Dublin GAA Discussion Thread MOD WARNING POST #2944

corny

Slattsy wrote: »

Good game for us the way Westmeath set up, no team will go toe to toe so we may aswell get used to that, good practice, albeit against a poor team.

Everyone seems to think that Dublin struggle against the blanket, of course we do, every team does !!!
Its very hard to play against that and always will be. Patience, taking the right option, and taking your chances are vital. We missed an awful lot of scores today.

With that said, teams that play that way will find it very hard to beat us and will need both luck and Dublin not taking chances when they come, ie Donegal last year (tactical naivety not included).

With respect Slattsy you shouldn't be taking the likes of Donegal, Kerry and Mayo so lightly. Kerry are capable of playing football against us and winning. They'll relish the challenge truth be told. Donegal are also capable of defending resolutely and still putting up a score. We'll need every bit as much luck as they will.

Dublin's new defensive set up hasn't been tested yet. Marking 1 and 2 Westmeath lads with numerous spare men back is one thing. Tracking 5 and 6 Donegal runners at pace is quite another. Not being pessimistic but we won't be be able to tell whether or not Dublin are defensively more sound until after they're challenged. That hasn't happened yet.

McCaffrey and Connolly again the pick of the bunch today. Connollys ability to shoot and pass with such accuracy off either foot was spectacular. Bit worried about Flynn. Not the same verve to him this year.

I was bamboozled keeping track of Cian O' Sullivan. Spare man one minute, marking Heslin the next, back to spare man, mark someone else,...... Seemed to be method to it though.

Slattsy

I'm not for one instant saying we're unbeatable, every team is on any given day, but i do believe that if any team wants to go toe to toe, we'll win. I dont know if Kerry/Mayo will, its not really in their blood, but we know Donegal wont.


I suppose looking at what we conceded in the league would be a decent pointer of our new defensive approach, and it was pretty good. Im not gonna bother using Leinster as a guide for obvious reasons.

Re O'Sullivan, i've said it on several occasions, a real unsung hero and one of the first names on the paper for me.

What you make of MDMA today as a matter of interest?

ProudDUB

thinkstoomuch1 wrote: »

Absolutely they don't like cunningjham and be fair he is too good for them if that's the attuide


Daly was hardly a God I will name many hammering Dublin had under him and average cork team cunningjham coach beat daly Dublin all ireland semi final


Ye got outstanding proven manager
Enjoy him and he's time with Dublin
Daly Dublin were far from great yes odd big days but lot turbulence also to be fair now

That's complete and utter nonsense. Take off your red tinted glasses for a minute. We couldn't care less about who he is, or where he is from, any more we cared about where Anthony Daly was from. What we care about and what we judge our managers on, is what is happening on the pitch, the sense of unity off it & the results. We are aren't going to offer up blind unquestioning loyalty to him just because you tell us to, or because he had he a few good days with Cork.

Right now, we are all over the place & the only things that has kept us still in the competition is a couple of handy draws....we lost a big lead to Cork in the league, we suffered one of our worst ever defeats to Galway, we played very, very poorly for large periods against both Laois and Limerick, one our best players (Sutcliffe) has regressed at the rate of knots, one of our other best players (Rushe) is being played out of position, one of our most reliable stalwarts (Carton) walked away from the panel days before our biggest game of the year, there are rumours of discord within the panel.....they are the kind of things we are going to judge our manager on. Snobbery, or thinking he isn't good enough for us, doesn't come into it. So leave of telling us our own business, thanks very much.

corny

Slattsy wrote: »

I'm not for one instant saying we're unbeatable, every team is om any given day, but i do believe that if any team wants to go toe to toe, we'll win. I dont know if Kerry/Mayo will, its not really in their blood, but we know Donegal wont.


I suppose looking at what we conceded in the league would be a decent pointer of our new defensive approach, and it was pretty good. Im not gonna bother using Leinster as a guide for obvious reasons.

Re O'Sullivan, i've said it on several occasions, a real unsung hero and one of the first names on the paper for me.

What you make of MDMA today as a matter of interest?

