Dublin V Laois

Kingp35

The Dublin team to take on Laois has been named and there is some good news for the us. Stephen O' Shaughnessy has passed a fitness test and he has been named in the starting 15. The only other change sees Jason Sherlock come in for Mark Vaughan(thank god!!).

Im happy to see Shaughnessy back in the team but I have my dounbts about how fit he really is. I hope they have thoroughly assessed his shoulder and that it isnt causing him any problems.

Some other news is that Darren Magee is back after a 7 month spell in Australia and he makes the bench and does fit again dub legend Dessie Farrell. I never thought I would see the great man in a Dublin squad again but he is back.

here is a link to the full team
http://www.hill16.ie/viewstoryhill16.asp?id=5347&mainheading=Word+on+The+Hill&viewstory=yes

KingEric

I think its good news for Dublin that O'Shaughanessy is in the team, he's put in some very good performances this year. Although i'd share the same doubts about his fitness. I heard that it was a serious shoulder injury he got, and if its not fully healed he could end up doing even more damage to it.

Jayo the saviour is back...its hard to know with this fella. There's no doubt he's got loads of potential , its just getting consistently good performances from him. I think its better to have Vaughan on the bench anyway, he could be very useful in the last 10mins or so.

Although i think that Laois are a better team, i have a feeling that this could be the dubs year. They have the momentum behind them and the way things are in Leinster these days with different champions each year - think this year its Dublin's turn.

cruiserweight

The laois team has been named as well and is

F Byron; A Fennelly, D Rooney, J Higgins; C Begley, T Kelly, P McMahon; P Clancy, N Garvan; R Munnelly, B Brennan, B Sheehan; C Conway, K Fitzpatrick, B McDonald

I am expecting a good game on Sunday with Laois to win! Although I agree that the return of some players has added depth to the Dublin squad!

The Rooster

This game is very hard to predict, but I'm glad to get a go at Laois again after 2003. That was a strange game in itself. As far as I remember Laois went into an early lead, maybe 5 or 6 points at one stage - Dublin tried to make inroads but found it hard to close the gap to less than 3, albeit at the very end got to within 2. The general consensus was that Dublin were awful and Laois were very good, yet Dublin had 17/18 wides while Laois had less than 10 so Dublin must have had the better of possession. So from a Dublin perspective you'd argue that we are the better team, we just threw it away on the day and we wont let that happen again. Of course it could be that Laois were just sitting back on their lead, and if Dublin had been taking their scores and got back to level or ahead, then Laois would have upped a gear again and won in any event.

Current form is hard to compare also. Laois have looked awful and outstanding while Dublin have been steady and appear harder to beat than in recent years. Of course given that Offaly, Kildare and Wexford have all since been brutal in the qualfiers and Meath only drew with mighty Leitrim its hard to take anything from those games.

Midfield, as usual, will be a key battle. Whelan will be fighting a lonely battle when it comes to high balls against Garvan and Clancy who are both excellent fielders. Though Ryan is probably the most mobile of the 4 and perhaps should pick up the most breaking ball. McManus destroyed Laois on his own in the fielding stakes, but against a big Kildare team the Laois pair had a field day.

Which Mossy Quinn will turn up on Sunday when it comes to free-taking? 0% v Meath and 100% v Wexford!

So I cant predict it, but as always I'm looking forward to it with hope.

Lemlin

I can't remember either but I think the 2003 game was pretty much nip and tuck until Laois pulled away at the end. I don't think Laois ever had anything near a six point lead. I think that's the Westmeath match the next year you're thinking about. I could be wrong though.

I think Loais will nip it. It'll be the biggest test yet for the two teams though and both will have to improve dramatically if they're to go further in the qualifiers or the quarter finals.

cruiserweight

Lemlin wrote:

It'll be the biggest test yet for the two teams though and both will have to improve dramatically if they're to go further in the qualifiers or the quarter finals.

Did you see the Laois v Kildare game! It was the most awesome display of football that I have seen so far this year, if they can play to that level again (and not the level of the game vs Offaly) then they will be a match for anybody! Nobody would have beaten them the way they played that day!

kaimera

kildare were very very bad tho. Not to take away from us cos after the Offaly game there were a lot of doubts.

Sunday will be a different kettle of fish.

cruiserweight

kaimera wrote:

kildare were very very bad tho.

