Athy vs Sarsfields

Ragin i'm not heading to the local to disect this one but the mrs cracked the whip. Have to say in all my years attending games i've never seen such a disgraceful end to a game. 3 sendings off and there could have been more. Athy lads to there credit kept there hands to themselves and were the better team on the day. they went looking for a reaction from the sash lads like most teams do at times and sarsfields took there bait. From what i saw sarsfields had a stronger full forward line than athys full back line but just didnt exploit it. Athy would seriously want to address that before the larries game. The line as a whole were far to loose. i wish them all the best for the final think there great line ups and its nice to see some new colours on county final day. The two newbridge teams would want ta take a serious look at themselves. For the calibre of players in those clubs not ta reach a semi at least is a total failure. The 2 best performing teams in the league should do better. Taking nothing away from the teams that beat them like i said. My rant is prob a bit disjointed but as i said i would rather be down the local with the bar stool experts.

Any opinions lads and lassies

Thought the no. 22 for athy was unreal when he came on. He wound up confrey no end. How an experienced senior took the bait from a young lad ill never know. As the game went sars were by far the stronger physically but athy the better on open play. BTW the 22 did nothin outside the rules

at the larries game and moores.....alot of time for fylnn......but my god,he had no interest in winning or did he try for his team.......for start to finish he tried to belong in a boxing ring,feel sorry for podge but he lost it and will learn from that......larrys defending at times was a joy to watch

The two Newbridge teams got caught up in trying to be the hardman and they got what they deserved, two defeats.

Athy and Laurence's stood up to the physical stuff but never forgot that they were there first and foremost to win a football match, apart from the fogarty incident of course, and that was the difference.

Sarsfields in particular really let themselves down and the players let down the people within the club who do so much work off the field. I've never seen a player hit as he was walking up to take a penalty before. The ref didn't see that one but there was plenty more than he did see.

Are these players turning up to win football matches or to settle personal grudge matches out on the pitch?

On another point though, fair play to Athy. Have to be favourites now and who knows where this club could be in a few years. It's all there for them if they stick at it, they have the potential to dominate Kildare in the manner that Moorefield have over the last ten years but they also have the potential to lift serious silverware outside the county wall too

Big win for Athy and it might be the one that gives them the believe to push on from last years under 21 win. As has being said Sarsfield were the more physically and apart from the last few minutes this was mostly within the rules. Athy took some really nice scores moving the ball quick and when they did this Sarsfield really had no answer to it.
Thought the Ref had a poor enough game but he got the sending offs right and he could even have sent a few more.

The No.22 was D.Hyland this years county minor and he did make a big differance when put on Confrey. He got tight on him which Confrey did not like and he even tried to hand Hyland his jersey at one stage. This was a stupid thing to do as he should have stuck to the football as he was probably Sarsfields best player.

Was at the game es myself yesterday. Carbery will be a hard team to beat. They have a good solid team. Athy were very mobile and good in space. Sarsfields let themselves down. I was told by a sarsfields person to watch their full forward and if there was any agro he would be involved and stir it up. Then he gets sent off. Does bayone know what all the sendinf off were for apart from the last (No Seven for Sash)?

Missed what the double sending off was for in the square. But Confrey received a second yellow. I think Dempsey's was a straight red. Athy were clever in moving Gibbons off Confrey after both were yellow carded and then putting a fresh marker (Hyland) onto him to antagonise him more.

Gibbons got away with an awful lot of off the ball pulling and dragging right from the word go when he was on the Sarsfields no. 15. At one stage in the first half both Gibbons and Confrey were wrestling on the ground right in front of the goal. Ref consulted the umpires who apparently saw nothing and no action was taken.

Conor Tiernan deserved his red card as he threw at least three punches in the melee at the end.

The Sarsfields player that threw and hit the ref with the ball after the final whistle let himself down too. Not sure in any action will be taken on this but the ref scribbled something in his notebook before being escorted off.

On the football side of things Athy were definitely the better team. Some of Mulhalls points were lovely scores, especially in the first half. If they can make the breakthrough this year they could become a dominant force in Kildare football for some time to come.