Wouldn't be too perturbed tbh. He obviously had himself a bad day but he has a history of coming good in the later stages of the championship. Much like Connolly and BB.

ProudDUB

How Soon Is Now wrote: »

Looking at the fixtures for the 1/4 finals they four on Saturday 1st August and 2 on the following week.

I take it it be two Saturday and Sunday each week?

Trying to figure out where Dublin fit in here what date there possibly playing on.

Is anything confirmed yet or is it all yet to be decided fully?

Our quarter final is on the first weekend in August. This is the GAA Master fixture list. Scroll down to August.

http://www.gaa.ie/fixtures-and-results/national-fixtures/gaa-football-all-ireland-senior-championship/

The quarter finals featuring the winners of Leinster and Munster, are on the first weekend of August - with the specific day and time to be confirmed.

The quarterfinals featuring the winners of Connaught and Ulster, are on Saturday August 8th.

How Soon Is Now

ProudDUB wrote: »

Our quarter final is on the first weekend in August. This is the GAA Master fixture list. Scroll down to August.

http://www.gaa.ie/fixtures-and-results/national-fixtures/gaa-football-all-ireland-senior-championship/

The quarter finals featuring the winners of Leinster and Munster, are on the first weekend of August - with the specific day and time to be confirmed.

The quarterfinals featuring the winners of Connaught and Ulster, are on the second weekend of August - with the specific day and time to be confirmed.

Thanks ! I was looking at this after the match to try and figure it out. Its just the fact i need to sort it in work give them notice etc.

I wonder when the actual confirmed dates will be announced?

DoctaDee

I'd be a little bit more concerned than MDM just having an off day. He has spoken of being 100% fit and fully energised for the year - thought it was sorely lacking today. I can forgive the no look hand passes, but his distinct lack of awareness of the oncoming runner was very poor as was his tracking back, he started the match with a bandage on his knee which was disposed of @ HT. I'd like to think it was a niggle that was preventing his usual dynamic play.

Flynn had a bad day with the boot but he applied himself in every other facet of the game don't think I'd fault him there.

seligehgit

Slattsy wrote: »

I'm not for one instant saying we're unbeatable, every team is on any given day, but i do believe that if any team wants to go toe to toe, we'll win. I dont know if Kerry/Mayo will, its not really in their blood, but we know Donegal wont.


I suppose looking at what we conceded in the league would be a decent pointer of our new defensive approach, and it was pretty good. Im not gonna bother using Leinster as a guide for obvious reasons.

Re O'Sullivan, i've said it on several occasions, a real unsung hero and one of the first names on the paper for me.

What you make of MDMA today as a matter of interest?

Hoping we won't try to go toe to toe with you guys irrespective of the merits of the league game v Dublin this spring ...Then again I'm not sure if it's in the Mayo psyche to do anything else.Nothing convinces me at this stage that we have learned from the lessons of the last 4 years or that in this year's preparations thus far that we anything planned in terms of a sweeper in front of the full back line/blanket defence of sorts.

Having said all that we're capable of beating anybody on our day(hopefully even All Ireland final day) even going toe to toe with them.But it's going to require 4 such days starting with Sligo.The annual one big game will not suffice.

Dublinproud

Hats off to Westmeath firstly.Great first half performance only for the short balls dropped to Cluxton it could have been a different game.

Very worried about MDMA guys. Hope your right and he peaks nearer the end of the champo!

I think that was one of the worst games I've ever seen Flynner play for us but i'm sure he'll bounce back.

Alan needs to start for Kevin from here on in. Felt that way last game and even stronger this game. Kevin is alot better off the bench as well.

Worth the price of admission alone seeing Dermo play ball! I'd say its between himself and Jack for MOTM.

ProudDUB

I'd be worried about my starting jersey too, I were Kev Mc. Alan Brogan is really showing him up. Does Alan have the legs for 70 minutes though? I'd love to see a bigger role for Paddy Andrews over all. He's such a great target man & he is so unselfish. He won some lovely dirty ball out on the wing today, that you can't underestimate the value of, now that O'Gara is lost to us for the season.

DoctaDee

Was Cooper just a tactical replacement on foot of the yellow or did I miss an injury ?

