No thread here yet. Meath out after losing to Laois, Carlow upset Westmeath but not a massive surprise, while Wexford get the better of Wicklow. An Offaly man told me that the Wexford team were the worst minor team he had ever seen after Offaly hammered them in the preliminary round. Dublin and Kildare have been consistently the best 2 teams at this grade for the last few years but I'd expect the likes of Offaly and maybe Laois and Louth to be very competitive this year. Carlow will be a tough game for anyone too and Longford always command respect.
The quarter final draw will be interesting.
The @ElectricIreland @gaaleinster Minor FC Q/final draw:
Wexford v Carlow
Dublin v Longford
Laois v Kildare
Louth v Offaly
On 20th May
Won't be an easy one for Kildare, they will be very confident after beating a well fancied Meath team.
I wasn't at it but it looks like Laois gave Kildare a bit of a fright today but the lads showed good mental toughness to demolish them in the second half. They won 1-14 to 2-6. It was 2-3 to 3 points after 18 minutes and Kildare trailed by 4 at half time.
Dublin 6-12 Longford 0-5
Louth 0-15 Offaly 1-11
Kildare 1-14 Laois 2-6
Good to see there's nothing following up Dublin's generation.
Dublin and Kildare will be looking to avoid each other but for the neutrals it would be good if they are drawn together in the semi.
Carlow and Wexford play tomorrow, I'd expect a Carlow win there.
Kildare took over once they switched David Kelly onto the big Laois no 8. Outscored Laois 1-12 to 0-3 after the second Laois goal.
Second game in a row they've finished very strongly. Might not get away with the slow starts against the likes of Dublin.
Wexford beat Carlow by a point.
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on May 20, 2017, 05:22:50 PM
Kildare took over once they switched David Kelly onto the big Laois no 8. Outscored Laois 1-12 to 0-3 after the second Laois goal.
Second game in a row they've finished very strongly. Might not get away with the slow starts against the likes of Dublin.
Who was ye're number 27 (I think) who came on and did well around the midfield area?
Quote from: SCFC on May 21, 2017, 08:31:31 PM
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on May 20, 2017, 05:22:50 PM
Kildare took over once they switched David Kelly onto the big Laois no 8. Outscored Laois 1-12 to 0-3 after the second Laois goal.
Second game in a row they've finished very strongly. Might not get away with the slow starts against the likes of Dublin.
Who was ye're number 27 (I think) who came on and did well around the midfield area?
That was David Kelly. Changed jersey after an early blood injury. He's our only current minor who was playing last year.
The Dubs will meet Kildare in one semi final. Louth will face Wexford in the other one.
http://www.dublingaa.ie/news/minor-footballers-drawn-to-face-kildare-in-leinster-semi-finals
Quote from: The Hill is Blue on May 23, 2017, 08:58:43 PM
The Dubs will meet Kildare in one semi final. Louth will face Wexford in the other one.
http://www.dublingaa.ie/news/minor-footballers-drawn-to-face-kildare-in-leinster-semi-finals
A Dublin v Louth final for sure.
Quote from: stevecw on May 24, 2017, 12:46:20 AM
Quote from: The Hill is Blue on May 23, 2017, 08:58:43 PM
The Dubs will meet Kildare in one semi final. Louth will face Wexford in the other one.
http://www.dublingaa.ie/news/minor-footballers-drawn-to-face-kildare-in-leinster-semi-finals
A Dublin v Louth final for sure.
Based on what? I wouldn't be so sure. Form lines would indicate a tight game between Kildare and Dublin, Kildare beat Dublin in the u17 final last year. It's also on in Newbridge midweek July 5th shortly after Leaving Cert.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on May 24, 2017, 03:18:32 PM
Quote from: stevecw on May 24, 2017, 12:46:20 AM
Quote from: The Hill is Blue on May 23, 2017, 08:58:43 PM
The Dubs will meet Kildare in one semi final. Louth will face Wexford in the other one.
http://www.dublingaa.ie/news/minor-footballers-drawn-to-face-kildare-in-leinster-semi-finals
A Dublin v Louth final for sure.
Based on what? I wouldn't be so sure. Form lines would indicate a tight game between Kildare and Dublin, Kildare beat Dublin in the u17 final last year. It's also on in Newbridge midweek July 5th shortly after Leaving Cert.
