U21 Football Championship

[Shrewdness]

The proverbial game of 2 halves. Sligo looked very impressive in the first half, although it has to be said that Roscommon's performance in that half was very poor.
What on earth was Cathal Cregg doing playing in the half back line during that half

Really thought it was all over for Ros at half time, but Conor Devaney getting sent off made it look a certainty. That was a sending off waiting to happen because his temperament is suspect. As he got a straight red, i expect he will miss the final through suspension

I don't think it was a case of Sligo bottling it in the second half. In my opinion, they were swept away by a resurgent Ros team, who it has to be said didn't compete in the first half. Having been cleaned at midfield in the first half, Ros fared much better there after the break, especially James Mc Dermott. The half time introduction of Kevin Higgins and Niall Carty was crucial as both played well.

In defence, i thought Stephen Ormsby and David Keenan were outstanding. Donal Shine kicked 0-7 and played well, as did David O'Gara who worked his socks off.
Just for the record, Ros finished with 13 players as corner back, Ronan Brady, was sent off in last minute for 2 yellow cards.

As for the final, big improvement overall is needed. At least a 50% improvement if they're going to trouble Mayo. Our first half performance today was worryingly poor. 

[SLIGONIAN]

I am interested the knowledgable roscommon view on things. I dont mean to patronise yee but didnt yee have the whole Hasting cup to get the team right, like yere all using that as an excuse for the 1st half performance and clearly from yer perspective that seems to have some weight.

The more i think of it ye were so there for the taking today. We really left it behind us. We were so TAME in the 2nd half it was like we just in my opinion just bottled it or got lazy because workrate just wasnt there. Like we equally didnt turn up for the 2nd half and keep losing our shape.

[Dinny Breen]

Disgraceful comment my arse, 1 red 7or 8 yellows which could of been red but for he sent off a man already.

Anyone know the date for the Leinster final?

[Zulu]

What was the score between Kildare and Carlow?

[laoisgaa]

Cadbury's Leinster Under 21 Football Championship Semi-Final
Kildare 0-13
Carlow 0-4
By Cóilín Duffy

Kildare coasted to a Cadbury's Leinster under 21 Football final meeting with Wexford next weekend after a strong second half performance at St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge yesterday.

The hosts were pushed all the way in the first half by a determined Carlow side, who were contesting their first semi-final at this grade since 1984, as the visitors led by 0-4 to 0-2 at the break.

James Kinsella was on target with all of the Carlow first half scorers but a suspected leg break to David Reid left the visitors with a tough task in the second half.

Kildare powered ahead in the second half with corner forward Gavin Smullen superb kicking five points, all bar one of which came during an impressive closing 30 minutes from Glenn Ryan's charges.

Kildare dominated right until the end and although John Amond took a late Carlow goal, Kildare were convincing as they advanced to the decider.

Scorers for Kildare: G Smullen 0-5; A Smith (2f), G Whyte 0-2 each; N Higgins, J Fogarty, E Ó Flaitheartaigh, K Kelly, M O'Sullivan  0-1 each.

Scorers for Carlow: J Kinsella (3f) 0-4; J Amond 1-0.

KILDARE: N McConnell; C Brophy, D Brennan, S Murphy; J Browne, G Whyte, T Byrne; M Waters, N Higgins; D Whyte, E Ó Flaitheartaigh, K Kelly; S Fahy, A Smith, G Smullen. Subs: D McInerney for Brophy; C Rice for Whyte; J Cocoman for Smith; M O'Sullivan for Fahy.

CARLOW: M Hennessy; P Doran, S Mernagh, E Nolan; A Murphy, D St. Ledger, S Redmond; K Jackson, S Gannon; D Reid, J Kinsella, P Farrell; D Molloy, G Doyle, C Mullins. Subs: J Amond for Reid; D Kelly for Gannon (23).

REFEREE: Gary McCormack (Dublin)


*** FINAL NEXT SUNDAY 2.30PM IN WEXFORD PARK

[Shrewdness]

Sligonian, re the Hastings Cup etc, i agree 100% with you. Ros waltzed their way through that and since then have played a lot of challenge games against leading sides, losing only one of them against Kerry.

This team have had plenty of game time together in 2008, so i think they had plenty of time to have a team ready for yesterday.
But of course, yesterday was championship football, and to me, it looked like a lot of that Ros team froze in the first half . Sligo hit the ground running, and looked winners at half time.

Sligonian, you may also be right by saying that Sligo bottled it to an extent in the second half. When Ros upped the intensity of their performance after half time, many Sligo players didn't want to know.

Is it possible that some Sligo players were convinced that they had it won just after half time, leading by 5 points, playing with the wind, and Ros down to 14 men??
Then, when the going got tough, they just couldn't switch back on.

