watched longford in the minro league v letrim(match ended in a draw), yes its only league but they look accomplished, Leitrim on the other hand have the best crop in a long time

If leitrim can over come the rossies and get an extra couple of games there might be a surprise o 2

UniGaa (National) - Posts: 694 - 12/05/2014 09:57:15    1586497

think its time for Connacht to bring in back door in minor
after all lot lads will only improve with more games
and with minors even the best teams have off day
I think of galway minors last year
there first game was against the eventual all Ireland champions mayo
who they took to extra time lost and that was there season over

rhudson (Galway) - Posts: 1478 - 12/05/2014 15:26:54    1586665

Leinster Quarter-Finals

Offaly vs Westmeath - Offaly were not tested in their opener with a 49 point win over Kilkenny but looked fairly good in the Leinster League and have also beaten some strong teams in recent challenge matches. Westmeath lost to Kildare by 4 points in the opening round but there wasn't a whole pile between those sides. They had a good result against a poor Wicklow side the last day but I think Offaly at home will be too strong. Prediction: Offaly.

Wexford vs Laois - Both these sides won their opening games against Louth and Carlow respectively. Wexford's result looks more impressive on paper managing to score 3-15 against a Louth team that then only conceded 0-10 to Longford. Both Louth and Carlow however looked poor and both teams will see this game as very winnable. Prediction: Wexford.

Dublin vs Meath - This looks the strongest of the quarter finals with both teams coming off good opening wins. Dublin had the tougher match against Longford but some of their key players will be hoping for much better games. Meath had an easy win against Wicklow who in turn were murdered by Westmeath. Their league game earlier in the year which Meath won reveals little with both sides starting very different championship teams. Very hard to call. Prediction: Dublin

Longford vs Kildare - After two away trips to Drogheda and Carlow, Longford will be glad to have this game at home. Longford have played well in patches but will need to improve to beat Kildare. Kildare are not as strong as the previous year and retain only a couple of last year's Leinster winning side. If Longford can replicate the form they showed in the opening 15 minutes against Dublin I'd fancy them. Prediction: Longford.

...but it wouldn't surprise me if it was Westmeath, Laois, Meath and Kildare!! The 8 teams will all have realistic ambitions to progress and justifiably so.

daborder (Longford) - Posts: 58 - 12/05/2014 18:18:11    1586765

Home advantage to give Dublin the win..

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 12/05/2014 20:15:25    1586809

Ziggy
Dublin playing at home is no advantage to them, or so the dub posters would have you beleive :-)

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 12/05/2014 21:34:50    1586838

Longford getting beaten by Kildare AET a shock and Dublin beating Meath as expected. Also wins for Laois and Offaly.

Leinster semi finals.

Offaly v Dublin
Kildare v Laois

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3347 - 17/05/2014 18:26:45    1589004

The defending champions win a quarter final. Some shock alright.

KildareKelly (Kildare) - Posts: 593 - 17/05/2014 18:42:05    1589012

Congratulations to Kildare after recovering from a nightmare start against Longford.Well done to Longford for their own comeback after the game appeared to be drifting beyond them. Best wishes to Kildare's Conor Hartley and Longford's Enda Macken on who were both hospitalised after a clash early in the firrt half.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2990 - 17/05/2014 18:43:01    1589013

17/05/2014 18:42:05
KildareKelly
County: Kildare
Posts: 180

1589012
The defending champions win a quarter final. Some shock alright.

Irrelevant what happened the previous year in minor level. Longford were hotly tipped to reach the Leinster final at least this year and they won the minor league already this year. The odds on Kildare to win proves it was a shock result.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3347 - 17/05/2014 19:22:12    1589023

Offaly 2-16 Westmeath 1-8... You'd expect more from a Westmeath side with a number of last year's finalists still underage. That said, Offaly did look very impressive.

