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There is a lot of back and forth re Dublin who I think we should all admit would dominate any province. They are dominating the All-Ireland long enough so it's fair to say their depth would manage Ulster too.

But, that doesn't excuse Kildare and Meath especially. They should be up and around Div 1 or solid Div 2. I know lads are saying when we are waiting to be hammered in Leinster it breeds a bad vibe, but the league is something different and Kildare were annihilated by Cork and Derry last year. That is not excuseable.

There will be a reset and some fresh blood on the pitch and on the line next year, but the Dubs are going nowhere!

It does create a bad vibe. And you can't just switch that on or off for league football.

When people argued that Dublin benefitted from financial advantages 5 years back we were told that it was a once in a life time team. That we should laud them while they are here. How does that argument stack up now?

Leinster is broken. The millions that the Gaa pumped into Dublin is now coming back to bite them in the ass. 21000 at Dublin/Meath game is pathetic. I don't feel one bit sorry for them. In fact I'm delighted fans have decided to vote with their feet.

The argument appears every year as to why Meath and Kildare are not as competitive as Derry, Roscommon etc etc. The likes of Derry and Roscommon have a realistic chance of a provincial title. Meath and Kildare have zero chance and have not had a chance for several years. Eventually that demoralises a county and things eventually stagnate and fall away.

The Leinster Championship is a joke. The GAA have destroyed it and the attendances reflect that.

Kildare getting read up all week,they will be chomping at the bit for Armagh now.Get the money on a draw 9/1. Armagh a ridiculous 2/9, 4/1 Kildare.

Good to see Conaty & McConville starting for Armagh, shows a bit of intent.

I can't see anything but an Armagh victory. I believe they are a completely different stage of development than Kildare are. The only was Kildare have a chance here is if Geezer and Armagh take their eye off the ball. During his time in Kildare he tended to do that sometimes. Whether it was tough training or otherwise I'm not sure.

Or they could quit yapping and improve. Theres no excuse for likes of Meath and Kildare to not be competitive.

I suppose Louth have that Northern edge being close to the border and dont make excuses. Fermanagh are a credit also given the limited resources they have. What Fermanagh do have is a great culture; their players are in great shape.

Kildare and Meath just want to lie down.

And why do they want to lie down? Its very easy to make such a glib statement without delving further into it.

Whatever about Kildare but Meath teams were never known for lying down. There has to be a reason for the culture change in Meath football over the past 20+ years.

Why the change in attitude or culture in Meath you ask?

Some theories would suggest that their has been a demographic change or transition in Meath from a mostly rural county to a more urbanized county?

Could this be a factor.

Yes, thats a possibility There has also been incidents of lads living in Meath playing underage for Dublin. Ditto in Kildare. The lure of Provincial and AI titles is just too great.

This is a Division 2 league thread. Dublin are not in this division. I expected Kildare to be in the shake up for promotion start of year.

We're after a break and still 10 points to fight for so they can still turn it around but I cannot get my head around the defeatist attitude of some on here. Kildare have competed in Div1 recently, were in the super 8's when they were a thing. Narrowly lost to Dublin in Leinster last year, narrowly lost to Monaghan to make AIQF. Have been in 3 of the last 6 U20 AI finals, winning 2. Have a large passionate following so money is flowing. Are a stones throw from Dublin so educational and work options are optimal for players and travel distances for collective training shouldn't prove too problematic. There are so many counties in Ireland would give their right arms to have their "problems"!

Get a grip FFS. Go out and play the game and forget about the Dubs unless ye meet them come championship. But if some of your players have the same attitude as some of the posters on here, maybe ye'd be better off in Division 3.

Dublin are not in Div 2 yet you go on to mention them several times in your post.

Kildare and Meath are in Div 2 and are going poorly. There is no rule against putting forward opinions on why they that may be.

The attitude or opinion of some anonymous posters on a message board has no effect on the Kildare players.

Last time I checked Kildare players were from Kildare. If some of the attitudes on here are a prevailing attitude within the county then it would explain your performances.

Can you explain the performances of the other Leinster counties? None of them are setting the world alight. How long more are people going to ignore it? Leinster as a football province has been destroyed.

This is a Division 2 league thread. Dublin are not in this division. I expected Kildare to be in the shake up for promotion start of year.

