Leinster SFC Championship

[tayto]

I don't think the Dubs are as good as the media hype them up to be.

That's not a very original thought on the dubs. Did you come up with it yourself after reading the paper today was it?
Every news atricle I've read about our league campagin has said we'd a poor league with very patchy form. Is that hype? I must be reading the wrong papers.
I'd be very wary of Laois, but unless we improve in a big big way from our league form we should be wary of anyone.

[Hound]

Dublin are still the best team in Leinster, but not unbeatable especially if we take a game a little bit lightly.

Kildare's rebuilding process seems to be going well. I had them written off at the beginning of the year, but I've been impressed with their league performance. Meath too are going well, in particular a very good win against Monaghan. The winner of Kildare v Meath will be well primed to have a right go at the Dubs, who will be going in cold.

Similarly I think the winner of Westmeath v Longford could give Laois a shock.

[Jinxy]

We would love another go at Laois after Navan last year when I think we left it behind us. Just have to get past the Lillies and those pesky dubs first. At least we should have a settled 15 going into the championship compared to last year when Barry kept chopping and changing during the league.

[AZOffaly]

We'll beat Carlow after a replay, and then Meath will beat Kildare, and launch a 5 game series against Dublin, whereupon savage injury problems are visited upon both teams.

The Dubs win by 3 points to 2 in the 5th game with a virtuoso performance from the resurgent Jimmy Keaveny as both teams are forced to trawl back through the years to find 15 fit players. Colm O'Rourke hits two points for Meath, but Pat O'Neill hits him and his leg falls off, thus eliminating Meath's biggest threat.

The Dubs hobble on to face a fresh Offaly, who have had a six week break because of the replays, and due to Jimmy Keaveny being unable to play because he lost his bus pass and couldn't get to the ground in time, Offaly hold on for a dramatic 1-11 to 0-12 win. It would have been a much greater margin, but some of Ciaran McManus' shots were so wayward they ended up sailing over the Offaly Crossbar. It looks as if Tony Hanahoe has won the game for Dublin with a fine fisted point, but Niall McNamee saves the day with a fine goal which gives Stephen Cluxton (back from Suspension) no chance.

After the game the Dubs object on the grounds that they only had 14 players present, but the GAA inform them that it is nobody else;'s fault that Ciaran Whelan goes missing so much.

The Leinster final is played under lights in October and to absolutely nobodies surprise, Wexford beat Offaly by 6 points.

[Dinny Breen]

I like everyone else in Kildare are delighted with our build-up to the Meath game and hope Meath win the Division 2 title which will add a little bit of media hype to the Royal machine. Although delighted I'm amazed how the media have seemingly written off Kildare's chances even though we gave Donegal probably their hardest game of the year without, wait for it, 4 midfielders who were side-lined (  Dermot Earley, Daryl Flynn, Mick Foley and Ross Glavin) and Killian Brennan who went off injured pretty early. So while not blow awaying opposition our only loss was to our bogey side Galway on a pitch that was unplayable. We have a young side, a side that are use to beating the Dubs and Meath at u/21 level so won't be afraid of either side. My own prediciton for Kildare is that we will beat Meath, draw with the Dubs and lose the replay and go out in the qualifiers to yet another Connacht side.....

AZ,

Good to see you're as optimistic as ever about the Biffo's. We got the auld blood rule tightened up at conference so you won't be playing that card this year....

[Gnevin]

We'll beat Carlow after a replay, and then Meath will beat Kildare, and launch a 5 game series against Dublin, whereupon savage injury problems are visited upon both teams.

The Dubs win by 3 points to 2 in the 5th game with a virtuoso performance from the resurgent Jimmy Keaveny as both teams are forced to trawl back through the years to find 15 fit players. Colm O'Rourke hits two points for Meath, but Pat O'Neill hits him and his leg falls off, thus eliminating Meath's biggest threat.

The Dubs hobble on to face a fresh Offaly, who have had a six week break because of the replays, and due to Jimmy Keaveny being unable to play because he lost his bus pass and couldn't get to the ground in time, Offaly hold on for a dramatic 1-11 to 0-12 win. It would have been a much greater margin, but some of Ciaran McManus' shots were so wayward they ended up sailing over the Offaly Crossbar. It looks as if Tony Hanahoe has won the game for Dublin with a fine fisted point, but Niall McNamee saves the day with a fine goal which gives Stephen Cluxton (back from Suspension) no chance.

