2011 Leinster & All Ireland SFC Fixtures and Results - Official Thread

It's gas - opposite stories - I'd wonder about a Derry team that allowed 4-3 from one player (if it ever happened) - definitely played at championship pace I'd imagine.

Marty Duffy is the ref apparently.

Not everyone's cup of tea but he's been something of a good luck charm for Kildare in recent times. Hopefully that won't change on Sunday week.

what will our starting team be. forget about wicklow and how they are going, what players they have available and who scored what in a meaningless challenge game.
our own heads and attitude need to be right going into the game otherwise wicklow will turn us over.
make no mistake about it. wicklow love playing against us, especially in the first round where kildare can be fragile.
louth last year is proof of this. players and management should not need to be warned.

Think our lads will be up for this one,and wont be like the louth game.

I'm working with the son of one of the Wicklow selectors. He's awful quiet last few days. I think they fancy their chances of an ambush.

With less than two weeks to go to the opening round of the Leinster Senior Football Championship against Wicklow, Kieran McGeeney’s charges will return to training this week having been with their clubs for championship action at the weekend. Dermot Earley and Peter Kelly remain on the long-term injury list, while Ken Donnelly has still to return to full training. Mikey Conway returned to full training a week ago and he will now hope to build his fitness and confidence over the next couple of weeks. It was a huge boost for players and management to see him make his return and hopefully it won’t be too long before he returns to competitive action. It has been a difficult two years for the player and he has shown great determination throughout this time in order to make a return for the Lilies. Other players that had been on the injured list in recent times such as David Whyte, Rob Kelly, Matt Kelly, Ciaran Fitzpatrick, Karl Ennis, Tommy Moolick and Alan Smith are all back in full training having played with their clubs at the weekend.

Ronan Sweeney and Eamonn Callaghan are nursing injuries at present and sat out their club championship games, but it is hoped that both of these players will be fit for the opening round against Wicklow. Mark O’Sullivan picked up a knee injury with Celbridge at the weekend and he will await results of a scan before knowing the full extent of the damage. Goalkeeper Shane McCormack also picked up a leg injury while playing for Allenwood, but he should be back in action within a week.

FROM RTE

John Doyle believes Kildare must draw lessons from their early exit in last year's Leinster Football Championship if they are to come out on top in Sunday week's preliminary round clash with Wicklow.

The Lilywhites were beaten by Louth last year and had to put together a tremendous run in the qualifiers to reach the last four of the All-Ireland before exiting against Down.

All Star Doyle has targeted a longer run in Leinster in an attempt to further the success of 2010.

He said: 'We had a good run in fairness, considering the start we had in the Leinster Championship when we were beaten on the first day against Louth.

'We got back and got a few results and ended up in an All-Ireland semi-final. We were a bit unlucky on the day not to win it. But it doesn't count for a lot this year.

'We have to build and the experience might stand to us but it is a long road back to where we got to last year. We'll see if we have learned from 2010 in the first outing against Wicklow.'

Doyle is anticipating a feisty encounter against Mick O'Dwyer's men and believes every meeting with the Garden county brings an extra bit of excitement in the province.

'The Championship is the start of a new year and that brings new hope. Like every other team in the country, you always think maybe this will be the year that success comes your way. It is a difficult match with Wicklow.

'We've played them twice in the last three or four years. They've beaten us once and probably should have beaten us the second time.

'We were lucky enough to get over them in the qualifiers in 2009. It is going to be a very difficult game and with a bit of local rivalry it spices things up. We're looking forward to it and hopefully things go our way.'

Doyle finished 2010 as top scorer in the Championship and drew plaudits from many pundits for his inspirational performances in helping Kildare reach the last four. The Allenwood clubman is keen to help do even better this summer.

'It did work out well and on a personal level too. I suppose the shop window is the quarter-finals and semi-finals and from there on in.

'They are the big games and the big crowds. They seem to be the games people remember and that is why I had a success on a personal level.

