New players for 2018

A fully focused Sean Hurley would be a massive boost. Amazes me how keen a lot of people are to write him off for good. Why not get him in, and if it turns out he's not fully committed, and he leaves the panel again, then what have we lost? Absolutely nothing.
I don't think I'm unleashing a state secret in saying he enjoys his social life, but there are examples from other counties of players who really get their act together on that front in their mid-20s, such as the entire Donegal squad in 2011. Give him a shot.

Also, I think improvements in defence are badly needed, and Paul Mescal would really help there, but not sure how his acting career is going. But would be a boost.
I'd try Luke Flynn at full-back, as well, to free Hylo up for the half-back line. I think Flynn is more a natural midfielder, but needs must.
I think Brian McLoughlin and Jimmy Hyland have massive potential, but maybe more from 2019 on. Am I right in thinking they're both eligible for U20 next year, yeah?
Apart from all those I think we'll be dealing with more or less the same panel as this year.

Why did Luke Flynn leave Panel this year

Well this is how I see it. We gave dublin their best test all year and we didnt show up for the first 15 minutes of the game and our captain played with a broken thumb. Not saying we would have won if flynn had buried that goal but i do think it would have been close. Forget the armagh game, we were ambushed, we will learn from it. Really lookin forward to next year. Would love to see Hurley Luke flynn in there next year. Future is bright. We aree the only ones capable of dethroning dubs in leinster

Bigball I would agree with your assessment. I think we were all reeling from Armagh result because of worrying echoes of past Kildare failures - in particular the complete panic that set in during closing stages - but when you look at it, Mayo are frequently pushed to the brink by the likes of Cork, Roscommon, Derry etc - even Westmeath and Tipp gave them problems last year.

Difference - and it is a huge one - is that when it comes to Kerry, Dublin etc they can compete in a manner other teams simply can't. If we can can maintain Div 1 status and keep bringing the young lads through hopefully we'll get to that level. But still a long way to go etc.

The teams who really compete have battle-hardened players who still have plenty of legs, eg Boyle and Higgins.
Any new additions need to be thrown in the deep end of Div 1 and we need to get everyone up to pace ASAP. Promotion is a massive boost but we need to at least compete every game and see who stands up.

Apart from Flynn and Hurley we could do with throwing a few more names around. The 1/4 Finals will hopefully see a few lads put their hands up.

Reflecting on this years All Ireland - there is alot of talk of systems and the end of blanket defences etc.
I think Dublin play a form of blanket defence at times too, everyone filters back to clog up the defence but there system is based on supreme fitness and hard work.
Kildare tried to match that this year and have come as close as anyone but defensively we haven't got it together yet at all. We'll need to study their system more.
Mayo on the other hand tackle like demons which really disrupts teams. I think Kildare need a mix of both - supreme fitness, much harder tackling and a system the whole team are comfortable with.

Therefore, I think it'll be hard for many new players to break through. I think Cian knew he needed a young, fit, athletic core to the team to build on for a few years. It takes time to get that fitness and strenght up aswell as understanding the way we want to play.

On a seperate point - it strikes me that the trend of playing defenders in the half forward line could be reversed soon. Given that the team attack and defend as a unit then often (with Dublin) half backs, full backs bursting forward at pace as a key weapon - might be a position that will start to suit fast / fit forwards to play half back.

Was told Kildare management and chairman had meeting in Hawkfield last night

About?

fone wrote:

Was told Kildare management and chairman had meeting in Hawkfield last night

Enlightened

I think this is the best placxe rather than a new thread but we really need to latch on to any positivity we can to boost the county.
I've no issue being on here giving out as in fairness everyone on here tends to to go games in the muck and shite of O'Byrne Cup and also are involved on some level in the clubs.
I think overall Kildare CB need to push on with promoting the team and keep up a general positive vibe. The Dubs are champions and are also cool now and aspirational to people who would often have no time for the GAA. That is the scariest thing in terms of stopping tjem going ahead.
This year we had people talking about Feely. Dan Flynn won a player of the month and was doing a bit with AIB.
I know there are good things happening and Dundara are on board too making with media. I just really hope we push on and seize as much of the limelight as we can.

