Paul Cribben

KILDARE’S PAUL Cribbin has made an instant impact with AFL champions Collingwood, stunning coaches and senior players alike by coming in first in a 2km run.

The former Kildare minor, who was a member of the Lilies’ senior training panel for the latter end of the championship, arrived in Melbourne last month and is already showing the athleticism that marks him out as a potential star.

The Magpies’ new international recruit upstaged time-trial specialist Steele Sidebottom to take the honours, with Scott Pendlebury back in third Squad captain, Nick Maxwell, was among those impressed by Cribbin ahead of the pre-season training camp in Arizona and is backing the 18-year-old to improve considerably.

“The thing about older guys (is) once you get to 24 to 30, you can only probably improve 5 per cent at an absolute max, but with young guys they can improve 20, 30, 40 per cent just over a pre-season and actually get an opportunity,” he said.

Cribbin first came to the attention of the Pies as a midfielder with the St Mary’s, Edenderry team that reached the Hogan Cup final last year. He signed a pre-contract with the club later that year after showing well at a trial Down Under, but had to wait until completing his Leaving Cert and turning 18 this year before joining up.

Impressive, didn't Tommy Walsh say how much he struggled with the pre season runs. Keep it up Paul.

no loss. if he wanted to play for kildare he could have.

carburyman wrote:

no loss. if he wanted to play for kildare he could have.

Bit harsh carburyman, what about all the guys who gave up to play soccer, rugby & basketball.

carburyman wrote:

no loss. if he wanted to play for kildare he could have.

I think you'll find he is a loss

Of course he's a loss. Think someone took carburyman's lollipop today.

very Funny Peile

you'd want to be insane to stay in Ireland right now for the possibility of inter-county football when you have two years as a full-time sportsman in Australia - and if you can't hack it, you can come home any time you want... then throw in the fact he's an 18-year-old kid? Did he turn down Carbury as a gasun or something? Incredibly bitter and harsh comment

carburyman

Subject: Re: Paul Cribben   Today at 2:46 pm
no loss. if he wanted to play for kildare he could have.



God sour grapes or what...... Carburyman you are bitter!!!!

carburyman wrote:

no loss. if he wanted to play for kildare he could have.

Wrong on so many levels. Firstly, he is obviously a loss. And secondly he will more than likely play for Kildare at some stage, be it in 2 years time or 10 years time. As Ogie says you'd want to be mad to turn down a professional contract to stay in Ireland in this day and age.

bloodsub wrote:

carburyman wrote:

no loss. if he wanted to play for kildare he could have.

Wrong on so many levels. Firstly, he is obviously a loss. And secondly he will more than likely play for Kildare at some stage, be it in 2 years time or 10 years time. As Ogie says you'd want to be mad to turn down a professional contract to stay in Ireland in this day and age.

Yeah and the fun part is he'll play against Carbury in the future too!!!! Now, there's something to look forward to!!

He'll play against Carbury in the future?? Are Carbury going to be relegated?

Now now Fionn!!............Behave

No JTB are going to be promoted!

Watching Johnstownbridge the last two years I for one cant see them getting promoted in the next few years a couple of things.
1) They dont have the bottle for the important games yet.
2) A lot of the players think they are better than they are maybe as they get a bit older they might realize this and really push for promotion.

In fairness Stevie you probably have a point with No. 2 there!

The bottle accusation is a hard one to swallow and I don't really agree. I think we have been beaten by better teams certainly this year with Ballymore and by Kevins twice. Raheens last year was an exception but the best teams we ever had in our glory years could not beat Raheens in the c'ship!

I do think we'll be senior by the time Paul returns though!

Have to agree with all comments here... Strange comment carburyman... He would be mad to pass up the chance & he will come back a stronger footballer... Give the lad support...

hiw the hell cud ya turn down that that kinda chance!!!

Who knows he may come back a better footballer than he could ever have been had he stayed here.