Leinster SHF – Galway v Kilkenny

CyberDave

Might as well, start the ball rolling for this one. Unless Galway can produce one of these one off performances (2001, 2005) it's Kilkennys. Dread to think what Kilkenny will do to the Galway full-back line.

cgpg5

I'm a galway man and really fear this could be a massacre. Galway full back line hasn't a hope of containing the Kilkenny forwards imo. Cats by ten plus

DeadbeatDancer

I too am scared!

I just hope we don't get embarrassingly slaughtered!

Diabhal Beag

Heart hopes for a win but head says we'd be doing well if we kept them within 6 points. There's goals in this though especially if Skehill starts. They'll mark Canning out of the match so it's up to the likes of Hayes and Donnellan to get the big scores. Niall Burke needs to be more lively because he showed great potential in the League. The less said about the backs the better. Letting in as many goals as they have against W'Meath and Offaly is an ominous sign.

A thrashing here would be very harmful for the QF match when they'll be playing a good team with wins under their belt. At least it won't be Waterford though.

cgpg5

Hope Johnny Glynn starts at 10 myself. Bring Burke back to mid leave out Smith. Need more from Conor Cooney, was anonymous after the two goals against Offaly

dcr22B

Can see Kilkenny scoring at least 4 goals in this game given how generous the Galway backs were against Westmeath and Offaly.

KK to win by 10+ unless Galway really pull sthg out of the bag.

Just hope for Galway's sake ye turn up unlike us last Saturday.

aidan24326

I too am fearful of this one.

Kilkenny looked in seriously good shape on Saturday even allowing for Dublin having an off-day. They're playing as well as ever.

We have the forwards to cause them problems but our leaky defence could really get taken to the cleaners. I haven't seen the betting odds yet but I'm guessing KK will be about 1/4 or 1/5, and it's hard to see anything other than a Kilkenny win. If they bring their best form, which on recent evidence is likely, then I really fear we could be in for a hiding.

cgpg5

aidan24326 wrote: »

I too am fearful of this one.

Kilkenny looked in seriously good shape on Saturday even allowing for Dublin having an off-day. They're playing as well as ever.

We have the forwards to cause them problems but our leaky defence could really get taken to the cleaners. I haven't seen the betting odds yet but I'm guessing KK will be about 1/4 or 1/5, and it's hard to see anything other than a Kilkenny win. If they bring their best form, which on recent evidence is likely, then I really fear we could be in for a hiding.

1/8 with Paddy's to win Leinster championship now :O

Fireball07

Galway's only hope is if they score goals. 3 or more would be needed.

I don't think they'll do that, Dublin never once looked like scoring against Kilkenny, they have a brilliant backline. They might get 1, but not 3.

And Kilkenny will most likely tear the Galway backs apart. They're too good. Kilkenny will win this comfortably, I think. 7+ points, I'd say/

MfMan

Don't ever be afraid. KK were overwhelming favourites in '01 and '05 also. To use a quote from Fergal Moore, 'You're never as good as you look when you win, or as bad when you lose'. Dublin were wretched on Saturday evening and just threw in the towel once the second goal went in. Eoin Larkin was quiet enough on the evening and Henry only scored the frees. TJ Reid isn't exactly world-class (on his own) either. Richie Power at present is the big danger, Moore should be detailed to mark him. I still think KK's backs can be caught for pace, and even Brian Hogan isn't unbeatable, see C'bridge last year. Goal keeper wasn't tested too much either. KK's great strength of course lies in their teamwork, they're even greater than the sum of their parts.

Galway for their part need to move the ball as quickly and slickly as possible. Keep the forward area wide open and no high-ball deliveries. Don't think young Joseph at wing-back is good enough, just too slow. Hynes should be out the field also. Anyone know why Daithi Burke isn't on the panel? Playing man's hurling for an improving Turlough' team in a pivotal position. Is Bernard Burke still on the panel?

cgpg5

MfMan wrote: »

Don't ever be afraid. KK were overwhelming favourites in '01 and '05 also. To use a quote from Fergal Moore, 'You're never as good as you look when you win, or as bad when you lose'. Dublin were wretched on Saturday evening and just threw in the towel once the second goal went in. Eoin Larkin was quiet enough on the evening and Henry only scored the frees. TJ Reid isn't exactly world-class (on his own) either. Richie Power at present is the big danger, Moore should be detailed to mark him. I still think KK's backs can be caught for pace, and even Brian Hogan isn't unbeatable, see C'bridge last year. Goal keeper wasn't tested too much either. KK's great strength of course lies in their teamwork, they're even greater than the sum of their parts.