TouchingVirus

DoctaDee wrote: »

Was Cooper just a tactical replacement on foot of the yellow or did I miss an injury ?

I reckoned it was tactical to avoid him picking up another yellow. He seemed to have the makings of his man and didn't appear to be struggling.

Kev's starting jersey is under threat, there are better options out there I feel - Andrews and Alan in particular. He mightn't want the super-sub title but that's where he's most potent; against a tiring team he'll skin them all with a burst and get on goal. Connolly was sublime to watch today, at times it looked like he was toying with Westmeath - such a beautiful footballer. McCaffrey was really good and I agree that MDMA is a concern. We're into the quarters though, it's the business end from here on out. Win or lose I'm looking forward to it.

What I'm not looking forward to is Waterford in the hurling quarter. Yesterday we were truly awful for long stretches of the game and decent opposition, even a better Limerick team, would have annihilated us. The change of pace from our match to the Clare/Cork match was staggering. Then I sat watching the Munster final today and saw more of that pace and I'm struggling to see how we'll make it through. Carton didn't see eye to eye with Ger and I doubt he's the only one, still there are 15 players on the pitch and no manager so he can't be to blame for everything

Stoner

Your missing the point. Never said he was not a good manager. It's you pushing anyhing good about Dublin hurling being down to him I have an issue with.
I was letting you know that the foundations were in place and progress had been made before he came on board over the past ten years.

So popping in here with patronising comments about how we are in good hands because we have Cunningham onboard are my issue, you've made plenty like that.

How on earth do you know he's building a foundation for Dublin hurling?

I genuinely wish him well, but there is no need to over sell him. I'm not saying change him, it's your comments I'm challenging.

This is the Dublin GAA thread, not the Dublin and Cork thread. Do you know why certain players have left the Dublin panel or are you simply guessing, are you close to the hurling scene in Dublin at all? Regardless of how well you know Cunningham?
There are many issues with Dublin hurling , most are not Cunninghams fault . But all the good things are not his making either. I take your point that we needed a new manager, it was time.

For a county with little to show wrt silverware in the hurling cabinet winning a league and a Leinster championship were massive achievements.

My point is the clubs are doing the work and improvements have been made. It's had nothing to do with Cunningham, so stop trying to claim it please.

Dublins win was largely down to limerick being poor and the lads pulling together, so unless Cunningham poisoned the limerick players cornflakes I dont know what bold decissons you think he made yesterday other than moving players back to the positions they were playing in three years ago.

Once again and this might get me in hot water with the mods, I dont have a issue with Cunningham, it's your arrogant position wrt inflating the impact he has had, attributing all positive things to him and claiming he's responsible for the hard work carried out by others. All this while holding the card that you can say he hasn't much to work with when things go wrong.

ProudDUB

Spot on Stoner !

Stoner

Slattsy wrote:

MacAuley and Flynn were tripe today. You'll forgive Flynn as he's still one of the best in the country, but MacAuley's form is worrying and seems intent on getting into as many scraps as possible. Dean Rock again not offering a lot.

I thought Fenton played well, distributed the ball, defended and showed for the ball throughout. Looked at the game on the TV afterwards and I have to say that it seemed a better game when watching it live than on TV.

We miss O'Gara, Rock didn't really show well for the ball considering his size. The long range kicking was poor, but some of the kick passing was good, there was more low balls kicked into the forwards today than usual.

Thought McCarthy was very good. Others had a poor day alright and it won't be good enough later on in the year.

Thought we handled their attacks well enough. O'Sullivan and McCarthy were not letting anyone in behind on the line

I still think Cooper needs to work on his temperament , I think being booked and getting his name taken later caused the substitution. That said I'm not sure the yellow was his making today, saw it on the TV, but I think he's developing a reputation.

Kavrocks

I have to say one of the most disappointing things Cunningham has done all year is to concede he was wrong to play Rushe at 11 and 14 and move him back to 6. To me it shows a weakness and lack of a spine. I loved that change, I thought Carton at 3, Kelly at 6 and Keaney at 7 was a good foundation for us. I'd have preferred him to experiment with swapping those 3 around including Crummey. Crummey was a great find for him too and Barret had some good games early on in the year and again on Saturday. They are both young backs and if there is anything we need its a strong back line.

