NFL Div 3 Squad and Matches 2016

Cian O'Neill has named his Senior Football panel for the Allianz Football League.
The Full panel is as follows:
Kildare Senior Football Team
National League Panel 2016
1. Mark Donnellan Maynooth
2. Tom Corley Moorefield
3. Ollie Lyons Celbridge
4. Peter Kelly Two Mile House
5. David Hyland Athy
6. Ciaran Fitzpatrick Kilcock
7. Hugh McGrillen Celbridge
8. Liam Healy Moorefield
9. Eoin Powderly Kilcock
10. Emmet Bolton Eadestown
11. Eoin Doyle Naas
12. Fergal Conway Celbridge
13. Kevin Murnaghan Moorefield
14. Keith Cribbin Johnstownbridge
15. Ryan Houlihan Moorefield
16. Johnny Byrne Allenwood
17. Cian O' Donoghue Clane
18. Tommy Moolick Leixlip
19. Kevin Feely Athy
20. Matty Byrne Sarsfields
21. Daryl Flynn Moorefield
22. Eoghan O'Flaherty Carbury
23. Paul Cribbin Johnstownbridge
24. Daniel Flynn Johnstownbridge
25. Adam Tyrell Moorefield
26. Mark Sherry Two Mile House
27. Rob Kelly Straffan
28. Èanna O' Connor Moorefield
29. Alan Smith Sarsfields
30. Eamonn Callaghan Naas
31. Fionn Dowling Suncroft
32. Neil Flynn Maynooth
33. Niall Kelly Athy
34. Pàdraig O' Neill St Laurence's
35. Cathal McNally Johnstownbridge

Can't understand no Morgan and Keith Cribbin is only coming back from long term injury yet gets in front of Cahill.

Confusing to say the least, a few lads there can count themselves very lucky if you ask me.

Some surprises alright. Really disappointed Morgan didn't make it.

Leaving himself open to accusations of club bias also with the selection of some of those 7 Moorefield lads.

But 8 lads who haven't played league or championship so plenty of new blood.

I though Morgan was our best player against Offaly so surprised he didn't make it, Overall though I think there are some good options there

Surprised not to see Sos Dowling's name on that list.

From the two games I seen (DIT & Offaly ), there's some very suspect calls from O'Neill. Fogarty arguably is the biggest casualty, I hear he's injured, so he'll probably rejoin the panel at some stage, or will he? I cannot understand the omission of Ray Cahill, was he judged solely on the basis of a few games in the first week of January? If so, that's very harsh. Fionn Dowling should do the lotto tomorrow night.

Murnaghan, Healy and Houlihan all in ahead of MOF is another strange one.

Great to see Eoin Powderly in there, always looked impressive whenever I've watched him.

I'd be surprised to see Fogarty back this season given other injured lads made the panel.
As for Cahill I feel sorry for the chap it must have been a close call. But it's hardly a stick to beat O'Neill with. Cahill is well into his 20s and wasn't kept on by McGeeney or Ryan either. The way some people are going on, you'd think Niall Kelly had been left off.

Ohtoohtobe wrote:

I'd be surprised to see Fogarty back this season given other injured lads made the panel.
As for Cahill I feel sorry for the chap it must have been a close call. But it's hardly a stick to beat O'Neill with. Cahill is well into his 20s and wasn't kept on by McGeeney or Ryan either. The way some people are going on, you'd think Niall Kelly had been left off.

Agree on Cahill. Going to trust Cian on this one as he's clearly weighed it up over a couple of months. Having said that he's left himself open to criticism down the line with what will be perceived as a clear Moorefield. There's some questionable calls that went in favour of his own club.

I have mixed views on the panel, particularly as he only took my advice on something like 28 of the panel! On the one hand he did jettison one of the older lads who wasn't going to make any impression at this stage but at the same time he brings back a couple more elder statesmen without finding a spot for Morgan. I wonder was that call based on non-footballing factors. Maybe Morgan couldn't commit to the extent necessary (as that's why he stayed away for 2 years I understand).

To finish on a positive note over 20% of the panel are new to league/championship so even those who wanted a complete overhaul (unrealistic) must have taken some comfort from that?

Thought Fitzpatrick for Raheens would get the nod! Not sure if he was even in the first panel??

Also wouldn't mind seeng Paidi at 14 again.ni remember he played a qualifier in Derry there in 2006 and he got maybe 5 points

umpireonditch wrote:

Also wouldn't mind seeng Paidi at 14 again.ni remember he played a qualifier in Derry there in 2006 and he got maybe 5 points

Remember that and was curious to see how he'd get on there v Offaly. It didn't go well unfortunately but may be worth another try.

