Down v Kildare Round 2B Qualifier

Would think its the other corner back that is missing from that line up.

Think this will be a very tight game but hopefully we can just edge it out. Hopefully if changes are needed this week Ryan makes them quick as he might not get another chance if he doesn't.

Emmet Bolton missing...

Smithy seems to be going well but I don't think the inside forwards were the problem the last day, not much point playing him in the middle third. Feel a bit sorry for Foley, given how much he was exposed. Always felt Fitzpatrick had promise, will be interesting to see how he does. Would reckon O'Neill will be much more comfortable out of midfield, although in truth, he'll be operating in similar areas. But Seán Hurley just wasn't giving you enough workrate.


Jason Ryan has named his starting 15 to face Down on Sunday in the All Ireland Football Qualifiers.

The side shows 3 changes to from the Leinster Semi Final Defeat to Meath.

The team lines out as follows:

1.      Mark Donnellan        Maynooth

2.      Ciaran Fitzpatrick      Kilcock

3.      Hugh McGrillen         Celbridge

4.      Ollie Lyons                 Celbridge

5.      Emmet Bolton            Eadestown

6.      Fergal Conway          Celbridge

7.      Keith Cribbin             Johnstownbridge

8.      Tommy Moolick        Leixlip

9.      Gary White                 Sarsfields

10.  Cathal McNally           Johnstownbridge

11.  Niall Kelly                   Athy

12.  Padraig O’Neill           St Laurences

13.  Eamonn Callaghan    Naas

14.  Padraig Fogarty        St Laurences

15.  Paddy Brophy           Celbridge

flourman wrote:

Kildare Team V Down 1 M. Donnellan, C. Fitzpatrick, H.McGrillen, O. Lyons, F.Conway, K. Cribbin, T.Moolick, G.White, C.McNally, N.Kelly, P O'Neill. E.Callaghan, P.Fogarty, P.Brophy

I assume its Bolton thats missing ?
So McGrillen to Full Back ?, and the Forwards more or less the same ?, no natural free taker, let alone a left footer ( forgive the pun ) .. In fairness 3 0r 4 more lucky to start..

Cut accross Me their Ogie.. surely a Black Card ?   

SeamusMurphy wrote:

Cut accross Me their Ogie.. surely a Black Card ?    

Depends on the ref Seamus!

SeamusMurphy wrote:

flourman wrote:

Kildare Team V Down 1 M. Donnellan, C. Fitzpatrick, H.McGrillen, O. Lyons, F.Conway, K. Cribbin, T.Moolick, G.White, C.McNally, N.Kelly, P O'Neill. E.Callaghan, P.Fogarty, P.Brophy

I assume its Bolton thats missing ?
So McGrillen to Full Back ?, and the Forwards more or less the same ?, no natural free taker, let alone a left footer ( forgive the pun ) .. In fairness 3 0r 4 more lucky to start..

Eoghan O'Flaherty will start I'm hearing. Paddy Brophy still not fit and won't be involved

SeamusMurphy what is a natural free taker?

You would hope that Chalky will fall back and operate in front the full back line along with Conway.

something like this: McGrillen, Fitzpatrick
                              Conway, Chalky
                              Lyons, Cribben, Bolton

If anything was learned from the Meath game: surely this will be the formation.

So it's basically only 2 changes from the Meath game (Fitzpatrick for Foley and White for Hurley)

Considering how the middle 8 were wiped out against Meath - I think more changes were needed.

I suppose you cant make to many changes but would be happier if Doyle and the other Cribben were in the half back line. We need players there that wont charge forward to much and leave the full back line exposed and all 3 listed there tend to do that.
There is a definite lack of size in the HF line and I hope Down wont exploit that by running at us out of defense.
Surely this was a chance to start both Smith and O'Flaherty as scores will be hard come by up there and a reliable free taker is essential.
Anyways best of luck and who knows there might be shades of Derry in 2010 when we really started to motor.

jim wrote:

SeamusMurphy what is a natural free taker?

"to be a natural at something means to do the thing so well, it is as if it was naturally intended".

Thats the official line anyway Jim..

jim wrote:

SeamusMurphy what is a natural free taker?

Bryan Sheehan of Kerry?

I think Cribben, Bolton, McNally are all lucky to have started as they didn't play well the last day I would have brought in Paul Cribben, Hylo and Flats. I honestly don't know how Flats is not making the starting 15 hes one of the best forwards we have. Tomas shoul be brought on earlier if were missing abit of steel in the forward line not 5 minutes to go and I hope to god Ryan has learned from his mistakes against Meath and plays a sweeper and if things are gone to shite make a substitute!

Was Bryan Sheehan born with his ability or did he just send hour and hours practicing to perfect it. I just don't buy into the whole natural ability thing, I think it comes down to working hard to be the best you can be.

If that is the way the team lines out, the big changes are bringing more pace to the full back line with Fitzpatrick & Lyons now operating there, does that suggest there won't be a change in tactics, rather just a change in personnel? which would be a brave move by management to stick with plan A and trust in what they have been working on. If it is not working I hope there will be a plan B this time, I think Chalky for Hurley was an obvious change and I would agree that one or two more are lucky to start again. So far we have had one really encouraging display v Louth, and a really disappointing one v Meath, I know we are capable of far better than the last day, I'm just hoping that we do play to our potential, make the right decisions on the line and come away with a win. Best of luck to team and management, Cill Dara Abu

SeamusMurphy wrote:

jim wrote:

SeamusMurphy what is a natural free taker?

