Connacht U21 Championship 2010

moysider · March 18, 2010, 10:51:59 PM

I d be surprised if Keane wasn't moved into the senior panel straight away. We haven't enough in the panel that can play in fb line without lookin like a bag of nerves.He has always looked the part imo. At the other end of the panel we may have a couple of forwards with little to offer. As some of us have said before the panel should be open for players to add in [ or move on] as players emerge and needs arise. And there is an obvious need for Keane.

On reflection I think we ll get more and better seniors from our team yesterday than Ros will get from theirs. Our players looked like they expected to win without having to do much. I know management expected to win Connacht at least and believed they had a right good team. Maybe they looked to scrape through, tweak about with the selection, and peak for the later stages like some senior counties do. Trouble is there is no back door for U21 and players haven't the maturity anyway for that kind of thing. Any way it came badly unstuck and management should learn from that.

A big flaw in the team was the midfield. Not alone was the starting 2 inadequate, there was nobody on the bench. Anybody know what the real story with Gibbons is?
Nally should have been dispatched to the hb line. Rogers was made a patsy of - did little wrong as far as I saw - while our 6,8 and 9 had no authority on the game but apparently were irreplaceable. A genuine midfield sub could have allowed Nally to go to 6 or 7 and that alone could have got us over the line. Both McLoughlin and Nally in hb line would have assured a win if we had any competent midfield. How they ended up in championship without a half decent midfield is an issue. Turned out to be the rock they perished on - as well as an obvious lack of urgency. There was more than enough quality besides to go a long way.

RedandGreenSniper · March 18, 2010, 11:56:12 PM

Quote from: Farrandeelin on March 18, 2010, 08:53:38 PM
He was the only one of the '6' forwards who was any good in my opinion yesterday. Douglas and Freeman seemed to be coming off second best all day.

Douglas scored seven points, four from play. Freeman had a poor first half but did well in the second half. I would question the other three forwards. But I'd say about McLoughlin that he is after playing four high level games in 10 days. It was clear from him that it took a toll. Same for Aidan O'Shea but he's bigger and more able for punishment.

Midfield was the problem along with not having Nally and McLoughlin in the half-back line along with Lee Keegan. I reckon they should have thrown Danny Kirby on at half-time. Would have made a difference. And would have been no harm to throw O'Shea to midfield as well.

Commotion at half-time too. Aparently some Rossies started on Dempsey before all hell broke loose outside the dressing room.

moysider · March 19, 2010, 12:18:08 AM

Quote from: RedandGreenSniper on March 18, 2010, 11:56:12 PM
Quote from: Farrandeelin on March 18, 2010, 08:53:38 PM
He was the only one of the '6' forwards who was any good in my opinion yesterday. Douglas and Freeman seemed to be coming off second best all day.

Douglas scored seven points, four from play. Freeman had a poor first half but did well in the second half. I would question the other three forwards. But I'd say about McLoughlin that he is after playing four high level games in 10 days. It was clear from him that it took a toll. Same for Aidan O'Shea but he's bigger and more able for punishment.

Midfield was the problem along with not having Nally and McLoughlin in the half-back line along with Lee Keegan. I reckon they should have thrown Danny Kirby on at half-time. Would have made a difference. And would have been no harm to throw O'Shea to midfield as well.

Commotion at half-time too. Aparently some Rossies started on Dempsey before all hell broke loose outside the dressing room.

Heard some thing happened alright. But from the other side and it had a different spin. ' a senior mayo mentor lamped a Ros player in the tunnel'. What the **** is that about? Stuff happens I suppose but ffs I wish our lot concentrated on imposing themselves on the pitch. Mayo management I noticed was agitated early in the first half. For no obvious reason - apart from the fact that they realised that their team were underpitched and even after 10 mins it was obvious they were in no state of mind or shape for a championship match.

moysider · March 19, 2010, 12:41:31 AM

Quote from: RedandGreenSniper on March 18, 2010, 11:56:12 PM
Quote from: Farrandeelin on March 18, 2010, 08:53:38 PM
He was the only one of the '6' forwards who was any good in my opinion yesterday. Douglas and Freeman seemed to be coming off second best all day.

Douglas scored seven points, four from play. Freeman had a poor first half but did well in the second half. I would question the other three forwards. But I'd say about McLoughlin that he is after playing four high level games in 10 days. It was clear from him that it took a toll. Same for Aidan O'Shea but he's bigger and more able for punishment.

Midfield was the problem along with not having Nally and McLoughlin in the half-back line along with Lee Keegan. I reckon they should have thrown Danny Kirby on at half-time. Would have made a difference. And would have been no harm to throw O'Shea to midfield as well.

Commotion at half-time too. Aparently some Rossies started on Dempsey before all hell broke loose outside the dressing room.

True, and you could make a strong case for Cillian O Connor as well. But no. St Gerald's and minors should be their focus. There was more than enough 19 and 20 year olds around to win a Connacht and to be honest I would n't be too put out about losing this one. If this U21 management have a future they have to learn. They are lucky in that they ve had 3 good teams and 3 lessons in 3 years. They had more player resources to turn to than Roscommon management at U21 level. Probably twice as much. They got it wrong but will have the opportunity to get it right next year.

Cosmo Kramer · March 19, 2010, 09:30:37 AM

Quote from: rosnarun on March 18, 2010, 10:28:15 PM
some one asked about keane , he was picked from the start as he was for the semi but had a family bereavement so didnt play .
Was the best back for mayo yesterday and I expect will move up to senior sooner rather than later.

That was me. Fair enough so, I didn't know the background. Might be worth drafting him into the seniors, even if its more for experience than anything else this year.

SLIGONIAN · March 19, 2010, 12:31:12 PM

According to Stolensheep, Dempsey assaulted one of the Roscommon players at HT running into the dressing room. Low act, hope he gets a lengthy ban.

magpie seanie · March 19, 2010, 02:12:41 PM

Quote from: SLIGONIAN on March 19, 2010, 12:31:12 PM
According to Stolensheep, Dempsey assaulted one of the Roscommon players at HT running into the dressing room. Low act, hope he gets a lengthy ban.

He probably lay down on the ground after that.

ross4life · March 19, 2010, 03:27:33 PM

The Connacht U21 final between Roscommon and Sligo has been fixed for Saturday, April 3rd ,in Markievicz Park ,Sligo with throw in at 5pm.

The final will be preceeded by the Connacht minor league game between Sligo and Roscommon with throw in at 3.15pm

SLIGONIAN · March 19, 2010, 03:36:29 PM

Quote from: ross4life on March 19, 2010, 03:27:33 PM
The Connacht U21 final between Roscommon and Sligo has been fixed for Saturday, April 3rd ,in Markievicz Park ,Sligo with throw in at 5pm.

The final will be preceeded by the Connacht minor league game between Sligo and Roscommon with throw in at 3.15pm

Good stuff, cant wait... and our seniors play the sunday the 8th....