realman2
County: Kildare
Posts: 114

1624270
Monaghan only really have one class footballer from what I see but its one more than we have so Monaghan should be favourites. I'd like to see Monaghan for once try to express themselves and play good football which I'm sure they can but they just like to turn every game into an arm wrestle. Hard to watch.


After the 2 all ireland finalists in 2013 we had most all star nominees last year, and won 2. I would rate a few more lads on our panel as 'class' Beggan Mone d Hughes and k Hughes and Drew Wylie would make any panel in the country.

supermon (Monaghan) - Posts: 1073 - 22/07/2014 18:18:40    1624339

I would expect this game to be tight enough.Wouldnt be surprised if either team won but id slightly fancy a Monaghan win.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 22/07/2014 18:55:25    1624371

How we perform will depend on which Kildare team is selected. One positive from a kildare perspective is theat the team have finished strongly in all games in the championship.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2990 - 22/07/2014 19:41:06    1624415

Personally, and I could be wrong, I think Monaghan will win this one and win it with some style. The reason? I was on the pitch in clones after the game, and the monaghan team took the defeat very very well indeed. They were not that disappointed, it was almost as if they had legislated for Donegal to win under the reassurance of management that their summer was not all about the ulster final. On the other hand, Kildare are going well in the back door, but are probably about to run out of steam, or luck. This happens almost every year, when a team gets a run going, and all of a sudden, fatigue, or the law of averages catches up with them and they default back to the level they were at when they were put in the back door in the first instance. Kildare are going to have to improve a hell of a lot to beat monaghan, yet monaghan would not have to improve that much to beat kildare, only to change their tactics a bit.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 22/07/2014 20:07:33    1624449

If Kildare can sort out their slow start then they have ever chance. Could be a very good game

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2142 - 22/07/2014 20:08:53    1624452

I don't think there's much difference between Ulster's top sides and the alsorans of Leinster. Monaghan will be favourites the next day, not out if talent, but because Kildare have nothing in place in terms of tactics. Both teams are very ordinary and whoever makes it out of this tie will be annihilated in the next round.

Daith (Kildare) - Posts: 1171 - 22/07/2014 20:29:43    1624470

I see there is still a lot of gloom surrounding Kildare, I for one am an eternal optimist and think that we have the makings of a very good side at the moment, they are young and inexperienced and that can be a positive or a negative and maybe is the reason for our inconsistency, the team are confident in their own ability and competing in Division 1 this year, even though relegated, will stand to them. Monaghan are more experienced, physically stronger and more structured and are rightfully favourites, but we will bring youth, pace, work rate, strong options from the bench and the potential to shoot a high score so every reason to be hopeful

NorthKildare (Kildare) - Posts: 197 - 22/07/2014 20:56:24    1624495

I have a feeling that Monaghan may have shot their bolt against Donegal, it will be hard for them to get over it.

Croke Park is a big pitch, and will favour the fitter team.

Kildare to win.

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2897 - 22/07/2014 21:07:09    1624507

22/07/2014 21:07:09
sponger
County: Wicklow
Posts: 2396

I have a feeling that Monaghan may have shot their bolt against Donegal, it will be hard for them to get over it.

Croke Park is a big pitch, and will favour the fitter team.

Kildare to win.

Yet again the myth of the big Croke Park pitch comes out. There's barely any difference between the size of it and Clones.

I wouldn't worry about us having "shot our bolt". That may well have been true after previous Ulster final defeats, but we've won Ulster last year so this defeat isn't quite as disheartening as others were. The one in 2010(after which, coincidentally, we played Kildare) was probably the worst. We went into that really confident of winning that elusive Ulster but ended up hammered by Tyrone, and at that point I suspect many of the players wondered if they'd ever win one. Completely different mindset after Sunday's defeat, I see Donegalman referred to the attitude of the players on the field afterwards. After Ulster, a big aim was always getting back to Croke Park and winning there, this gives us that opportunity and a good chance of making the last 8 again.

And Monaghan are a very fit team so I'm not sure about that argument.

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 23/07/2014 09:13:50    1624591

Monaghan by a landslide , no question

royalpainter (Meath) - Posts: 874 - 23/07/2014 11:03:31    1624658

sponger
County: Wicklow
Posts: 2396

Croke Park is a big pitch, and will favour the fitter team.


Why would you think Kildare are fitter than Monaghan?

farneyfriend (Monaghan) - Posts: 37 - 23/07/2014 11:12:42    1624670

Kildare have done really well getting this far considering we are in a period of transition with half the team consisting of young lads and new faces. If we play to our best we should give Monaghan a good game and perhaps even get a result. However, looking at this years form, Monaghan would have to be favourites to win this one. Anyway, I have great time for the Monaghan supporters, and looking forward to a great day out in croker. May the best team win.

bryanadams (Kildare) - Posts: 733 - 23/07/2014 11:14:33    1624675

sponger
County: Wicklow
Posts: 2396

1624507
I have a feeling that Monaghan may have shot their bolt against Donegal, it will be hard for them to get over it.

Croke Park is a big pitch, and will favour the fitter team.

Kildare to win.


Ok I'm going to say this again, CROKE PARK IS NOT ALL THAT BIG. Yes it's a big pitch, but quite a few county grounds around the country are as big and one or two are bigger.
I've taken this from a previous thread on this.