"to be a natural at something means to do the thing so well, it is as if it was naturally intended".

Thats the official line anyway Jim..  

Didn't think Fogarty looked any less of a free taker than EOF against Meath? Mulhall would be playing if fit I'd imagine.

I'd be more concerned about formation in many ways than personnel although I welcome the benching of Hurley and Foley. Fitzpatrick's impact was overblown (as was Doyle's) when they came on the last day but we had to change something in the FB line firstly in terms of personnel and secondly in terms of cover/tactics. It remains to be seen if tactic have been addressed - perhaps Chalky to sweep with O'Neill staying midfield or maybe Leper sweeping in the manner of Dec O'SUllivan.

Saw some criticism of Niall Kelly earlier - he would never be out of my starting 15 given our current squad. Pure class. Form is temporary and all that (not that he thought he was the worst against Meath).

jim wrote:

Was Bryan Sheehan born with his ability or did he just send hour and hours practicing to perfect it. I just don't buy into the whole natural ability thing, I think it comes down to working hard to be the best you can be.

Of course natural ability plays a huge part. Do you think Gooch wasn't born a great footballer and is purely self-made? No way - same in all walks of life hard work can get you so far but you need the innate talent to truly excel.

And that was speaking as someone with very limited natural football ability by the way!

So if Gooch never kicked a ball until he was say 20. he would be the same player he is now? don't get me wrong he has balance and vision, which is huge, but its all the hours kicking a ball that has made him the player he is not something he was born with. or maybe im talking shite...  

By the way best of luck to the lads on Sunday.

I agree jim that hard work is a given to develope Ones natural ability.. an example here would be the Goochs ability, along with it seems all the Kerry Forwards to kick both footed.. O Gara from Dublin is probably an example of a Lad who has improved His skill level and kicking ability trough hard work, but I dont see Him taking frees any time soon..
Club wise on our starting 15, we probaly have 3 Fellas that could step up and take a free, the rest wouldnt even try..
While Podge did well on them versus Meath, He did miss the few on the right side, which is a big ask for a right footed Player anyway.. but My point is that the specialist left footer wouldnt have missed them.

"Natural ability" is developed through hours and hours of practice and the earlier you start the better. O Gara probably never developed a natural looking style in his youth like Sheehan or Gooch because he was nt down the field spending hours kicking the ball over the bar.
Sheehan did'nt look like a natural midfielder when he first played for Kerry, he's obviously been practicing but I'm sure he started taking frees long before OGara kicked his first wide.
Handling pressure is another aspect everyone is vulnerable to this even Sheehan. Roly Sweeney should have taken more frees for Kildare I never seen him miss many under pressure.

Crofter wrote:

SeamusMurphy wrote:

jim wrote:

SeamusMurphy what is a natural free taker?

"to be a natural at something means to do the thing so well, it is as if it was naturally intended".

Thats the official line anyway Jim..  

Didn't think Fogarty looked any less of a free taker than EOF against Meath? Mulhall would be playing if fit I'd imagine.

I'd be more concerned about formation in many ways than personnel although I welcome the benching of Hurley and Foley. Fitzpatrick's impact was overblown (as was Doyle's) when they came on the last day but we had to change something in the FB line firstly in terms of personnel and secondly in terms of cover/tactics. It remains to be seen if tactic have been addressed - perhaps Chalky to sweep with O'Neill staying midfield or maybe Leper sweeping in the manner of Dec O'SUllivan.

Saw some criticism of Niall Kelly earlier - he would never be out of my starting 15 given our current squad. Pure class. Form is temporary and all that (not that he thought he was the worst against Meath).

I think Niall Kelly is a savage player but isnt a corner forward, Jason has him playing well too far up the pitch the lad has tremendous agility and can weave in and out of tackles and is good off both feet. If I was the manager I would play him in a playmaking role he has good vision and is good at kick passing.

Funny it looked like he was playing midfield for a large part of the second half v Meath. I agree playmaker role seems to suit him more although his finishing is so good there is a temptation to have him close to the FF.

Manager James McCartan has included six survivors from that which edged the Lilywhites in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final in 2010. Daniel McCartan, Conor Garvey, Kevin McKernan, Dan Gordon, Benny Coulter and Mark Poland all started while Conor Maginn came on as a substitute.

Down (SFC v Kildare): Michael Cunningham; Daniel McCartan, Niall Donnelly, Darren O'Hagan; Ciaran McCartan, Conor Garvey, Kevin McKernan; Dan Gordon, Peter Turley; Brendan Coulter, Conor Maginn, Mark Poland; Donal O'Hare, Niall Madine, Conor Laverty.

Agree with above, Id have Hyland, Cribben, Smith and EOF in the team. Foley had to go. Pace gone. Wont be coming back any time soon. Was accident waiting to happen.Hope Daryl Flynn is used at some stage if hes even on the bench.Excellent point as well about Roly Sweeney and frees. Defo should have tried him as freetaker. JD was only average on frees Down not a top yeam so every chance of a win but will be tough.