Kildare u21 2015

Not long to go until the start of the Leinster u21 Championship.

Niall Kelly is supposed to have played well yesterday in the Sigerson Cup. Tommy O'Connell and Mark Sherry played for Carlow IT. Chris Healy was not listed on the team, is he injured?

Offaly have been a bit of a bogey team for Kildare at this age group recently.

Players who were involved in the Hastings Cup:

Goalkeepers: Heaney (Celbridge), Kinsella (Moorefield)

Backs: Healy (Moorefield), O'Hagan (Kill), Cummins (Eadestown), Houlihan (Moorefield), Connell (Athy), Agunsoye (Maynooth), Mescal (Maynooth), Mulhall (Athy), Hyland (Athy), Duke (Kilcock), O'Connell (Rathangan), Maguire (Maynooth), Gordon (Sallins), Costello (Celbridge), O'Neill (Round Towers), Byrne (Naas), Fleming (Round Towers).

Midfielders: Power (Raheens), Moore (Moorefield), Sherry (Two Mile House), Fitzpatrick (Raheens), Connell (Athy), Leavy (Round Towers).

Forwards: Healy (Two Mile House), O'Rourke (Kilcock), Kelly (Athy), Flynn (Maynooth), Fenner (St Laurence's), McMonagle (Clogherinkoe), Fitzpatrick (Monasterevin), Canning (Maynooth), O'Flynn (Celbridge), Fitzgibbon (Sarsfields), Flaherty (St Kevin's), Gibbons (Leixlip), Nolan (Clogherinkoe), Byrne (Round Towers)

I presume a lot of those lads are gone from the panel now. Is there anyone else involved who didn't feature in the three Hastings Cup games?

Agunsoye,  O Flynn and Leavy gone as far as I know. Draw with Cork last week was an improvement on the Hastings cup

Is Luke Flynn on the panel? Would be a good option at full-back or midfield.

Luke flynn was dropped off the panel a few weeks back for disciplinary reasons! Not sure if he's been brought back in, but is a great athlete who could fill both spots well!

A few points on the above Posts.. Healy wasnt available to Carlow IT as He is only a Fresher.
Luke Flynn was out with a broken Finger and Missed a fair bit, and then I believe opted out.
Leavy is in Cadet Training, so not totally available.
T. Kinsella and W. Fitzpatrick may also miss out due to Army Training.
L. Healy has a broken Finger and is probably unavailable.
The Offaly Match will either be on Wed the 4th or Thurs the 5th depending on the Result of the Laois v Wexford Match which is on this Wed Night.

SeamusMurphy wrote:

A few points on the above Posts.. Healy wasnt available to Carlow IT as He is only a Fresher.
Luke Flynn was out with a broken Finger and Missed a fair bit, and then I believe opted out.
Leavy is in Cadet Training, so not totally available.
T. Kinsella and W. Fitzpatrick may also miss out due to Army Training.
L. Healy has a broken Finger and is probably unavailable.
The Offaly Match will either be on Wed the 4th or Thurs the 5th depending on the Result of the Laois v Wexford Match which is on this Wed Night.

Thanks Seamus.

That's a pity about Liam Healy. He was impressive during the club championship.

I could have sworn Chris Healy played in an earlier round but must be wrong on that.

Your right kkk, He did play in the O B Cup with Carlow IT.. but I believe thats allowed, but obviously not for Signerson.

Its an odd One too with the Fellas in the Military.. I was always led to believe the Army etc encouaged participation in Sports, especially the GAA.. But maybe things have changed or is not so while their in Training ?.. Maybe Someone with more knowledge could comment.

SeamusMurphy wrote:

Your right kkk, He did play in the O B Cup with Carlow IT.. but I believe thats allowed, but obviously not for Signerson.

Its an odd One too with the Fellas in the Military.. I was always led to believe the Army etc encouaged participation in Sports, especially the GAA.. But maybe things have changed or is not so while their in Training ?.. Maybe Someone with more knowledge could comment.

That must be what I saw.

Podge Fogarty took a year off the senior panel when he was doing that army training. It must be very physically and mentally draining.

kickingking wrote:

SeamusMurphy wrote:

Your right kkk, He did play in the O B Cup with Carlow IT.. but I believe thats allowed, but obviously not for Signerson.

Its an odd One too with the Fellas in the Military.. I was always led to believe the Army etc encouaged participation in Sports, especially the GAA.. But maybe things have changed or is not so while their in Training ?.. Maybe Someone with more knowledge could comment.

That must be what I saw.

Podge Fogarty took a year off the senior panel when he was doing that army training. It must be very physically and mentally draining.

As well as those You mention, I can only imagine the Disipline involved.
It must be very frustrating for a Manager to be without certain Players because of Injury or un availability for whatever reason.. especially at U21, as there is no 2nd chance.