For Sarsfields I thought their no. 15 was very lively (don't know his name). He made some great runs and was first out to nearly every ball played in his direction. Young Caoimhin McDonnald also came into it in a big way in the final quarter and could be one for the future.

Yeah thought the sarsfields no 15 had a good game. Thouight athy 15 was good. I thought Feeney ( no 17 athy) was immense although a little raw but with plenty of potential

Theres a lot of people getting fierce excited here after what was a poor enough weekends football.
Yes the shock upsets of Moorefield and Sarsfields provided a bit of a stir, but lets face it, the football on display was far from what you'd expect of senior quarter finals.

Neither do I buy into all this hype about Athy. There is no guarantee at all that this team will do anything spectacular within the county let alone outside. There have been far better teams in this county than the current Athy side who won titles and failed miserably in Leinster. Sarsfields, Moorefield and Clane to name but a few. There was similar talk of Celbridge domination a few years ago and they did nothing after their win. Yes they have been impressive at underage but until they do something tangible - and by tangible I mean win a couple of senior county titles - they cannot be mentioned in the same breath as the great teams of Kildare club football.

It's great to have 4 new teams contesting the senior ranks within Kildare and Im sure Geezer and co will be delighted. I presonally think Carbury will win it now.

FuturesWhite wrote:

Theres a lot of people getting fierce excited here after what was a poor enough weekends football.
Yes the shock upsets of Moorefield and Sarsfields provided a bit of a stir, but lets face it, the football on display was far from what you'd expect of senior quarter finals.

Neither do I buy into all this hype about Athy. There is no guarantee at all that this team will do anything spectacular within the county let alone outside. There have been far better teams in this county than the current Athy side who won titles and failed miserably in Leinster. Sarsfields, Moorefield and Clane to name but a few. There was similar talk of Celbridge domination a few years ago and they did nothing after their win. Yes they have been impressive at underage but until they do something tangible - and by tangible I mean win a couple of senior county titles - they cannot be mentioned in the same breath as the great teams of Kildare club football.

It's great to have 4 new teams contesting the senior ranks within Kildare and Im sure Geezer and co will be delighted. I presonally think Carbury will win it now.

I'd agree with your general points about the games lacking quality but don't really agree with your point about Athy. Nobody is saying that they are a great team now but they certainly have the potential to go and achieve serious things. Look at the team that finished the game for them, only Mick Foley was older than his mid 20's.

And I certainly don't agree with your assertion that Carbury will win from here. I don't see them as a very impressive team, the O'Flaherty's are outstanding and Rossiter is still a good competitor but I don't think they will be good enough to beat Celbridge never mind who comes through on the other side.

Laurence's I feel would have given Athy a real game in the semi final but for Padraig Fogarty's red card, he will be a massive loss for the larries.

Stayed around for this game yesterday and really enjoyed it. Straight away you could see that there was a lot at stake and it would be harsh to judge it on how it ended.

The better team won the game.and had the better subs to bring on. Also , Mulhall kicked one or two great points which was probably the difference in the end. I had sympathy for the Sars no 14. The no 22 for Athy was an aggravating little twat and if that is the way he is being coached , well God help us all.He had absolutely no interest in playing the ball and that is sad.

I thaught that the referee had a good game. He took the correct action when faced with difficult decisions but his umpires should have helped him more.They let the Athy no 22 do what he wanted to Sars no 14 and when the latter eventually retaliated , the umpires were suddenly baying for his blood. The other Sars lads just lost it then.

After watchiing a lot of games this year , I still have not seen another player who would strengthen the Kildare panel if added to it.

tomcruise wrote:

Stayed around for this game yesterday and really enjoyed it. Straight away you could see that there was a lot at stake and it would be harsh to judge it on how it ended.

The better team won the game.and had the better subs to bring on. Also , Mulhall kicked one or two great points which was probably the difference in the end. I had sympathy for the Sars no 14. The no 22 for Athy was an aggravating little twat and if that is the way he is being coached , well God help us all.He had absolutely no interest in playing the ball and that is sad.

I thaught that the referee had a good game. He took the correct action when faced with difficult decisions but his umpires should have helped him more.They let the Athy no 22 do what he wanted to Sars no 14 and when the latter eventually retaliated , the umpires were suddenly baying for his blood. The other Sars lads just lost it then.

