Just looking at match report from Dublin-Laois semi final today and while the result was as expected I was shocked to see Laois team. Not one player of the 19 used today from Portlaoise. Perhaps Laois posters might shed some light on this. Finally what a week for Colm Basquel excellent contribution today from the bench.

Greenwood (Meath) - Posts: 210 - 19/03/2016 17:59:16    1835975

Mayo v Roscommon in Connacht final. Dublin v Kildare in Leinster and Cork v Kerry in Munster. All taking shape as predicted. All teams had easy games apart from Roscommon who played Galway in 1st round. Kerry have yet to hit form although they have quite a few injuries. Can see them playing well when they face the rebels in a few weeks time.

ryan (Donegal) - Posts: 724 - 19/03/2016 18:35:18    1835981

All games should be cracker tbh. We bet Sligo fairly comfortable today but first gear. Sligo were poor and missed about 6 scoreable frees. We are just getting our players back from injury at right time. Game today will help bring Harney and Murtagh back up to match fitness. Really looking forward to final now we owe this Mayo team one.I fancy Kildare to come out of Leinster in a tight game against Dublin. And I just have feeling Cork will beat Kerry down south.

Pingcity (Longford) - Posts: 568 - 19/03/2016 19:05:25    1835990

Kildare would be starting favourites I think in Leinster, we just got by them last year but this year they have many of them back, not so us. So I think we will be ding more than well if we can secure a 3rd title in a row.

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 21/03/2016 14:13:14    1836420

Mayo v Roscommon in Connacht final. Dublin v Kildare in Leinster and Cork v Kerry in Munster. All taking shape as predicted. All teams had easy games apart from Roscommon who played Galway in 1st round. Kerry have yet to hit form although they have quite a few injuries. Can see them playing well when they face the rebels in a few weeks time.

ryan (Donegal) - Posts:283 - 19/03/2016 18:35:18

I think that's a bit harsh when you are talking about Kerry having an easy route. They had to negotiate a tough match against a Tipperary team that with a bit of luck last year would have been All Ireland champions, with a good few of those lads available to pick again. That being said, this is a very open competition. Roscommon look most likely for me at this stage, but a case can be made for any finalist in all 4 provinces at this stage.

BaldyBadger (Cork) - Posts: 311 - 21/03/2016 14:55:40    1836429

I think Kerry are too injury hit to make impact this year. Cork to beat them in Munster.

Roscommon will need Harney,Murtagh 100% fit and in flying form to beat Mayo and that doesn't look possible.

Dublin are well capable of beating Kildare

Ulster will probably be Tyrone again but I don't think they are as strong as last year.

Cork v Mayo U21 final I'd fancy which would be a repeat of the 2006 final when Mayo won their last All Ireland at this level.

Mr_Pundit (UK) - Posts: 677 - 21/03/2016 17:03:10    1836484

Your a bluffer pundit you know nothing about us.Just looking in forum to forum picking up bits and pieces knowing nothing really.

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 21/03/2016 18:31:39    1836517

If Mr.Pundit is a bluffer/Bul*sh**er he's good at it because in all fairness his is right unless we have Harney and Murtagh on 100% we won't beat Mayo for we do the two of them would probably beat Mayo themselves there that good but the two of them were poor against Sligo and very rusty lacking game time big time. Hopefully there up to scratch in two weeks time if they are we will win its as simply as that.

Pingcity (Longford) - Posts: 568 - 21/03/2016 19:20:39    1836533

ust looking at match report from Dublin-Laois semi final today and while the result was as expected I was shocked to see Laois team. Not one player of the 19 used today from Portlaoise. Perhaps Laois posters might shed some light on this. Finally what a week for Colm Basquel excellent contribution today from the bench.
Greenwood (Meath) - Posts:193 - 19/03/2016 17:59:16 1835975


Living in Laois I'll try shed some light ...Two Portlaoise lads who would have played are involved in the senior hurling set up and Cheddar would not release them to train all year with u21s which is sad really...

One other Portlaoise guy(one the best u21 we have) a very good player was injured early in the season and opted out of the panel from an early stage...

Laois might have given Dublin a better go if they had the five or 6 physical players that should have been there but weren't for one reason or another...

when is this final on and where?

BigJohn.6_8 (Galway) - Posts: 704 - 22/03/2016 10:47:52    1836651

BigJohn
Thank you for insight on that. Just thought it very strange that Portlaoise would have no representative on the team given their status within Laois Football. The Final which was originally fixed for Portlaoise ,ironically, has now been switched to Pairc Tailteann Navan for Saturday 2nd April 2pm. Apparently there is remedial work to be carried out on O'Moore Park.

Greenwood (Meath) - Posts: 210 - 22/03/2016 11:19:51    1836662

Great Leinster final in store between Kildare and Dublin,Kildare should win it though by 4 or 5pts,they will just have too much for the dubs

footiemad (Westmeath) - Posts: 733 - 22/03/2016 11:27:51    1836668

Why is everyone backing Kildare so strongly? What have they done in there two games that Dublin haven't ?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 22/03/2016 11:43:11    1836680

If Mr.Pundit is a bluffer/Bul*sh***** he's good at it because in all fairness his is right unless we have Harney and Murtagh on 100% we won't beat Mayo for we do the two of them would probably beat Mayo themselves there that good but the two of them were poor against Sligo and very rusty lacking game time big time. Hopefully there up to scratch in two weeks time if they are we will win its as simply as that.
Pingcity

Two good young players but let's not get carried away here. It is mayo that have the YPOTY in their ranks and as I recall murtagh was well stifled by one of the mayo corner backs the last time they met...