Galway for their part need to move the ball as quickly and slickly as possible. Keep the forward area wide open and no high-ball deliveries. Don't think young Joseph at wing-back is good enough, just too slow. Hynes should be out the field also. Anyone know why Daithi Burke isn't on the panel? Playing man's hurling for an improving Turlough' team in a pivotal position. Is Bernard Burke still on the panel?

Was asked I think but didn't want to

jossnjuice

any ideas if there is a curtain raiser folks??

Cant seem to see one anywhere on the GAA website.

johnson85

Leinster MHC final I'm guessing?

Galway have an awful habit of conceding soft goals... on their day they can take anyone but the way Kilkenny are motoring this year, it's hard to look beyond them.

jossnjuice

Thats what i was thinking myself, but theres absolutely no sign of it anywhere!

Reckon we could get a right scalping from the cats, but once in a while theres a major upset.......remember distinctly when Farragher scored the goal from the half way.........could just happen!

LeftBlank

jossnjuice wrote: »

Thats what i was thinking myself, but theres absolutely no sign of it anywhere!

Reckon we could get a right scalping from the cats, but once in a while theres a major upset.......remember distinctly when Farragher scored the goal from the half way.........could just happen!

The MHC Leinster final is on first Dublin vs. Wexford

http://www.leinstergaa.ie/home/default.aspx?id=10&type=Fixtures

LeftBlank

Fireball07 wrote: »

I don't think they'll do that, Dublin never once looked like scoring against Kilkenny, they have a brilliant backline. They might get 1, but not 3.

Dublin don't generally score a lot of goals anyway, so I wouldn't read too much into that.

Lapin

Galway by a point or two, I wouldn't write them off.

They have the hurling in them to beat Kilkenny on their day.

The Cats will still win the All Ireland though.

Flukey

Well Galway, and Antrim, should not be playing in Leinster, so it is not really a Leinster final. Anyway, I hope Galway beat Kilkenny, but Kilkenny have to be favourites.

Lapin

Flukey wrote: »

Well Galway, and Antrim, should not be playing in Leinster, so it is not really a Leinster final.

Only 18 posts before someone dragged up this tired old chestnut.

I thought it would have taken a bit longer this year. :rolleyes:

aidan24326

Flukey wrote: »

Well Galway, and Antrim, should not be playing in Leinster, so it is not really a Leinster final. Anyway, I hope Galway beat Kilkenny, but Kilkenny have to be favourites.

Maybe they shouldn't, but what would you prefer? A stupid and pointless Connaught championship where Galway proceed to beat the likes of Mayo and Roscommon by a cricket score?

The reality is that this contrived provincial system exists only to preserve the sacred Munster Championship. There's no other reason. Connaught and Ulster are a dead duck and even Leinster isn't much better with Kilkenny winning it at their leisure year in and year out.

What we need is an open draw or some kind of champions leage style format. There can't be another sport in the world that has such a stupidly thrown-together format as what hurling has at the moment. The provincial format works reasonably well for football but is now a completely busted flush in hurling.

Flukey

Here is a question for you, with an obvious answer: Which of Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, Galway and Mayo have the best chance of winning the All-Ireland? Obvious enough. That being the case, why is that Galway are considered to be the problem, and nothing is done about the 4 counties that are a problem? You could say the same in relation to Antrim and Ulster's other counties, albeit the gap being a little smaller. Moving Galway and Antrim into Leinster has done nothing for the other counties in Connacht and Ulster. At least they have an Ulster Championship, but they haven't even done that much in Connacht with the remaining counties, possibly adding London and New York as they have in football. Galway and Antrim are not the problem, so they shouldn't be doing anything about them while ignoring the real problem. It is like going into your doctor with a badly injured arm and coming out with a bandage on your toe. True, we don't want a pointless Connacht championship, but nothing is being done to improve that, not even a Galway-free Connacht Championship. There is no excuse not to have that.

As for Sunday, you'd have to favour Kilkenny. They always get into gear at this stage and while Galway are capable of raising their game, you just don't know when they are going to do it. As they showed in 2005 against Kilkenny and in 2010 against Tipperary, some days they really can put it up to anyone. It is usually only on one day in the year though. If they are lucky enough to do it on Sunday, then anything could happen, but they'd then come out the next day and be mediocre. Hopefully we'll get a thriller with Galway coming out on top, but you'd have to favour Kilkenny.