I think he was 100% right to play Rushe at 14, we never had a goal threat with Daly he saw that and wanted to rectify it. I thought it was working but needed more time. Especially with Dillon playing off him. If we could get him playing well in big games and not just in the Walsh cup that would add hugely to our goal threat.

I was sitting right behind Cunningham on Saturday and his body language made it seem as if he hadn't a clue what to do in the first half when we were completely outplayed. He looked the same against Galway, absolutely clueless. I've said it numerous times but he should have come out after the Galway game and held his hands up and say he got it wrong and the players did well with the poor situation he led them into. He didn't which to me shows a lack of a spine again.

thinkstoomuch1 wrote: »

Cunningjham never got sacked and I guarantee you you asked limerick who want manager tonight they be sorry refused chance last year when they had it give him the job as he better players limerick work with but still Dublin beat limerick

thinkstoomuch1 wrote: »

I'd say limerick must think what might of been in they could had cunningjham

Really? Have you ever spoken to somebody from Limerick? None of the Limerick fans near me on Saturday wanted Cunningham as their manager. They all want Daly! They shared the exact same sentiments about Cunningham as has been posted here.

Cunningham maybe a God in Cork but from what I've seen he's unable to think on his feet and is weak. You seriously need to take off your rose tinted glasses and look at things as they are. Dublin hurling has issues yes which I and others have previously mentioned numerous times but they've been compounded by Cunningham not helped.

thinkstoomuch1 wrote: »

Absolutely they don't like cunningjham and be fair he is too good for them if that's the attuide

Seriously? You have to resort to comments like that? You can't defend Cunningham anyway else other than to say he's too good for us? I think that says it all.

Gael85

Dublin have used 25 players in 3 Championship game.Appearances+Subs for 2015 Championship Game


Brogan, Bernard 3
Cluxton, Stephen 3
Connolly, Diarmuid 3
Cooper, Jonny 3
Fenton, Brian 3
Flynn, Paul 3
Kilkenny, Ciaran 3
McCaffrey, Jack 3
McMahon, Philip 3
McManamon, Kevin 3
Rock, Dean 3
Macauley, Michael Darragh 2+1
Small, John 2+1
Andrews, Paddy 0+3
Brogan, Alan 0+3
Fitzsimons, Michael 0+3
O’Carroll, Rory 2
O’Sullivan, Cian 2
Daly, Darren 1+1
Bastick, Denis 1+1
McCarthy, James 1+1
Byrne, David (Olafs) 1
Brady, Tomas 0+2
Lowndes, Eric 0+1
O’Conghaile, Emmett 0+1


Dublin have scored 11-56 and conceded 0-30 in 3 Championship games. Scorers 2015 Championship Games
Brogan, Bernard 4-10
Rock, Dean 2-12
Connolly, Diarmuid 3-6
Kilkenny, Ciaran 0-10
Brogan, Alan 0-4
Flynn, Paul 1-3
McMahon, Philip 0-3
McCaffrey, Jack 1-0
McManamon, Kevin 0-2
Andrews, Paddy 0-1
Brady, Tomas 0-1
Fenton, Brian 0-1
Lowndes, Eric 0-1
Macauley, Michael Darragh 0-1
McCarthy, James 0-1



