Under 20s 2023

U20 Development League gets under way in just under 2 weeks. We’re in a group of 3 along with Kerry and Dublin, scheduled to play Kerry away on the 11th of Feb and then home to Dublin on the 4th of March.

Leinster Championship has us in a group of 3 along with Westmeath and Wexford. Being in the group of 3 means the top 2 go into the quarter finals rather than top getting a bye to the semi.

No idea how many of last years panel are eligible to go again but you’d imagine avoiding the likes of Dublin and Meath means we should be looking to make the knockout stages at a minimum anyway. Open draw for the semis then as well opens things up a little bit if you can avoid 1 of the favourites there.

With the development league due to start shortly and other counties playing challenge matches it’s  a wonder there’s been no updates on our own challenge games or how the squad is shaping up. Although considering how tight things are with the seniors maybe that’s to be expected as well?

Anyone heard anything about who’s involved or any behind closed doors games being played?

Beat Mayo well in the dome there on Sunday so I hear , think there’s a lot of the team from last year available again which is good

There's about 7 starters and a couple of the regular subs from last year but if you look at Offaly, Dublin Meath, Laois, they all have the same or more back and there was little between any of those 5 teams last year. The fact that they have a bye before the quarter-final will be no harm to give them a breather before playing likely Meath or Laois in a quarter-final.

Meath won the minor 3 years ago but their record at this grade is beyond shocking, last title 2001, only 1 Leinster under21/20 final appearance since then. Their 2 best players Conor Grey and Eoghan Freyne have been playing freshers with NUI Maynooth and are impressive. 9 back from last year's team that didn't show up until Dublin had built a big lead. Laois have 8 of last year's starting line-up back and the last good team they'll have at this level for a while so they'll throw everything at it.

The Dublin u20 centre-back was marking Darragh Kirwin for some of the game last Saturday night, their goalie played one of the O'Byrne Cup games, 4 others back from last year's Leinster final line-up

Not going to see much happening over the next couple of weeks with all the freshers and colleges games going on.

They played Down in Abbotstown last night and are playing Galway in Johnstownbridge on Saturday

So the panel is confirmed for the year, looks like 12 remain from last years squad along 4 of last years minor squad included as well.

Adam Fanning – Clane
Callum Bolton – Sarsfields
Ciaran Flanagan – Maynooth
Colm Dalton – Sallins
Conn Kehoe - Suncroft
Cormac Barker – Kilcullen
Dara Crowley - Raheens
Daire Guerin - Naas
Darragh Swords – Caragh
Eoin Cully – Carbury
Eoin Sheehan – Johnstownbridge
Ethan Mountaine - Sarsfields
Fionn Cooke - Raheens
Fionn O’Giolláin – Maynooth
Gavin Thompson - Raheens
Harry O’Neill – Clane
Jack McKevitt - Naas
James Harris - Castlemitchell
James McGrath – Athy
Kevin Cummins - Naas
Killian Browne – Celbridge
Luke Killian - Sallins
Mark Fitzsimons - Rathangan
Mark Gibbons – Kilcock
Niall Dolan - Raheens
Oisin O’Sullivan – Clane
Oliver Birch – Leixlip
Rob Fitzgerald - Naas
Ryan Burke – Caragh
Ryan Sinkey – Naas
Sam Savage - Rathangan
Sean Hanafin - Naas
Shane Farrell – Kilcock
Tim Ryan - Naas
Tomas Von Englebrechten – Johnstownbridge

First match of the season is away to Kerry this Saturday in the John Kerins Cup.

Isn't it just great to see a name like Thomas von Englebreçhten on a Kildare squad sheet. How times have changed and for the better!

Good few from last years 20s and 4 from last years minors.

I can't believe some of those lads are still under 20. Great experience going into the season with some exciting young lads coming through. I think James Harris is a future captain if the Rugby doesn't nab him!

Team v Kerry tomorrow in Kerry:

1. Cormac Barker - Kilcullen
2. Harry O'Neill - Clane
3. Tomas Von Engelbrechten - Johnstownbridge
4. Tim Ryan - Naas
5. Fionn Ó Giolláin - Maynooth
6. James McGrath - Athy
7. Ryan Burke - Caragh
8. Sean Hanafin - Naas
9. Luke Killian - Sallins
10. Callum Bolton - Sarsfields
11. Shane Farrell - Kilcock
12. Ciaran Flanagan - Maynooth
13. Kevin Cummins - Naas
14. Colm Dalton - Sallins
15. Eoin Cully - Carbury

