Your County's Best 15

[armaghranger12]

Ignore last incompleted poster Sheamy which should have read as follows.
                                             B Gillis
B Og McAlary                           L Morrow                  M Craig
C McKaigue                              B McGoldrick             N Forrester.
                         J Diver                               M Friel
A McLoughlin                             J Kielt                    E McGuckin
C O'Boyle                                  P Bradley                M  Donaghy
Subs; R Dillon C Mullan B Gormley P J McCloskey and E Lynn.
I have no doubt that the above side would give a good account of themselves if they played in a trial match against your selected XV.  Somehow I can not see John Brennan dropping his newly appointed captain and Cailean O'Boyle who has been Derry's most consistent player this year.

Give me that 15 over the other any day of the week.

[sheamy]

Ignore last incompleted poster Sheamy which should have read as follows.
                                             B Gillis
B Og McAlary                           L Morrow                  M Craig
C McKaigue                              B McGoldrick             N Forrester.
                         J Diver                               M Friel
A McLoughlin                             J Kielt                    E McGuckin
C O'Boyle                                  P Bradley                M  Donaghy
Subs; R Dillon C Mullan B Gormley P J McCloskey and E Lynn.
I have no doubt that the above side would give a good account of themselves if they played in a trial match against your selected XV.  Somehow I can not see John Brennan dropping his newly appointed captain and Cailean O'Boyle who has been Derry's most consistent player this year.

Don't disagree with any of that. However, John's not the manager in this scenario. I am :-)

It's also not based on current form. It assumes all play to potential and do what I tell them to :-)

I like this pc based management. Can I get paid for it?

[sheamy]

Ignore last incompleted poster Sheamy which should have read as follows.
                                             B Gillis
B Og McAlary                           L Morrow                  M Craig
C McKaigue                              B McGoldrick             N Forrester.
                         J Diver                               M Friel
A McLoughlin                             J Kielt                    E McGuckin
C O'Boyle                                  P Bradley                M  Donaghy
Subs; R Dillon C Mullan B Gormley P J McCloskey and E Lynn.
I have no doubt that the above side would give a good account of themselves if they played in a trial match against your selected XV.  Somehow I can not see John Brennan dropping his newly appointed captain and Cailean O'Boyle who has been Derry's most consistent player this year.

Give me that 15 over the other any day of the week.

I'd they this is like O'Rourke and Grimley. They each pick two different sides then agree to go with Grimley's team.

[catchandkick]

With the league due to start this weekend it might be interesting for people to know how the various teams other counties are sending out compare to their strongest line ups. I find myself asking on nearly every thread "how many of that line up will play come Championship time" so thought might as well start a thread.

We all probably know the key players for most counties, but it can be hard to keep up with the calibre of many of the players who are less reported on.

I think Kerry's strongest 15 - injuries etc notwithstanding - would be pretty close to:

Code Select Expand

-------------------- Brendan Kealy --------------------

Tom O'Sullivan ------- Marc O'Sé ------- Shane Enright

Tomás O'Sé --------- Eoin Brosnan --------- Killian Young

----------- Anthony Maher --- Brian Sheehan -----------

Paul Galvin ------- Declan O'Sullivan ------- Darren O'Sullivan

Colm Cooper ------ Kieran Donaghy ------ Kiaran O'Leary


What's your counties best 15?

As a Kerryman, I would mostly agree with that team. Darran O'Sullivan is causing havoc at centre forward and I would play him there with Declan on the wing. I think Declan loses less by going on to the wing than Darran, who sometimes gets caught trying to contest kickouts with opposition midfielders. Not really his strength. You could always name Declan at centre forward and then switch him and Darran to keep opposition guessing. Nice problem to have.

My preference for other corner forward would be Barry John Keane. Between him, Kieran O'Leary and James O'Donoghue for that spot. Paddy Curtin may make a case in next few league games. I guess Daithi Casey may also come into the reckoning depending on how he does in next weeks game against Crossmaglen. Keane is a very cocky young fellow, reminds me a lot of Craig Bellamy.A bit of cockiness never did any one any harm though when it comes to playing inter county football. I like the way he has a go, he went for a point in the All Ireland final which went narrowly wide, but another guy would have gone for an easy handpass just so as not to make a mistake.

Donncha Walsh looks like he will be squeezed out. Jury is out on Sean O'Sullivan. The man has oodles of class but he really looked like a guy struggling with the transition from Division 5 club football to top grade football last week. But if he gets back to the kind of player he can be (point v Cork in 2007 Munster final for example) then he rather than Walsh would probably be fourth choice half forward.

Agree with back line, Enright has hardly put a foot wrong since putting on a Kerry jersey. O'Mahony first choice replacement.

Sheehan looking very comfortable at midfield too. Very encouraging!

[shamrocker12]

after looking at some of the posts on here regarding some of derrys best 15, i have decided to have a go at picking my own. unfortunatley the current derry panel does not represent all the strongest players in derry. for different reasons some of our countys top players are not in the derry panel. any way here is my go at picking a panel if all players were there to represent derry.
1. M.conlon
2. d. mc bride
3. k mcguckin
4. sl mcgoldrick
5. g. okane
6. b mcgolderick
7. charlie kielt
8. f. doherty
9. patsy bradley
10. r wilkinson
11. e. bradley
12. enda muldoon
13. colin devlin
14. paddy bradley
15. conleth gilligan

rest of panel
Dany devlin, mark craig, james conway, c oboyle, mark lynch, joe diver, liam hinphey, james kielt, aaron devlin, ryan scott, michael drumm, michael mcgolderick, pj mccloskey, michael friel, eugene scullion, enda lynn,

[sheamy]

3, 8 and 13 make some difference boss. Pity most of them retired.

