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Much better today. Bossed the game. Still a lot to work on, especially with teams running through us. I thought Scully was having a great game, very physical, comfortable on the ball and great distribution. The sending off was extremely harsh and I'm sure it'll be appealed. Brody had a few poor kickouts but I don't think he could have done much about the goals. Dillon played well in the full back line and I think Nerney is looking better with every game. As I said, Scully had a great game and with Attride and Begley, the half back line were strong and mobile.
I thought Meaney did well enough in midfield, enough to hold on to the jersey. O'Reilly worked very hard and got on a lot of ball. Barry scored a nice point, played well overall but maybe needs to work on his right foot. Lowry did well when he came on and Murphy got two points. Obviously, our main lads were the difference, Kingston and O'Carroll. They worked well alternating between half and full forward.
It has to be said that Sligo weren't very good but then again, Louth weren't very good so nice to get the win, a lot of positives and still plenty to work on.

The Louth match was strange in that it's been the worst performance since Sugrue came in. We looked really awful - like a low division 4 side. However, put that in balance of our performances last year and in challenge matches this year as well as the Down match, and, well it really is a confusing one. I think we should see us against the likes of Sligo, Westmeath, Carlow etc to see where we're at. The mind boggles when it comes to that performance against Louth so the jury is out, for me. For example, all of a sudden Lillis's stock is down just because of what happened here? Similarly, some new players looked really promising against Down and in challenge games. More time needed to assess, in my opinion. There were some really alarming signs against Louth, but, I'd prefer to see some more games before making drastic and panicky calls.

Actually, some of the performances in division 4 weren't the best. It's just Louth are a step above that level so could expose us more. It has to be remembered that Down were missing a large number of players also. I think another reason for our struggles on the kick outs is because we have an inexperienced full back line. Their willingness and eagerness to make themselves available for a short kick out hasn't really been shown. This is very understandable as they are just establishing themselves and might be fearful of giving away a soft goal. 

If a players attitude is wrong, he shouldn't be there. Simple as that. Doesn't matter what their name is. The days of players being able to act as they'd like, drink, not put in the effort etc and still get on the team are gone. I'm not referring to any specific player here by the way, just saying that if they're not getting selected, there's a reason for it.

They say you learn more in defeat and I think that was the case yesterday. It's clear that we have huge issues with pace. Especially around the middle. We saw it against Down but it was exposed by Louth. We just haven't got the speed to keep up with runners from deep. Do we have players to come in who can change this? I'm not sure. We have some pacier players who lack a bit of power on the panel while also having players with power who lack pace.
I thought Nerney did quite well and Seale and Campion did well enough considering they were left 1v1 most of the time. However, it's unlikely any of them will be starting if injuries clear up. Piggot has some qualities, he's strong, a tight enough marker. I don't like to be critical but maybe he lacks a bit of quality when in possession. I think Begley is our centre back and he's vital for us there. Attride hasn't been at his best. The other wing position is up for grabs. Maybe drop O'Connor back or try out Buggie, Kelly, Crowley, Collins, when injuries/sigerson cup clear up. Or Scully who looked ok when he was on.
Midfield is a bit of an issue. As has been pointed out, fielding and pace are the concerns. Better movement on kick outs can help the first part and can be worked on. Like others, it'd be nice to see what Meaney can do. Again, I don't want to be critical but although Boyle is a good passer, he just lacks the agility needed at this level. Wing forwards need to be extremely athletic, have huge engines to go back and forward for the game. Again, not sure we have anyone like that. Byrne deserves another run. Maybe O'Reilly should be given a go. We'll probably try Kingston at centre forward again. Maybe it's the virus but he was struggling after a few runs yesterday. Cahilane could be trialled if we're using our 11 as a creator. Paul Kingston hasn't started the league well. Ross played well but was dispossessed too easily on a few occasions. Murphy found it a bit tougher but we should stick with him.
We shouldn't be getting too carried away with anything. The league is for trying things out and seeing if players can fit into what Sugrue is trying to do. I don't mind if none of the big guns start. Let other players stand up and prove themselves if they have it in them. There's a big panel there who have been training extremely hard. Let's see what they can do. It'd be nice to get promoted but finding out what we have available is more important. Survival in division 3 will be enough after that.

My mistake most of them will be involved again next Wednesday .Good wins for Carlow IT and UCD yesterday . Evan was excellent for UCD apparently.

O'Carroll is flying it, I said it last week and I'll say it again he can become a superstar player for us.

The Kingston/O'Carroll axis could be lethal! Either in the full forward line together or with Kingston at centre forward.

