Sam Maguire Group 3 - Dublin, Sligo, Roscommon, Kildare

[Rossfan]

In January we expected to be relegated and hoped we'd be middlin competitive and maybe win 2 games in the process.
We hoped we'd not get bet too badly by Mayowestros and that we'd make a PQF.

We exceeded our NFL and Connacht hopes and see how it goes from here.
Most people expect we'll be 2nd in the Group giving us a home game v most likely  Cork/Armagh/Donegal.

[trailer]

Roscommon absolute dark horses. They seem to be up for it. They can compete and beat the bigger teams. I wouldn't want to have to play them in the knock out stages.

[Blowitupref]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2023/06/07/darragh-o-se-dublin-are-being-written-off-and-thats-what-they-will-like/

Davy Burke is certainly belting a great tune out of Roscommon at the moment, topping Group Three on scoring difference, everyone enjoying their football. Enda Smith is in great form, everyone is playing to their strengths, and there's total buy-in too.

How far do you think they will go?

It was very important for Ros to have a good group stage because the super 8s were a disaster. Ros got hammered in 2018 and 2019 by Dublin . Here's a description of 2019.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/relentless-dublin-leave-roscommon-dazed-and-confused-1.3962929
"But if there was a moment that symbolised the state of the game, it was the Angus Lyons, making his Primrose debut, surrounded by seven blue shirts and relieved off the ball. Jonny Cooper helped him up off the ground as the blue shirts sprinted across the savannah. They led by 2-21 to 0-11 at the time and were growing stronger by the second"

I think a strong qf performance added to 3rd in D1 would represent a great haul for the year but that a favourable draw could end up in a semi final. This year anything is possible.

Reaching and competitive in Quarter final would be good first year for Roscommon under Davy Burke.  I think at least 3 of the 4 group winners will reach the All Ireland semi finals as they'll avoid the tough schedule of 3 games in 14 days.

[Hound]

Making a QF is only a par effort for the Rossies. They are a top 8 team. Of course luck of the draw can also be a big factor, but no doubt Burke is aiming for a SF place and would be disappointed if they don't achieve that.
Drawing with the Dubs in Croker will have drilled into them that there's no team they should fear.

Dubs won't be resting anyone v Sligo. We want to top the group. Albeit we won't risk anyone carrying an injury

[mup]

With the help of God we'll put it up to the Rossies and lose by about 6 points. Sligo to run Dublin to 4 points.

That will put us out of our misery.

[seafoid]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2023/0605/1387501-state-of-play-all-ireland-group-stage-permutations/
A score difference foot-race could be in the offing here, with the Dubs and the Rossies vying for top spot.

While Roscommon currently hold the thinnest of advantages in that battle, the final round of games may be more complicated for them, with Kildare waiting in the wings.

While in form terms, Davy Burke's team have been far superior to his native county, there'll presumably be residual belief in Kildare that Roscommon should hold no great fear for them.

Dublin were somewhat more impressive in their dismissal of Kildare in Nowlan Park than they had been in the Leinster semi-final. Their performances continue to oscillate between decent and sluggish.

Among critics of the present format, the possibility had been floated beforehand that a team could survive the group phase with one point from three matches.

That will indeed come to pass here should league form prevail, and Dublin and Roscommon win.


Sean Bugler pursued by Kevin O'Callaghan
The historic prospect of a team trooping out again in championship, having won none of their previous four matches looms on the horizon.

Whether that would be Sligo or Kildare remains to be seen. The simple task remains to better the other's result or margin of defeat in the final game. Kildare hold a very slightest of advantages in the score difference stakes, with a less daunting fixture to come.

Theoretically, both Roscommon or Dublin could be eliminated if both Kildare and Sligo win and all four teams finish on three points. Even that would require a substantial points difference swing.

[From the Bunker]

[mup]

With the help of God we'll put it up to the Rossies and lose by about 6 points. Sligo to run Dublin to 4 points.

That will put us out of our misery.