Start like we did against Carlow and Laois and we'll be well bet. We looked a much better team in the second half of both games. It seems like we're short on real standout players this year but that we've quite a deep panel. The subs who have come on in the second half have performed better than the players they were replacing in many cases. I get the impression management are still searching for the best team.
It's hard to know where Dublin stand too. Meath looked home and hosed against them before collapsing. They then went out and lost to Laois. Hard to know with minors.
Kildare should win their semi handy. Dublin only drew with Meath in 60 mins. Laois beat Meath and Kildare cruised past Laois.
Dublin worth their win tonight, we had no strength in depth and our subs struggled to get to the pitch of the game. With the break and LC you need a strong squad as fitness levels will drop, it worked to our advantage against Meath last year alas Dublin have more depth.
Dublin's game plan worked well and in James Doran had the outstanding footballer on display. Very good spine. Need those Cuala lads back playing rugby.
We're producing pacy half forwards by the bucket McDonnell and Nairn were good tonight and Aaron O'neill is a future Kildare senior goalie.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on July 05, 2017, 10:28:16 PM
Need those Cuala lads back playing rugby.
The full back Peadar O'Cofaigh Byrne would make a serious second row. He looked at least 2 inches taller than Kirwan who is supposed to be 6'4.
O'Neill does look a very good prospect in goals, excellent kick out and very good under the high ball. If his shot stopping is up to scratch he will certainly provide competition for Donnellan. Not too downbeat about theresult though, it would have been nice to win but there are still plenty of players coming through if they keep their heads down and work hard. No obvious potential star players like James Doran for Dublin though.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on July 05, 2017, 10:28:16 PM
We're producing pacy half forwards by the bucket McDonnell and Nairn were good tonight and Aaron O'neill is a future Kildare senior goalie.
I thought Daragh Ryan at right half back was very good along with our two wing forwards. David Kelly was excellent against Carlow and Laois but he was well marshaled tonight. Dublin centre forward looked a future star.
Six of the Kildare lads available to the u17s by my reckoning: DJ Earley, Findlay Nairn, Cian McQuillan, Daragh Kirwan, Shane O'Sullivan and James Carey. Hopefully they can get a bit of a run going.
Kirwan has a lot of potential too but the type of player he is is going out of fashion the way football is going. Inside forwards need to be sprinters first and foremost these days and the tall languid forwards are being well marshalled by sweepers.
We have Podge Fogarty and Sean Hurley to both potentially come back at senior level at some stage and he would seem to be a player in a similar mould.
Quote from: Kuwabatake Sanjuro on July 05, 2017, 10:36:02 PM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on July 05, 2017, 10:28:16 PM
Need those Cuala lads back playing rugby.
The full back Peadar O'Cofaigh Byrne would make a serious second row. He looked at least 2 inches taller than Kirwan who is supposed to be 6'4.
O'Neill does look a very good prospect in goals, excellent kick out and very good under the high ball. If his shot stopping is up to scratch he will certainly provide competition for Donnellan. Not too downbeat about theresult though, it would have been nice to win but there are still plenty of players coming through if they keep their heads down and work hard. No obvious potential star players like James Doran for Dublin though.
POCB was like a young Francie Bellew set up a nice point too at a critical stage with a surge upfield.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on July 05, 2017, 10:54:19 PM
Quote from: Kuwabatake Sanjuro on July 05, 2017, 10:36:02 PM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on July 05, 2017, 10:28:16 PM
Need those Cuala lads back playing rugby.
The full back Peadar O'Cofaigh Byrne would make a serious second row. He looked at least 2 inches taller than Kirwan who is supposed to be 6'4.
O'Neill does look a very good prospect in goals, excellent kick out and very good under the high ball. If his shot stopping is up to scratch he will certainly provide competition for Donnellan. Not too downbeat about theresult though, it would have been nice to win but there are still plenty of players coming through if they keep their heads down and work hard. No obvious potential star players like James Doran for Dublin though.
POCB was like a young Francie Bellew set up a nice point too at a critical stage with a surge upfield.
He was pretty much unstoppable with his runs. Donal Ryan in midfield was useful enough for them too, like a young MD McAuley.
McQuillan was decent in midfield for us but is on the small side.