2019 issues

Heard that 4 starters on last year championship teams are taking time out in 2019.
One member in full back, halfback,half forward and full forward line if names are correct. exams and travel plans are reasons given. it could be a challenging year if this is true !

Go on ? .......

I heard similar last night maccie. One player in particular would be a huge loss in my opinion.

Spill the beans there lads... whos out?

I heard Daniel Flynn and Nial Kelly are going travelling. Not sure if there's any truth in it.

If it's true - and I have absolutely no idea if it is or not - what I would say is this.

Firstly, anyone who goes traveling or wants to study or whatever else has to absolutely be respected and wished the very best. The problem is - and this is a GAA dilemma that isn't the fault of any player - that such acts aren't really conducive to winning such is the place the game is on.

It's professional under the guise of amateur and, while going away is part of the first, it's not part of the second in terms of growing, building on triumphs, maximising best years, evolving and so on.

Again that's not on any player. But it will reflect on Kildare's chances and ambitions in this odd GAA and hypocritical GAA we find today.

Johnny Byrne gone guys, fair play to him for the service he has gave, hopefully one day we'll see him in a Kildare jersey again.

That's a loss for the squad, can't argue with any player making such a decision I wish Johnny all the best and thank him for all his service to Kildare. Hope the rumours of more to follow are only rumours

Its a voluntary organisation (apart from the hierarchy) and not professional so any player or official who takes time out although not ideal can't be ridiculed..........
Its up to whoever is left to pick up the slack and for all to make no excuses for this lad or that lad missing....

jim wrote:

I heard Daniel Flynn and Nial Kelly are going travelling. Not sure if there's any truth in it.

I wonder does the lads heading off travelling have anything to do with new management set-up ?? i.e they aint impressed by it ???

Think Daniel Flynn was talking about taking up a contract in one of the big financial services firms. Before that, this is the last opportunity to travel for a few years and because of his Aussie Rules stint and injuries he didn't get to do it before now. Huge loss and this is the biggest challenge all managers outside the top 5 teams have, trying to get as many good players as possible to commit. Surprised by the John Byrne one, interesting to see if he pops up for the hurlers. In the case of Flynn, I don't think it is management related. It will force O'Neill to experiment a bit. People complained it was harder to get off the team than to get on it. Well it's opened up now.

I would be interested to know how many Senior Champ games Karl O’ Dwyer & Tom Cribben attended as this is where you see players perform !! Lads still on panel that did not do it in these games.

Fairplay wrote:

I would be interested to know  how many  Senior Champ games Karl O’ Dwyer & Tom Cribben attended as this is where you see players perform !! Lads still on panel that did not do it in these games.

Karl O’Dwyer was at senior Final

Shame Byrne has gone but lets be honest it won't make or break us. The half back line is our strongest area and there are ample replacements. Kelly also is a shame but again he has been poor for a year and had no real impact, so again not a disaster. A number of the u20's could step up in his place. Flynn will be an issue. He had a break through year, had started to produce more regularly and had become a well known player, something that he will lose as he disappears if he goes travelling. But I'd be far more disappointed if say Neil Flynn went as to me he is far more important.

Full forward line will hopefully have N. Flynn, Hyland Brophy, McLoughlin and other new faces to pick from.
In other words I'm not near panicking yet.

Plenty of players from U20 side ready to step up. No excuse not to start them now in O'Byrne Cup.

murof wrote:

Plenty of players from U20 side ready to step up. No excuse not to start them now in O'Byrne Cup.

The impetus gained from getting some u/20s stepping in will be very quickly outweighed if we are losing the established players that I’ve heard. Also heard a key player from u-20s has declined an offer to join up. I certainly would be concerned at this point and would have to question the regard in which this management team is held by a large number of our panel. They can’t all be wrong?

