Kildare Minors 2021

Very disappointing result/performance yesterday against Dublin, skill execution let us down badly. I personally think that this is a very ordinary Dublin team which makes the loss all the more frustrating. I don’t think we got our first point from play until the 46th minute but despite this were still ahead with 5 minutes to go but couldn’t get over the line.

I have no doubt there is a bright future ahead for a lot of these lads but would have been nice to get one over Dublin in Parnell Park. If Meath are any good at all I think they will beat Dublin.

Hand and kick passing were poor, we were lucky not to get hammered. Thompson did well for us and we managed to go ahead somehow down the stretch.

Since u20 all ireland and 2019 leinster minor our form has fallen off a cliff. It's not a major issue if we are bringing through players from these age groups but is their a deeper issue at play with Dev squads in Kildare?

A lot of the good coaches involved with those teams have moved on.
The replacements may not be of similar quality as Davy Burke or Brendan Hackett...

Watched a good bit of the minor Championship this year, Maynooth, Raheens, Ballyna, Clane, Athy, Celbridge, Naas the teams I've seen and it's definitely the highest standard I've seen at club minor in Kildare . Leaves me scratching my head at our county level last 2 years but on plus side we should be have a good u20 side for the next 2 years if the the right lads are brought through.

lilysavage wrote:

Watched a good bit of the minor Championship this year, Maynooth, Raheens, Ballyna, Clane, Athy, Celbridge, Naas the teams I've seen and it's definitely the highest standard I've seen at  club minor in Kildare . Leaves me scratching my head at  our county level last 2 years but on plus side we should be have a good u20 side for the next 2 years if the the right lads are brought through.

Absolutely spot on lilysavage. I am very familiar with this years minor age group (2003 players) as I have been involved closely at club level since they were Under 7. The 2020 minor management made a complete hames of the Leinster Championship 'resting' 2/3 players for a semi final v Offaly. My blood still boils when I think of it. Added to that there were excellent A championship players not on the squad while some of the lads that were, were nowhere near the level required. I think this years minor squad were well managed but just didn't perform on the day against Dublin.

Anyone at the semis? I hear Balyna v Athy was a classic.

Game of the year. And rained throughout. Athy started brilliantly, kicking some fantastic points and built up a good lead but you knew the game was still there to be won. Ballyna had a great third quarter, completely on top for about 10 mins and went ahead. Last quarter was nip and tuck, Athy got a goal to level it in injury time. Ballyna kicked a monster free with last kick of the game, about 50 yards+ out near the sideline to win it. A draw probably would have been a fair result. Super entertainment. It's been a great Championship. Not sure if the final will be on the same day as the seniors this year?

Final is on before senior final next Sunday. Rumours doing the rounds that senior final will be moved to an earlier start than 3pm as I think it got fairly dark near the end of Ballymore v Kilcock today. I was in Hawkfield for senior camogie final and they turned on lights in 2nd half

Well done to Ballyna, a really strong team unit all over the
pitch. Maynooth were favourites but Ballyna were not to be denied this year. What a Championship it was, both in terms of standard and entertainment. Hopefully the clubs can bring most of these lads through. No surprise that many of these are the standouts in the new u23 Championship. As mentioned by someone already, well done to the county board for retaining our club minor at under 18 level.

The problem with minor footballers these days that it is like taking up a new sport playing senior football and very few have the physical capability to play it ,proof kerry won several minor all irelands no senior since

moatesports wrote:

The problem with minor footballers these days that it is like taking up a new sport playing senior football and very few have the physical capability to play it ,proof kerry won several minor all irelands no senior since

the other side to that is naas won a senior championship with a ball load of previous minor winners

lilysavage wrote:

Well done to Ballyna, a really strong team unit all over the
pitch. Maynooth were favourites but Ballyna were not to be denied this year. What a Championship it was, both in terms of standard and entertainment. Hopefully the clubs can bring most of these lads through. No surprise that many of these are the standouts in the new u23 Championship. As mentioned by someone already, well done to the county board for retaining our club minor at under 18 level.

I don't see the benefit of our club minor competition being mis-aligned with the county competition. Why do you think this is good? Maybe I'm missing something on it but I can't see any good in it.

I presume its my post your referring to ,I'm not down grading minor champions in any way I'd much prefer the game as a spectacle its mostly just pure football and long may it continue, my only point is that senior football in both club and county is a hard watch in comparison all behind the ball moving sideways keeping possession perhaps afraid to express yourself, hopefully these young lads can have enjoyable careers

There is an u17 grade too. Some counties don't have an u18 Championship. The benefits of retaining it were seem in the quality of games we had this year. And it also delays the drop off of many by a year. 17 to 18 is huge in terms of development. To lose it would be crazy.

Agree with you moatesports re the entertainment value of minor... in fact ladies football is similar in that you generally don't see an emphasis on possession football that can be boring.

Re minor, I don't know what to think to be honest. The drop off is a good argument... is there some good reason to do with leaving cert too?? I like underage lads working towards one big year and I like having that tied into the first inter county competition with a national profile. Sometimes I think the U17 county and U18 club thing in Kildare dilutes that and confuses the issue.

For County minor viewpoint is this year's Under 16 not the perfect preparation for next year's County Under 17 and the perfect alignment=======

And is it possible that Minor at Under 19 might be better with players even stronger and also perfect preparation for County Under 20 the following year ?

Tipperary vote in a u19 competition last night from next year

Niall Cronin of Naas announced as Kildare minor manager for next year. His selectors are Eamonn Callaghan, Hugh Lynch and James Devane. Great to see a few more ex- county players getting involved with this age group.

In programme for county final a question was asked about what was unique about kikdare winning all ireland in 1927 and 1928 and answer was only team to win back to back all irelands with same 15 ,here is another kildare won the last old sam maguire ,and won the first new sam maguire.