On that day Laois would have done the same to any of the teams that were playing in Croke Park (I am from Wexford)! I believe that they would have been a match for any other teams (including Armagh, Tyrone, Kerry etc.)! My only criticism is that maybe at some stages early in the game they over-elaborated trying to find the perfect scoring position!

If they play that well, or anything approaching that they will win on Sunday! Although Dublin beat both Meath and Wexford they were not exactly convincing in either game!

I also think that discipline will be key in this game! In the last two games for example Ciaran Whelan has struck two opponents (Gerathy and Murphy) and stayed on the pitch (he was eventually sent off against Wexford)! The reaction to the sending off against Wexford from the Dublin management was almost "hard luck Ciaran"! In contrast when Shane Cooke was sent off against Kildare it was obvious Micko was pissed off! In fact I remember at stages during the game him shouting at players to not get involved and walk away! I just have a feeling there will be a sending off on Sunday, and I have a feeling it will be a Dublin player! If it is Whelan then the game will be lost for Dublin I feel!

Kingp35

cruiserweight wrote:

On that day Laois would have done the same to any of the teams that were playing in Croke Park (I am from Wexford)! I believe that they would have been a match for any other teams (including Armagh, Tyrone, Kerry etc.)! My only criticism is that maybe at some stages early in the game they over-elaborated trying to find the perfect scoring position!

Kildare made Laois look that good. they are a very poor side who have since been knocked out by a porr side and you are reading way too much into the game. they played well but they were given no challenge to what they were doing and Kildare just gave up. An awesome display is beating a top team in a game where both teams play good fottball. It was a good display and better than any dub display so far but you are getting way too excited over something taht wasnt so great.

If they play that well, or anything approaching that they will win on Sunday! Although Dublin beat both Meath and Wexford they were not exactly convincing in either game!

Read above. And just to add I think they will have to play equally well to beat Dublin on Sunday and depending on how the dub team play it may not be good enough to win

I also think that discipline will be key in this game! In the last two games for example Ciaran Whelan has struck two opponents (Gerathy and Murphy) and stayed on the pitch (he was eventually sent off against Wexford)! The reaction to the sending off against Wexford from the Dublin management was almost "hard luck Ciaran"! In contrast when Shane Cooke was sent off against Kildare it was obvious Micko was pissed off! In fact I remember at stages during the game him shouting at players to not get involved and walk away! I just have a feeling there will be a sending off on Sunday, and I have a feeling it will be a Dublin player! If it is Whelan then the game will be lost for Dublin I feel!

This is true and its important for Dublin players especially whelo to keep his head but then again I dont want it to be like MIcko telling him to not get involved or being pissed off. I hope to god he gets in there and puts himself about and hits and knocks players around. Otherwise he can get off the pitch. Whelo is gonna have a huge talk on his hands as he will be the dub player who has to win the ball in teh midfield from kick outs especially. Shane Ryan is too small to win them but he is good at picking up teh breaking ball. Both Laois midfielders are big men and this game will be won or lost in the midfield battle.

cruiserweight

Kingp35 wrote:

Kildare made Laois look that good. they are a very poor side who have since been knocked out by a porr side and you are reading way too much into the game. they played well but they were given no challenge to what they were doing and Kildare just gave up. An awesome display is beating a top team in a game where both teams play good fottball. It was a good display and better than any dub display so far but you are getting way too excited over something taht wasnt so great.

What is an awesome display is subjective! Maybe awesome is the wrong word to use! But in the context of the Leinster championship it has been the best display so far, and I would argue in the championship as a whole! Other so called big teams have struggled against opposition that perhaps would be considered weaker (I won't name teams because that will just mean cause the discussion to meander)

Kingp35 wrote:

Read above. And just to add I think they will have to play equally well to beat Dublin on Sunday and depending on how the dub team play it may not be good enough to win

I disagree, I think it will be more than good enough, and I believe they won't have to play as well as they did against Kildare! But we are all entitled to our opinions, and that is why we are here to talk about our opposing points of view! I might be wrong, but it does not happen very often

Kingp35 wrote:

This is true and its important for Dublin players especially whelo to keep his head but then again I dont want it to be like MIcko telling him to not get involved or being pissed off. I hope to god he gets in there and puts himself about and hits and knocks players around. Otherwise he can get off the pitch. Whelo is gonna have a huge talk on his hands as he will be the dub player who has to win the ball in teh midfield from kick outs especially. Shane Ryan is too small to win them but he is good at picking up teh breaking ball. Both Laois midfielders are big men and this game will be won or lost in the midfield battle.

