Dublin GAA Discussion Thread MOD WARNING POST #2944

The vacant No. 3 shirt.

O'Sullivan: Too soft.

Philly: Too tough.

Discuss. Feel free to add in a few other candidates and their pros and cons.

Michael Dara isn't mobile enough to play full back. He'd be skinned alive if he had to mark an agile lad.

DoctaDee's assessment of Murray matches what i remember of him. Quick and positive with the ball in front of him but inexperienced (meaning not great) when the play moved around him.

I'd like to see Small get the chance at some stage but something tells Gavin is going to play a line of corner backs all season. KOB, Mikey Fitz, McMahon, Cooper and Daly in competition for the three spots. Its not a bad option tbf. AOS got nowhere against McMahon last year, Kerry play with mobile inside forwards (Donaghy is done), Tyrone run the ball from deep and Donegal let Michael Murphy play half back or some other ridiculous position.;) Teams won't be eager to kick long either with COS patrolling in front.

Losing O' Carroll is bad because he's a bloody good player but it doesn't open us up to a tactical nightmare or anything. We've lads eager and well capable of filling his boots.

ProudDUB wrote: »

Killian O'Gara suffered a bad ankle break last year, didn't he? Is he still recovering from it, or is he college tied?

No PD he's back in the fold with DIT

Past30Now wrote: »

Ah hear. I can't agree with that. Only one player can win POTY, but both Jack and Ciaran had excellent breakthrough seasons in 2013 despite a quiet final for both, and both had brilliant seasons last year resulting in Celtic crosses and deserved All Star awards for both. I'm not suggesting Jack didn't have a better season than Ciaran, but if I was writing that line I'd suggest that it worked with Jack Mc and Kilkenny and to a lesser extent Mannion.

Bias, what bias?

Ha :rolleyes: .. maybe I worded it wrong .. your man CK is now as integral to the Dublin set up as Jack Mc .. I just thought that in their break through year their impact waned as the year went on ..

Stoner wrote: »

CK had a good game vs mayo in 2012 and has been fairly consistent bar a tendency to drop shots short. Jack faded later in the championship for a couple of years in a row before last year where he seemed to bulk up and improve significantly.

Yeah Stoner this indeed would tend to back up my point. Minor football and to a marginally lesser extent U21 have been based for years on free flowing and fast paced football, while there certainly is a physical element to the game by and large the football remained unhindered and was really a good advertisement for the core skills. In some respects you may find that this is part of the reason that unheralded teams like Longford, Tipperary & Roscommon to name a few flourish at these grades.

To take young lads conditioned to this type of football and expect an immediate impact at senior level is asking a bit too much. The "systems", the crowding of the shooter, double marking and sheer physicality of the game leave some of the brighter prospects all at sea on their introduction. The fact that Jack Mc, Kilkenny, Costello & Mannion made any impact in their debut seasons is more a testament of their potential than a reflection of their ability to adjust to the rigors of the senior game.

We've remarked here previously on the developing body shape of some of the younger lads, McCaffrey, Costello and certainly Kilkenny (he used his time out with the cruciate particularly well), as the focus changes to improving their physical conditioning we get a better idea of whether their underage football talent can be merged with the demands of the senior game

ProudDUB wrote: »

...............

Anyone off to Longford on Sunday? Looks like they may get a blasht of the white stuff over the weekend.

Yeah I'm more than likely gonna start my air miles account on Sunday .. weather dependent really as ya say ... I'm assuming it's pay at the gate in Pearse ?

Bonniedog wrote:

Mate from Longford told me stand is closed so if you are bring kids, elderly parents or are susceptible to the cold, bring the wooly hats and flasks!

We're heading there looking forward to it. Last game had some bite to it

ProudDUB wrote: »

Only 2 more sleeps.

I've only been to Pearse Stadium once. My memory of it is that it has a large, wide terrace opposite the covered stand which would hold a lot of people. Decent sized end terraces also. Teams enter the pitch from that terrace side and that's where the subs and mgt/selectors stand too. There is a wall and a wire fence between them and spectators, so there'll be no getting right on top of them, the way you can do at some grounds and evesdrop on their conversations.

I can't remember what the parking situ is though, or if the ground is in the middle of town (like Navan & Newbridge) or is a couple of km outside it. I don't think it's in the middle of town. I think its near one of the bypass roundabouts that go around the town. Anyone remember?

Only know it from coming up from the centre of the town. It is about a ten minute walk from the big hotel on the main street (Greville Arms?). Was great atmosphere there in 2006 but won't be as big a crowd or as warm on Sunday!

Jimmy Two Times wrote: »

If it's the Greville Arms you're in trouble. That's Mullingar :-)

It is near one of the bypass roundabouts,the one with the McDonalds.

Right! All those midland towns are same to me :-) Directions still correct from whatever hotel it is!

Isn't the Greville Arms, the hotel that Michael Collins gal pal ran? No flies on me when it come to my Longford history.

Cavan got a lot of snow last night and I am 78.4% certain that Longford is next door to Cavan. I hope we all don't melt.

Hurlers named for Sunday v Laois

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CYyWoHjWQAEsDEy.jpg

Nidgeweasel wrote: »

It is in Granard, which should be avoided like the plague. Kitty Kiernan came from there is right.

There is a hotel of the same name in Mullingar. The one more closely associated with GAA.

I know it's in Granard. Hence my

You couldn't get into the Honours history class in my school, unless you could quote "In Great Haste" ad verbatim. Bit creepy I thought, but sure there you go.

Could someone who travelled down today give us a summary of the game ?

Very disappointing result today and not the start you'd want to the year,but now to concentrate on retaining the league.

Zero hop the the pitch today. Longford took to lead and never lost it. We were cleared out at midfield, failed to get past a rough blanket defense. Scully came on and made a difference got to 9 point to 8 at one stage, Rock dropped a free short that would have levelled but Longford kicked on.

I was stuck in front of a bunch of about 6 obnoxious Dublin supporters, embarrassing, the Longford crowd were in great spirits .

The longford gaol was well deserved a ball was dropped into the square and we failed to clear it, Curley was isolated,

We got what we deserved IMO. There was talk of some of their older supporters about this being their first win vs Dublin there.

Another handy win for the hurlers. Be great to be Galway next Sunday. Still think they will struggle without some of the retirees but the newer fellas have been brilliant so far. Not that long ago that a full strength Dublin team never mind one missing a lot of the regulars would have been pleased to have hammered Antrim and Laois.

ProudDUB wrote: »

Well, there's only one thing for it now.

Longford must be split in two.

We could always ask for a bit more money ....