Championship 15

Interesting Idea Crofter, I'd agree that could be an excellent move, but I liked the way we defended as a team against Tyrone, and Paidi was a huge part of that from his mdfield position,

Paidi played center back for kildare as a minor i think in 2003

No surprise here I guess, Paul Flynn says Kildare are Dublin's biggest threat in Leinster. He's talking about some of the U21s coming through for them. I wonder if there'll actually be many.

http://www.daraghoconchuir.ie/blog.php?id=2010

Yeah I think we're finally in the place to challenge the Dubs for silverware. We've been close over the last few years whilst being handicapped by injuries and a squad which wasn't quite good enough.
I think this is the year where we kick on and stop worrying about others....

dublin are hugely reliant on the brogans and with Bernard only back and Alan now well into his 30's and an all-ireland in his back pocket i dont think Dublin will come anywhere need retaining sam and are there for the taking in Leinster.

Also i saw a couple of them looking worse for wear in Punchestown so hopefully its all gone to their heads and they haven't stopped celebrating yet!!!!

Im not so sure that Kildare's progress will have anything to do with Dublin and their state. To be fair, I think McManaman and a couple of others showed well for them in the league. The golden child will of course improve them when he gets back.

My thoughts on Kildare progressing are more to do with Kildare themselves. We now seem to have our best players available and fitness levels are at a premium. Competition in the panel is huge and guys are playing for and believeing in the management and their system.

There were a lot of people who questioned the arrival of John Reynolds and why Geezer didnt look within Kildare for O'Rourke's replacement. But yet again Geezer has got the right man for the job.

My hope at the end of last years championship was - and still is - that we get to play the Dubs in Leinster this year with our full compliment of players and especially to see Peter Kelly mark the golden child.

LilyWhyte wrote:

dublin are hugely reliant on the brogans and with Bernard only back and Alan now well into his 30's and an all-ireland in his back pocket i dont think Dublin will come anywhere need retaining sam and are there for the taking in Leinster.

Also i saw a couple of them looking worse for wear in Punchestown so hopefully its all gone to their heads and they haven't stopped celebrating yet!!!!

I agree Kildare are very, very close but Alan Brogan being well into his 30s won't be an issue I'd say. He hasn't played much in the league, he was, in fact, the main man last year, not Bernard. And he's younger than both Johnny and Dermot.

John Rafferty I presume you mean BTA... he has kept some low profile. Supposed to be a very straight man.