Offalylad (Offaly) - Posts: 36 - 17/05/2014 19:47:24    1589033

Hotly tipped or overhyped ? Seems to depend on the county involved.....
As for the odds, Longford were indeed favourites but Kildare were about 5/4 or 11/8. A team winning a game at that price can in no way be deemed a shock.
Anyway.....keep counting us out. Suits me fine !

KildareKelly (Kildare) - Posts: 593 - 17/05/2014 19:49:16    1589035

17/05/2014 19:47:24
Offalylad
County: Offaly
Posts: 36

1589033
Offaly 2-16 Westmeath 1-8... You'd expect more from a Westmeath side with a number of last year's finalists still underage. That said, Offaly did look very impressive.

Not with Tommy Carr as manager. Offaly won the Fr Manning cup last year clearly some good talent coming through and they could be good enough to topple the Dubs.

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 3758 - 17/05/2014 19:56:19    1589040

This group of Kildare players had won the Leinster u16 tournament in 2012. Longford were a good side but Kildare were well worth the win today. They should really have killed the game off in normal time after being in control after a bad start in the first 15 minutes.

beir_bua (Kildare) - Posts: 746 - 17/05/2014 20:23:24    1589052

Offaly at home against the dubs ,should be a cracker .this isva fantastic ofdaly team under good management .ofdaly v kildare leinster final for me

liffo (Offaly) - Posts: 649 - 18/05/2014 12:29:27    1589199

The bookies had the Longford v Kildare tie the closest of the quarter finals and so it proved to be. Longford had a great start, a high ball into the square catching Hyland off guard and McElligott stole in for an early goal. Kildare were deserved victors having been 1-04 to 0-01 behind early on, they completely dominated the next 30/40 minutes outscoring Longford by 1-09 to a single point. Had the Kildare keeper not gone on a bit of an expedition with about 10 minutes to go Kildare could have won it in normal time but Longford to their credit battled hard in the second half and took some lovely scores to get into extra time and either side could have stole it at the end. Poor marking allowed Michael Kelly to take over at the start of extra time scoring 1-02 in the first 5 minutes and a tired Longford side had no way back.
Kildare looked a nicely balanced side with some excellent footballers and it should be a good match with Laois in the semi-final who have also found a bit of form.
Offaly looked a super team on Friday night and former county player Pascal Kelleghan looks to have gotten them in great shape. They track back, pick up loads of ball and the running off the shoulder was excellent. They have 6 forwards who can score, a centreback who likes to get forward (scored 3 points) and there was excellent movement throughout the team. Westmeath looked a sorry enough outfit though and having beaten only them and Kilkenny, Offaly will know that Dublin will be a much sterner test.

Semi-Finals
Offaly vs Dublin
Laois vs Kildare

With 6 weeks off now, all 4 teams will fancy their chances of getting to Croker.

daborder (Longford) - Posts: 58 - 18/05/2014 13:49:18    1589226

best luck to offaly minors v dublin
if ever offaly neede succesfull minor team its now

rhudson (Galway) - Posts: 1478 - 20/05/2014 17:23:43    1590871

The main differences between Longford & Kildare was ability to win own kickouts & the impact of players off the bench.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 20/05/2014 18:47:59    1590915

Correct Keeper As Eugene McGee said yesterday it was the Kildare subs who came on who actually improved the team.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2990 - 20/05/2014 18:58:28    1590925

Agreed rhudson. It gives me no pleasure at all to see Offaly football as low as it has been the last few years. They really need a boost, a Leinster minor would be a good start.

KildareKelly (Kildare) - Posts: 593 - 20/05/2014 20:47:24    1591011

Having watched Dublin a couple of times this year, they will need to up the game to beat Offaly. The players are there, the right balance hasn't been achieved yet. Lots of really good individuals but have only played as a team in patches. If the management do get the balance right, they will be a dangerous outfit.

Drummerboy (Dublin) - Posts: 85 - 20/05/2014 21:44:50    1591071