16. Eoin Sheehan - Johnstownbridge
17. James Harris - Castlemitchell
18. Jack McKevitt - Naas
19. Adam Fanning - Clane
20. Niall Dolan - Raheens
21. Fionn Cooke - Raheens
22. Dara Crowley - Raheens
23. Killian Browne - Celbridge
24. Ethan Mountaine - Sarsfields
25. Conn Keogh - Suncroft
26. Mark Gibbons - Kilcock
27. Daire Guerin - Naas
28. Rob Fitzgerald Naas
29. Oliver Birch - Leixlip
30. Gavin Thompson - Raheens
31. Ryan Sinkey - Naas
32. Sam Savage - Rathangan
33. Mark Fitzsimons - Rathangan
34. Darragh Swords - Caraghj
35. Oisin O'Sullivan - Clane

Cribbin has done a tremendous job with the cbs teams hope he can bring it through now to the 20s for the future

Am I right in saying Cully is the man who usually plays on the wing? Will he drop out the field?

As an aside. Flanno is someone who eked everything he had in him as a player and at his age he obviously works well with the lads. He seems to have a good crew assembled and the plenty of leaders in the squad too.

Best of luck to them in 2023!

Some win down in Killarney!
Kerry 0-15
Kildare 2-12

Two goals from Sean Hanafin.

3 point win today in Killarney 2-12 to 15 points.

Sean Hanafin with both goals in the first half and Adam Fanning with a couple of late points after coming off the bench to seal it.

Good start to the year against what you'd imagine would have been a strong Kerry team after they narrowly lost the minor All Ireland with this age group in 2020.

Great win for the 20’s, huge talent in the squad. Hopefully the start of another long year for them!

Well done to all, good news badly needed after Sunday. Last years leinster final win over Dublin was by far my favourite game of the year. Hopefully another good team on the way.

Great win and as was said a much needed boost after last Sunday. Looks an impressive panel, hopefully they can have another long season this year. Coming on top of Naas CBS there are definitely positive signs for the future...

Next game is v Dublin on Sat week in Hawkfield at 1pm.

There are a few of those names above that would do a job on the senior panel. Not even joking.

Christ no. Let them live the lie as long as possible.

really_unofficial_kildare wrote:

There are a few of those names above that would do a job on the senior panel. Not even joking.

I agree but we should take our time with this crew and not do what we did with the 2018 crop, which was to chuck nine or 10 straight on the senior panel, and then discard most of them by the time they were 23/24 to the point where there wasn't a single one playing against Derry, even though they should be coming into their peak years.

Harry O’Neill definitely has the ability to play senior inter county. He was one of the standout players in last years club championship. Luke Killian also has the athleticism for senior inter county football. Best of luck to the 20’s this Saturday.

Match has changed to St. Conleth's Park and is at noon on Saturday.

Team for tomorrow's game v Dublin in Newbridge at 12. No ticket needed.

1. Eoin Sheehan - Johnstownbridge
2. Harry O'Neill - Clane
3. Ryan Burke - Caragh
4. Tim Ryan - Naas
5. Fionn Ó Giolláin - Maynooth
6. James McGrath - Athy
7. Jack McKevitt - Naas
8. Sean Hanafin - Naas
9. Luke Killian - Sallins
10. Callum Bolton - Sarsfields
11. Shane Farrell - Kilcock
12. Ciaran Flanagan - Maynooth
13. Sam Savage - Rathangan
14. Colm Dalton - Sallins
15. Niall Dolan - Raheens

16. Cormac Barker - Kilcullen
17.Tomas Von Engelbrechten - Johnstownbridge
18. James Harris - Castlemitchell
19. Oliver Birch - Leixlip
20. Dara Crowley - Raheens
21. Mark Gibbons - Kilcock
22. Killian Browne - Celbridge
23. Ryan Sinkey - Naas
24. Kevin Cummins - Naas
25. Eoin Cully - Carbury
26. Oisin O'Sullivan - Clane
27. Adam Fanning - Clane
28. Darragh Swords - Caragh
29. Mark Fitzsimons - Rathangan
30. Conn Kehoe - Suncroft
31. Daire Guerin - Naas
32. Ethan Mountaine - Sarsfields
33. Rob Fitzgerald - Naas
34. Gavin Thompson - Raheens
35. Fionn Cooke - Raheens

Drew with Dublin earlier today 1-8 apiece.

Took a 5 point lead after getting a goal halfway through the 2nd half to go 1-7 to 5 points ahead but only scored 1 point from there on with Dublin coming back and getting goal pretty much immediately after our own one.

Seems like Dublin top the group after we both beat Kerry by 3, both scored 3 goals in total but Dublin scored 14 points against Dublin to our 12. Now that is unfortunate. Dublin beat Kerry in Parnell Park and we beat them in Killarney.