Big improvement needed by Ros in the final, because we were down this very same road last year, when we beat Sligo and then got hammered by Mayo in the Final.

[Dinny Breen]

Cheers Laoisgaa...

[Kerry Mike]

Its the last 8 now with the 4 Provincial titles up for grabs.
I think its Ulster v Leinster and Munster v Connacht in the Semi's.

Derry v Down
Wexford v Kildare
Kerry v Tipperary
Roscommon v Mayo

Paddy of the Powers has them rated as follows for the All Ireland title

Kerry  7 - 4   
Kildare  7 - 2   
Down  4 - 1   
Derry  6 - 1   
Mayo  15 - 2   
Roscommon  8 - 1   
Wexford  16 - 1   
Tipperary  40 - 1   

Happy with the Kerry progress this year, 2 good wins ove Limerick and champions Cork leave them odds on to beat Tipperary but they still have to go out and preform and I am sure Tipp will be well up for it.

[Rossie11]

Re Ross Sligo I think the game was won on sideline.
Sligo were very good in 1st half. Their 2 corner forwards caused all sorts of trouble which led to former minor captain Flynn being hauled off at half time after been cleaned. 
The Ross management made the changes to win the game. The backs tightened up and generally upped the intensity all over the pitch.
I thought the Sligo managment were slow to react and didnt utilise the extra man.
I wouldnt say the players on the pitch bottled it but when ross got level early in 2nd half the momentum had swung and only looked like one winner. Only great defending denied Ross another 2 goals in that 2nd half

Ross have to improve the next day and as regards having Devaney suspended is no bad thing.
What he done yesterday was idiotic and should have cost them the game. Should be booted off the panel now in my opinion. Let the whole squad down and needs to be taught a lesson.

[Shrewdness]

Its the last 8 now with the 4 Provincial titles up for grabs.
I think its Ulster v Leinster and Munster v Connacht in the Semi's.

Derry v Down
Wexford v Kildare
Kerry v Tipperary
Roscommon v Mayo

Paddy of the Powers has them rated as follows for the All Ireland title

Kerry  7 - 4   
Kildare  7 - 2   
Down  4 - 1   
Derry  6 - 1   
Mayo  15 - 2   
Roscommon  8 - 1   
Wexford  16 - 1   
Tipperary  40 - 1   

Happy with the Kerry progress this year, 2 good wins ove Limerick and champions Cork leave them odds on to beat Tipperary but they still have to go out and preform and I am sure Tipp will be well up for it.

I wouldn't take one bit of notice of those odds. I remember in 2006, at the semi final stage of the minor championship, Roscommon were the 8/1
outsiders of the four to win the All Ireland, but it didn't stop them winning it though , did it?

I've never seen an All Ireland won or lost in a bookie's office yet.

[magpie seanie]

I think 8/1 on Ros is not bad. I certainly expect them to win the Connach final. Was very hopeful for Sligo's chances but I knew Ros were quite good. It seems our boys just took their eye off the ball and were made pay the ultimate price. A bad weekend.

[western exile]

Its the last 8 now with the 4 Provincial titles up for grabs.
I think its Ulster v Leinster and Munster v Connacht in the Semi's.

Derry v Down
Wexford v Kildare
Kerry v Tipperary
Roscommon v Mayo

Paddy of the Powers has them rated as follows for the All Ireland title

Kerry  7 - 4   
Kildare  7 - 2   
Down  4 - 1   
Derry  6 - 1   
Mayo  15 - 2   
Roscommon  8 - 1   
Wexford  16 - 1   
Tipperary  40 - 1   

Happy with the Kerry progress this year, 2 good wins ove Limerick and champions Cork leave them odds on to beat Tipperary but they still have to go out and preform and I am sure Tipp will be well up for it.

I will be brave and be the first to predict the finalists 

Down v. Mayo

[laoisgaa]

I'd go for Kildare v Kerry and memories of 98 to flood back for Glenn Ryan!

[Barney]

I don't think the Mayo forwards are good enough to consider winning this competition.

Kerry on paper look very good but the wet heavy pitches is a great leveller at this time of year so shocks are always possible.

On the Sligo/Ros match I wonder did the extra game stand to Sligo in the first half and once Ros got warmed up showed they were a much better team?

[heineken_on_tap]

On the Sligo/Ros match I wonder did the extra game stand to Sligo in the first half and once Ros got warmed up showed they were a much better team?

I think so barney ya - Sligo have some very good individual players but Ros just seemed to have a stronger all round team.

In saying that I wasnt that impressed with our midfield and would worry about that. In a strange way the sending off actually benefited Ros more, Sligo did not use the extra man well at all. I dont know enough about the Mayo U-21 team to even guess who will win the final - think it could be on mid week though which is not ideal.