Leinster Minor Football Championship 2011

[Dinny Breen]

1. Kilkenny v Wexford    16.4.2011    Kilkenny    3.00pm
2. Wicklow v Offaly    16.4.2011    Aughrim    3.00pm
3. Louth v Meath    16.4.2011    Haggardstown, Dundalk    3.00pm
4. Kildare v Longford    16.4.2011    Newbridge    3.00pm
5. Dublin v Westmeath    16.4.2011    Parnell Park    3.00pm
6. Carlow v Laois    16.4.2011    Carlow    6.30pm
LOSERS SECTION - Round 1
   27.4.2011    TBC
LOSERS SECTION - Round 2
   4.5.2011    TBC
QUARTER-FINALS
   14.5.2011    TBC
SEMI-FINALS
   29.6.2011    TBC
FINAL
   10.7.2011    Croke Park

[Dinny Breen]

Always a tough competition to call as evidenced by Longfords ambush of Kildare and subsequent reversal of their 1st round Offaly game in the final.

Anyhow from a Kildare perspective we host the holders Longford this weekend, Kildare have prepared away from the province with little joy in their challenge games. Are the Larries confident heading into this?

[Dinny Breen]

And how does the draw above work? Can't get my head around the loser sections and how it will produce 2 quarter-finalists!

[Croí na hÉireann]

And how does the draw above work? Can't get my head around the loser sections and how it will produce 2 quarter-finalists!

I'd say the first four drawn losers will play each other in Round 1 of the losers section with the winners of these two games playing the other two teams in Round 2. Hope that makes sense.

Not expecting much from Westmeath, this group won Gerry O'Reilly under the new manager Graham O'Connor two years ago but effort not being put in by the players and not looking good in challenge games. Whatever the result on Sat I hope they will then knuckle down and turn it around like the Slashers did last year.

[Dinny Breen]

I'd say the first four drawn losers will play each other in Round 1 of the losers section with the winners of these two games playing the other two teams in Round 2. Hope that makes sense.

Gotcha - bloody old age kicking in...

[Donnellys Hollow]

I thought they were doing away with the losers section after the Kildare/Dublin farce last year?

Don't know much about our minors this year but I don't think they will be as strong as the last two years. Presume there'll be plenty of Athy lads given how they've dominated the underage scene in recent times. It was good to see both Maynooth and Clane going well in their respective colleges competitions.

[thejuice]

We should have the beatin' of Louth, I'd be fairly confident of that though I would still like to see the named team.  Who do we play after that?

[Dinny Breen]

I thought they were doing away with the losers section after the Kildare/Dublin farce last year?

Don't know much about our minors this year but I don't think they will be as strong as the last two years. Presume there'll be plenty of Athy lads given how they've dominated the underage scene in recent times. It was good to see both Maynooth and Clane going well in their respective colleges competitions.

That was farcical, killed both sides chances of silverware.

Kildare schools are on the up, outside Dublin we have the most schools in the 'A' championship and you alluded to how well we're doing in the other competitions so based on numbers and standard they are playing at you'd expect us to do well. Alas this is Kildare...

[Shamrock Shore]

Are the Larries confident heading into this

I am afraid the words Larries and confident rarely inhabit the same paragraph.

The brother will talk it up - but who knows - again esp after the mauling by Offaly this time last year and then being crowned champions in July.

[Dinny Breen]

We should have the beatin' of Louth, I'd be fairly confident of that though I would still like to see the named team.  Who do we play after that?

TJ, Louth will be strong Dundalk schools won the Leinster 'A'  Colleges championship this year.

[thejuice]

The Pats lads will be out for revenge.

[laoisgaa]

Dublin will win Leinster outright this year - from what I've seen in the Leinster MFL - very little out there to stop them. The demolished my own native Laois a few weeks back before Dublin/Mayo at Croke Park - beat Longford a week later to take the title - Dessie Farrell at the helm is doing a great job with them

[Croí na hÉireann]

Westmeath minor football team to play Dublin:

Daren Brady;
Paul Maxwell, James Ganley, Cian Bradley;
Robbie Greville, Killian Daly, David Lynch;
Dean McNicholas, Paddy Holloway;
Neal Kirby, David McCormack, David Whelehan;
Alan Coffey, Lorcan Dolan, Paul Fennell.

[thejuice]

Meath (MFC v Louth) -
1. Robert Burlington Simonstown Gaels,

2. Anthony Forde Moynalvey,
3. Conor McGill Ratoath,
4. Cathal Finn St Peters Dunboyne,

5. Declan Smyth Dunsany,
6. Shane McEntee St Peters Dunboyne,
7. Shane Melia Donaghmore/Ashbourne,

8. Conor Sheridan Simonstown Gaels,
9. Adam Flanagan Clonard,

10. Niall Shorthall St Vincents/Curragha,
11. Cathal Smith O'Mahonys,
12 Seamus Mattimoe Round Towers,

13. Bobby O'Brien Ratoath,
14 Cillian O'Sullivan Moynalvey,
15. Willie McGrath Ballinlough/Inny Gaels

[shark]

Westmeath minor football team to play Dublin:

Daren Brady;
Paul Maxwell, James Ganley, Cian Bradley;
Robbie Greville, Killian Daly, David Lynch;
Dean McNicholas, Paddy Holloway;
Neal Kirby, David McCormack, David Whelehan;
Alan Coffey, Lorcan Dolan, Paul Fennell.

Haven't seen this team play so it's hard to comment. Solid midfield, McNicholas having been involved with the u21s and Holloway was impressive for Castledaly last year, albeit at wing back. Forward line looks decent with Dolan the main threath. Sean Daly only making the bench is a sign that the other 6 must be going well. Not too sure about the backs though. Killian Daly is very good but is not a back and would have thought of Ganly as more of a wing back.