I was refering more to off the ball incidents rather the actual rough and tumble of the game! For example I beleiev that Whelans challenge on Murphy in the Wexford game was over the top and he should have received a red rather than a yellow, Joe Brolly said on the Sunday Game that "a horse wouldn't do that to a man! Others will say it was an accident! In the same game though, Daid Fogarty did very well for Wexford in the first half, but in the second half Whelan targetted him (fairly) and broke and won a lot off ball!

But especially with Ryans size Dublin could struggle against Garvan and Clancy! Also Laois have brought in a couple of big men into the half forward line to complement Munnelly!

I also see Brogan vs Kelly being a key battle! Kelly cleans up a lot of ball for Laois and starts a large number of attacks! Brogan on the other hand has been very influential and the key to Dublins attack this year! Whoever comes out on top there will have a big bearing on the games, and I would not be surprised to see Cullen being moved in on Kelly to free up Brogan and try and stop Kelly! Of course the other main factor could be free taking!

*marie*

I agree with Kingp35, but Cruiserweight you're right about Clancy and Garvan, they're going to be the real challenge for us. btw Cruiserweight, no offence but you are really overusing the ol exclamation mark there, kind of annoying.

cruiserweight

*marie* wrote:

Cruiserweight, no offence but you are really overusing the ol exclamation mark there, kind of annoying.

Tough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

zAbbo

Dublin started well, 25mins gone, and up 0.7-0.2

Kevin_rc_ie

dublin, too many wides. were lucky not to lose/draw. going to get torn apart if they repeat this inconsistent performance, by kerry or north teams.

Flukey

Dublin won. That's the main thing.

overhere

who was the first scorer in the game today was out all day and missed it on both the radio and tv

Waylander

It was a good game and I am happy with the result but neither team is clinical enough to win the All Ireland. Dublin should have been at least three points further clear at half time, and if they were I do not think they would have been reiged back in. But Laois also had a chance to pull clear late in the game and could not manage it. I look forward to seeing how both teams do in future rounds.

laoisfan

well done dublin.

i must say i am very disappointed. i thought a draw would have been a fair result. i honestly do not think there was anything between the two sides. laois were crap in the firsr half. saying that dublin were obviously better but they had as many wides as they did scores for the first half.

laois were awesome in the 2nd half. i thought the ref gave a few dubious decisions dublins way, so too did the dubs fans right beside me.

still, well done dublin (by the skin of yer teeth).

i still cannot see the all-ireland champs coming out of leinster though!!

ah well..........

--laoisfan

Lemlin

Must of been the ultimate day for Dublin fans yesterday, other than winning the All-Ireland. Not only did they win Leinster but Meath lost!

professore

Waylander wrote:

It was a good game and I am happy with the result but neither team is clinical enough to win the All Ireland. Dublin should have been at least three points further clear at half time, and if they were I do not think they would have been reiged back in. But Laois also had a chance to pull clear late in the game and could not manage it. I look forward to seeing how both teams do in future rounds.

Great game but again I think Laois are a better team everywhere except in their heads. What a crap first half display - if Laois can almost beat Dublin by only playing one half it does not bode well for the Dubs, although I wish them every success.

I reckon Micko will be looking for greener pastures next year.

- another Laois fan.

Lemlin

The Dubs did all that was asked of them in all fairness. It'll be interesting to see how they fare against the best teams from the other provinces now.

I think they're improving under Caffrey but they still have a long way to go to be genuine contenders. They could spring a surprise or two if a bit of luck goes their way.

Flukey

A thank you to you Lemlin for your county's win yesterday. With the Dubs winning and Meath being knocked out of the championship, that was a heavenly day for a Dublin GAA fan!

Lemlin

I got the bus up from Cavan after the match last night and was walking home in my Cavan jersey through Blanchardstown. You wouldn't believe the number of congratulations I got!

The Dubs truly do love to see Meath lose.

Flukey

It's not just the Dubs! It looks like we will see the end of the witch doctor now, after his 23 seasons in charge. There mustn't be enough dirty players coming through for him to build his usual style of team.

Lemlin

I suppose you're right. I once went to Sligo rag week with a mate of mine from Meath. I was wearing my Cavan jersey, he wore his Meath. The amount of abuse he got from people of different counties was unreal. Meath just aren't liked I guess.

theCzar

Gwan the Dubs, I was in ecstacy when the final whistle went, and it was great to stand in front of the podium again, I haven't done it since we won back in '95.

