National Forum

HS Posters, would YOU start Connolly?

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Replying To Pookie_Monster:  "No. Too much of a liability in terms of tendency to get black / red cards. He hasn't been playing very well this year. If he's going well in training, I'd have him on the bench."
Have you been spying on him kicking ball in the back yard or something?

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 25/08/2017 14:34:40    2037598

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Replying To DannyMcA:  "He wouldn't miss the final as the final is exempt from the 3 black cards and you miss the next game rule. He'd miss the next competitive game."
Nope, DC is in what they call Amber territory, as is Lee Keegan. Amber means another black and misses final. RTE were on about it only yesterday.

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 25/08/2017 14:35:38    2037599

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Replying To Liamwalkinstown:  "Nope, DC is in what they call Amber territory, as is Lee Keegan. Amber means another black and misses final. RTE were on about it only yesterday."
Only if it goes to a replay.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 25/08/2017 14:47:10    2037605

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Bring him on with 10 minutes to go. Could you imagine the roar from the hill if he comes on in the 60th minute with the game all square. He might do nothing but that roar would be worth a point or two on it's own.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 25/08/2017 14:48:13    2037607

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Replying To SaffronDon:  "nah no risk at all is there!"
No risk at all if the officials do their job and enforce the rules. Despite that fact he is a target by both officials and players he still always worth the risk. And I don't have much confidence in the yoke with the whistle for this game.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4895 - 25/08/2017 18:19:54    2037686

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Replying To arock:  "No risk at all if the officials do their job and enforce the rules. Despite that fact he is a target by both officials and players he still always worth the risk. And I don't have much confidence in the yoke with the whistle for this game."
Players target him the same way they I've seen players target Aidan o se or gouch. The only difference is how he reacts compared to others.

nextyear (Mayo) - Posts: 60 - 25/08/2017 18:28:27    2037690

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Replying To Liamwalkinstown:  "Nope, DC is in what they call Amber territory, as is Lee Keegan. Amber means another black and misses final. RTE were on about it only yesterday."
That rule doesn't apply to the all ireland final

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5010 - 25/08/2017 18:34:14    2037692

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Ah he's overated , he can only kick with both feet , solo at pace , field like a top midfielder , defend with the best of them and attck also with the best of them , other than that he's extremely over rated

hipster (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 25/08/2017 20:02:08    2037720

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yes but only if brannigan does the line, the tension would be interesting

maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1196 - 25/08/2017 21:11:08    2037741

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Strong possibility that this is a cagey affair - Dublin will look to avoid conceding turnovers and will play it very patient - in that regard having someone that can score from outside 40 yards is invaluable so for that reason there is merit in starting him

On the flip side - this could be a ferocious start and early dominance could provide huge momentum. If Connolly is off the pace - kicks a few rusty wides or reacts to intimidation this could be a negative and impact a team not yet settled into the game.

Personally I see the second as too big a risk - I'd bring him on at 42 minutes

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 25/08/2017 21:46:45    2037751

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I probably wouldn't start Connolly, which is a bit mad when you think about it because he is one of the best forwards of the last decade without question.

But for me there's 2 reasons not to start him, firstly Dublin have gotten this far at a canter without him (which isn't a shock in fairness). But more importantly, although he is brilliant, he does rise to the bait and no better team in Ireland to cast the bait than Tyrone. They woukd absolutely dog him out of it and he could see red early in the game, which would be a huge advantage to Tyrone.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 25/08/2017 22:15:39    2037769

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Start him midfield. Allow him to sit outside. Dictate the play, shoot from range and try draw Colm Cavanagh out to him.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 25/08/2017 22:16:58    2037772

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well all this was a waste of debate :) i would have given DC a run out tbh. its tough to get up to match speed without minutes under your belt. After today will he get a look in for the final? especially with Lee Keegan waiting to greet him with a grin on his face?

