Luimneach v Cill Dara

[Denn Forever]

S'ppose so.

But will be racked with "what ifs" if you win

[uimhir a cuig]

Might as well post this here

Limerick won 2 games in Division 3, the last time they met competitively Kildare won by 11 points. Limericks attack is very dependent on one player, Ryan scored 3-7 against Meath, 5 points against Cork and 3 against Tipp. In fact Limericks points tally 8, 12 and 12 in three championship games is not very convincing.

I don't believe Kildare are as bad as people seem to think we are, we have better footballers than Limerick, what they lack is confidence and belief that is the only thing that will cause them to lose to what I see as very average Limerick team.

Well i'll post this here as well then! 

I had the pleasure of being in Croke Park on May 18th, when i witnessed Wicklow out-battle and out-play a rather wasteful Kildare side.  However it must be noted that Wicklow are still the third worst team in Leinster, and Cavan who you scrope past last weekend are the second worst team in Ulster.  Can i ask when the last time was you attended a Limerick match?

Limerick are a better footballing team for a couple of reasons. Firstly Limerick play more of a mixed game, they use the hand passing game well and also like to kick direct into the inside line, where as Kildare continue to over-use their handpassing game, its one of the reasons why Kildare have fallen down the pecking order in Leinster.  Well, in my opinion anyway.  Secondly, although neither forward line is particularly incisive, i would think currently, that of Limerick's is better.  And since you're not convinced of Limerick's points tallies so far, lets compare it with that of Kildares: In the three games we have played so far, our forwards have racked up 4-29 (41 pts) - an average of 14 points per game.  In the two games you have played so far, your forwards have scored 1-23 (26 pts) - an average of 13 points per game.  If you're not impressed with ours, then you certainly can't be impressed with yours either, particularly when you compare the opposition we faced with the opposition you did.

John Doyle and Alan Smyth pose the greatest threat to Limerick on Saturday, but i'm confident that Johnny McCarthy can do a good marking job on Smyth, his performances over the last three years have been fantastic and particularly of late.  If Kildare decide to play John Doyle at centre forward then i'm also confident that Stephen Lavin could also limit his influence.  If he's in the corner, on Shane Gallagher, and does get the edge on him, i can see McCarthy being moved on him to quieten him.  At midfield I think its a pretty level playing field, Kilian Brennan is a great fielder and Dermot Earley is a wiry old campaigner who's much better deployed at midfield than half forward. John Galvin and Jim O'Donovan should at least be able break even here though.  The Limerick half forward line has got better with every game, Seanie Buckley is hugely under-rated, phoenominal work rate in the guy, dual player James Ryan is excellent at keeping the ball and playing it simple, and if Stephen Kelly is fit to start, i expect veteran Anthony Rainbow to be in for a torrid time of it - he's not got the legs to keep up with Kelly.  Watch this duel in particular, its one where i expect Limerick to get a lot of joy - if Kelly is fully fit. He destroyed Cork when he ran at them and had he not come off injured against Meath, it would have been a bigger score than 4-12 on the board. 

Most people seem to think that Limerick have one scoring forward in Ian Ryan, but that is simply not the case, Mike Crowley is more than capable of chipping in with points - 4 against Cork, 2 against Meath, as is Stephen Kelly - 2 against Tipp, 3 against Cork.  I expect Ian Ryan to be man marked, however the more men that he attracts, the more space Ger Collins and Mike Crowley will have. Limerick are simply much stronger up the middle than Kildare, we're strong at full back, centre back, midfield, centre forward and full. The same cannot be said of the Lilywhites.

Lastly, i am not for one minute underestimating Kildare, they will be a serious challenge, and i expect it to be a close game.  They are capable of beating Limerick but not in this form.

[uimhir a cuig]

And does result of a League match between the two in 2005 really have any bearing on Saturday's match?  I seriously doubt it...

[Dinny Breen]

Can i ask when the last time was you attended a Limerick match?

2005 but have seen them implode enough times on TV simply not to rate them.

