2016 O'Byrne Cup

I would also like to see the panel announced however I would expect that the manager needs time to assess any possible injuries and might even need to have a chat with some players that are either back in college or working down the country.

I wouldn't expect to see the panel named until Friday at the earliest, but yeah, the sooner the better as there is nothing as bad as names been leaked out one by one.

Can't see why Eoghan would get it over Emmet unless Cian saw Emmet as not first 15. For me (in order) it would be Emmet, Eoin D, Peter K. I don't think Flats has proven himself a real leader on the pitch in the big do-or-die moments. Emmet clearly has. Laois in Portlaoise was another example this year.

Will be disappointed if Morgan doesn't make the cut and if he doesn't I'm just glad I got to see his game-reading ability one more time in a white shirt last Sunday. At same time
I can see there might be doubts about what he can contribute on the harder ground come June/July.

By all accounts Morgan Fla or Alan Smith didn't make the cut.

Morgan was the best player on the pitch Sunday. If he is going by performances he will be in. If not then decisions were made before Sunday, which is unfair. I think we should wait until the squad is announced before jumping the gun.

I'd be amazed if MOF is omitted. Alan Smith is constantly injured and cannot be relied upon, I think his time with Kildare is up. If Kevin Murnaghan and Fionn Dowling make the panel and Cahill doesn't, serious questions need to be asked of O'Neill. Cahill has never been given a fair crack with Kildare, in my opinion.

The captaincy is a non-issue, it's not important in this day and age. For arguments sake, Eoin Doyle.

I still think Smith is one of the best forwards in Kildare despite that prob says more about Kildare football than anything but still think he needs to be on the panel without a doubt IF him Podge and Tomas are gone are gone who would we have to play full forward? Paudi played there the last day could he be a realistic option there? I don't think so...

Eoghan O Flaherty, Niall Kelly, Neil Flynn and Mark Sherry could all play there if given the chance.

rob11 wrote:

Eoghan O Flaherty, Niall Kelly, Neil Flynn and Mark Sherry could all play there if given the chance.

Shur their all outstanding full forwards with there clubs
It's ironic. But our county champions might not have an automatic starter this year .

Sarsfields defo have no automatic starter, Matty played well against Offaly but it is a long way to go until championship. O Neill is entitled to pick who he likes and if he believes he has 12/13 forwards better than Ray, he should pick them ahead of him, I would just like to know where they have been hiding!!

Jaysus, even Jason Ryan got longer

Very surprised Morgan O'Flaherty is not picked i think he would add great experience to a fairly young panel. One notable thing i've heard on the panel is there are 7 Moorefield players on the squad compared to three last year.

On the captaincy i think P kelly would be the best option. Bolton is not guaranteed to start this year imo, his fitness looked a long way off at times last year and Eoin Doyle has hardly played 15 games for Kildare in his career so dont know why so many people are mentioning him

People dismissing other players for captain on the basis of fitness and injuries and then nominating P Kelly ..

Ogie wrote:

Jaysus, even Jason Ryan got longer

Ah but he couldn't have club bias! He wasn't from Kildare either which is a key thing for Lilywhite fans.

O'Neill OUT!

In seriousness though I think we can sit tight on a lot of what is being discussed here. I'm sure some lads will be cut but an extended panel is still an option. If a big name gets the chop it's up to them to them to light up the club scene and force the manager's hand.
As for Morgan he would be a good panel addition as he is a clever fella on and off the field. Those lads are rare in Kildare, especially the onfield bit!
Captains make F all odds in a lot of cases. Kerry and Kilkenny often don't have main players as captains, so once they have leaders around the field who cares who has the (C) beside their name. For what it's worth I think Doyle might be a good shout.

Has there be any official announcement on the reduced panel yet or is all this just speculation/rumour.

It's rumour/speculation as far as I am aware. But knowing the CB there will never be an official announcement. It will be a process of elimination for us. I for one will respect Cian's decisions whether they seem logical to me or not (and some of the ones mentioned above do not !). He speaks intelligently and logically, he's got great experience and he's working with the players over an extended period now. So I'll trust the decisions he makes and see how his teams perform over the course of the season. Feel free to remind me of this post in a couple of days time when I'm lambasting him for selecting 33 Moorefield lads.

I think Cian is wise to take his time in cutting the panel. Its only a few days since the last match and he has to factor in current injuries and the return of the college lads. I would be disappointed if Cahill was let go as his true worth wont be known until the league starts. The same probably goes for a lot of the new younger players who were tried. On the other hand some of the older players have played plenty of league matches and some have not not impressed when they were needed.
As regards tactics if we are going to play more of a kicking game then we need a mobile full forward who can win ball. Not sure Podge is the answer as imo he looks too ponderous and laidback. However who else is there? This is an important position for the season ahead.
If you look at the 36 or so lads who played in the county final a few months ago is Niall Kelly the only one who is a certain starter?

What's the story with darroch mulhall folks ?.

SeamusMurphy wrote:

What's the story with darroch mulhall folks  ?.

Didn't want to join the panel apparently

Pity.. wasn't long ago he was our great white go to man.

With the likes of Jamie Clarke and rory o Carroll taking time out and others Alan brogan retired early enough.. the demands on player's and the commitment to what is effectively a proffesional sport with an amateur status is becoming more difficult for lads to commit to.

Hopefully, there will be a panel published at some stage. The gap between club and county standard has grown hugely across the country in the last 15 years and if you haven't played county under 21 or Sigerson Cup in the last couple of years bridging that gap, it is very difficult to make that jump.

If Cahill isn't on the panel I would have some sympathy. He takes the ball in half forward line running towards goal with Sarsfields and was being asked to take the ball with his back to goal in a different role in the O'Byrne Cup, different role as well as a step up in quality. Think it would have been better to keep him on and even if it didn't work out this year, use it as a development process with an eye to him playing in 2017. As it is when the league is in full swing and we pick up injuries and the under 21s are unavailable there will be opportunities for guys like that.

But I guess we have to just trust the management team who have seen these guys in training as well as the matches.

My sources (KFM :-) ) tell me it will be announced in 24-48 hours and contrary to speculation room will be found for 2 non-Moorefield players

Oh and I'm told rumours of Sos Dowling, Kenny Duane and Ronan Sweeney's inclusion are also wide of the mark.

Thank fuckkkkkkkkkk