That lie down is the Kildare football mentality for last 20 years. If medals for excuse the Lilywhites  would be out on top.

We haven't won the All Ireland in nearly 100 years and still have twice as many as Roscommon. Mad isn't it.

[Blowitupref]

ROSCOMMON: Conor Carroll; Colin Walsh, Brian Stack, David Murray; Niall Daly, Eoin McCormack, Conor Daly; Dylan Ruane, Eddie Nolan; Ciaráin Murtagh, Enda Smith, Donie Smith; Cian McKeon, Ben O'Carroll, Diarmuid Murtagh.

Subs: Aaron Brady, Conor Hussey, Niall Kilroy, Richard Hughes, Ciarán Lennon, Conor Cox, Cian Connolly, Daire Cregg, Shane Cunnane, Paul Carey, Ruaidhrí Fallon

KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady, Shea Ryan, Eoin Doyle; David Hyland, Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent; Kevin O'Callaghan, Aaron Masterson; Paddy McDermott, Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne; Neil Flynn, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy Woodgate.

Subs: Aaron O'Neill, Kevin Feely, Daniel Flynn, Ryan Houlihan, Brendan Gibbons, Darragh Malone, Tony Archbold, Jimmy Hyland, Paul Cribbin, Barry Coffey, Matthew Kelly


DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Daire Newcombe, Michael Fitzsimons, Eoin Murchan; John Small, Seán MacMahon, Lee Gannon; Brian Fenton, James McCarthy; Brian Howard, Seán Bugler, Niall Scully; Paddy Small, Con O'Callaghan, Colm Basquel.

Subs: Evan Comerford, David Byrne, Ciaran Kilkenny, Tom Lahiff, Paul Mannion, Jack McCaffrey, Ross McGarry, Cian Murphy, Lorcan O'Dell, Killian O'Gara, Dean Rock

SLIGO: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Darragh Cummins; Paul McNamara, Brian Cox, Luke Towey; Cian Lally, Paul Kilcoyne; Finnian Cawley, Sean Carrabine, Keelan Cawley; Pat Spillane, Patrick O'Connor, Niall Murphy

Subs: Daniel Lyons, Alan Reilly, David Quinn, Eoghan Smith, Gerard O'Kelly Lynch, Jack Lavin, Joe Keaney, Kenny Gavigan, Luke Nicholson, Mark Walsh, Mikey Gordon

[seafoid]

When it's dark at 5 and it's cold between the shnow and the hailshtones this should help Rossies through the winter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r178g8JBu7g&t=500s

[Hound]

DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Daire Newcombe, Michael Fitzsimons, Eoin Murchan; John Small, Seán MacMahon, Lee Gannon; Brian Fenton, James McCarthy; Brian Howard, Seán Bugler, Niall Scully; Paddy Small, Con O'Callaghan, Colm Basquel.

Subs: Evan Comerford, David Byrne, Ciaran Kilkenny, Tom Lahiff, Paul Mannion, Jack McCaffrey, Ross McGarry, Cian Murphy, Lorcan O'Dell, Killian O'Gara, Dean Rock

Thanks for putting the teams up B

From a Dubs perspective, a lot of players returning from injury, so we are nearly at full strength - only Cormac Costello missing. I wonder will that mean Rock gets to start, as there's no recognized freetaker otherwise. Rock's form has dipped this year and I think Clucko is 0/2 from 45s since his return.

Another interesting one is David O'Hanlon down to 3rd choice keeper, despite not putting a foot wrong. Seems harsh on him, but there's no room for sentiment. If Dessie thinks Cluxton and Comerford are 1 and 2, he has to go with that.

[Captain Scarlet]

In advance...I've got a very bad feeling about this game. Davy Burke will be out to shove it up our holes.
This season is just limping along for Kildare.

[Wildweasel74]

Seriously the pink one boots!

[Captain Scarlet]

Never a doubt...

[Harold Disgracey]

Never a black card.