clondalkindub
Monaghan haven't won a game in Croke Park since 1930. . . when they beat Kildare.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2990 - 01/08/2014 14:43:17    1629457

clondalkindub
County: Dublin
Posts: 5181

1629386
I'm telling you all now Kildare will win this game no doubt in my mind, having watched Monaghan this summer there not as good as I thought and Kildare are not as bad as the Meath game. Kildare will have no fears of Monaghan and are well use to playing in Croker unlike Monaghan who haven't won a championship match in Croker in decades (maybe I'm wrong) so it's Kildare for me.

Ah Clondalkin...are you developing a soft spot for us ? Hope you're right.

St.Conleth (Kildare) - Posts: 1700 - 01/08/2014 15:00:20    1629472

I'm not so sure Clondalkin. I think you are overplaying Kildares achievements this year and underplaying Monaghans. Kildare have only one noteworthy championship performance this year and that was against Down where they pulled away in the last ten minutes. Monaghan have beaten Armagh and Tyrone who are both better than Down. Monaghan have played three times in Croke Park in the last 14 months so they are well familiar with it. There can be no doubt that Monaghan have the top forward on view in Conor McManus. I think this could well be the game of the weekend . Two good outfits playing contrasting styles with a game against Dublin as the prize for the winner. Jason Ryab's remarks about Conor McManus being the number one forward in Ireland to buy a free were very unfair on McManus and very ill judged when you consider the motivation that will give Monaghan.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 01/08/2014 15:44:31    1629498

Can't see anything but a Kildare win here. No disrespect to Monaghan.

bluedubstar (Dublin) - Posts: 835 - 01/08/2014 16:14:34    1629510

Bolton will be playing, and I wouldnt be surprised to see McGrillen and maybe even Lynch starting

Willie Nelson (None) - Posts: 972 - 01/08/2014 17:30:14    1629548

Right first things first. Monaghan can only play Dublin. Kildare can play both if Armagh beat Meath.

As for Ryan's comments. If Monaghan need that to motivate them then they are really in trouble.

McManaus may be the standout individual forward but as an overall unit Kildare have much more going on. We start with McNally, Kelly, Callaghan, Smith, O'Connor and O'Flaherty and will still have Fogarty, Brophy, Mulhall, Mikey Conway and Hurley to come in. When people say Kildare's fitness has seen us finishing strong it's really our bench.

There's no doubt that since coming out of Division 3 Monaghan have shown a performance level that this young Kildare team are yet to reach but there is loads of potential there for them to do it. It's been tough for them learning the ropes in Division 1 but getting relegated allowed everyone to write us off. This should be the day Kildare make a statement to the contrary. Midfield is crucial but if Kildare win enough ball to get our heads up and stretch our legs we will win. I have no doubt about that.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 01/08/2014 18:43:05    1629567

Kildare were unlucky to be relegated . Mark Donnelly got away with as outrageous an overcarry as you will ever see and scored a goal which was the goal that put Kildare down . People are talking Kildare up . They have a forward unit that can score heavily given room inside . However Clare kept it tight and Kildare found it difficult to score . Given that Kildare still dug out the win . Is Clare's defence as strong as Monaghans ? Kildare have run up three big scores in the championship . Monaghan have only conceded one goal in their last 8 championship matches. They also have Finlay, Hughes and McManus. Fascinating game in prospect .

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 01/08/2014 19:35:11    1629579

We have only played well for 55 minutes against Tyrone and a 20 minute scoring burst against Armagh sealed that game,and against Donegal we were not allowed to get on our game,but after i read an interview by one of our players it was clear their mindset was'nt right and we were never gonna win that game.

So for tomarrow night 2 things will happen..........1. Monaghan will come out fired up and put in a big performance for 70 minutes plus and win well.......... while Conor will make sure Ryan has more than free's to worry about during the 70 minutes plus.

2.Same mindset as the Donegal Match,no tackling,standing off their men,poor workrate,this will all lead to us not believing we are able to give Dublin a good game,therefore we will have gone back to the old Monaghan were we are easliy beaten,and Kildare will win by 2-3 points.

But im gonna go with us coming out pumped up and finally winning a championship match at Croke Park since 1930.Hopefully..........regardless of Ryan's comments,easily knowing he has no one to mark Conor.

hardcore (Monaghan) - Posts: 1366 - 01/08/2014 20:33:58    1629609

For me Ollie Lyons has been our best player in the championship, he is named in the half backs tomorrow but surely he must be given the job of marking McManus

NorthKildare (Kildare) - Posts: 197 - 01/08/2014 21:13:56    1629623

What do you mean by the wrong mind set ? What player said that ?