Dublin have used 35 players in 9 League games.Appearances+Subs for 2015 League Games
Cooper, Jonny 9
McManamon, Kevin 9
Rock, Dean 9
McCaffrey, Jack 8+1
Brady, Tomas 7+2
Bastic, Denis 8
Kilkenny, Ciaran 6+2
McMahon, Philip 6+2
O'Carroll, Rory 7
Brogan, Bernard 5+2
Small, John 5+2
Costello, Cormac 3+4
Fenton, Brian 3+4
Cluxton, Stephen 6 (4 Clean Sheets. Conceded 3 Goals)
Culligan, Eoin 6
McCarthy, James 3+3
O'Conghaile, Emmett 2+4
Connolly, Diarmuid 5
Flynn, Paul 4+1
Daly, Darren 3+2
O'Gara, Eoghan 3+2
O'Sullivan, Cian 3+2
Andrews, Paddy 1+4
Fitzsimons, Michael 2+2
Byrne, Davy (Ballymun) 1+3
Currie, Sean 3 (2 Clean Sheets. Conceded 1 Goal)
Carthy, Shane 2+1
Macauley, Michael Darragh 2+1
Byrne, David (Olafs) 1+2
Devereux, Nicky 1+2
Lowndes, Eric 1+2
Reddin, Ciaran 0+2
Deegan, Michael 0+1
McHugh, Conor 0+1
Ryan, Philip 0+1


Dublin have scored 8-131 and conceded 4-101 in 9 League games. Scorers 2015 League Games
Rock, Dean 1-52
Brogan, Bernard 2-8
McCaffrey, Jack 1-7
Brady, Tomas 0-8
McManamon, Kevin 0-8
Connolly, Diarmuid 1-5
Kilkenny, Ciaran 0-7
Fenton, Brian 1-3
Flynn, Paul 0-5
McMahon, Philip 0-5
Costello, Cormac 1-2
O'Conghaile, Emmett 0-4
O'Gara, Eoghan 0-4
Bastic, Denis 1-1
Andrews, Paddy 0-3
Byrne, Davy (Ballymun) 0-2
Carthy, Shane 0-2
Cooper, Jonny 0-2
Deegan, Michael 0-1
Macauley, Michael Darragh 0-1
Ryan, Philip 0-1


Dublin have used 34 players in 5 O'Byrne Cup games.Appearances+Subs for 2015 O'Byrne Cup
Brady, Tomas 5
Culligan, Eoin 5
Devereux, Nicky 5
O'Conghaile, Emmett 5
Rock, Dean 5
Small, John 5
Daly, Darren 5
Fitzsimons, Michael 4+1
Bastick, Denis 4
O'Gara, Eoghan 4
Hannigan, Graham 3+1
Ryan, Philip 2+2
Carthy, Shane 1+3
Scully, Niall 0+4
Costello, Cormac 3
McManamon, Kevin 3
Molloy, Lorcan 3 (1 Clean Sheet)
Collins, Niall 2+1
O'Carroll, Rory 2+1
Cooper, Jonny 1+2
Dawson, Harry 1+2
Lowndes, Stuart 0+3
Currie, Sean 2 (1 Clean Sheet)
McCaffrey, Jack 1+1
Dunleavy, Craig 1+1
Deegan, Michael 0+2
Kavanagh, Ian 0+2
Macauley, Michael Darragh 0+2
O'Higgins, Paddy 0+2
McCarrick, Alan 0+1
McGowan, Ross 0+1
McGuire, Conor 0+1
McLoughlin, Diarmuid 0+1
McMahon, Philip 0+1


Dublin have scored 3-80 and conceded 3-43 in 5 O'Byrne Cup games. Scorers 2015 O'Byrne Cup Games
Rock, Dean 0-38
O'Gara, Eoghan 2-7
McManamon, Kevin 1-6
Brady, Tomas 0-7
O'Conghaile, Emmett 0-6
Carthy, Shane 0-5
Ryan, Philip 0-3
Costello, Cormac 0-2
Deegan, Michael 0-2
Cooper, Jonny 0-1
Culligan, Eoin 0-1
McLoughlin, Diarmuid 0-1
Scully, Niall 0-1

CurryFlavoured

I said since day 1 I don't think that Rock offers enough in open play and i still feel that way. I've always been a fan of Andrews.

ProudDUB

I tend to agree about Paddy. He is a great link man & wins a good deal of dirty ball out on the wing, very important in the absence of O'Gara. He is very unselfish and always looks to give the ball to the man in the right position, even if it means someone else gets the glory & not him.

Plus, back when he was starting in 2013, he was generally good for 1-2 pts of his own per game. He shoots when he is in a good spot & isn't usually one of the guilty parties who is sending in Haily Marys from 50 yards out. He does a lot of the really important stuff that is vitally important, but won't ever get him the headlines or the man of the match awards.