Firstly Limerick play more of a mixed game, they use the hand passing game well and also like to kick direct into the inside line, where as Kildare continue to over-use their handpassing game

Your first faux-pas, Kildare have moved away from this under McGeeney and against Cavan the ball was moved into the inside line very qucikly.

If Kildare decide to play John Doyle at centre forward

Your second faux-pas, Pauric O'Neill will be playing at centre-forward as he did the last day, he's a very physically imposing kind of player and will be a handful.

i expect veteran Anthony Rainbow to be in for a torrid time of it

Your third faux-pas, Rainbow will not be playing Sunday and I'd be pretty sure he won't even come off the bench. Anthony's star has finally burned out.

Lastly, i am not for one minute underestimating Kildare,

Actually I'd say you are and in fact I think you are over-estimating Limerick. This is probably the highest profile game Limerick have ever started as favourites, Ian Ryan's profile has never been higher and I can guarantee you he'll recieve a lot more attention from Kildare than he did from Meath. Limerick are faced with a different kind of pressure, conversely I expect KIldare to drive on from last Sunday. It's going to be very tight and goals could prove decisive, Kildare to edge it 2-9 1-10.

[Derry Devil]

Well done to Kildare

[J70]

Indeed. Where the hell does that leave Leinster now? Or is it Munster that's now awful?

[INDIANA]

puts us ahead of connacht, debatable whether we're ahead of munster. well done to kildare , didn't see that one coming, but they need to draw wexford next.

[Maguire01]

puts us ahead of connacht, debatable whether we're ahead of munster. well done to kildare , didn't see that one coming, but they need to draw wexford next.

But if they do draw Wexford, are they not set up for a hiding if they make the quarter finals? Like really, losing to Wickow and beating Cavan, Limerick and Wexford would have to be the easiest path ever to the quarter finals, no?

[Dinny Breen]

Firstly I would to congratulate the Kildare footballers for putting the pride back in the jersey and for the first time a long time the future looks good and I have no doubt McGeeney is the man to lead us and he is starting to leave his mark on this Kildare team, specifically regarding committment, attitude  passion and tactical nous

I knew Kildare had talent and the Wicklow result was a shock but I knew Wicklow were a good side and if they were allowed qualify for the qualifiers tonight they would be probably be in the draw tonight. Even now Wicklow are dismissed even they only for a piece of wood they could have beaten Laois. Since the Wicklow game it has been complete negativity in Kildare and in the media (local and national) towards Kildare football and if we're honest a lot of it deserved but what amazes is me is that no one was focused on the bigger picture, new manager, tight league campaign 5 games decided by a point, All-Ireland u/21 final, a lot of injuries, the Moorefield contingent on the go for pratically 18 months. So I had always written of this season as a learing curve for both players and manager, a transition where not only would new players be introduced but a new style of play. So regardless of the next round result and the relegation Kildare are making progress and that is all we can ask for.

As for the game all week it was Limerick this, Limerick that, Limerick to hammer Kildare Limerick to progress and all they had to do was just show up. As I said previously Limerick were over-rated and Kildare under-rated but how much the swing was I didn't know and it was a John Doyle goal that was ultimately the difference. Ian Ryans open goal miss in the first half was one of the turning points of the game Limerick were well on top and that goal would have given them a seven point lead, a lead I don't think Kildare could have pegged back. Limerick should have been leading by more at half-time, they were very dominant and Galvin was controlling the middle and I was glad for the half-time whistle. The second half was a tremendous affair although the quality of football at times was poor the game was on a knife edge throughout. Kildare though had that little bit more composure in front of goal and Flynn, White and Conway were three excellent subsitutions that swung the game in Kildare's favour. Our full back line still looks shaky although I thought McLoughlin did well on Ian Ryan, Flynn will have to start the next day, McGeeney has shown he picks players on form and so no doubt he will.

Avoid Kerry and Mayo and we have a great chance of a quarter-final, unbelievable after the Wicklow game

[Dinny Breen]

But if they do draw Wexford, are they not set up for a hiding if they make the quarter finals? Like really, losing to Wickow and beating Cavan, Limerick and Wexford would have to be the easiest path ever to the quarter finals, no?