With laois winning tonight we'll be playing offaly next Thursday in portlaoise

Luke Flynn and L Healy big losses I'd imagine. When you put it on top of the obvious loss of Brophy it's probably too much.
Seamus what are Fitzpatrick's chances of being available?

Ohtoohtobe wrote:

Luke Flynn and L Healy big losses I'd imagine. When you put it on top of the obvious loss of Brophy it's probably too much.
Seamus what are Fitzpatrick's chances of being available?

Not sure Otb, think it depends very much on their C.O. .. Leavey and Kinsella are also in Army Training.
I am aware that all 3 have missed a Number of Matches and Training Sessions, which is a shame as they could walk to Hawkfield from The Curragh.

I think We might have too much for Offaly (hopefully), but Meath in Navan would be very difficult, especially without those Players mentioned above.

Alright Lads not long left until our first team goes into championship action. Anyone have any idea what way we will line out? For the record Id like to see a team similar to this:

Heaney
O'Connell
O'Hagan
Mescal
Duke
Hyland
Houlihan
Sherry
Connell
Healy
Kelly
Fitzgibbon
Flynn
Flatherty
Fitzpatrick

Is Fitzpatrick able to get off from the army?

Lillydreams wrote:

Is Fitzpatrick able to get off from the army?

I heard he isn't

It will be more like this Id say.
Heaney, Duke, Maguire, Mescal, Houlihan, Connell, Hyland, Moore, Sherry, Gibbons, D Fitzpatrick, Flynn, McMonigle, N, Kelly, Healey.

You seem to be the man in the know seamus so ill go along with your team. Playing Niall Kelly Full forward is very interesting as ive always thought he could be very good there. The only problem however is if teams play a blanket defence as he could be marked out of a game. Plenty of talented footballers in that team though.

Would be great to have Luke Flynn, Paddy Brophy and Wayne Fitzpatrick on board, but I suppose you could say each team will have problems with injuries and unavailability, so maybe it's swings and roundabouts.

Still, that's a talented team with plenty of potential. Offaly have beaten us twice at this level in recent years, and senior manager Pat Flanagan is also over the U21s I believe, so this will be a very tough game. Hopefully our boys ready for battle and can do it.

Jesus I hope these lads and the minors can give us something to cheer about this year. Seniors a shambles so we need something to keep us going!

Bit surprised that Connell would be centre-back and Hyland on the wing. The full-forward line looks exciting if we can get enough ball into them.

Offaly outfought us last year and the same could happen again if we're not up for it. Hopefully that won't be the case as I think this team has potential.

JohnnyC wrote:

Bit surprised that Connell would be centre-back and Hyland on the wing. The full-forward line looks exciting if we can get enough ball into them.

Offaly outfought us last year and the same could happen again if we're not up for it. Hopefully that won't be the case as I think this team has potential.

Pascail will hold CB, which would allow Hylo to attack, and with Houly on the other wing we need a holding CB imo.

Without Wayne Fitz we have no left footed free taker, and Luke would have been a huge option at full back or midfield.

On Offaly, Im hearing they have 9 or 10 of last Years Team, are set up very Defensive, and if Peter Cunningham is available, a massive threat, as He was Last Year.

does anyone know what the bookies odds are going into the game ?

Paddy Power has it: Kildare 2/5, Offaly 5/2 and the draw 7/1.

I see it as a 50/50 game and would be delighted if we won by a point. We were 1/3 to beat Westmeath at the weekend and we all know how that turned out.

Here Ye go..

Heaney, B. Byrne, Maguire, Mescal, Houlihan, Connell, Hyland, Moore, D. Fitzpatrick, Fenner, Sherry, N. Kelly, McMonigle, O Flaherty, N. Flynn.

Starting 15 v Offaly.. No D Duke, Chris Healy and as expected W Fitzpatrick.

Pity Chris Healy isn't playing. I'd like to see Hyland pick up Cunningham and leave Houlihan to get forward. I'd worry a bit about the full-back line. If we break even at midfield and get enough ball into the forwards we can win but it's going to be close.

Offaly possibly without Cunningham so both teams will be missing good players.

They have a few players still available from last year.


OFFALY: Jamie Colgan (Tubber); Jim Hendy (Bracknagh), James Lawlor (Raheen), Aaron Whelan (Gracefield); Darragh Corbett (Shannonbridge), Joe Kinahan (Tubber), Conor McNamee (Rhode); Eoin Carroll (Cappincur), Declan Byrne (Raheen); Sean Moriarty (Edenderry), Joe Maher (Ferbane), Jamie Evans (Gracefield); Ruari McNamee (Rhode), John Kavanagh (Tulamore), Luke Kelly (Clara).