We're after a break and still 10 points to fight for so they can still turn it around but I cannot get my head around the defeatist attitude of some on here. Kildare have competed in Div1 recently, were in the super 8's when they were a thing. Narrowly lost to Dublin in Leinster last year, narrowly lost to Monaghan to make AIQF. Have been in 3 of the last 6 U20 AI finals, winning 2. Have a large passionate following so money is flowing. Are a stones throw from Dublin so educational and work options are optimal for players and travel distances for collective training shouldn't prove too problematic. There are so many counties in Ireland would give their right arms to have their "problems"!

Get a grip FFS. Go out and play the game and forget about the Dubs unless ye meet them come championship. But if some of your players have the same attitude as some of the posters on here, maybe ye'd be better off in Division 3.

Dublin are not in Div 2 yet you go on to mention them several times in your post.

Kildare and Meath are in Div 2 and are going poorly. There is no rule against putting forward opinions on why they that may be.

The attitude or opinion of some anonymous posters on a message board has no effect on the Kildare players.

Or they could quit yapping and improve. Theres no excuse for likes of Meath and Kildare to not be competitive.

I suppose Louth have that Northern edge being close to the border and dont make excuses. Fermanagh are a credit also given the limited resources they have. What Fermanagh do have is a great culture; their players are in great shape.

Kildare and Meath just want to lie down.

And why do they want to lie down? Its very easy to make such a glib statement without delving further into it.

Whatever about Kildare but Meath teams were never known for lying down. There has to be a reason for the culture change in Meath football over the past 20+ years.

Meath lay down against us 2 weeks ago. Fair enough getting tanked by the Dubs but theres no reason not to be around the level of Armagh.

Is it possible that the regular tankings by Dublin has taken its toll?

Or they could quit yapping and improve. Theres no excuse for likes of Meath and Kildare to not be competitive.

I suppose Louth have that Northern edge being close to the border and dont make excuses. Fermanagh are a credit also given the limited resources they have. What Fermanagh do have is a great culture; their players are in great shape.

Kildare and Meath just want to lie down.

And why do they want to lie down? Its very easy to make such a glib statement without delving further into it.

Whatever about Kildare but Meath teams were never known for lying down. There has to be a reason for the culture change in Meath football over the past 20+ years.

Maybe 5 years ago. The Dubs are far from unbeatable now. Monaghan have had their number in the league the last few times and ran them close in the championship last year. No reason Kildare and Meath can't do the same given the pick of the 3 counties. And 0 excuse for them not beating Fermanagh.

If they want an example just look at Louth. They make improvements not excuses, the attitude of any of their lads you see interviewed is so refreshing to see.

You seem to think Fermanagh should not be beating Kildare. Why is that? Kildare have only two more provincial titles in 50 years. The same amount of AI tiles in that time. Fermanagh have every right to be beating the likes of Kildare.

Look at the pick both would have. 247k people in Kildare vs 63k people in Fermanagh before you take out the non gaa inclined demographic in Fermanagh. Kildare should absolutely be doing a lot better than they are. Look at all the strong underage teams in the last few years.

(Watch Kildare beat us Sunday now I'm saying all this!)

We won't be beating you Sunday so you are safe enough.

Sure if its down to population then Kilkenny should be nowhere near that many hurling titles. Dublin should be dominating the football AI tiles.

I did question above the reason for the drop off in standards in minor/u20 within Kildare. Players thrive on the possibility of success. That is not there for a Kildare footballer so the desire is not there.

Is the drive, ethos and status that comes with being on the senior county squad not there?  Even when Armagh were in Div3, the county lads are still seen as almost celebs around here. It seems like Kildare and Meath have slipped into apathy at senior level. 

I don't think it is. It seems lads are going through the motions. I cannot fathom how Kildare have two u20 AI's in the last 5 years and yet are so poor at senior level. It can't be the manager the whole time.

Even the support has dropped off significantly. I used to follow the Kildare team everywhere. I haven't seen them play live in over 10 years. Ok that is partly down to family life but I'd get to a few games a year.

Maybe 5 years ago. The Dubs are far from unbeatable now. Monaghan have had their number in the league the last few times and ran them close in the championship last year. No reason Kildare and Meath can't do the same given the pick of the 3 counties. And 0 excuse for them not beating Fermanagh.