MfMan

MfMan wrote: »

Anyone know why Daithi Burke isn't on the panel? Playing man's hurling for an improving Turlough' team in a pivotal position. Is Bernard Burke still on the panel?

Absolute shame as he looked the best under age player we had coming through since Joe Canning. His fielding was something else and I don't recall any mistakes in the 2/3 games I saw him.
I think it's a MASSIVE waste of potential but apparently he prefers the football(believe he's senior with Corofin) where he looks a pretty average player(from watching last years Connacht Final)

CyberDave

gilberto_eire wrote: »

Absolute shame as he looked the best under age player we had coming through since Joe Canning. His fielding was something else and I don't recall any mistakes in the 2/3 games I saw him.
I think it's a MASSIVE waste of potential but apparently he prefers the football(believe he's senior with Corofin) where he looks a pretty average player(from watching last years Connacht Final)

I really don't think he has chosen football over hurling. He plays club football and hurling, which I'm sure plenty of lads his age does. Also, Corofin are more successful in football than Turloughmore are these days in hurling, whcih is why it may seem that he prefers football. I also remember reading an article where he was quoted as saying that hurling was his number one. He may be simply trying to avoid burnout at a young age...

CyberDave

Flukey wrote: »

True, we don't want a pointless Connacht championship, but nothing is being done to improve that, not even a Galway-free Connacht Championship. There is no excuse not to have that.

Could they form an amalgamated team of the rest of the Connacht counties to compete at a higher level? The same could be done in Ulster.

Lapin

CyberDave wrote: »

Could they form an amalgamated team of the rest of the Connacht counties to compete at a higher level? The same could be done in Ulster.

Galway would still hammer them every year.

aidan24326

Lapin wrote: »

Galway would still hammer them every year.

That's the reality of it. The gap between top and bottom in hurling is enormous. Even a pick of Connaught wouldn't keep it pucked out to any of the top teams. The Galway under-21 or intermediate teams would beat them never mind the seniors.

Roger Sterling

Business as usual for Kilkenny here I'm afraid. Watch for 2-3 goals in the first ten minutes totally killing the game as a contest then the KK half backs to stroll around dominating in the air and supplying the forwards who'll keep the score board ticking over till the end of yet another 10+ point win. Getting tedious at this stage but KK won't care one jot and why would they?

Fireball07

CyberDave wrote: »

Could they form an amalgamated team of the rest of the Connacht counties to compete at a higher level? The same could be done in Ulster.

Logistics-wise, it would never work.

It's hard enough getting the best players coming to train for their own county without pulling them from all over the province to one location.

Flukey

CyberDave wrote: »

Could they form an amalgamated team of the rest of the Connacht counties to compete at a higher level? The same could be done in Ulster.

That would still be ignoring the problem. Just because a county does not have a good team, we should not abolish it or amalgamate it. 31 of the counties play in the football championship (and there is no reason why Kilkenny shouldn't either - they have a better record than many that do participate) and although some are not very good or don't have much chance of winning even a provincial championship, they soldier on. Every so often that bit of work pays off and we get something like Westmeath winning their first provincial football championship in 2004 (putting them just 2 behind Kilkenny's footballers). Look at Longford this year, hardly one of the footballs great powers, but not doing bad at all. If they continue the work they could even start winning Leinster again and maybe even catch up on Kilkenny.

It is not that long ago that people would have laughed at you if you suggested Clare or Offaly could win a Hurling provincial title, never mind an All-Ireland. 1980 was Offaly's first Leinster Senior Hurling title, and they followed it up by winning their first All-Ireland in 1981. They've added 3 more All-Irelands since then and have been at or near the top table of Hurling throughout that period. Clare's Munster title in 1995, was their first since 1932 and the All-Ireland they won that year was their first since 1914. In the same year that Offaly won that first Leinster title, Galway won their first All-Ireland in 57 years. With the work put in, teams can make a big change and become at least competitive, if not contenders. With a bit of effort the 4 weaker counties in Connacht could become competitive. There are strong areas of Hurling in Connacht, outside of Galway. It is not that long ago that Roscommon were putting it up to Galway, as it holds one of those strongholds of Hurling. If you sent Brian Cody up to Leitrim for a few months, he'd soon have them at least competitive. Meanwhile Mick O'Dwyer could go to Kilkenny and get them working on winning that fourth Leinster Senior Football title.

