Top new players in 2008.

[J70]

Bit early yet, but Paddy McDaid had a very promising league debut at corner back for Donegal at the weekend.

Given our paucity of decent forwards, I have high hopes for Michael Murphy. Hopefully he'll continue his progress of last summer. David Walsh was fairly quiet debut at centre forward, but I suppose its a huge step up for a young player whose club has just stepped up to intermediate. Hopefully he'll do well.

[AZOffaly]

Is he supposed to be bad? I saw him in 2 games this year so far on d'telly and he looked useful. Raw but useful. Why, is he a lummox?

i was searching around for an apt word for him and couldn't better that. he's 26/27 i think

But is he 'new'. I've never noticed him before at any rate. I think he could do a job for Down. If he was from Offaly, he'd certainly be an important cog. We need a big man in centre field.

[SuperDooperCooper]

Yeah from what I've seen of McComiskey he is going to be the real deal. Others I'd tip for the top would be Fintan Goold (Cork) and Barry Grogan (Tipperary), Tommy Walsh, Barry Walsh & David Moran (Kerry), John O'Loughlin, Zac Touhy & Donal Kingston (Laois) Paul Brogan (Dublin) and the corner forward from last years winning Galway minor team, Reddington (I think)

Barry John Walsh is hardly likely to feature he is still a minor this year....

[passedit]

AZ it is entirely appropriate that a BIFFO should appreciate Jackie's talents as he is, as it were, a BIFFD. You'll find a fair few down ones who would concur with Uladh's assessment of his 'talents' although a lot fewer than this time last year i'd wager. Call me old fashioned, but I believe every good midfield partnership needs a blend of Hammer and sickle (the really great midfielders have the blend themselves). Jackie's a work in progress but he does hammer very well and will do a sound job for Down in division 3, whether he has the wherewithall to operate at a higher level remains to be seen. He's done enough so far to earn a few more looks at any rate.

[Zulu]

He's in Carlow IT at the moment so I presume not.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Yeah from what I've seen of McComiskey he is going to be the real deal. Others I'd tip for the top would be Fintan Goold (Cork) and Barry Grogan (Tipperary), Tommy Walsh, Barry Walsh & David Moran (Kerry), John O'Loughlin, Zac Touhy & Donal Kingston (Laois) Paul Brogan (Dublin) and the corner forward from last years winning Galway minor team, Reddington (I think)

Reddington won't be playing for the seniors this year anyway. In fact none of last year's minors will be. Will be a couple of years before some of them start breaking through.

[qub la la la]

Jackie Lynch kept Dermot McCabe very quiet in last years Championship. He is a big strong lad who isnt afraid to put himself about, as Kieran McGeeney found out in the National League. Dont pay any attention to that idiot Uladh. Its killing him that Down are on the up, while Armagh are still relying on the likes of McDonnell and McGrane, while great players in their day, they have certainly reached the end of their career. In fact by the looks of things Uladh could get a game for Armagh at the minute, such is the lack of new talent coming through.

you are clearly having a laugh. Down are going well because they've been on their training camp and are going very closeto full tilt at the minute. We'll see come summer time. Armagh's lack of talent coming through is clearly evident, especially when you consider they won the ulster u21 championship last year and were very unlucky not to beat cork in the semi-final. And mcDonnell is clearly over the hill at the brave old age of 28 years. get the zimmer frame out!!

[Onlooker]

Zulu might be interested to hear that one of his "top new player" choices, Barry Grogan scored 8 points for Tipperary today against Clare.

[Zulu]

Zulu might be interested to hear that one of his "top new player" choices, Barry Grogan scored 8 points for Tipperary today against Clare.

Did he, I hadn't heard that Onlooker, he also scored 3-2 against Cork in last years U21 championship so he could be the next Declan Browne. Some of my other tips, as has been pointed out, won't make it this year though. But I was tipping lads to make it in the next couple of years rather than this year specifically, I really should read the title of the posts more carefully

[INDIANA]

Tuohy can't go to OZ as he's still a minor this year- but by all accounts as soon as he hits 18 he's off.

[Zulu]

Laois should consider jacking in the football and just take up Aussie rules altogether, they way their going half of laois will be down under soon.

[muppet]

Given that Aussie scouts probably read threads like this I would like to steer them in the right direction.

Firstly that Eamon O'Hara of Sligo is one to watch. Would be good for a trial down under in June I'd say.

Then they should have a look at some of Galway's key youngsters such as Micháel Meehan, Sean Armstrong and a real one for the fiture, a lad called Padraig Joyce. Sign them up quick mates.

By early August I would recommend taking Tyrone's Sean Kavanagh, Armagh's Stephen McDonnell and Ronan Clarke, the 3 Brogan's from Dublin and all of the young Kerry lads that have won the Sam Maguire (a schools competition) for the last two years.

As for Mayo absolutely nothing promising here, and give us back Pearse Hanley!   

[Rossfan]

Given that Aussie scouts probably read threads like this I would like to steer them in the right direction.

Firstly that Eamon O'Hara of Sligo is one to watch.
 

And he has the tan already 
PS so has John Maughan  - please take him...

[thebandit]

Monaghan - Conor McManus

Armagh - James Lavery

[Hound]

Johhny O'Hara - Offaly.

Is that the lad from Skerries in Dublin?

Does he still live and play in Skerries and is playing for Offaly because of a parent's link, or has he moved?