As a shamrock, why have you forgotten Conor Nevin?

[ha ha derry]

Derry team:
1. M Conlon
2. P Kelly
3. M Craig
4. C McKeever
5. B Doyle
6. L Hinphy
7. J McCamley
8. M Bateson
9. M Lynch
10. E Bradley
11. S L McGoldrick
12. G O Kane
13. P Bradley
14. C O Boyle
15. J Kielt.

Good mix of speed, treachery, experience and skill 

[camanchero]

that FB line would be a 'glenshane inthe snow' type scenario for opponents alright !
you forgot to pick the other half of Dungiven though!

I have thought of sticking Lynch in MF - at least for now- too.If Kielt plays it should be hf line and put someone who can play 3rd MF in the corner.Would swap bateson and mccamley also.

[shamrocker12]

in reply to sheamy, yes forgot to put conor nevin in simply because i think he has been asked before but hasnt the time to play county football. a very good player who in my opinion should be on the panel. also i forgot the likes of brian og mcalary, kevin moss mcguckin and  aidy mcgloughlin. all decent players who would all add something to a panel. the worrying thing about derry at the moment is the lack of quality defenders. we always had class defenders like sean marty, kevin mcguckin, niall mccusker, kevin mccloy in his best days were all among the best in ireland. unfortunately we lack a big presence at number 3 and an all rounder at 6. b mcgolderick is the only player i can think of who could play 6 with the exception of conor nevin.

[ha ha derry]

that FB line would be a 'glenshane inthe snow' type scenario for opponents alright !
you forgot to pick the other half of Dungiven though!

I have thought of sticking Lynch in MF - at least for now- too.If Kielt plays it should be hf line and put someone who can play 3rd MF in the corner.Would swap bateson and mccamley also.

I'd stick with that, Bateson is too good of a player not to have in midfield, can run at pace all day. Three man full forward line all day long, O Boyle for his athleticism and Bradley and Kielt as scoring threats.
Eight / nine men defending is sufficient if they know what they are supposed to do. Pacy half forwards for your quick out ball (all good ball winners) and all capable of scoring.

[Keane]

Bumpage - any more folks?

[camanchero]

I'd stick with that, Bateson is too good of a player not to have in midfield, can run at pace all day. Three man full forward line all day long, O Boyle for his athleticism and Bradley and Kielt as scoring threats.
Eight / nine men defending is sufficient if they know what they are supposed to do. Pacy half forwards for your quick out ball (all good ball winners) and all capable of scoring.

fair enough about Bateson for Mf.
However you will never convince me that a three man FF line is the way to go. If you'd played there (apart from being a 38 year old last playing days type job corner forward selection and not getting nosebleeds when you get into the last 35 yards of he pitch) youd possibly understand why more space for the two attackers and more space for defenders to look after is a huge advantage to the forwards and given the right men who can score and take on their men - you will destroy a FB line IF you get enough decent supply into them. It might be the best tactic to use in Hurling but imo not in football!
Anyhow we can debate this next time I see you !

BTW I wish lads would stop picking Fergal Doc, Kev McGuck etc - these lads have retred and due to inj etc and over the past couple of seasons were not as good as their previous brilliant best.
Sure we could name Tohill on the team there as well if we are to continue on in the same vein !!
leave them boys retired and alone. they owe Derry nothing!

[ha ha derry]

I'd stick with that, Bateson is too good of a player not to have in midfield, can run at pace all day. Three man full forward line all day long, O Boyle for his athleticism and Bradley and Kielt as scoring threats.
Eight / nine men defending is sufficient if they know what they are supposed to do. Pacy half forwards for your quick out ball (all good ball winners) and all capable of scoring.

fair enough about Bateson for Mf.
However you will never convince me that a three man FF line is the way to go. If you'd played there (apart from being a 38 year old last playing days type job corner forward selection and not getting nosebleeds when you get into the last 35 yards of he pitch) youd possibly understand why more space for the two attackers and more space for defenders to look after is a huge advantage to the forwards and given the right men who can score and take on their men - you will destroy a FB line IF you get enough decent supply into them. It might be the best tactic to use in Hurling but imo not in football!
Anyhow we can debate this next time I see you !

BTW I wish lads would stop picking Fergal Doc, Kev McGuck etc - these lads have retred and due to inj etc and over the past couple of seasons were not as good as their previous brilliant best.
Sure we could name Tohill on the team there as well if we are to continue on in the same vein !!
leave them boys retired and alone. they owe Derry nothing!

Two man full forward line depends on quick transfer of the ball from defence into the attacking area, something Derry have been incapable of for a long time. Most teams play with a permanent sweeper as well 

[Keane]

Thoughts on this attempt at Roscommon?


Geoffrey Claffey
Sean McDermott
Niall Carty
Stephen Ormsby
Peter Domican
Niall Daly
Ian Kilbride
Michael Finneran
Karol Mannion
David Keenan
Cathal Cregg
David O'Gara
Cathal Shine
Senan Kilbride
Donie Shine

[Keane]

The wild variation in Derry selections is crazy, are there any nailed on starters at all!?