In terms of players coming in the army lads mentioned are hopefully available but another year under O'Neill with him learning along with the players.

What have Dundara actually done? Genuine question as haven't seen a minute of coverage from the club championships for example. Other counties doing great stuff.

kildaregaa365 wrote:

What have Dundara actually done? Genuine question as haven't seen a minute of coverage from the club championships for example. Other counties doing great stuff.

Good point........I generally would never been envious of anything Laois have produced but their TV channel covering games seems class!

I think it is just a start and something to kick on from. I would have presumed there will be some club stuff now. Up to now it has been county previews and reaction pieces. As I said it is a start and could be a trial run, but I would hope it cranks up next year.
Laois, Armagh and Wexford all have great stuff on their media channels.

Sean Hurley should be nowhere near the county team. Id like to see Luke Flynn and Daniel Courtney being brought in.

hopefully luke flynn would commit. definitely good enough. 
is mulhall worth another shot. seems to be in decent nick.

2018 Team


Murof

Sarsno1
Big Full Back
Gaa1928

Botch
Centreback
Westside

Kevin Feely
HauntedGraffiti

Kicking King
Seamus Murphy
Johnny Doyle

Rex
Kildare365
Tommy Keegan

Manager: Jason Ryan

Selectors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Donald Trump, Mayo Lad Who Ran Onto Pitch In 2014

Mentor: Roy Hodgson

For me jack Robinson has being the player of the club championship this year he's being excellent getting scores. A couple of years with county training fill him out and he could be a top intercounty forward

TheHulkHoganCowardFund wrote:

Sean Hurley should be nowhere near the county team. Id like to see Luke Flynn and Daniel Courtney being brought in.

Glad to see courtney getting a mention he already has the athleticism of a county player well worth a try. Don't agree about hurley doe he was poor v celbridge but he's being good up to that and he's not very fit. If he committed to the county then fitness wouldn't be a problem and he'd be one of the best in the county

Hurley I think has huge potential. Jack Robinson is a bit of a genius, his goal against Mayo last year one of the best I've ever seen. Any chance Podge Fogarty might come back? As Dubs showed this year your squad can't be deep enough these days. Really hurt Mayo in final I thought.

HauntedGraffiti wrote:

2018 Team


Murof

Sarsno1
Big Full Back
Gaa1928

Botch
Centreback
Westside

Kevin Feely
HauntedGraffiti

Kicking King
Seamus Murphy
Johnny Doyle

Rex
Kildare365
Tommy Keegan

Manager: Jason Ryan

Selectors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Donald Trump, Mayo Lad Who Ran Onto Pitch In 2014

Mentor: Roy Hodgson

Strong full forward line there. Midfield could struggle don't thing HG has the pace when the ground hardens.

Outrageous accusation!! Rex dropped for next game for disciplinary reasons!

Cheers Rex..... I'm a bit more mobile this year so I could do 10 at Centreback if you need to mix things up......

I can't see the county board buying airline tickets from Brazil for Tommy........shure feck it, Cork can ave him!

I was thinking about this thread as a whole and intercounty football and not saying definitively but wondering what people think... Has the game (sadly if so) moved beyond for the most part lads who have a good club championship coming in and making an impact. Just looking at the best counties, doesn't seem to work like that so much anymore. You almost need to have been within the system for a few years, getting the benefit of a different level of preparation and competition via development squads and underage and then a couple of years in the senior panel before making the breakthrough. Maybe I'm wrong but seems this is how the elite sides replenish and keep fresh and young. Maybe I'm wrong.

Rex wrote:

HauntedGraffiti wrote:

2018 Team


Murof

Sarsno1
Big Full Back
Gaa1928

Botch
Centreback
Westside

Kevin Feely
HauntedGraffiti

Kicking King
Seamus Murphy
Johnny Doyle

Rex
Kildare365
Tommy Keegan

Manager: Jason Ryan

Selectors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Donald Trump, Mayo Lad Who Ran Onto Pitch In 2014

Mentor: Roy Hodgson

Strong full forward line there. Midfield could struggle don't thing HG has the pace when the ground hardens.

Tommy Keegan could be a disruptive force in the dressing room and difficult to manage.