NFL Kerry V Donegal

[J70]

Not exactly the handiest of openers for Donegal, and I doubt if the McKenna Cup line-ups would have much chance of getting a result down there. We're definitely without Kevin Cassidy, Neil McGee, Colm McFadden, Michael Murphy (all injured), Christy Toye and Michael Hegarty, while Karl Lacey won't be back until the summer. Apparently John Joe Doherty is going to be looking at some of the lads who were away on college duty or otherwise didn't get a run out in the McKenna Cup, so it's probably going to be experimental enough for the first few league games anyway. Hopefully it won't be too one-sided this weekend! Any word from the Kerry lads on their current status?

Live on TG4 apparently.

[deaconblue]

kerry will be useing the league for checking out the younger lads, little training and little interest in league, id expect sunday to be 50/50 we will lose in derry and tyone but will finish the campaign with enough wins to stay in div 1.  to be honest donegal should be well able to win sunday but the only reason i have doubts is last years game also in 1st rd when we expected kerry to lose by a wide margin in donegal, however a dismal donegal almost allowed us get a draw only for a last minute og ! either way sunday will count for nothing in august.

[Carmen Stateside]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7856025.stm




Charles Byrne will make his National League debut in the Division One match against Kerry at Tralee on Sunday.

Byrne is the one league debutant included in manager John Joe Doherty's line-up for the curtain-raiser.


Raymond Sweeney returns after a two-year absence and Brendan Boyle is also back after a lengthy absence, a back injury having threatened his career.

Rory Kavanagh captains the side which is missing 10 key players, including previous skipper Kevin Cassidy.

Niall McGee, Barry Dunnion and Karl Lacey are also absent from the back line while forwards Christy Toye, Colm McFadden, Micheal Murphy, Brian Roper, Michael Hegarty and Brendan Devenney are unavailable for selection.

Donegal: P Durcan, F McGlynn, R Sweeney, P McDaid, C Byrne, B Monaghan, E McGee, N Gallagher, B Boyle, C Bonner, C Dunne, R Kavanagh (c), K McMenamin, S Griffin, D Walsh

[Donegal Danny]

Unbelievable totally unbelievable, i watched last weeks Mc Kenna cup final and timed Ray Sweney being switched after only 90 seconds after Shaun O Neill won the first 2 balls and Queens scored. He continued to be cleaned until he was sent of for a rugby tackle. Ray was once a fair county player, but nowadays he isn't even a good club player. Tony Boyle isn't doing anyone any favours by pushing for Ray. The Donegal teams this week is the same as the one which was very lucky last weekend against a good Queens team but not with the kind of firepower as the Kerry forwards should have this weekend. With Donegal you never know but i can't see how they are going to win.

[magickingdom]

kerry are down a few for this game, no goalkeepers Diarmuid Murphy and Kieran Cremin, also our are Kieran Donaghy, Darragh Ó Sé, Eoin Brosnan and Michael Quirke. surprised its on sunday as sat night would surely have suited donegal better, as for handy openers j70 i cant remember when kerry last beat donegal! jack o connor will want to stay in division 1 after that he wont care so expect plenty new players coming thro in the next few weeks. should be a good game tho...

[Kerry Mike]

There are seven changes to the team that played for Kerry in The All Ireland Final 2008.

Ger Reidy in goal from Castleisland Desmonds makes his first appearance in a Kerry Senior Jersey as does Aidan O'Shea from Glenbeigh Glencar. Aidan is a son of the great Jacko and has played a leading part in Mid Kerry winning the county championship last year. A big Kerry future is expected of him.

Also in comes Paul Galvin for his first start since the infamous Clare match last year, a man with much to prove this year, Tommy Griffin, Donnacha Walsh, David Moran and new Captain Darren O'Sullivan, who were on The Kerry Squad for the All Ireland Final, also make Jack O'Connor's first team sheet.

Their are only two new faces on the substitute bench with Kieran Quirke of Duagh and Ronan Ó Connor from Ballyduff being promoted. 

Team
(1) Ger Reidy (Castleisland Desmonds)
(2) Padraig Reidy (Scartaglin) (3) Aidan O'Mahony (Rathmore)  (4) Killian Young (Renard)
(5) Tommy Griffin (Dingle) (6) Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht) (7) Aidan O'Shea (Glenbeigh /Gleancar )
( Seamus Scanlon (Currow) (9) David Moran (Kerins O'Rahilly's)
(10) Paul Galvin (Finuge) (11) Declan O'Sullivan (Piarsaigh Na Dromada ) (12) Donnacha Walsh (Cromane)
(13) Colm Cooper (Dr. Crokes) (14) Tommy Walsh (Kerins O'Rahilly's)(15) Darren O'Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) (Captain)
   
Fir Ionad:  (16) Diarmuid Murphy (Dingle) (17) Brian Sheehan (St Mary's)  (18) Rónán Ó Flatharta (An Ghaeltacht) (19) Daniel Bohane (Austin Stacks) (20) Anthony Maher (Duagh) (21) Paul O'Connor (Kenmare) (22) Kieran O'Leary (Dr. Crokes) (23) Ronan O'Connor Ballyduff (24) Kieran Quirke  Duagh
Bainsteoir: Jack O'Connor ( Piarsaigh Na Dromada )   
Traenálaí: Alan O'Sullivan (Kerins O'Rahilly's)
Roghnóirí: Ger O'Keeffee (Austin Stacks) Eamon Fitzmaurice (Finuge)

This will be Kerry's first competitive game since Sept as we did not take part in the McGrath Cup and with Donegal having an extended run in winning the McKenna Cup, their fitness and match sharpness should be much better plus they have the advantage of playing under the new rules, but its a strong enoung looking Kerry lineup and it will be interesting to see how they fare espeically some of the new faces.

Gone from last years AI final team are Diarmuid Murphy, Tom O'Sullivan, Tomas O'Se, Darragh O'Se, Eoin Brosnan, Bryan Sheehan and Kieran Donaghy all missing for a variety of reasons.

Anyway lets hope we can kick off 2009 with a decent performance.
   

[J70]

That's a strong looking Kerry side all right, certainly in comparison to the experience Donegal will have out. Let's hope the extra matches make the difference for our boys.

[Kerry Mike]

A excellent first 15 mins for us considering we have only 2 weeks trining under our belts, 2-6 to a point, goals from Gooch and Tommy Walsh. Paul Galvin too making a great impact 3 points so far. David Moran playing well in midfield, big lump of a lad and can kick a free too.

[orangeman]

The game is as good as over.


Kerry are rampant.

[Kerry Mike]

Griffin for Donegal has scored 2 excellent points, 2-6 to 2points

[Kerry Mike]

Another free from Cooper , 2-7 to 2 pts

[J70]

Too many silly mistakes from Donegal and far too laboured in the buildup with no one showing. Hopefully we'll put a bit of respectability on the scoreline in the second half with the wind, assuming we can win a couple of kickouts!

[orangeman]

Get on Kerry for the AI !!!

[Kerry Mike]

another point for Tommy Walsh, Kerry very direct and as J70 says everything Donegal try is breaking down too much short passing.

[Kerry Mike]

Get on Kerry for the AI !!!

down with that kind of talk. Its Tyrone's to lose....