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 01/08/2014 21:22:48    1629636

I have absolutely no doubt that Monaghan will win this by 4 or 5 points pulling up if im wrong ill be shocked

yaladya (Monaghan) - Posts: 27 - 01/08/2014 21:58:08    1629647

Monaghan wont win this. I posted why on another thread last week. Ulster Football is wildly exaggerated. Would be no surprise to see a Meath/Kildare double at HQ today.

Fancy Kildare against Monaghan.

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 02/08/2014 10:17:08    1629682

Was Ryan talking nonsense or was it just a response to o rourkes timely complaint about the ulster final refereeing. Contrary to what o rourke was complaining about the fact is the ref gave Monaghan some soft frees where over exaggeration of contact is made. On two occasions A half back clearly ran into Donegal players and threw himself to the ground to try and win a kick able free. One was given one was not. Both were dives.
Lets just hope the ref has nothing to do with the outcome and there's no need for any more of pre game nonsense that's been going on this week fro cork Monaghan Kildare and Mayo.
May the best team win. It's going to be difficult for the ref given the conditions but I hope he has the courage to make the correct decisions and pays no attention to the media.
ps I'd like to see the black card reintroduced for the weekend on a trial basis.

jonno (Kildare) - Posts: 260 - 02/08/2014 10:25:48    1629687

jonno, picking out 2 incidents in a 70 minute game hardly proves O'Rourke's point wrong. He had every right to be disappointed in the refs performance in the Ulster final, even if it had no bearing on the outcome. But all of this talk is just mind games ahead of tonight, as was Ryan's comments about McManus. If he does win frees well, he's hardly the only forward in the country to do it. It would be nice to see him respond to these comments with a good return from play, he'll have much more room than he had against Donegal, that's for sure.

Anyway, looking forward to the game despite the conditions. Hoping for a good result.

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 02/08/2014 11:01:28    1629705

Will need a big show from all the players tonight. Specifically midfield Hugh Lynch who I suspect will come in. Also Niall Kelly. He has it in his locker and just needs composure.

Kildare30 (Kildare) - Posts: 603 - 02/08/2014 11:13:02    1629713

Conditions have just thrown the game up in the air..

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 02/08/2014 11:22:38    1629717

Seen Monaghan over the last while and wouldn't rate them that highly. most of their scoring threat comes from easy frees and Ryan has put a stop to that with his comments this week. Kildare to win by 6+.

derfil1 (Kildare) - Posts: 1612 - 02/08/2014 11:47:38    1629732

Wet conditions would surely suit the defensive team? So Monaghan will be happy.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 02/08/2014 11:55:15    1629735

Defining day for this Monaghan team. If we are any good at all, we must show it today. Team didn't do themselves justice in the Ulster Final but have an opportunity to put that right and break the Croke Park hoodo. I think the bad weather will suit us more, so I'm going for a Monaghan win because there has to be a determination in the team today that we haven't see yet under MOR. The day of coming back up the road from another championship defeat has to stop today ( if they want to be considered a good team in Monaghan circles ).

drumlinbelt (Monaghan) - Posts: 179 - 02/08/2014 11:57:18    1629737

02/08/2014 10:17:08
JayP
County: Dublin
Posts: 897

1629682
Monaghan wont win this. I posted why on another thread last week. Ulster Football is wildly exaggerated. Would be no surprise to see a Meath/Kildare double at HQ today.

Fancy Kildare against Monaghan.

If the Ulster Championship is wildly exaggerated what is the Leinster Championship................Boring hammering matches........EXAMPLE.......Dublin hammer everyone in it,but only beat Kerry with a bit of luck in 2011 and last year in the semi final in the last 3-4 minutes..........Beat Mayo by a point last years All Ireland Final..........Once out side of Leinster you's are given a decent challange.

Kildare hammer Louth,Meath hammer Kildare,Dublin hammer Meath.........Ulster is negitive i dont like it as a football fan,but id rather watch a war of a game than watch onesided Leinster Championship...........

We will win if the mindset is right.........

hardcore (Monaghan) - Posts: 1366 - 02/08/2014 11:58:41    1629740