Jaysus all week Limerick were a great side, will hammer Kildare etc etc Now they're an easy side, Cavan pushed Armagh all the way but they are also an easy side, really some of the posters around here wouldn't look out of place on the Sunday game 

[Dinny Breen]

The negativity continues, this idiot Cummiskey in the Irish times was Saturday morning claiming McGeeney would be gone if Kildare lost to Limerick and now refuses to give Kildare any credit, clown!!! The only story he wants is that McGeeney has failed in Kildare, gutter journalism, expect more from the Irish Times. Ironically enough Keith Duggan had a great feature on McGeeney in the same paper Saturday morning.

Doyle digs Kildare out of trouble
GAVIN CUMMISKEY at the Gaelic Grounds

Limerick 0-11 Kildare 1-11 : The marksmanship of John Doyle played a substantial role in putting Kildare into the third round qualifier draw but Kieran McGeeney's debut season as an inter-county manager only survives, for at least another week, after a second-half meltdown by the hosts.

Doyle registered 1-6 with his goal on 58 minutes finally turning the tide Kildare's way after trailing since the 15th minute against a Limerick side that produced the shock of the championship in beating Meath last week.

Limerick were poised to become the football story of this summer but considering they dominated territory and possession, readily assisted by some deplorable Kildare defending, in the opening 35 minutes, they really should have been well clear. Instead, they only led 0-8 to 0-5.

John Galvin's dominance in midfield saw Killian Brennan called ashore at the break while some of the tracking back by Kildare players left a lot to be desired - it certainly didn't have any of the hallmarks of their manager's approach to the game as a player.

The Armagh native has realised the difficulties of adapting Ulster ways to Leinster football and Kildare played a familiar man on man game last night. After defeat to Wicklow on May 18th and trailing at the interval, the 2002 All-Ireland winning captain looked certain to end his first season as a manager in failure.

However, the Kildare players dug deep with the introduction of Michael Conway and Gary White improving the scoring return - Conway pulled matters back to a point on 55 minutes before an error by Limerick midfielder Jim Donovan led directly to Doyle's goal three minutes later.

Ian Ryan replied with a fine free from near the side line - the 19 year old prodigy had a poor game by his standards - registering 0-5 from frees but also kicking five wides. But an excellent Doyle point followed up by White put a goal between the sides entering injury-time.

Limerick came again but some heroic defending by Dermot Early and Kevin O'Neill repelled the desperate late rally by Mickey Ned O'Sullivan's men. The Kerry native was unwilling to make an immediate decision on his future in the aftermath but his three-year term as Limerick manager is now over.

[INDIANA]

Thats a tad unfair dinny, because I have heard the same rumours. unless he won last night he was gone. He's safe enough now. a lot of people in kildare haven't taken to him at all, especially the clubs.

[passedit]

puts us ahead of connacht, debatable whether we're ahead of munster. well done to kildare , didn't see that one coming, but they need to draw wexford next.

But if they do draw Wexford, are they not set up for a hiding if they make the quarter finals? Like really, losing to Wickow and beating Cavan, Limerick and Wexford would have to be the easiest path ever to the quarter finals, no?

No

How about beating Clare or Sligo, then Kildare or Down?

A possibility for Kerry or Mayo, the fact that they are in the last 12 having beaten a Tommy Murphy first rd loser is bad enough.

That said while both Kildare and Down may be easy prey this year i'd expect that to change pretty soon, maybe as soon as next year.

[Dinny Breen]

Thats a tad unfair dinny, because I have heard the same rumours. unless he won last night he was gone. He's safe enough now. a lot of people in kildare haven't taken to him at all, especially the clubs.

Rubbish Indiana, the clubs are aggrieved with the county board, we are in no position to cherry pick managers, one pudit in Kildare has a problem with McGeeeny and some of the National media. FFS we're getting as bad as the Premiership with these manager rumours...

[INDIANA]

well i haven't spoken to anyone who has a good word Dinny, and i've very good connections in Kildare.
to the game itself it underrlined the ability of john doyle again, a class act. if he's held though they will struggle. still it was nice shot in the arm for leinster football, badly needed.