We can go on trying to solve things that are not problems in the first place or we can start doing things, in which case that All-Ireland Senior Hurling semi-final in 2017 between Sligo and Louth could be a cracker, especially with the way Louth beat Wexford in the Leinster semi-final to set up a Leinster final against Westmeath after their 13 point win over Kilkenny. Being beaten by a point in that 2017 Leinster final would be a disappointment to Westmeath, but then being beaten by Donegal in the qualifiers would really shake them, though they should be taking them more seriously after Donegal's demolition of Clare in the previous qualifier round!

Sound crazy? Maybe, but no moreso than suggesting in the 1970s that Offaly would soon be regular Leinster Hurling champions and bag a few All-Irelands too. If you'd made that suggestion back then, before you could have said "Liam McCarthy", you'd have been surrounded by men in white coats and carted off to the nearest mental facility, and would still be considered too dangerous to release into society today, even though your predictions came true. At the very least, we should have that Galway-free Connacht Hurling Championship. A bit of work, and a Louth v Westmeath Leinster final in 2017 would not be such a crazy idea. Even if Louth do get past Sligo in the semi-final, I think beating Cavan in the All-Ireland final might be too big a mountain to climb. After all, Cavan wouldn't want their neighbours stopping them getting that 3-in-a-row, especially after they'd blown Tipperary away in their semi-final!

Justin10

Dublin closed that gap from being a bottom county to compete with top.
Just the funding for these counties is not there to achieve such things.

On the game itself, I would expect Kilkenny to rack up 2-3 goals and that will be what separates the two teams in the end.

Mountainlad

Rochey18 wrote: »

Dublin closed that gap from being a bottom county to compete with top.
Just the funding for these counties is not there to achieve such things.

On the game itself, I would expect Kilkenny to rack up 2-3 goals and that will be what separates the two teams in the end.

Yeah they did I guess. They've a bit to go yet though.

Flukey, I like the way you think. Probably a bit ambitious though. Lets try and get Carlow, Westmeath, Antrim and Laois to the nxt level first as well a having Waterford, Clare and Limerick up there with Kilkenny.

CyberDave

Gonna have a shot at naming the Galway lineup for Sunday, if it makes any odds... They played Waterford recently in a challenge. Lost narrowly, according to a report from a mate of mine, who attended. He had the usual complaints, about the wing-backs.

Skehill, Collins, Hynes, Moore, Coen, Regan, Joseph Cooney, Tannian, Smith, David Burke, Niall Burke, Donnellan, Hayes, Canning, Conor Cooney.

Mountainlad

CyberDave wrote: »

Gonna have a shot at naming the Galway lineup for Sunday, if it makes any odds... They played Waterford recently in a challenge. Lost narrowly, according to a report from a mate of mine, who attended. He had the usual complaints, about the wing-backs.

Skehill, Collins, Hynes, Moore, Coen, Regan, Joseph Cooney, Tannian, Smith, David Burke, Niall Burke, Donnellan, Hayes, Canning, Conor Cooney.

Yep they scored 4 goals and lost! We only scored 1. I guess that is kind of positive for Galway, but they gave away a lot of points!

CyberDave

Mountainlad wrote: »

Yep they scored 4 goals and lost! We only scored 1. I guess that is kind of positive for Galway, but they gave away a lot of points!

He said that Joseph Cooney and Niall Burke weren't great either.

tricialou

CyberDave wrote: »

Might as well, start the ball rolling for this one. Unless Galway can produce one of these one off performances (2001, 2005) it's Kilkennys. Dread to think what Kilkenny will do to the Galway full-back line.[/QUOTE

Is it just me or do galway get knocked out just before the galway races each year. Even years they are doing well anyone would thing they couldnt be bothered and just wanna go on the last for the week?

jossnjuice

Always see PJ from the football squad being interviewed at some stage of the week by RTE. Cant see it changing this year either!

dastardly00

There seems to be a good few KK players carrying knocks at the moment according to the Irish Examiner yesterday:

Kilkenny are facing an injury crisis ahead of Sunday’s Leinster senior hurling final with Galway at Croke Park.Five of the side which began last month’s semi-final win over Dublin, as well as Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly – who missed that game – are all doubts.