The sounds are that a few more lads will be given a go this weekend. Now is the time to do it. Louth don't appear to be up to much.

Great win up there in what was a very hostile atmosphere and sets us up nicely in the group.

It was just like playing away in Galatasaray!  I don't know where you were but that was far from hostile.

What a turn around in the second half. It might be unfair on the other players to say that Kingston turned the game single handily but for sure, we would not have won without his introduction. At centre forward he won a lot of ball, created scores and got some himself. Training for a full season will make a big difference. Great league debut for Murphy. Early days but he looks the part. O'Carroll is very dangerous but his accuracy can let him down sometimes. Johno was good in the second half, a solid debut from Byrne and Boyle had a good game with 3 points. Only thing is his lack of pace.
It got him bottled up a few times and it is our weakness around the middle I think. The one thing that really is encouraging is the competition for places. Paul Kingston didn't have his best game so Cahilane has put his position under serious threat. He got a goal and hit the bar but he's also a left-footed free-taker which might put him ahead. We had O'Carroll missing two from that side in the first half. Nerney did ok at full back, decent back up for Timmons. Seale and Campion did fine. Dillon was moved back for the second half and we have Healy to come back also. Piggot is strong and a tight marker, we should give him a run at centre back. Then where to play Begley?
Maybe midfield, is Meaney still around? Sugrue indicated that he's going to give players a go so we'll see where that leads us. You have to perform to keep your place or claim a place. Training matches must be very competitive. Encouraging signs, very positive but still a lot to work on and figure out. A great way to start the league, next to an empty Croke Park. 

Please god we do well in div 3 obviously it's a step up but promotion should be a must

You have to build them up before you can knock them down. Make them seem like certainties to gain promotion, hope they lose most of their games and then go to town on them.

Then the starting team will have 8 certain starters with 7 spots up for grabs?

___________Brody

?___Timmons____ Dillon

Attride_____Begley__??

___O'Loughlin_______?

___?_____?

?___Kingston___O'Carroll

Edit: I just put question marks in the free spots but I'll leave the faces.

Competition for starting places will be tougher this year I think. Only Brody and Dillon are guaranteed starters from Portlaoise in my opinion, maybe Lillis too. Anyone know about the cuts, who's in and who's out?

GK: Brody, Keogh, Osbourne?

FB: Dillon, Timmons, Healy, Seale, Campion, Booth, O'Connor, Kelly, Fennell, Holland

HB: Attride, Begley, Crowley, Piggott, Murphy, Buggie, Collins, Nerney

MF: Meaney, O'Loughlin, Lillis, O'Reilly, Bracken

HF: Boyle, Daly, Scully, Barry, Farrell, Glynn, Carroll

FF: Kingston x2, Lowry x2, Munnelly, Murphy, O'Carroll, Keogh, Conway

What about Sheil and Cahilane? Who am I forgetting?

We won division 4 last year and in the championship, we beat Wexford, Westmeath and Carlow. Let's not get carried away with ourselves. It's been a problem in the past where we thought we were better than we were, that seeped through to players and they didn't put in the work required.
We've done nothing to prove we are far ahead of any team in division 3. We will not walk this. The first game away to Down is very difficult, we only have 3 home games. The last time we were in this division we came last! Complacency is one of the main reasons we ended up in division 4 and why our structures fell apart.
Having said that, it's encouraging to see the developments we are making. The number of players involved and who are fighting tooth and nail just to gain a place on the squad is a massive difference from what we have seen in the recent past. The competition for places can only be a good thing.
This will mean that we will be trying out different players in the league, another reason why it won't be a stroll in the park. It's about building for the championship, testing players out under better conditions and finding our best 15. Gaining promotion would be great but we need to be patient. Let Sugrue build his systems, his style of play and find the players he needs to implement it. It's exciting times!

Sugrue is cutting out lads who don't fit into what he's looking for. They're not putting in enough in training or they don't fit the game plan he wants to implement. He's not afraid to drop big names, this in contrast to our previous few managers (Creedon was our last manager so I don't know why Lillis is being mentioned). Only time will decide if he's making the right calls but he appears to be making the squad a highly competitive place to remain, nevermind the starting 15.

Game off today. Disappointed to see Walsh get cut but going by the comments from Sugrue, it seems that players who aren't putting in 100% are going to get dropped as the competition for places is savage. Trying to build a fit, fast, younger squad I think. In the past players have been able to get away with less than full effort because of their name, this is no longer the case, that has to be welcomed.