O'Byrne Cup 2011 - Official Thread

Dont forget its a whole different ballgame when the ground hardens and the pace quickens for the summer. Swings and roundabouts lads, apples and oranges, salt n' vinegar or cheese n'onion etc etc...

Am I the only one who didn't think Sweeney was great, I admit he did good work off the ball, but once he has it in his hands I tend to panic a little?!

I though Bolton was immense, Leper was great in patches, O neill and lynch did very well,

disappointed in Flats last few matches, but think he will begin to shine again soon,

Connolly is great addition , not much could be done for either goal yesterday.
McGrillan is playing well, as is Fitzpatrick and Scanlan did well yesterday too.

Have to agree with Walsheman there were several Kidlare players who barely touched the ball. Luckily they were compensated by brilliant performances by O Neil and Lynch who are really stepping up to the plate, im actually surprised no one has mentioned O neils smart finish for the goal. They cover some amount of ground. I thought Bolton was hit and miss tho. Flats prob had his worst game to date for kildare and kicked some bad wides but i know he is a class act. Mollick covered some amout of ground too. Fitzpatrick had a veryy good seond half looks like a good prospect.

On another note, pity there were no cameras there to capture the finish to that game - unreal!!!

Fitzpatrick gave away a few cheap and needless frees, gave Louth a cushion, they went from being 1 point up at one stage to 5 points up in a few minutes because of the needless fouls, a point that wont be lost on Geezer, we do seem to concede a lot of frees. As the league seasons develops I think Shane Connolly could be one of the more important introductions

A lot of those frees on Fitzpatrick were wrong decisions, forwards pulling his hand in etc, a few more games at this level and he might just learn how to avoid this. I thought Connolly was extremely dodgy in the goals yesterday, his kick outs first half were awful, landing on the 45 and in the second half he got caught out a few times, one would have been a certain goal except for a brilliant save on the line by a defender.

Kildare tv were there filming i thought!!!!

any word on fitzpatrick,heard he might have a broken wrist???or was that boltan!

Kildare tv were there I think it's being shown some time early this week.
Fitzpatrick had a bandaged wrist but he played the whole second half that way so can't be to bad if it's him.

Roly was playing his first bit of football in months after getting married, good jaysus, give the man a chance... Bolton has only had bits and pieces... I wasn't at the game so I can't comment, and maybe they didn't play great but I'd be hoping they'll be playing one or two more important games before the year is out.

Also, we shouldn't forget the fact that Louth are one of the best teams in Leinster now. That's just a fact. From what I heard, Kildare played terribly and to still win in those circumstances.... that's very, very positive indeed.

Jesus lads people need to relax in here a little.

We won a match by playing as poorly as I've seen in the last year.

We have huge players in JD,Kavanagh,Flanagan, Flynn, Flats Snr,Dermot,Conway, Andrew Mac,Chalky ,Kelly all to return. Huge players in that list from last year.

2 All stars also. Louth had there strongest team possible out yesterday.

We've won the O'Byrne Cup, unearthed new talent in Moolick,Lyons,Fitzpatrick, Dowling.
Hugh Lynch & Paudie have been excellent in the middle also.

I could not if I possibly tried take any negatives from the O'Byrne Cup the last few weeks other than P Kelly picking up that injury.

Its been a good january and hopefully the start of a good year.

Saw Brian Murphy (Ipswich & Ireland) goal keeper at the game, was he was involved training the keepers last year when was at Bohs ?? Hes from Waterford so no connection to Kildare that I know of?

Chopper I don't know how you could say Bolton was hit and miss. I thought he was great yesterday. He made a wonderful block on a Louth goal chance in the first half, kicked a great point from distance with his right foot, disposessed Lennon in the small square in the last 10 mins. with another goal chance on, won the penalty that tied the game up and made countless runs to drive us forward in the second half.

I haven't always been his biggest fan but since he moved to the half back line in the qualifiers last year I think he's improved beyond recognition. If we had 15 players as "hit and miss" as this yesterday we'd have won by a cricket score.

Fear - I know some of the stuff he did yesterday was brilliant I just thought that at times yesterday his marking was very suspect and he appeared to be getting involved with silly rows with the Louth players. He was caught out of position several times yesterday.

I'm always open to correction on these things but I didn't feel Brennan his direct opponent had a major influence on matters even though I think he is a very good and dangerous player.

Jaysus I have a bigger bowl for me breakfast cereal than that yoke

Rex wrote:

Kildare tv were there I think it's being shown some time early this week.
Fitzpatrick had a bandaged wrist but he played the whole second half that way so can't be to bad if it's him.

was told last night he broke it anyway,maybe its not true

Whats the story with chalkie?

i see bloodsub is at it yet again! any chance to put down a south kildare man and ur in straight! i think its about time you realise that he is the only keeper good enough to be part of a team that will push for an all ireland, its about time you put the northen divide to bed and move on.

pedrobob wrote:

i see bloodsub is at it yet again! any chance to put down a south kildare man and ur in straight! i think its about time you realise that he is the only keeper good enough to be part of a team that will push for an all ireland, its about time you put the northen divide to bed and move on.

didnt think he was to good yesterday either,seems better than that though,only 4th game with them so hopefully gets better

he will prove his class in games to come! think he is also involved with a good maynooth sigerson team so another chance to prove himself even if McGeeney has turned against college football all of a sudden!!

pedrobob wrote:

he will prove his class in games to come! think he is also involved with a good maynooth sigerson team so another chance to prove himself even if McGeeney has turned against college football all of a sudden!!

So he's playing college football in the north of the county????

I suppose pedrobob will blame those pesky nordies if he doesn't maintain his current good form so!

here now i think you are starting to think i have something against the north, i dont , its just against some of the people in the north! Not sure but i think that kildare gaa doesnt run that college team so the players are all probly given a fair chance!..

fair chance,will u ever get a grip of urself!!!

pedrobob wrote:

he will prove his class in games to come! think he is also involved with a good maynooth sigerson team so another chance to prove himself even if McGeeney has turned against college football all of a sudden!!

First time I've seen "good" and "Maynooth Sigerson team" in the same sentence for a long time I have to say. Playing Queens in the first round and if they win that it'll be the winners of the DIT - UL match in the quarter finals, so that'll be two games max for them. Love to see Maynooth do well in it but at 40-1 I wouldn't even chance my money on an each way bet.

Connolly was very impressive in the first two matches, against Westmeath he didn't have a lot to do but was comfortable with anything he needed to do, Sunday he wasn't great but like others have said it was only his fourth game. We're hardly all anti-south Kildare just by saying he wasn't as impressive as he has been previously are we?

Then again would you call me anti-north Kildare as I don't believe Maynooth have a hope of doing well in the Sigerson?

They did beat UUJ in Jordanstown last year and were far from disgraced against DCU in fairness.