Cats selector Martin Fogarty outlined the extent of the damage, which resulted in a number of absentees from training last Sunday.

"Neither of the Fennellys trained, and Eoin Larkin, Jackie Tyrrell, Tommy Walsh and Paul Murphy all missed it too," he said. "Michael Fennelly would have to be our most serious doubt, and we’d be fairly worried about Colin Fennelly, Tommy and Jackie not making it too. Eoin and Paul we’d be hopeful about.

But seemingly at training last night, Paul Murphy, Tommy Walsh, Michael Rice and Colin Fennelly all took part in full training
And Mick Fennelly, Jackie Tyrell and Eoin Larkin took part in most of the session. But JJ Delaney only ran the sideline of the pitch
At least Noel Hickey can cover for JJ.

adrian522

Wouldn't be at al surprised to see them all start.

Local_Chap

When will the Galway team be announced?

Kilkennys team is due to be announced tommorow night after training.

peasncarrots

dont think kk will have it all their own way galway do sometimes pull a shock and maybe sunday it will happen again

Mr. Boo

Local_Chap wrote: »

When will the Galway team be announced?

Kilkennys team is due to be announced tommorow night after training.

I think it's to be announced on ghsc.ie on Friday evening.

Tough game for Galway, but we can't be written off entirely.

AngeGal

tricialou wrote: »

CyberDave wrote: »

Might as well, start the ball rolling for this one. Unless Galway can produce one of these one off performances (2001, 2005) it's Kilkennys. Dread to think what Kilkenny will do to the Galway full-back line.[/QUOTE

Is it just me or do galway get knocked out just before the galway races each year. Even years they are doing well anyone would thing they couldnt be bothered and just wanna go on the last for the week?

Not sure if serious????

These guys put in incredible effort, professional training for an amateur sport. I can assure you they're not losing to go on the lash for race week!

DEFTLEFTHAND

Remember Galway should have stopped Tipp's march to the AI in 2010. If they pull another performance like that out, I believe they have a good chance of causing an upset.

MfMan

Ya, ok. Can everyone, like, stop goin around saying Galway might have a chance and they could do it and they've beaten KK before etc. etc. That kind of talk is only playing into Cody's hands. Let's recap, KK have beaten pretty much the same team in the league by 25 points earlier in the year, they're reigning Leinster and AI champs since God knows when, Galway have an unsettled team with a porous defence, nobody from Galway is going up on Sunday to support the side, Cunningham is an untested manager at this level, and so on. Galway haven't a prayer on Sunday, and to say otherwise is fanciful in the extreme.

(That said, at combined odds of > 12/1, a Clare and Galway double isn't bad value!)

RealityCheck

MfMan wrote: »

Ya, ok. Can everyone, like, stop goin around saying Galway might have a chance and they could do it and they've beaten KK before etc. etc. That kind of talk is only playing into Cody's hands. Let's recap, KK have beaten pretty much the same team in the league by 25 points earlier in the year, they're reigning Leinster and AI champs since God knows when, Galway have an unsettled team with a porous defence, nobody from Galway is going up on Sunday to support the side, Cunningham is an untested manager at this level, and so on. Galway haven't a prayer on Sunday, and to say otherwise is fanciful in the extreme.

(That said, at combined odds of > 12/1, a Clare and Galway double isn't bad value!)

Thats a ridiculously negative post. If the team are going to have that attitute they might as well not turn up. Anyways I think most of the people saying a shock might be possible are from outside Galway.

I take it your not going on Sunday?

All I expect the next day is passion and fight and hopefully that results in a reasonably competitive game. I expect we'll be beaten by more than a few points but as long as we're not beaten out the gate we'll have done ok. The players have to have some belief though, otherwise they risk getting walloped again.

Regarding your point about not having a settled team, I'm not sure I agree. Most people could name at least 13/15 who'll start the next day. Hardly sweeping changes from game to game.

Defence isn't great but I felt the full back line weren't that bad against Offaly I'm actually more worried about the half back line and midfield. Midfield have to put in a serious shift against KK. I fear for Tannion and Smith if they start. Tannion could be found out when he faces an intense Kilkenny team, while Smith looks ordinary against the better teams. We'll need to see a lot of David Burke.

On the other hand it will be interesting to see how Donnellan gets on. He's had a decent year but up against the Kilkenny half backs is another planet altogether. He's had plenty of false dawns before.