I'd be happier if he had a more central role in our attack, as I feel that Kilkenny, Costello and Rock are still trying to find their feet. Paddy and Alan Brogan just seem to have that maturity level, team ethos and match day smarts that is vital in the big games. Then there is the ongoing fact that Kev Mc, just doesn't have the same mojo as a starter that he does when he comes off the bench.

Btw, does anyone have any percentage stats for what our free/45 conversation ratio was when Berno and Cluxton were taking them primarily, versus what they are for 2015 with only Rock taking them? It's something that I genuinely would like to know.

CurryFlavoured

I can't say I'm overly confident in our forward line right now. I haven't got to watch as much football as usual this season but I feel Flynn and Connolly are still our 2 standout men. I wouldn't consider any of our inside forwards elite on the level of McManus, O'Donoghue etc. and Kilkenny is yet to blow me away. I'd give an arm and a leg for a peak Alan and/or Bernard in this team as I feel its what we're missing. Still confident we'll be there or thereabouts fwiw.

DoctaDee

It wasn't the perfect performance by no means and post match the RTE boys never missing the opportunity weren't short about highlighting Kerry or Donegal licking their chops at our defensive frailties .. whatever about Donegal asking serious questions of Dublin, I'd be convinced that Dublin would ask more of Kerry than they will of us .. defensive frailties ? .. tell that to the team that's conceded 14 goals in 9 competitive games this year ..

I thought there was a good vibe at the game yesterday - highlighted by the fact of Philly McMahon picking up one of the Westmeath guys off the ground - a great response from the Dubs to the Kildare minors on their lap of honour, a well deserved acknowledgement of Westmeaths efforts at the end.

Wag of the week was in response to Flynner skying a ball well wide .... "Jaysus Paul I'd reload there, that one's gone out of bounds"

ProudDUB

CurryFlavoured wrote: »

I can't say I'm overly confident in our forward line right now. I haven't got to watch as much football as usual this season but I feel Flynn and Connolly are still our 2 standout men. I wouldn't consider any of our inside forwards elite on the level of McManus, O'Donoghue etc. and Kilkenny is yet to blow me away. I'd give an arm and a leg for a peak Alan and/or Bernard in this team as I feel its what we're missing. Still confident we'll be there or thereabouts fwiw.

These days, Bernard has 3 men dragging out of him, if he so much as looks at a ball. I think its unrealistic to expect productivity levels from 2010 out of him. But he never stopped running yesterday, he never stopped dragging his man out wide & he never stopped looking for the ball. Plus, with 4 goals in 3 games, his poaching instincts are as good as ever. I'd be far more worried about what will happen once he is gone, or he gets another niggley injury that results in another vein of bad form, than I would be what happened on Sunday.

CurryFlavoured

I hear you, and I think BB is still very valuable, but all top forwards have 2-3 men on them. I wouldn't have Bernard as elite anymore based on the last 2-3 seasons. I love the guy, one of my favourites, but that's my opinion.

ProudDUB

It's my opinion too, I'd love nothing more than to turn back the clock and have him at his 2010 levels. I just think it is unrealistic of us to expect them from him, given his age, his injuries and the wear and tear that have come from 5+ years of being double and triple marked.

But we have to make do with what we have. And for now, no one has come close to doing what he does in the full forward line. O'Gara is gone for the year. Costello and Mannion have yet to step up and make a valid long term claim on a starting jersey. They are definitely the future, but they aren't here now. Kev Mc's problems as a starter are well documented, as are Rocks lack of productivity from open play. Ciaran Kilkenny is a work in progress. Andrews is either injured or he isn't doing enough in training to merit a starting jersey again. So what else are we supposed to do? Who else are we supposed to play?

For all the talk of our unending of an unending conveyor belt of talent, we aren't Kerry. We haven't been able to rustle up a James O'Donoghue out of thin air, the way that they have done when Gooch's 30th birthday appeared on the horizon.