An article in today's paper says that Daniel Flynn is undecided about playing for Kildare next year. Niall Kelly and Mick O'Grady might be unavailable as they may be travelling. Eoghan O'Flaherty may return to the squad.
https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/kildare-concern-as-flynn-undecided-on-his-2019-availability-37496480.html

I think O'Grady would be a huge loss as well as he was very good this year, usually marking the opposition's best inside forward.

just when things were looking good to me that sums up kildare football if it was raining soup we would have forks but heh maybe new leaders will stand up and be counted i still think we are getting closer

Flynn would be a big loss - the rest are all replaceable.

moatesports wrote:

just when things were looking good to me that sums up kildare football if it was raining soup we would have forks but heh maybe new leaders will stand up and be counted i still think we are getting closer

Wish I shared that optimism - Mayo game aside, last year was a disaster, we went a year without winning a game and were knocked out of Leinster by Carlow.

I think Flynn and Mick O'Grady are both massive losses both are up there with the top players in the county. O'Grady was class last year.

Daniel wasn't consistent last year, certainly could have contributed more in some matches particularly against Galway. Think Neil would be a bigger loss and O'Grady's departure would significantly weaken our weakest line. Hard to see who could replace him.

Haven't posted on here in ages, are we all still present and correct? Good. We still all need our heads examined obviously. The two teams I can't give up on are Kildare and the Irish soccer team – talk about a double whammy...

Anyway, before I get serious, if you'll permit me a rant. The U20 team from last year was the best underage Kildare team I've ever seen, and on the back of a summer where we also had Newbridge or Nowhere – the Mayo game hinting at what this Kildare team is capable of, though they only ever show it in flashes – I think this is an exciting time for Kildare football. In that scenario, I just cannot understand how anyone could walk away, unless you really had to... This is what you've worked for – to get Kildare football into this position...

Anyway, having got that rant out of the way, it says Kelly and O'Grady are only going travelling for the early part of the year. Kelly I actually think could benefit from a break as he hasn't been himself in a while. D Flynn would be a huge loss as he was sensational this year, but we'll have to plough on regardless. Nothing's been confirmed yet tho.

The biggest weaknesses in this team are still...

1. Mayo apart, they don't know how to win close games, and generally don't remain calm in crunch situations
2. The defence still parts like the red sea sometimes

Can't say the new backroom team additions are likely to solve any of this. Cribbin as passionate as they come but fairly clueless tactically. Just hope 2019 isn't deja vu all over again etc... But if we can get back to Div 1, that's the perfect platform as the U20 lads really come into their own over the next few years. We need to stay there tho and stop being such a bloody yo-yo county.

Good interview with Eoin Doyle here
https://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/sport/346132/exciting-times-ahead-for-kildare-football.html

I don't think this is all doom and gloom and its only early November so plenty of time for things to change...

Leaving Johnny B aside who has firmly made up his mind, the other 3 lads mentioned are all important players to the panel and have not firmly decided to walk away - By the sounds of it, they need a break for various reasons as opposed to being fed up.

This is where really good management plays a crucial part... If I was CON , I would be moving heaven and earth (particularly in the case of Dan ) to get them involved at some stage in 2019 - Being in Div 2 probably improves his hand in that regard.

There are many options available but why not give them the option of opting out until mid way through the league for example and firming up say a March/April come back date - This would give the lads 5 or 6 months head space to get some travel / time away to see if they are really up for returning. If they aren't, so be it. We don't need fellas who aren't in the head space. But if they are in the right frame of mind, the rest will have done them a world of good.

Obviously they wouldn't be at the same level as the other lads but would be raring to go come championship. We aren't blessed with many super stars in the county and I wouldn't be against guys opting out at this time of year given the levels they are operating at and the full seasons they have (combined with work / families etc)

CON and his team have a crucial part to play here in facilitating the best outcome for guys who want a break but still have the commitment - Its a watch this space I imagine.

As an aside, great news to hear EOF back on the panel - a sensible head on his shoulders , he will help with some of the integration of the under 21s.