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 27/08/2017 21:40:07    2038937

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Replying To SaffronDon:  "well all this was a waste of debate :) i would have given DC a run out tbh. its tough to get up to match speed without minutes under your belt. After today will he get a look in for the final? especially with Lee Keegan waiting to greet him with a grin on his face?"
Connolly wont start the final and its quite possible Keegan will only see Connolly walking up the steps to lift the cup with the rest of the dubs so I doubt he will have much of a grin. Going on the last two games I wouldn't be surprised if Keegan was dropped for Durcan who's a better player anyway

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 28/08/2017 15:28:58    2039412

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So is he going to start the final with so little game time?
I expected he'd get 20 minutes at least. Dublin starting forwards all played well. O gara, flynn and mcmen all played great off the bench

nextyear (Mayo) - Posts: 60 - 28/08/2017 15:34:16    2039417

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I'm not sure if Gavin will start him against Mayo. Call me crazy here, I know I'm talking about arguably one of the best footballers in the country, but if he plays would he and Keegan not just cancel each other out? Roscommon game aside, Keegan hasn't had as good a season as previous seasons while Diarmaid hasn't had much football this season but they know each other so well by now that I reckon there won't be much between them.
Will Connolly's temperament have improved enough that he won't be a bit of a risk in this one? I'm not so sure. Maybe it was down to a lack of intensity from Tyrone but Dublin never lost their composure nor got drawn into any scraps yesterday. That might be down to the balance of players in the starting 15.
What do the rest of you guys think?

keithlemon (Australia) - Posts: 920 - 28/08/2017 15:42:49    2039422

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Replying To keithlemon:  "I'm not sure if Gavin will start him against Mayo. Call me crazy here, I know I'm talking about arguably one of the best footballers in the country, but if he plays would he and Keegan not just cancel each other out? Roscommon game aside, Keegan hasn't had as good a season as previous seasons while Diarmaid hasn't had much football this season but they know each other so well by now that I reckon there won't be much between them.
Will Connolly's temperament have improved enough that he won't be a bit of a risk in this one? I'm not so sure. Maybe it was down to a lack of intensity from Tyrone but Dublin never lost their composure nor got drawn into any scraps yesterday. That might be down to the balance of players in the starting 15.
What do the rest of you guys think?"
I think we need another option to mark Diarmuid Connolly. Chris Barret, Paddy Durcan, possibly Brendan Harrison. Even though he's not a wing back he's a very good man marker. Lee hasn't been hitting his high standards attacking-wise in his last few games. But we'll need him on the front foot more in the final.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7335 - 28/08/2017 16:02:07    2039428

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Replying To tiobraid:  "Connolly wont start the final and its quite possible Keegan will only see Connolly walking up the steps to lift the cup with the rest of the dubs so I doubt he will have much of a grin. Going on the last two games I wouldn't be surprised if Keegan was dropped for Durcan who's a better player anyway"
No he isn't. But definitely getting to that level rapidly.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7335 - 28/08/2017 16:03:44    2039431

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Replying To keithlemon:  "I'm not sure if Gavin will start him against Mayo. Call me crazy here, I know I'm talking about arguably one of the best footballers in the country, but if he plays would he and Keegan not just cancel each other out? Roscommon game aside, Keegan hasn't had as good a season as previous seasons while Diarmaid hasn't had much football this season but they know each other so well by now that I reckon there won't be much between them.
Will Connolly's temperament have improved enough that he won't be a bit of a risk in this one? I'm not so sure. Maybe it was down to a lack of intensity from Tyrone but Dublin never lost their composure nor got drawn into any scraps yesterday. That might be down to the balance of players in the starting 15.
What do the rest of you guys think?"
Thought the SG made a good point last night. The likes BB, MDMA and Connolly (more or less) were not given any time yesterday. Kev Mc was given no time V Monaghan and played with ferocious apptite yesterday. I would say Gavin will have everyone working their socks off to get in for the final. Not only now is it tough to get into the starting 15, it's getting tough to get a run as a sub! With that, if DC can show his best in training over the weeks ahead, he would have a great chance of starting. As it is , I would say only Rock, O Callaghan and Kilkenny are bankers to start in the forward line. Mannion too likely to be there on his consistency but like I say, ye don't know what'll go on in training over the weeks ahead.

poguemahone (Dublin) - Posts: 365 - 28/08/2017 16:07:37    2039432

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Replying To tiobraid:  "Connolly wont start the final and its quite possible Keegan will only see Connolly walking up the steps to lift the cup with the rest of the dubs so I doubt he will have much of a grin. Going on the last two games I wouldn't be surprised if Keegan was dropped for Durcan who's a better player anyway"
I highly doubt Keegan will be dropped. He needs to be moved back to where he can infuence games best and that's the half back line. With O'Callaghan and Kilkenny on fire I'd expect Keegan to be given the task of one or the other. I believe he is too important not to start on final day. Connolly a lot less so.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 28/08/2017 16:18:10    2039436

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