Stoner

ProudDUB wrote:

For all the talk of our unending of an unending conveyor belt of talent, we aren't Kerry. We haven't been able to rustle up a James O'Donoghue out of thin air, the way that they have done when Gooch's 30th birthday appeared on the horizon.

That's true, but Kilkenny is doing very well imo and only dropped one effort short on Sunday. Hes getting close to being a sure starter alongside Flynn and Connelly. In fact our half forward line picks its self now that A Brogan, Rock, Costello, Fenton haven't a hope of starting at 10,11 or 12 IMO if those lads are fit.

Kerry have their special players, but Jack McCaffery is looking like he might be special too, although he's is obviously a defender but hes showing up at the right time.
This year lads are hopping off him, a bit like the physical improvement in McBrearty.

I know Rock lacks mobility, but I'd still bring him out slightly against the likes of Donegal as he has shown an ability to kick points over the blanket but not this season. I think he's an important squad player

CurryFlavoured

Stoner wrote: »

I know Rock lacks mobility, but I'd still bring him out slightly against the likes of Donegal as he has shown an ability to kick points over the blanket but not this season. I think he's an important squad player

On that point, long range kicking needs to be a game plan against Donegal. We did it early in last years semi then abandoned it a bit when we went behind. Connolly, Flynn and Rock are all elite long range kickers.

Stoner

CurryFlavoured wrote:

On that point, long range kicking needs to be a game plan against Donegal. We did it early in last years semi then abandoned it a bit when we went behind. Connolly, Flynn and Rock are all elite long range kickers.

I agree, there is some mind games going on now that you can't kick points form distance for a sustained period of time. If you have the players then you can. It's one of those statements that people keep throwing out until they think it's true.
Donegal throw it out a bit so people won't try it, just like some say you can't go toe to toe with the Dubs. I don't think either statement is true.

Flynn and MDMA always peak later on. Flynn is a master at it as was (is) Galvin.

I know I'm possibly contradicting myself a little. But I rewatched the again. MDMA did run into trouble a lot with the ball, going forward he was very frustrating. But he put some shift in. Some of the turnovers he worked were after some serious tracking back, two in particular were after relentless work. He certainly looks fit and 100% committed. I think he's ok. We can expect him to do well later on imo.

He certainly needs to stay back with Sherlock for extra classes on when to offload, but others could learn from his commitment and over all work ethic, I'd missed that from the live game on Sunday.
He's still a first pick for me, part of the new team , his head is right, a very positive individual. The games last year and in 2013, when he'd come out at half time delighted to see Bastic coming on were great. He's been the engine of this team for me.

Interesting as soon as Bastic came in he took up Fentons roll, not MDMAs he took up the centre and tried some distribution. I don't ever really seen Fenton and Bastic as a partnership.

DoctaDee

The comparison of our chungfellids to JOD is somewhat skewed. O'Donoghue is 25 years old and has been around the senior set up since 2010 - he'd served his time on the sideline in that brilliant Kerry team and is reaping the benefit of the watch, listen & learn.

In some ways our successes at U21 level have brought too much focus on the young lads being quickly elevated to the senior set up - I suppose the near enough instant impact of Jack Mc led to blind optimism that Costello, O'Conghaile, Mannion, David Byrne, Fenton etc would follow quickly behind. I think of the 2012 batch only Kevin O'Brien, Jack Mc & Kilkenny have really made the breakthrough...... I wonder whatever happened that other half forward .. emm Mark Scutte :cool:

CurryFlavoured

Can someone give me the low down on Fenton? Age, club, style of play etc. I've missed a lot of football this season and know little about him.

On a related note, its great to see Cian at #6.

Stoner

He's a Raheny man, Whelans club. Was on the under 21 team .

My opinion

Did not look outstanding at under 21 but was solid imho.

He has played at number 12 but seems to be a number 8 now. He gets forward but his best work is in distribution and defensive tracking, shows for the ball a hell of a lot. He has a good eye for a pass. His distance point kicking needs work . I think he's a nautural midfielder and when he's played in the half forward line it's really as a third midfielder.
He has a good block too and seemed completly unphased when he came on to the team and seemed to jumped a few players who were ahead of him in January.