Feely's addition to the panel could potentially allow us to push Paul Cribbin or Dan Flynn up the field. I think either could develop into an effective roaming full forward albeit based on only limited evidence so far. Cribbin played there with the minors in that game when they beat Dublin in Navan and was very effective. I recall Flynn spending much of the Hogan Cup final at full forward and he caused chaos last year against Galway in Tuam when we brought him on for Podge for the second half.

I think either move could be worth a try during the league campaign.

Interesting ideas KK.

Personally I've been very impressed with Flynn's OB'C campaign. While you have to take the opposition into account he was the one man who really put the sh1ts up DIT and Offaly when he ran at them. I think pace around midfield / half forwards is really crucial in the modern game and that's where I'd have Flynn situated. Cribbin as a full forward - would have to see that in action. He's got great energy and can kick a point from range so again perhaps robbing to pay Paul (so to speak..)?

I believe both are best suited to the half forward position but looking at that panel we do look to have more options this year around that area of the field whereas we look a bit light at full forward - Fionn Dowling has had plenty of chances without ever establishing himself, Leper's form has declined in recent years, Rob Kelly has been off the scene for a while and you can never rely on Smith staying injury free. Other inside forwards like Niall Kelly, Neil Flynn and Eanna O'Connor are not exactly ball winners.

Both Cribbin and Flynn are great players taking the ball off the shoulder and running directly at defenders and they may not be as effective with their back to goal but the one good thing about Division 3 is that it should give us more scope to experiment than we would have in a better division. If something doesn't work against teams like Longford and Limerick then it is not going to work in Croke Park against better opposition.

According to KFM Clan O'Neill is having a press conference today.

A press conference be jayus. .... Cian certainly likes the media.

jim wrote:

A press conference be jayus. .... Cian certainly likes the media.

Jaysus you can't win can you with Kildare fans? You communicate well and often and it's stroking your own ego. I for one am delighted he's being open with the media as he a much clearer, more thoughtful, communicator than his predecessor and I'm looking forward to hearing what his plans are now after the O'B Cup. I'd love some of the local journos to press him on the number of Moorefield lads on the panel for instance and to explain the omissions of Fogarty, Morgan and Cahill in particular.

Just listened to Pat Costello, reporting from the press conference which is to be played on KFM tomorrow, I don't know why they advertised that it would be on air this evening.

As for Pat Costello, he reported on the press conference and spoke for about 3 minutes and must have contradicted himself at least 5 times, my jayus.

Not being critical just an observation crofter

Crofter wrote:

jim wrote:

A press conference be jayus. .... Cian certainly likes the media.

Jaysus you can't win can you with Kildare fans? You communicate well and often and it's stroking your own ego. I for one am delighted he's being open with the media as he a much clearer, more thoughtful, communicator than his predecessor and I'm looking forward to hearing what his plans are now after the O'B Cup. I'd love some of the local journos to press him on the number of Moorefield lads on the panel for instance and to explain the omissions of Fogarty, Morgan and Cahill in particular.

The biggest losers here are going to be Moorefield, 7 on the senior panel, probably a few more on the u/21 and minor panels and Roli involved with Sligo, going to be a tough job getting a settled team together for possible championship opener in May.

Just curious what people think Murnaghan, Kelly, Leper and Dowling have to offer Kildare at this stage. All have been well tested in recent years and have come up short. Leper at his best around 09-11 was one of the best footballers in Leinster but is not going to get anywhere near that in future surely. The other 3 were never good enough imo.
Not convinced about Fogarty but surely he is better than Dowling and MOF is better than Murnaghan?
Still its Cian's choice to make and he has seen more of these players in recent months than any of us. A win in the first game is vital as Westmeath are probably our biggest rivals to top the group. Looking forward to seeing Neil Flynn and Kevin Feeley in action.

I think roli is retiring through injury.

jim wrote:

I think roli is retiring through injury.

Didn't know that, if true I hope both club and.county do something to mark the occasion. The only Kildare player to have a Leinster Senior and Leinster Senior Club winners medal. ( I think ).

After seeing the Offaly v Kildare game I am surprised that Morgan O'F has been left out and that D Flynn is in. D Flynn was top class 2010/11 but has dropped off (injuries I expect) but he looked desperately slow in Tullamore whle Morgan played well if also a little on the slow side.

http://www.kildarenow.com/sport/he-can-put-himself-back-in-the-frame-cian-oneill-has-spoken-about-some-of-his-tough-decisions-picking-his-league-panel/68644

Actually understand his point of view now definitely think that interview was necessary.

What do you understand?

I'd like to hear his views on why he thought it necessary to include the likes of Fionn Dowling and Mark Murnaghan but not Cahill and O'Flaherty. O'Flaherty had one training session before that Offaly game. Speaks volumes about the rest since he was the stand out player on show that day.