'But every year is new and with stuff that worked well for you last year, there is no guarantee you can repeat it. You have to keep working hard and hopefully things fall your way.

'I've been on the road a good few years now and a successful year for me personally is a successful year for the team and you don't worry about individual achievements. Maybe this will be our year and we'll do everything in our power to try and make sure it is.'

Seniors played laois last nite in portlaoise,beat them 2-11 to 0-11. Conway played all second half

did the not play tipp last nite in portlaoise...??

Kildare played Armargh ,both sides have full teams out and kildare played some great football.Kildare won well

An Armagh minus they're Crossmaglen players, big difference.

Todays televised Championship Match

Donegal V Antrim Donegal win

The sister Anne says she was cycling past the pitch in Ballymore yesterday (she gets out now and again and can be gone miles before we even know it) and she saw Kildare playing Wicklow in a challenge match. She says the final score was 0-5 to 0-2 but can't remember who won. Can there be any truth in the story?

Anne did'nt happen to stop for a few drinks did she?

Get in there Oisín McConville!!!

Only one of the studio guests to tip us for Leinster, Spillane reckons Meath will beat us in the semi but sure at times it seems he's only there to play the Eamonn Dunphy role.

Good to have the Sunday Game back, even if the Donegal Antrim match was one of the worst we've ever seen.

Good man Oisin McConville!
Yea it's great to have the Sunday Game back! It always feels like the Summer's officially here once that comes back! Come on the Lilies!!

Why do you want the collection of talking heads on The Sunday Game to be hyping up Kildare? Are we not better off to let every media outlet build up the Dubs like they inevitably will?

The majority of pundits I've heard/read in the past week think Leinster is cut and dried. That suits everyone else in the province just grand. I personally think there's little between ourselves, Meath and Laois (Louth shouldn't be far away either) but Dublin are deservedly favourites at this point in time. However, the league final showed that they're still mentally fragile and if Brogan is injured or well marked, their other forwards aren't anything special. All we can do is keep our own ship in order though. Hopefully the experience that Kildare have built up over the last three seasons will stand to them this summer starting with next Sunday.

Pat Spillane despises Kildare, but I would'nt give it a second thought, as KK said , better this way.

Lads oh Lads , great news that you are favorite , will take the heat of Us , and remember , if kildare were missing JD , whitey , JK , would they have won the div1 final , remember , we had a decent league team , with championship players sitting in the wings , so if you want to buy into the Sunday Game gurus fire away , I still maintain kildare will sorely miss dermot , he is the engine and heart of the team , like another sensible poster put it , take it game by game , i expect a kildare v dublin semi

To be honest watching Kildare in training over the last few weeks and also taken into account of league form that we showed,Kildare will be hard to beat.These lads are all focused on one game that is the wicklow game.There speed and work rate off the ball is second to none.Kildare are back to the fitness we have seen against meath and down last year.
Think Dublin are the favs,but like most Dublin teams over the last few yrs,think they will buckle if they meet kidlare,like they have done in the league final and all ireland semi.

Guys, can anyone help me. I have the season ticket from the NFL but seem to remember it entitles me to entry to the first championship match also. Does that give me access to the stand in Portlaoise or just terraces does anyone know ?

Ignore above post. I found the answer... thanks

Could anyone give the sister Anne a lift to Portlaoise on Sunday? I can get Jimmy Portlaw to drop her to the gate of Conleth's but he's going on to Naas to visit his brother, Mickey, in the hospital. The back seat of the Honda is fecked - rust never sleeps - so I'll not be able to bring her. She'll have her own ticket and sandwiches so no trouble there. Thanks. Tom O'Neill

Kildare Team Named for Sunday:

Kildare (SF v Wicklow):

S Connolly
A MacLochlainn,
M Foley,
H McGrillen;
G White,
B Flanagan,
E Bolton;
D Flynn,
H Lynch;
M O'Flaherty,
E O'Flaherty,
P O'Neill;
J Doyle,
R Sweeney,
J Kavanagh.

Say there will be changes made to that,before the throw in