Dublin have improved, and they're a better team than the team that won in '02. For 20 minutes at time the Dubs can beat anybody, but they still struggle to be consistent for 70 mins. I think they're good enough to get to the semis, depending on the draw, but the Sams a while off yet.

Flukey

I'm right alright Lemlin. They used to talk of the Dirty Dubs, but they were nothing compared to Murderous Meath. When Mike Tyson was involved in that ear biting incident they were going to see if he had any Meath conections to see if he could play for them, but then they decided that he was too gentlemanly.

theCzar

Flukey wrote:

I'm right alright Lemlin. They used to talk of the Dirty Dubs, but they were nothing compared to Murderous Meath. When Mike Tyson was involved in that ear biting incident they were going to see if he had any Meath conections to see if he could play for them, but then they decided that he was too gentlemanly.

lol, Tyson lacks the aggression to be a regular starter in the Meath team.

Flukey

True, but he probably learnt how to throw a good punch by watching the likes of Mick Lyons, the full back - or should that be filth back? - of the Meath team of the mid to late 80s.

cougar

I recon the big difference with the Dubs is the presence of Ciaran Duff on the coaching panel. He's probably showing the lads how to hit the oposition hard, thats while the're on the ground!! no being serious there's a bit of spirit within the team these days an now with leinster won just watch the bandwaggon build up. ah well we've won more than i thought we would this year

Flukey

Let's hope we continue to do so.

Danno

I am sick litterally! - We threw it away!

Not taking anything from the Dubs - yea deserved it after our first half.

But a warning to other teams around Ireland - it is hard to beat 17-man Dublin...

... 15 players, 1 the Hill and 1 the Ref.

Kingp35

It was a fantastic day for the dubs!! I was on the hill and the atmosphere was brilliant and I was over the moon when we won!

I though our first half display was brilliant and the defense was simply amazing and thats why Laois were not in the game, it wasnt because they were playing particularily bad. The coaches got it spot on telling the dub defenders to play a hard and physical game against a pretty small Laois foward line and it worked very well. Barry Cahill had an excellent game both at centre back and at full back when he was moved there. the only down point was Paul Casey. Idont know what was wrong with him but he was sonstantly standing off his man and giving him at least 6 or 7 yards of space. How he stayed on the pitch I dont know.

In saying that though the forwards didnt take their chances and we shoud have been alot further ahead. the forwards were playing well and were creating lots of chances tey just couldnt take them. Mossy missed a few frees too which didnt help.

The second half was an entirely different story as Dublin had to make aot of changes to their backline as Paddy Christie had gone off injured in the first half and Then Colman Goggins had to go off at half time which meant a re-jig of the backline with Collie Moran moving back and Senan Connell coming on. A combination of this and Laois upping there game meant that tey got right back into it. I think young Brennan made a huge difference for Laois when he came on and perhaps should have started the game.

The second half was a great game of ball with both teams giving it their all but it was Dublins newly formed determination and passion that won it in the end. Dublin have a reputation of championship bottlers and rightly so but now under Caffery that is changing as we have been behind against Meath,Wexford and Laois and come back to win them all. I really wanna know what the coaches have been saying to the players.

Anyway it was a great day for Dublin with Jayo having a tremendous game again and Cullen was fantastic. I really beginning to like Cullen now I think he has it all. An honourable mention for Ross Munelly(sp) too as he was fantastic for Laois.

If Dublin want to progress further they need to be more clinical in front of goal. That is there only downfall at this moment i time. At this stage we shouldnt fear anyone thats left and im just looking forward to my next trip to the hill in the quarter finals.

Fair play to Laois too for a great game of ball

monkeyfudge

Does anyone know if RTÉ will be showing a repeat of the game during the week? I'd like to make a copy to send out to my brother who lives in Japan and missed it.

Lemlin

If anyone would be showing a repeat it would be Setanta. They repeat all the games all week.

monkeyfudge

Lemlin wrote:

If anyone would be showing a repeat it would be Setanta. They repeat all the games all week.

Great stuff.... it's on at 4.30 today. Thanks for that, I never even knew I had that channel.

Lemlin

Does anyone know if they're showing the Cavan-Meath game this week at all?

Flukey

I am sure they are. TG4 might, or do they just do the league and club games?

theCzar

Lemlin wrote:

Does anyone know if they're showing the Cavan-Meath game this week at all?

it'll be on Setanta a few times this week