After the game the Dubs object on the grounds that they only had 14 players present, but the GAA inform them that it is nobody else;'s fault that Ciaran Whelan goes missing so much.

The Leinster final is played under lights in October and to absolutely nobodies surprise, Wexford beat Offaly by 6 points.

Due too all the delays Dublin as last year winners are nominated to playing the quarter final and go on to win the All-Ireland 

[Jinxy]

I like everyone else in Kildare are delighted with our build-up to the Meath game and hope Meath win the Division 2 title which will add a little bit of media hype to the Royal machine. Although delighted I'm amazed how the media have seemingly written off Kildare's chances even though we gave Donegal probably their hardest game of the year without, wait for it, 4 midfielders who were side-lined (  Dermot Earley, Daryl Flynn, Mick Foley and Ross Glavin) and Killian Brennan who went off injured pretty early. So while not blow awaying opposition our only loss was to our bogey side Galway on a pitch that was unplayable. We have a young side, a side that are use to beating the Dubs and Meath at u/21 level so won't be afraid of either side. My own prediciton for Kildare is that we will beat Meath, draw with the Dubs and lose the replay and go out in the qualifiers to yet another Connacht side.....

AZ,

Good to see you're as optimistic as ever about the Biffo's. We got the auld blood rule tightened up at conference so you won't be playing that card this year....

Dinny, Ross Glavin is not an intercounty midfielder (dunno if he's even in your best 15) and Mick Foleys best position is centre-back. Brennan is a big loss for ye however. I was at the Donegal semi-final and I thought Kildare were flattered a bit by the final scoreline (after getting a very dubious penalty). Not saying we're any world beaters but I think it will be a good close game and if johnny Doyle can be kept to 5/6 points I think we will come out on top.

[Dinny Breen]

Ross Glavin is not an intercounty midfielder (dunno if he's even in your best 15) and Mick Foleys best position is centre-back.

Ross was the best midfielder in the Kildare SFC last year, he had an awful lot of football commitments and on top of that he was in his final year of his Army cadetship, he was also Moorefields player of the season, he hasn't had much opportunity but he I believe he is inter-county midfield standard, also I left out Roly Sweeney who can play midfield either. Foley is probably our centre-back elect but has played a lot of county football at midfield hence his inclusion.

As for a Donegal game, that was a stone wall penalty, a sure sign was the lack of complaints from the Donegal players, the result was in doubt to the end, Kildare are very dogged this year and no team will pull away from them (cue a 15 point hammering from Meath).....

I like the fact that Meath are favourites and won't put money on Kildare but would fancy the winners to gave the Dubs a right rattle...

[AZOffaly]

where's Willie Heffernan this year? That's the lad for Dublin.

[Jinxy]

Feck off, we're not favourites, YE are! (Cue a pointless round of hot potato throwing ) Whats the story with Sweeney by the way? I thought he didn't look himself in the games against Dr Crokes. He's a great option around wing forward/centre-field.

[Dinny Breen]

where's Willie Heffernan this year? That's the lad for Dublin.

A fit Willie would be, he's carrying an awful lot weight and missed a lot off early season training though..

Roly Sweeney picked up a groin stain in the Leinster club final, near full fitness and wasn't risked against Dongeal although had a cameo as a water boy, should be available for the Meath game...

Meath are definite favourites, you can't play that card jinxy.....

[The Real Laoislad]

Really? I'd have Kildare as favourites over Meath

[Jinxy]

where's Willie Heffernan this year? That's the lad for Dublin.

A fit Willie would be, he's carrying an awful lot weight and missed a lot off early season training though..

Roly Sweeney picked up a groin stain in the Leinster club final, near full fitness and wasn't risked against Dongeal although had a cameo as a water boy, should be available for the Meath game...

Meath are definite favourites, you can't play that card jinxy.....

Nasty business that! Also thanks for the back-up Laoislad. There is no doubt now that Kildare are overwhelming favourites.

[Shamrock Shore]

Bit early to be smoking out the Westmeed lads I s'pose 

Confidence high in Longford of shoeing the mini-Dubs on May 13 and then all to play for agin Laois

[Croí na hÉireann]

Bit early to be smoking out the Westmeed lads I s'pose 

Confidence high in Longford of shoeing the mini-Dubs on May 13 and then all to play for agin Laois

See Maroon Heaven is stoking up AZ on another thread, must be that time of year again. What's de exact capacity of Slasher Park and how hard exactly was it to get tickets for the Doublin game last year???