well folks its that time of year when we look forward to the brilliant football competition that is the under 21 all ireland football
what are peoples thoughts on teams players t hat will go well
as usual we seem to have good group n galway on the back of some very good minor teams
of course you need a lot luck too as its on the day a knockout comp

rhudson (Galway) - Posts: 1478 - 15/01/2016 14:30:47    1816883

We have a very strong u21 team this year for a change. looking forward to seeing how it pans out.

wd45 (Westmeath) - Posts: 211 - 15/01/2016 14:37:54    1816885

limerick are away to winner of kerry v tipp so we be massive underdogs - just hope we perform like we did last year and give us hope for the future
-more of the same from 21 hurlers be most welcome

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 15/01/2016 15:06:12    1816892

Westmeath actually have a strong u21 hurling team this year as well. Really feel we could rattle the likes of Kilkenny and Wexford in Leinster.

wd45 (Westmeath) - Posts: 211 - 15/01/2016 15:33:54    1816897

Westmeath actually have a strong u21 hurling team this year as well. Really feel we could rattle the likes of Kilkenny and Wexford in Leinster.

wd45 (Westmeath) - Posts: 211 - 15/01/2016 15:34:16    1816898

Tipp have beaten Down and Laois in Leinster u21 league so far and they play Wexford tomorrow
link
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ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 15/01/2016 16:03:06    1816909

We (Roscommon) have been doing poorly in the pre-season hasting cup but its been used mostly for extended panelists. When we have our strongest team back I would expect us to be very competitive once again. Opening game in Connacht is a repeat of last years final v Galway. Mayo with the pick of their 2013 minor AI winning team will fancy their chances to go far this year they also won Connacht minor in 2014. So any one of Roscommon,Mayo,Galway could win Connacht this year.

In Ulster i think Tyrone will likely win back to back titles they have a good number of last years team and reached the minor AI final in 2013.

In Munster one has to fancy Kerry, back to back minor AIs won and with Jack O Connor now U-21 manager they are sure to do well.

Leinster i think Kildare will win that they have won 2 of the last 3 Leinster minor titles and the Dubs aren't as strong as last few years on paper at least.

ispeakwisdom (Roscommon) - Posts: 2487 - 15/01/2016 19:07:11    1816947

It is always hard to know how a minor team will develop into a U-21 team but the Mayo minor team of 2013 were an impressive outfit. My fav's personally are Kerry not only because of Jack O'Connor at the helm but the 2 minor teams of recent years looked like they had the physical attributes to make the transition to U-21 no problem and were impressive in winning their All Ireland titles. Donegal will be very strong at U-21 over the next few years and while I would fancy them more strongly next and possibly the year after they have the talent to go far in this competition. So for me the winner will come from those 3 with Kerry a strong fancy given the easiest possible route to an AI semi final compared to Mayo and Donegal.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2781 - 15/01/2016 21:12:20    1816970

Who do people fancy to win provincial and and outright all Ireland under 21
kildare should have good team I think they have played in 3 leinster minor finals in a row winning 2 of them
Kerry have won 2 minor allirelands and are prob favs to win allireland
however under 21 is difficult to predict as some teams players can improve a lot form 18 to 21 yrs
and turn the tables on teams who beat them at minor level

rhudson (Galway) - Posts: 1478 - 23/02/2016 19:21:54    1827601

Would have fancied us(Roscommon) for Connacht only for our best player and imo best player in whole competition to get injured in warm up for DCU last weekend (Ultan Harney). He is a massive blow and it would have been close between ourselves and Galway even with him. So I fancy Galway to win Connacht and go very very close to winning the competition. I don't rate anything from Leinster and football there is in bad shape at the minute and no signs of it to get better apart from the Dubs obviously.Down south one would have fancy Kerry but Tipp or Cork could cause a shock and wouldn't have there name on the cup just yet. Between Donegal and Tyrone in Ulster but fancy Tyrone to come through.

Munster-Kerry
Leinster-I'll say Kildare but poor standard
Connacht- Galway
Ulster-Tyrone

All Ireland-Galway or winners of connacht

Pingcity (Longford) - Posts: 568 - 24/02/2016 09:29:53    1827659

Laois have a decent team in this for the first time in years but the strain of 5/6 of them being on the senior panel might be too much....