I hope JC can find top form on Sunday and that of course depends on him getting service and playing at the edge of the square.

Remains to be seen. Sunday should be interesting at least. Looking forward to it unlike some.

MfMan

RealityCheck wrote: »

Thats a ridiculously negative post. If the team are going to have that attitute they might as well not turn up. Anyways I think most of the people saying a shock might be possible are from outside Galway.

I take it your not going on Sunday?

All I expect the next day is passion and fight and hopefully that results in a reasonably competitive game. I expect we'll be beaten by more than a few points but as long as we're not beaten out the gate we'll have done ok. The players have to have some belief though, otherwise they risk getting walloped again.

Regarding your point about not having a settled team, I'm not sure I agree. Most people could name at least 13/15 who'll start the next day. Hardly sweeping changes from game to game.

Defence isn't great but I felt the full back line weren't that bad against Offaly I'm actually more worried about the half back line and midfield. Midfield have to put in a serious shift against KK. I fear for Tannion and Smith if they start. Tannion could be found out when he faces an intense Kilkenny team, while Smith looks ordinary against the better teams. We'll need to see a lot of David Burke.

On the other hand it will be interesting to see how Donnellan gets on. He's had a decent year but up against the Kilkenny half backs is another planet altogether. He's had plenty of false dawns before.

I hope JC can find top form on Sunday and that of course depends on him getting service and playing at the edge of the square.

Remains to be seen. Sunday should be interesting at least. Looking forward to it unlike some.

Now who's being ridiculously negative??!!

Anyway, I agree with a lot of what you say. But you actually back up what I mean about being unsettled. I too don't trust midfield, Smith just isn't good enough while Tan, in spite of having rakes of ability, can be either quite good or very bad. For once, I'm not too worried about Donnellan, and this from his most vocal critic. If he can spray the ball around a bit and not go for too much fancy stuff, he may be alright - he's in fair form this year. David Burke also a hurler of great talent, but also quite inconsistent. Somehow feel that Niall Burke needs another year, wouldn't risk starting him. Defence is a real worry; would start Coen, maybe Hynes, Moore in the FB line, with Collins, Regan, Donohoe outside - maybe swap 3 and 6 if necessary. Cunningham, if he's really bold, would start with outright pace and maybe *finish* with his best 15.

Oh BTW, you can take it that I am going!

Carles Puyol

I don't think Kk will win as easily as some people think. If JC plays well anything could happen.

RealityCheck

MfMan wrote: »

Now who's being ridiculously negative??!!

The difference is that I at least tried to put a positive slant on things. I'll be happy as long as they give it their all. You've a point in that we're unlikely to shock them but some of what you said is just negative for the sake of it.

MfMan wrote: »

Anyway, I agree with a lot of what you say. But you actually back up what I mean about being unsettled. I too don't trust midfield, Smith just isn't good enough while Tan, in spite of having rakes of ability, can be either quite good or very bad. For once, I'm not too worried about Donnellan, and this from his most vocal critic. If he can spray the ball around a bit and not go for too much fancy stuff, he may be alright - he's in fair form this year. David Burke also a hurler of great talent, but also quite inconsistent. Somehow feel that Niall Burke needs another year, wouldn't risk starting him. Defence is a real worry; would start Coen, maybe Hynes, Moore in the FB line, with Collins, Regan, Donohoe outside - maybe swap 3 and 6 if necessary. Cunningham, if he's really bold, would start with outright pace and maybe *finish* with his best 15.

Interesting take on it. The team is still settled to some degree. You could nearly name the team. Being on the team doesn't necessarily mean they won't be found out though. Thats a separate point.

MfMan wrote: »

Oh BTW, you can take it that I am going!

Then why the negativity? I know plenty who are going. It is a final after all.

You can't deny you were just being negative for the sake of it just to amplify a point.

MfMan

Look up 'tongue-in-cheek'!

RealityCheck

MfMan wrote: »

Look up 'tongue-in-cheek'!

Then good god use smiley faces. :-P

Diabhal Beag

I dunno if I'd go as far as to say Cunningham is uninterested at senior level. He had a weird year with Dessie Dolan's club getting to the club final and the League campaign was poor. Those two are definitely connected.

I can only hope that defensively they've put a lot of work into the backs since the Offaly match and that Collins being fit will tighten the team up as a whole. That said though any improvements could be wiped out if Skehill gives away silly goals.

Do we have any updates on Fennelly and co in regards to injuries?