I don't think there is a thread on this yet. 2 semi finals on tonight. Westmeath team to play Dublin:
1. Eoin Carberry
2. Kieran Sharidan
3. Davy Gavin
4. Stephen Gilmore
5. Darren Malynn
6. Ben Moran
7. Kevin Maguire
8. Trevor English
9. Alan Stone
10. Ger Egan
11. Kelvin Reilly
12. Jamie Gonoud
13. Seanie Daly
14. John Heslin
15. Callum McCormack
Would seriously doubt that Heslin will line out at full forward. He will be needed at midfield and McCormack is well able to lead the line by himself anyway. Would be happy for any of the 3 lads in the fullback line to pick up Kilkenny, they are all tight markers. He is gonna take some watching though. Moran is the perfect man to pick up Sweeney.
Dublin team:
1 John Brian Carty St Jude's
2 Jack Smith Skerries Harps
3 Kevin O'Brien Naomh Mearnog
4 Michael Concarr St Vincent's
5 John Kelly Na Fianna
6 Luke Fletcher St Maur's
7 Jack McCaffrey Clontarf
8 Emmet O Conghaile Lucan Sarsfields
9 Conor Walsh St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh
10 Ciaran Reddin St Maur's
11 Gary Sweeney St Sylvester's
12 Mark Schutte Cuala
13 Ciaran Kilkenny Castleknock
14 Harry Dawson Skerries Harps
15 Philip Ryan St Brigid's
A good smattering of Fingal lads this year, which is why we're so good ;)
As outlined by shark, Kilkenny and Sweeney are our danger-men.
(Gavin has a habit of just naming the team that started the previous game, so don't be surprised if there are changes prior to throw-in. Dawson for instance is unlikely to be fit).
Be interesting to see how we deal with Heslin. It would be madness to play him full forward. I'm sure he'll dominate the middle of the park.
When it comes to Heslin I'm sure Dublin won't be stupid enough to do what they did for the whole second half of the 2010 final. That is, kick every kickout straight down his throat.
Is Ciaran Kilkenny still Australia bound?
2-2 to 0-0 ahead after five minutes.
Eh, who's ahead?
young dubs
2-5 to 1-6 HT. Wmeath back in it after awful first 5 mins
Quote from: shark on March 21, 2012, 08:13:15 PM
2-5 to 1-6 HT. Wmeath back in it after awful first 5 mins
Good comeback from Westmeath...
Injury time - Westmeath 1-9 Dublin 4-14 :(
Louth and Dublin to contest the Leinster Under 21 Football Final. Louth 0-10 Offaly 0-8 and Dublin 4-15 Westmeath 1-9 both FT
Westmeath gave it their best and tackled with great intensity but the Dubs were just too good. Their physical conditioning is way advanced to Westmeaths. Kilkenny is a super player.
Quote from: Blowitupref on March 21, 2012, 05:05:13 PM
Is Ciaran Kilkenny still Australia bound?
Still planned to go to Carlton. You never know though.
Louth in their 1st Leinster U21 Final since 1996
I thought that Westmeath team were highly fancied? How many Dublin minors of last year on that team?
Quote from: Captain Obvious on March 21, 2012, 10:04:01 PM
I thought that Westmeath team were highly fancied? How many Dublin minors of last year on that team?
Ah not really, it was last year that Westmeath had their best chance. Travelled more in hope tonight.
Quote from: Captain Obvious on March 21, 2012, 10:04:01 PM
I thought that Westmeath team were highly fancied? How many Dublin minors of last year on that team?
3 of last year's minors on the Dublin team - McCaffrey, O Conghaile and Kilkenny.
Well done to Louth. Hard luck to our lads, but wins over Kildare and Meath have at least given a bit of a lift to the county. Up to the Seniors to pick up the flag now.
It was one of those nights for Offaly. The first half started fairly evenly, before Louth gradually started to get on top. The big difference was that they stuck over much more of their chances. Offaly hit wides, some of them bad and dropped 4 or 5 into the keeper's hands.
It was 0-6 to 0-1 at half time, but Offaly really should have had 3 or 4 on the board.
If you were to fault Offaly, it was that Louth ran through them a bit to easily. Perhaps this is where Navan being slightly bigger than Gracefield told on Offaly's defence. Louth committed men forward very quickly when on the attack. The had several strong ball carriers, who Offaly didn't manage to close down or slow down. Their inside forward were able to win the balls played in and lay it off to an incoming runner.
At the other end, Offaly's tactics were withdraw the half forward line, kick it in to the inside forwards and let them battle it out with the Louth full back line. It worked to a point, in that the likes of Allen, Sullivan, Cullen were beating their men to the ball consistantly, however a lot of their shots were taken under pressure, hence the drop shorts, wides and post hits.
2nd half, Offaly missed another point attempt from the throw in and Louth broke down the field to make it 7-1. They tacked on 2 quick points and it was starting to look like Offaly's heads were going to drop and it would turn into a cake walk. Thankfulyl this is when Offaly showed huge character. Once they finally got a couple of points on the board, they really pinned back their ears and gave it a real rattle.
Soon Louth were commiting loads of panic fouls when Offaly looked like breaking upfield. A lot of Louth players also looked wrecked after their first half exertions. The high ball in to the full forward line worked better as Offaly won a lot of possession directly, or from the breaks.
The Louth keeper made one great full stretch save and was also quick off his line to make a brave block. When Offaly did rattle the net, the ref pulled the play back as he had hastily blown the whistle for a foul as the ball was being struck, instead of giving advantage.
Offaly got it back to 9-8 but just never got the vital equaliser. Louth made it 10-8 with the last kick of the game. They hadn't scored for about 25 minutes. In some ways this score was relief as it meant there would be less need for soul searching from any Offaly player over any particular incident in the game.
(Half Time) Dublin 1-7 Louth 0-4
(Full Time) Dublin 1-16 Louth 0-8
Congrats to Dublin. Just the 1-07 from Kilkenny tonight.
Well done to Dubin three Leinster U-21 titles in four years, in fairness the competition could be better.
Hopefully the DCB can arrange with the Dept of Foreign Affairs to have Ciaran Kilkenny's passport recinded.
Congrats to Dublin. Still a bit sickened they bet us in the first round. They seem to be an exceptional team that are getting better with every match.
Quote from: heffo on April 04, 2012, 09:59:57 PM
Hopefully the DCB can arrange with the Dept of Foreign Affairs to have Ciaran Kilkenny's passport recinded.
Is he definitely going? Some talent, with his ability you'd expect him to be a success in the AFL.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on April 05, 2012, 09:33:08 AM
Quote from: heffo on April 04, 2012, 09:59:57 PM
Hopefully the DCB can arrange with the Dept of Foreign Affairs to have Ciaran Kilkenny's passport recinded.
Is he definitely going? Some talent, with his ability you'd expect him to be a success in the AFL.
Not definite yet - DCB are working on it.
Is he still playing hurling as well?
He's some talent.
Quote from: heffo on April 05, 2012, 10:11:44 AM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on April 05, 2012, 09:33:08 AM
Quote from: heffo on April 04, 2012, 09:59:57 PM
Hopefully the DCB can arrange with the Dept of Foreign Affairs to have Ciaran Kilkenny's passport recinded.
Is he definitely going? Some talent, with his ability you'd expect him to be a success in the AFL.
Not definite yet - DCB are working on it.
They'd want to work fast because I've heard two members of the side have signed pre-contracts with AFL clubs. Him being one of them.