After watchiing a lot of games this year , I still have not seen another player who would strengthen the Kildare panel if added to it.

I think Mulhall & Padraig fogarty, silly sending off aside, certainly showed that they worthy of getting a chance at least next year, it's up to them then to take it. Mulhall's left footed frees alone wud b an improvement

Tom Cruise..

The no 22 is a 17 year old minor, who did nothin wrong and did a very good job winning every ball kicked into him.. His hands were out everytime and off the ball he wasn't fouling only marking his man tight.. Robbie Confrey is supposed to be a senior footballer, Getting animated and trying to show off in front of the crowd was a very foolish thing to do. Then when he raised his fist to atleast 2 Athy players he had to walk. In the end he cost sarsfields dearly.. 2 points down with a free on the Athy 45 and with 2 minutes of normal time to play. If he had to keep his disipline Sarsfields could have got a draw. How could you have sympathy for a player who had one of the worse displinary record around?

Hope

I watched both players for most of the second half and it that is what you think , you need a trip to specsavers. I do not know either player and I am commenting on what I saw. I do not care what age either of them are but I would be more concerned as to who coaches the no 22 for Athy , if he is only 17 years of age..I will admit that the Sars no 14 willl be feeling fairly low today for retaliating to the provocation.

Dont know what you were watching Tom, Confrey had more than a red card coming his way except for the excellent discipline shown by the Athy players who knew they were going through to the next round. Did you see him give the lad a kiss shortly before he finally cracked. He's a good footballer but after seeing the way he was celebrating his goal against towers I wouldnt have any sympathy. And as said No. 22 did nothing wrong just stood too close for comfort.

Sarsfields no15 is always at it. I have seen him a few times this year and every match he has being the same. He ran away when Flynn went for him in the league final. Having said that he has been Sash' best player this year. Athy are the team now. Team of the future. Quailty players in Mulhall Renyolds and Eaton. Three players who can really help Kildare seniors in the very very near future. As for the Newbridge teams i think they are finally cracked. Bringing no players through has finally caught up on them. They now have no talent coming up bar one or two.

I see Athy just getting past Larries for the simple reason the Fogarty is gone. Also think Celbridge's experience will get them through to the final.. Which will set up a cracking final between the two future teams of the county..

I wouldn't be writing off Moorefield and Sarsfields after 1 bad year...

Plenty of people walking out of the grounds after both matches seem to think so.

sean boylan wrote:

Sarsfields no15 is always at it.

I presume you're referring to Confrey. He was no. 14. The no. 15 wasn't involved in anything untoward.

Yes sorry exactly who i'm on about.. Its fitting you knew who i was on about even with the wrong number.

Agree totally Junior A... Any views on the Celbridge Clane match?

Celbridge were always going to have too much for a very young but very talented Clane side. Clane are buliding and buliding very well at that.. Celbridge are also buliding but have the experience to pull through along with there youth. Clane just had not enough experience but i see Clane been up there with Clebridge and Athy in the future..

Yeah Clane seem to have an extremely young but improving team, having seen them a few times this year they look to have a lot of potential and have undoubtedly made huge progress from last year. Being back in div. 1 should be a huge benefit. On the other hand Celbridge have one of the strongest teams in the county on paper but havent really performed well at all this year, they need to start playing a bit better if they are to go on and win this championship.

Who played well?

Athy have matured so much over the past year both mentally and physically.

Their treble winning minors are all turning into big strong men and are now a match for anyone in the County.

However the one draw I reckon they would have liked to avoid until the final at least would have been St Laurences. A local derby means form goes out the window, anything can happen.
Larries with their county men back, the lads who were travelling abroad also back they will be hard beaten especially after a confidence boosting win over Moorefield on Saturday.

It will be an intriguing match.

Fionn, Athy have already bet Larries in the first round. Yes, Larries have got a number of players back but also Athy have strenghtened up a whole lot. Fairly different team they have. IMO i think they have bet a better team in the previous round. Moores could struggle from now on. Sash have been playing better than Moorefield this championship. Going to be some match indeed. Put without Fogarty they could struggle for scores.