Did well in the preseason tournament and only that the 5 senior team couldn't play the final in the shield against Kildare I think they could have won it went to extra time and was a smashing game of football.

Louth away tonight will not be easy for them.

I'm living in Laois so I don't know that much about my Own U21s in Galway if the truth be known but we lost out in a cracking game to the mayo minors in 2013 after extra time and they went on to lift the cup..Galway are always strong in u21 level and with player Enda Cooke Peter Tierney and Paul and Colm Mannion we could go far

BigJohn.6_8 (Galway) - Posts: 704 - 24/02/2016 10:06:04    1827669

Coud be an interesting game between Dublin and Meath,but home advantage should see Dublin win by about 3 points.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 24/02/2016 11:23:33    1827696

I wouldn't take too much notice of previous minor winners, Galway won All Irelands in 2011 & 2013 but the same group didn't win Connacht when they were at minor level.

How many of the Mayo minor team are likely starters for this years U21? I was under the impression it wouldn't be as many as people think. I do think it will be close close in Connacht with not a great deal to choose between Galway, Mayo & Roscommon. Mayo have a very poor record at u21 in recent years so its probably about time they put that right.

TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 24/02/2016 11:27:34    1827699

I think Donegal's U21 team will be 2016 Ulster U21 Champions, and they will probably have a serious rattle at the All Ireland U21 title too.

With Declan Bonner and his team now at the helm, and those 2014 Minor players and so many other U21 players training with the Seniors, they are likely to be a well oiled machine. Tyrone were terribly lucky against them last season, and I don't see the same outcome this year.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 24/02/2016 13:30:58    1827767

Tyrone were terribly lucky against them last season, and I don't see the same outcome this year.

Just checking you were at the match Gary because Tyrone were not terribly lucky......Tyrone were the better team in the first half with a great kick out strategy that Donegal simply couldn't get to grips with. In the second half Donegal came into the game and fought to the end. I feel Tyrone just deserved it. Would like to know how the Donegal posters who were at the game feel about it.

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 24/02/2016 20:08:58    1827924

I do feel Donegal are the favourites this year for Ulster with the minor teams who are coming though. Tyrone have a 50-50 game away to Cavan in the first round.

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 24/02/2016 20:10:49    1827926

I have a sneaky feeling that Derry might be dark horses for Ulster (10/1), they have an impressive looking crew over them this year and, no disrespect to Antrim, they will have had a game together under belt in the preliminary round before they meet Donegal in the first round.

mhunicean_abu (Monaghan) - Posts: 1044 - 24/02/2016 21:25:32    1827942

wd45, no offence but every year for the last 5 or 6 years I've heard that Westmeath have a great U21 hurling team who are real contenders for Leinster. While they've definitely made big strides underage in recent years, I'll believe it when I see it.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 24/02/2016 21:44:06    1827948

Tyrone were terribly lucky against them last season, and I don't see the same outcome this year.

Just checking you were at the match Gary because Tyrone were not terribly lucky......Tyrone were the better team in the first half with a great kick out strategy that Donegal simply couldn't get to grips with. In the second half Donegal came into the game and fought to the end. I feel Tyrone just deserved it. Would like to know how the Donegal posters who were at the game feel about it.

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts:62 - 24/02/2016 20:08:58

Yes I was at that game, sure it was right here almost literally on my doorstep.

Tyrone started extremely well, they looked bigger than the Donegal players in terms of conditioning and more lively in the opening exchanges. Donegal struggled with Tyrone's kickouts. But once they settled down, they did look stronger for the remainder of the first half and I thought for the bulk of the 2nd half.
Now when I say stronger, I mean marginally stronger. It was a tightly fought game, but with 10 minutes left, I was sure Donegal were on course to storm back and take it.

The Tyrone management were far better, and they won it on the night. But despite being badly hampered by their management, I still Donegal were unlucky not to steal it. In saying that, they came 2nd and Tyrone clearly proved worthy Champs. But anybody in Ulster not considering Donegal to be genuine contenders clearly haven't a notion

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 24/02/2016 21:44:17    1827950

Darragh Spillane is named at number 7 for Dublin tomorrow night I think he's Pats nephew , am I right?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 01/03/2016 13:17:18    1829737