it after that - while their forwards are excellent, you'd have to question if their backs are up to it...

Yeah they should walk through leinster, they're only going to be challenged after that, and better teams with better will destroy those Dublin backs with performances like that!

paulocon

paulocon wrote: »

Kayroo,

Have to disagree with you there - sitting beside a few Dubs and they reckoned square ball as well - like I said, I was in line with it and called it straight away...

Dublin should take the Leinster title but I'm not sure if they'll be up to it after that - while their forwards are excellent, you'd have to question if their backs are up to it...

On the square ball, I suppose we'll have to wait till we see the Sunday Game.

As for our chances in September. Meath losing was a big loss for Dublin. We need a proper game before the All-Ireland series. Not to demean the rest of Leinster but Bray, Ward and Geraghty would have really tested us today. Dublin need that. I think we have the players, I just think we need to get all 15 on the pitch firing at once, I've never seen that in Croke Park since 1995. Even then we lost Charlie...

thecoolfreak

Deleted User wrote: »

OK, I know I am gonna get lambasted for this but it wasn't a square ball. When Sherlock passed the ball Brogan was outside the square. No doubt about it. It was incredibly close but even the in-ground replays seemed conclusive.

Dublin were kicking points for fun at that stage anyway and continued to after the goal. I was glad it was such a clean game too. Mostly Louth yellow cards but can't be blamed for frustrated tackles really, it was a tough second half to have to play in.

That was my impression as well. Haven't seen it at home yet so I'll see if the Sunday Game changes my opinion. Initial reaction was that he received the ball before he entered the square

thecoolfreak

kmart6 wrote: »

Yeah they should walk through leinster, they're only going to be challenged after that, and better teams with better will destroy those Dublin backs with performances like that!

On today's performance the big teams would beat us well. But its only June and not even Kerry come out all guns blazing in the first round. Its all about timing your run and in reality today was just a warm up for Dublin.