National League Division 2

Early on last week Hyland struggled when left one on one. Hopefully we give him bit more protection this week. Maybe Peter Kelly would be better option at 3?! I believe Healy was very good last night in Sigerson. Maybe him in for Flynn in corner!!

Who would you put on the frees then umpire ?.

Does anyone know how the league fixtures are devised? Obviously it's not a home and away arrangement. So I guess it's planned with a view to teams having a certain amount of home and away games. But how do they decide if you have four or three home games?

My back line would be O'Grady, Kelly, Hyland and (half backs) Byrne, Doyle, Lyons.

Still think Lyons' explosive pace and attacking potential best utilised in half back line and I find it frustrating he's never been utilised there for a long period. There's a reason the Dubs play McCaffrey as a half-back and not a corner back.

But in general, no complaints about team on Sunday (it's the same again, incidentally). The boys did their stuff the last day and hopefully will again. Also, it's been a long, long time since Kildare had a really settled team. Even Geezer sometimes chopped and changed a bit too much for my liking.

But anyway, expecting a huge battle on Sunday, wouldn't surprise me if it's a draw...

Good shout hg.
Kildare 6/5. Cork 10/11. 15/2 for the draw.

Applying the same McCaffrey logic then Cooper would be in the half-back line as well with his pace. Dublin don't have to put McCaffrey in the full-back line whereas we don't have as many options, and none with Lyons pace (though I wish Liam Healy was given game time).

Last Sunday's game fell nicely for us, Reminded me of the Mayo game in Newbridge 3 years ago. And then we got relegated. Won't happen this time but it was almost too good to be true last Sunday. We could do what we liked at midfield against physically inferior opponents. This time we're up against probably the biggest midfield around in Walsh, Deane and Maguire. If we get anywhere close to 50% possession we'll be doing well. If we do get that I think we'll win as the Cork backs are the poorest quality group to come out of Cork since Crystal Swing.

Have huge time for Colm O'Neill but unless Kerrigan is allowed a free run on goal, and we stop Walsh running through the middle like he did in Croker 5 years ago, I think they might struggle for scores outside of O'Neill. Going away to Galway and getting a draw was an impressive result but I suspect Galway weren't firing on all cylinders. Interesting that the Cork backs struggled with forwards running at them in Galway. Think we might win a close one but not hugely confident.

Don't think Dublin would ever play Cooper in half back line now as he's a tighter marker than McCaffrey. I think the half back line I named could take care of business while allowing Lyons to break forward further up the field. So I stand by it boys!

[quote="SeamusMurphy"]Who would you put on the frees then umpire  ?.[/quote]

Surely Kelly or McCormacks conversion rate couldn't be much worse surly?

Healy should get his chance once the u21 championship starts. It's likely McCormack will be used more sparingly by the seniors should the Kildare u21s progress.

Neither would be specialist free takers. In fact none of the forwards including healy and mcnally would be free takers with their clubs.. neal flynn is.

Is Flynn a brilliant free taker?
He looks good from short enough distances but when I see him he is hit and miss outside 35.
Maybe I am wrong??

I can't understand why we never persisted with Donnellan on the long range frees. Kicked a few in 2015 against Laois in the league and against Longford and Cork in the championship.

Botch wrote:

Is Flynn a brilliant free taker?
He looks good from short enough distances but when I see him he is hit and miss outside 35.
Maybe I am wrong??

The problem he has is he arrows his frees rather than a curling technique, which makes them difficult if there not central.. hope that makes sense

His freetaking in the last two Leinster U21 finals was absolutely incredible, in fairness. Between both games, play and placed balls, he scored 0-21. Phenomenal, really.

He isn't anywhere near the same success rate so far in his senior carear.

umpireonditch wrote:

He isn't anywhere near the same success rate so far in his senior carear.

Best we have at the moment though.. hopefully he'll improve.

Super display - worthy winners. Most pleasing aspect has to be the attitude of the players, led brilliantly and by example by our captain. Tackling seems to be improving too so I guess credit had to to Roli for that.

With around 15 to go with game in melting pot Hyland & Doyle really stood up, great leadership form the spine of the defence,
Nice to win abit of a dog fight and have goal threats in the team.

One of the coldest days in Newbridge I can remember, but the display and passion showed by the players warmed me up no end.
Totally deserving of the win and it should have been a right hammering if not for that dose Cormac Reilly.
Cork were supposed to have a strong Midfield with Walsh, but he was destroyed by Feely. As good a display at Midfield for Kildare since Dermot was lording it. He could be one of the best if he continues this level of performance improvement.

Backs had a great display with the captain leading the way, Cork tried to run through us but apart from a couple of late runs in the first half they got no joy. Whereas we cut them open again and again.
What can you say about Ben McCormack, he is capable of reaching any level he wants. Stunning stuff.

Saying all of that the best thing from today was when we had Flynn's goal disallowed for God knows what, we never went into ourselves and in fact we drove on and scored a cracking goal.

I know it's only February, but that is a Kildare team people can get behind. Young, talented and hungry.

Great stuff all round and good to see Roli taking no crap on the sideline. Appears we have a bit of fight back.

Great team performance, never looked like losing at any point despite Cormac Reilly's best efforts, and nice to see us closing out a game and not panicking as Kildare have done in the recent past. Eoin Doyle is slowly turning into one of the best defenders in the country, he really is a pleasure to watch. David Hyland was very good today, as was Ben McCormack and Kevin Feely.

This young team has massive potential, but you do worry about a few injuries.

Great performance in really tough conditions. Ben McCormack and Paul Cribben were both immense - in fact there were a lot of good performances all over the pitch. Eoin Doyle is developing into a great leader (and defender) on the pitch - not do as I say, do as I do! Great to see players taking on the opposition in a physical way as well - not shirking challenges. Some great blocks in the defence - again showing players willing to put their bodies on the line. All in all a lot of positives and onto Derry now in two weeks.

As regards the Flynn 'goal' - I'm baffled. The game had clearly restarted and then the ref brought it back. Never seen that before. Thankfully it made no difference. But what a brilliant goal it was.

And thank God for the hot soup in Johnsons afterwards! There wasn't even shelter in the stand from the cold today.

The goal was disallowed because of a double hop, spotted by Maurice Deegan.

Very unusual for a linesman to interfere on a technical issue if it was for a double bounce. He wasn't too quick to tell Rielly about Rory Deane holding Feelys arm every time he went for a ball at start of second half.
Really enjoyed the game best league game since Paddy Brophys tour de force v Mayo.
Was delighted to see Niel Flynn finish we some nice scores from play his confidence looked shot. Hopefully he can settle down in that position we need two dangerous inside forwards to keep opposition defences on their toes

Great to back up last weeks performance with another fine performance today, Hyland and Doyle were immense at the back, snuffed out pretty much every threat Cork presented.

Ben is a very talented forward and does something most Kildare forwards have been afraid to or unable to do over the last few year, he takes on his man every time he gets one v one and either gets by him or draws a free.

Still thawing out. But happy to see that will to win and good to be winning back and in conleths aswell, which I wasn't expecting.