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 22/03/2016 12:18:41    1836701

Why is everyone backing Kildare so strongly? What have they done in there two games that Dublin haven't ?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts:7194 - 22/03/2016 11:43:11 1836680

Probably a better spread of scorers would be the main difference, Dublin seem reliant on O'Callaghan and Basquel.

Kildare have good strength in depth, the only player with senior experience was injured the last day (Mark Sherry) but it wasn't really a handicap. His replacement kicked 3 or 4 points.

Also Kildare have a lot of last year's team while Dublin do not.

The pressure is on Kildare, they pretty much have to win this game. It will be interesting to see how they cope. I can't wait for it.

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 22/03/2016 14:07:01    1836742

If Mr.Pundit is a bluffer/Bul*sh***** he's good at it because in all fairness his is right unless we have Harney and Murtagh on 100% we won't beat Mayo for we do the two of them would probably beat Mayo themselves there that good but the two of them were poor against Sligo and very rusty lacking game time big time. Hopefully there up to scratch in two weeks time if they are we will win its as simply as that.
Pingcity

Two good young players but let's not get carried away here. It is mayo that have the YPOTY in their ranks and as I recall murtagh was well stifled by one of the mayo corner backs the last time they met...

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts:15159 - 22/03/2016 12:18:41 1836701

Not getting carried away but only reason O'Connor got YPOTY was because he was only player eligible that played at latter end of the championship. He had one good game last year for Mayo and I would have the two players I mentioned every day of the week ahead of him IMO. Not saying he isn't a brilliant player I just think two lads I mentioned are a different level too him. Murtagh was quite in game you are on about three years ago but he was man of match the last time Roscommon and Mayo met at u21 level when we hammered Mayo. Also had the Black card rule been around back in 2013 in game your saying Murtagh was stifled Mayo would have had all there subs used by half time amount of times ye had drag Harney down.

Pingcity (Longford) - Posts: 568 - 22/03/2016 14:28:40    1836758

Not getting carried away but only reason O'Connor got YPOTY was because he was only player eligible that played at latter end of the championship. He had one good game last year for Mayo and I would have the two players I mentioned every day of the week ahead of him IMO. Not saying he isn't a brilliant player I just think two lads I mentioned are a different level too him.

He got YPOTY because he was the best young player that year, no more, no less, and that means better than both of those lads. As for having one good game, well he had two against Dublin alone so I don't really know what you are talking about on that front. May I ask have either of those lads stood out against that level of opposition? Have they even been on the pitch against that level of competition? I don't believe they have, therefore your claims are unsubstantiated. As I recall Murtagh was in and out of the Roscommon team last year.


Murtagh was quite in game you are on about three years ago but he was man of match the last time Roscommon and Mayo met at u21 level when we hammered Mayo. Also had the Black card rule been around back in 2013 in game your saying Murtagh was stifled Mayo would have had all there subs used by half time amount of times ye had drag Harney down.
Pingcity

Murtagh was quiet because he was marked out of it - let's call it straight here. As for the black card rule in 2013, if it had been in we might have won a senior all Ireland too. Fact is it wasn't and Roscommon are well able to pull lads down themselves. The u-21 game you refer to is a different set of teams and unrelated to as you pointed out 'owing this mayo team one'.

I understand you lads are flying high at the minute and confidence in the team is up, but as the saying goes, be nice on the way up, because you meet them all on the way down again.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 22/03/2016 14:49:02    1836770

Murtagh/Harney >>>>>>>>>> O'Connor

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12115 - 22/03/2016 15:01:20    1836772

He was only good in one of the games against Dublin last year he was poor up until that imo. I disagree O'Riordan from Tipp was better throughout the whole year and I would go as far as saying so was Harney and Enda Smith but as you said they didn't get chance to face opposition like O'Connor did hense him getting YPOTY but time will tell who is better and I would bet anything the two I mentioned are better. O 'Connor had one good game last year and one decent game he couldn't last past half time for DCU at start of last year.

Murtagh tore his hamstring last year after about 5 mins against Sligo came on against Cavan and tore it again that's why he was in and out of the team. What do you mean the u21 game I am on about is a different set of teams? Its was Roscommon against Mayo the same two teams.

Pingcity (Longford) - Posts: 568 - 22/03/2016 15:14:07    1836781

If Mr.Pundit is a bluffer/Bul*sh**er he's good at it because in all fairness his is right unless we have Harney and Murtagh on 100% we won't beat Mayo for we do the two of them would probably beat Mayo themselves there that good but the two of them were poor against Sligo and very rusty lacking game time big time. Hopefully there up to scratch in two weeks time if they are we will win its as simply as that.

Pingcity (Longford) - Posts:331 - 21/03/2016 19:20:39 18

-----------------------
100% agree with this. The form and fitness of Harney,Murtagh will be the deciding factor on the outcome of this Connacht U-21 final.

In regards to D O Connor maybe he will have great game against us April 2nd but so far against Roscommon he hasn't shown form to strike any fear. Since 2012 he has played minor,U-21,FBD and a senior championship games against us and in all the games combined he only scored 0-1. TBH i would have more concerns how we will handle Brian Reape, Fionan Duffy,Conor Loftus than the YPOTY.

ispeakwisdom (Roscommon) - Posts: 2487 - 22/03/2016 20:04:26    1836907

Jesus boys let the football do the talking Saturday week and may the best team win.

dave1988 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1043 - 22/03/2016 20:50:28    1836926