Kildare v Sligo

[Ohtoohtobe]

I wouldn't agree re Hughie McGrillen. While not as prominent as in recent years he's still a reliable player and is still the source of many of our attacks.

Have to agree to disagree. I don't question his engine or his clever runs forward, but we need a corner back that can defend, and Hughie simply isn't doing it at the moment. Do me a favour and watch closely, really closely, the next time a forward runs at him.
I still have great respect for the work he's put in to get him in the condition he is. Maybe he can battle for a place as a wing-back/midfielder. But he was severely burned several times on Saturday and it's not the first time. I really think he's just not suited to playing in the full-back line.

I don't think he's suited by marking smaller nippier forwards like he was against Ger Collins on Saturday. His best marking displays have been against bigger lads like Colm McFadden, Seán Cavanagh, Niall McNamee and Shane O'Rourke. I think we should be alternating him and Ollie between the two lines depending on who is lining out inside for the opposition. With David Kelly likely to be the main danger man inside for Sligo, I think it's a job for Ollie if he's fit.

I'm not sure if he's cut out for midfield. Despite his height he is not great a great fielder. I can't see him being dropped anyway. I think he has started every single championship match since his debut in 2009.

No, I'm sure he won't be dropped, and I wouldn't play him midfield either, just saying that if he is to compete for a place on the team, I would only consider him as a midfield or half-back back up, because I'm losing faith in him as a corner back. Don't get me wrong, he's had some fine games for Kildare, and offers a great engine going forward, but I just don't think he's playing well this year and that stems from him not being a tight marker.
Fair point on the big men, but I think Kelly, Marren or Coen will all have the beatings of him on Saturday. Here's hoping he proves me wrong.

[emmetryan]

I've put together a tactical preview here for anyone interested http://action81.com/blog/?p=6035

[Dinny Breen]

I think it will naive to expect Kildare to play the same way, they reverted to a running game with 20 minutes left and in the 40 minutes after that outscored their opponents 10 points to 1. If O'Connor starts I would expect to have a more free role whereas up to now he's spent most of his time on the 13 meters line making diagonal runs, I expect he will drift outfield hoping to drag the full-back with him.

If Kildare can get a lead and force Sligo to chase the game I think we'll win but it will require patience and maybe an early goal, if we fall behind it could be a tough evening.

[squire_in_navy_slacks]

O Connor should just pop the ball over the bar when he wins his ball......................................... how often does the lad need to dish it off to someone else, take you point lad

[Donnellys Hollow]

O Connor should just pop the ball over the bar when he wins his ball......................................... how often does the lad need to dish it off to someone else, take you point lad

Tomás usually wins the ball with his back to goal and at least two backs around him. Very difficult for a lad his size to drop the shoulder and lose the defenders to get the space to shoot. The only way we can improve is either to allow him to drift out the field occasionally and have him running onto some ball using his pace or getting more support runners bursting through to take the lay off from him. Far too predictable at the moment and most good defences will have it figured out fairly quickly.

I hope they've learned from the Limerick match but the same mistakes that were made against Meath were made again last Saturday. We seem to have forgotten what has served us quite well over the past three or four years. Team selection against Sligo is going to be critical for Kildare and we're unfortunate to have a few injuries in the positions where we're a bit short. The midfield and full-forward selections are going to be very interesting.

[Rossfan]

Many coming from Kildare or will ye be all staying away in protest about it not being at a "fair" neutral venue like Croker ?

[Donnellys Hollow]

Many coming from Kildare or will ye be all staying away in protest about it not being at a "fair" neutral venue like Croker ?

I hope Roscommon town is braced for the arrival of the sizeable tally ho brigade with our 4x4s, stetsons and picnic tables.

[Syferus]

Rosfan is the lad with the 'tasche we elected to the Dail. He'll be outside the front enterance of the Hyde all day dressed as a sad of turf.

[Rossfan]

A sad o' turf has more cop on than you anyways buckeen.

[Syferus]

A sad o' turf has more cop on than you anyways buckeen.

It must be a strange world you see from your eye sockets if turf is sentient.  I guess you didn't take the 'no weed' pledge too seriously, Emperor.

[Ohtoohtobe]

I've put together a tactical preview here for anyone interested http://action81.com/blog/?p=6035

Very worried that you might be right Emmet. Kildare really need to up it several gears or we will be beaten.

[Donnellys Hollow]

1. Shane Connolly  -  Naomh Lorcan
2. Ollie Lyons  -  Cill Droichid
3. Peter Kelly  -  Teach Dhá Mhíle
4. Hugh McGrillen  -  Cill Droichid
5. Emmet Bolton  -  Baile Éide
6. Morgan O'Flaherty  -  Cairbre
7. Eoin Doyle  -  Nás na Ríogh
8. Mick Foley  -  Áth Í
9. Robert Kelly  -  Teach Srafáin
10. Eoghan O'Flaherty  -  Cairbre
11. Mikey Conway  -  An Urnaí
12. Alan Smith  -  Na Sairséalaigh
13. John Doyle (Captain)  -  Fíodh Almhaine
14. Tomás O'Connor  -  Claonadh
15. James Kavanagh  -  Baile Mór


Same team that started the last day named again. I'd expect Leper might possibly start ahead of Eoghan O'Flaherty. It wouldn't be a major surprise if there was a switch at midfield either. If Tomás does start I hope he's used a lot more sensibly. We badly need to get some more variety in our forward play or else Sligo will extend their unbeaten championship record against us.

[Donnellys Hollow]

Johnny Doyle makes his 62nd consecutive championship start for Kildare tomorrow which will be a record for an outfield player.

[Keane]

Did a quick preview on the game if anyone's interested here:

http://www.livegaelic.com/news/sligo-vs-kildare-gaa-football-qualifier-preview-2012/

[emmetryan]

I've put together a tactical preview here for anyone interested http://action81.com/blog/?p=6035

Very worried that you might be right Emmet. Kildare really need to up it several gears or we will be beaten.

Aye but if they do find those extra gears it could kick start their summer.