If they want an example just look at Louth. They make improvements not excuses, the attitude of any of their lads you see interviewed is so refreshing to see.

You seem to think Fermanagh should not be beating Kildare. Why is that? Kildare have only two more provincial titles in 50 years. The same amount of AI tiles in that time. Fermanagh have every right to be beating the likes of Kildare.

Look at the pick both would have. 247k people in Kildare vs 63k people in Fermanagh before you take out the non gaa inclined demographic in Fermanagh. Kildare should absolutely be doing a lot better than they are. Look at all the strong underage teams in the last few years.

(Watch Kildare beat us Sunday now I'm saying all this!)

We won't be beating you Sunday so you are safe enough.

Sure if its down to population then Kilkenny should be nowhere near that many hurling titles. Dublin should be dominating the football AI tiles.

I did question above the reason for the drop off in standards in minor/u20 within Kildare. Players thrive on the possibility of success. That is not there for a Kildare footballer so the desire is not there.

Maybe 5 years ago. The Dubs are far from unbeatable now. Monaghan have had their number in the league the last few times and ran them close in the championship last year. No reason Kildare and Meath can't do the same given the pick of the 3 counties. And 0 excuse for them not beating Fermanagh.

If they want an example just look at Louth. They make improvements not excuses, the attitude of any of their lads you see interviewed is so refreshing to see.

You seem to think Fermanagh should not be beating Kildare. Why is that? Kildare have only two more provincial titles in 50 years. The same amount of AI tiles in that time. Fermanagh have every right to be beating the likes of Kildare.

[Thats all down to the millions pumped into Dublin]

An article from Pilly Mc and then this from RTÉ on Kildare in the space of a week...

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2024/0209/1431485-kildare-failing-to-harness-enormous-potential/

Things are bad at the minute but you'd hope some outside attention might be a reality check. The feckin Armagh game is live on TG4 too, so more national coverage.

We talk a lot of good players, but we don't have enough relaible lads. Can I ask other posters here - your county men stand out for the clubs every week?

What people don't realise that Dublin have been winning Leinster after Leinster since 2011. That doesn't look like stopping anytime soon. Thats all down to the millions pumped into Dublin GAA by our government and the GAA.

Why would any Kildare footballer be bothered putting an effort into winning a provincial title when the odd are stacked against you?

Its only now we are seeing the result of all that.

Not all down to it, counties like Kildare and Meath have resources greater than most counties so what's their excuse?

I thought I answered that above. Players don't even have a chance of a provincial title because of the odds being stacked against them. At least in other provinces the playing field is a bit more level.

Fermanagh just easily beat Kildare in the last round of the league. Fermanagh have never won an Ulster title yet they keep at it and are relatively competitive. Not sure your point stacks up.

But Fermanagh can see no one is Ulster have gotten the handouts the Dubs have got.
So the playing field is closer to being equal in Ulster than it is in Leinster.

This always gives players hope.

In Kildare they can see the gap and can see how much money has been pumped into the Dubs

My point exactly. The fight is gone from the likes of Kildare and Meath.

And for the record it's the GAA I blame for letting it happen. They created a prefect storm.

KILDARE can't win a Leinster...
BUT THE DUBS...
Kildare can't beat Fermanagh...BUT THE DUBS?

We have the worst kip of a ground in the country for 25 years.
No streaming of club games and general lack of vision.

Thank you to people defending us and Meath. Leinster is goosed but Christ we don't need to lie down every year either.

We're lying down since 1928. The one manager who had us competitive we couldn't wait to get rid of.

Fair enough if you think the fact that the Dubs were given millions had nothing to do with them winning 13 Leinster's in a row. Look at the 13 years before that - Kildare, Westmeath, Meath and Laois all winnings Leinster's.

Why would players from those counties be bothered? All they could win previously was a provincial title and now that's even out of reach.

I am from Kildare and it's a great thing to say shure lookit - the Dubs! What's the excuse for not being able to beat Fermanagh? Or losing to teams with much fewer resources.

Well then you should know more than most. The lure of a provincial title is not there.

How come Kildare can beat Dublin regularly at underage level? And explain the drop off when it comes to senior level.