01 Tipperary..... Semple Stadium................. 145 x 90 13,050
01 Galway......... Pearse Stadium................. 145 x 90 13,050
01 Antrim.......... Casement Park.................. 145 x 90 13,050
01 Roscommon.. Dr Hyde Park..................... 145 x 90 13,050
01 Clare............ Cusack Park....................... 145 x 90 13,050
01 Offaly............ O'Connor Park................... 145 x 90 13,050
01 Donegal........ McCumhaill Park................ 145 x 90 13,050
08 Sligo............. Markievicz Park.................. 142 x 90 12,780
09 Kilkenny........ Nowlan Park...................... 145 x 88 12,760
09 Cork.............. Pairc Ui Rinn...................... 145 x 88 12,760
11 Dublin........... Croke Park........................ 145 x 88 12,716
12 Cork.............. Pairc Ui Chaoimh............... 144 x 88 12,672
13 Carlow.......... Dr Cullen Park................... 145 x 87 12,615
14 Armagh......... Athletic Grounds................ 143 x 88 12,584
15 Wicklow......... O'Byrne Park.................... 145 x 86 12,470
16 Mionaghan.... St Tiernach's Park............. 142 x 87 12,354
17 Wexford........ Wexford Park.................... 142 x 87 12,311
18 Leitrim.......... Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.. 142 x 87 12,300
19 Laois............ O'Moore Park..................... 142 x 86 12,212
19 Tyrone.......... Healy Park......................... 142 x 86 12,212
21 Cavan.......... Breffni Park........................ 143 x 86 12,184
22 Longford....... Pearse Park...................... 138 x 88 12,144
23 Fermanagh.. Brewster Park.................... 145 x 83 12,035
24 Kerry............ Fitzgerald Stadium............. 144 x 82 11,808
25 Meath.......... Pairc Tailteann.................... 135 x 87 11,745
26 Derry........... Celtic Park ..........................138 x 84 11,614
27 Dublin.......... Parnell Park....................... 141 x 82 11,562
28 Westmeath.. Cusack Park...................... 140x 82 11,514
29 Louth........... Drogheda Park................... 138 x 83 11,437
30 Waterford..... Walsh Park........................ 142 x 80 11,360
31 Limerick....... Gaelic Grounds................... 137 x 82 11,234
31 Mayo........... McHale Park....................... 137 x 82 11,234
33 Down.......... Pairc Esler.......................... 138 x 81 11,120
34 Kildare......... St Conleths Park................ 135 x 80 10,706

supermon (Monaghan) - Posts: 1073 - 23/07/2014 13:10:07    1624753

Can Monaghan raise their game again after Sunday ? I do not think they can and while Kildare are not playing that well they are still winning.

Kildare by 6 or 7 points.

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2897 - 23/07/2014 13:31:45    1624771

Any team at this level should be on a par fitness wise.
Just because kildare finished all there matches strong is not solely down to fitness. Changes in tactics and personel had more of a bearing. I think we done well to beat Down and were lucky to beat Clare, you would expect a better challenge from Down than Clare but there you go, kildare are as inconsistent as Down and that inconsistency runs not only from game to game but throughout a game. We are still in it for now and we did'nt expect to be, so who knows. Monaghan are clear favourites for this and thats being realistic. However that does not leave us without a chance as I can't see monaghan hammering us.

jonno (Kildare) - Posts: 260 - 23/07/2014 13:46:10    1624779

sponger
County: Wicklow
Posts: 2397

1624771
Can Monaghan raise their game again after Sunday ? I do not think they can and while Kildare are not playing that well they are still winning.

Kildare by 6 or 7 points.


Not being funny or just bigging up Monaghan just because it's my county, but based on what we have seen from both teams on recent years I would completely disagree with this assesment. If we play to our potential I feel we will win this one without too much bother.

I'm not trying to sound over confident or anything, but I honestly feel we are a better team. Anything other than a win would be classed as an upset from Kildare.

supermon (Monaghan) - Posts: 1073 - 23/07/2014 13:47:30    1624781

excellent post supermon. I didnt know the details of the grounds, there are some very interesting facts there. It could point to the reasons why some teams have not done so well in croke park in recent years. Kildare and Down being two of them. Their pitches look to be very small indeed. Big factor when you are used to keeping it tight, and suddenly you are presented with attackers who are wider than they normally show for the ball. Cant be an advantage. Monaghan by 7 points so!

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 23/07/2014 13:55:50    1624787

Thanks for the info supermom, puts the big pitch issue in a bit or perspective. On current form you'd have to fancy Monaghan. Despite going down to Donegal, I believe there is a maturity about that team that will allow them to bounce back. Still hope Kildare win though!

moylagh (Meath) - Posts: 484 - 23/07/2014 14:09:52    1624791

At the end of the day it doesn't matter what the teams have done prior to this match it will boil down to who wants it most on the day. Monaghan are a more mature team and play to a game plan whilst Kildare seem to go for man to man marking system. It didn't work for them against Meath who easily saw them off in the Leinster semi and then were torn apart by Dublin in the final. Monaghan on the other hand had no answer to Donegal's blanket defence and counter attacking football. Tactics will play a big part in this game and the winners will be who gets it right on the day so both Managers will have a big say. I hope Ryan wins that battle and would love to see a Kildare win but I fear for their defensive tactics. If they give Monaghan too much of a lead their strong finish may not matter on this occasion as happened against Meath. So I would advise Kildare to concentrate on defence for 3/4 of the game and make sure they are in touch. Then take the handbrake off.

Casso429 (Armagh) - Posts: 4 - 23/07/2014 21:22:24    1625055

I have been a huge critic of Kildare in the past but I hope they win this game. . its time to show just how bloody hard Leinster is with Dublin in it and what better way to prove this than with a double victory for Leinster sides on the 2nd.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 24/07/2014 08:53:03    1625089