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jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20164 - 28/10/2019 15:10:52 2246298 Link 3 |
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I watched the first half of the first semi-final before nipping out to Parnell Park. I remarked on just how awful he wal. Very boring disinterested style, he could inject no excitement whatsoever into his delivery and the frequent mistakes were just crass. Surely be to God, RTE have somebody better than that?
avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 1519 - 28/10/2019 15:14:48 2246299 Link 4 |
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Congrats to Boden, hard to argue that' they have been the best team in the county this year. Davis's were great and nothing in it for desire, fight and commitment p, Boden just had that bit more quality in the team and panel on the day. Hopefully Davis this as a spring board and come again. Great for the club. TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 3852 - 03/11/2019 22:40:37 2247538 Link 1 |
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Got to hand it to Round Towers. This year was their first ever year in Div Two and now it will be their first ever year in Div One. Average age 22! The club chairman read out a letter that was written by the committee in 2002. At that time the first team was struggling in Div 5, second team had disbanded due to numbers, no U21, minor, u16 or u14 team in the club. They resolved to do something about it. The 4 signatories of letter were there yesterday. 2 had sons playing. Unreal night last night in Clubhouse. Kids getting selfies and autographs off these lads and another generation is inspired. All local lads, no magic bullet. Just good under age structures from top to bottom. FootblockREF (Monaghan) - Posts: 490 - 04/11/2019 15:09:43 2247679 Link 2 |
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Eoghan O'Donnell should be a no go. Far too important to the hurlers. Hands off! MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13199 - 04/11/2019 19:38:31 2247743 Link 4 |
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I would think it's a no go alright and like you say he's vital for our Hurlers definitely, still the lad is a talented footballer, really stood out for me yesterday.
TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 3852 - 04/11/2019 22:55:15 2247802 Link 1 |
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Ha well said
jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20164 - 05/11/2019 10:53:49 2247857 Link 2 |
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Yeah he played well on Sun. WC's best player on the day but he's arguably the best full back in the country. It'd be quite sad if he played football imo. In the way that it's great when we see Con ripping apart some football full back and leaving him in a daze, but it's always tinged with a bit of sadness that we'll never see him do it in a blue geansaí with hurl in hand. MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13199 - 05/11/2019 20:34:38 2247975 Link 3 |
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Or the cautionary tale of Mark Schutte.
TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 3852 - 06/11/2019 12:15:11 2248100 Link 1 |
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Ballyboden roll on, 14 man win yesterday, Collie Basquel scoring 1-4 from play, racking up some amount of scores from play with club this weather. It could be a big year for him, with space opening up in the panel with O Gara and Bernard retiring. TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 3852 - 11/11/2019 11:25:45 2249027 Link 3 |
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He must be leading goal scorer across the 4 province's ? Has to be right up there and some of them have been crucial scores when they were needed the most. That's his 5th goal already given there's a possible few more games ahead for him. He is moving brilliantly and brought that form into Leinster Championship. Very impressive, like many id be a fan of his. Great positional sense, clever football head and for me one of the best finishers I've seen in blue since BB. He's got the eye for it. No doubt very promising form and another valuable option. He's already impressed under Gavin. Hope he commits to the cause next year. Classy footballer and he's on 5-15 across Bodens current run with the strong possibility of more to come. Thats heavy scoring... Not a peep about him though wha ;) jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20164 - 11/11/2019 15:49:32 2249107 Link 4 |
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He has to be up there defo, but i think his performnces are that bit more to be admired given the standard of the Dublin championship and the teams Ballyboden played on the way. 23 now and i think the panel might open up a bit for him now, with Berno, Eoghan and Flynner all going this year. he and McHugh fit that space of speedy skillful forward that can operate in tight space vacated by Berno. Looks like hes stepping it up through the club championship with the aim of having a big year, if Ballyboden go on he might miss the league though. I wonder did he look at it over in Chicago and see Paddy Small (as much as i like Paddy) coming on in the final and thinking that could have been him, still never any harm to travel. Ha ha, no hype at all, suits us down to the ground, that other thread is hilarious on the main page, exactly what we want expectations through the roof and we go quietly about our business, total meltdowns, id steer clear of the south west Jim, i think there might be a fatwa out on you going on the number of lads who melted down at you. Admin blocked any of my posts in that thread, must have thought it was getting a bit hot and heavy, all good fun. ;) TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 3852 - 12/11/2019 10:18:25 2249200 Link 2 |
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Not even worth discussing chief Funny though jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20164 - 12/11/2019 11:51:25 2249222 Link 3 |
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Collie will most certainly be back in the squad this year and should play some part in the league even if Boden managed to get to a club final it will be over and done with a lot earlier this year. I'd also say Ryan Basquel is worth another good look at. He is moving impressively well and Anthony Rainbow has commented this week how big a plus both of them not having been with the county last year meaning they are fresh and hungry as ever at club level now. Ryan also got injured at an unfortunate time last year and was subsequently released from the panel in the pre-championship cut. There's also something about a forward with a sweet left peg that I just love!! Someone mentioned McHugh above..is it a make or break year for him next year? At 25 he has made little or no inroads to the starting 15 or even as steady feature from the bench come championship time. His ability is not in question but for some reason he seems to have stagnated over the past couple of years. I know competition in that forward line for Dublin is ridiculous but as Paddy Small and to a certain degree Bugler then also showed there are spots up for grabs for lads to make an impact from the bench and from there who knows where you could get to. Big year ahead and with Basquel (maybe both) back in the shake up and then throw in perhaps Archer from the 20s competition even with the recent retirements is going to be unbelievably high. TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 168 - 13/11/2019 13:58:46 2249442 Link 2 |
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Bang on the money, i forgot the club championships were finishing earlier this year. So bodes well for Collie. The Dublin forward line is the toughest to crack in the game, there are almost three tiers. 1) Howard, Kilkenny, Scully, Mannion, Con, Rock. Underneath that then you have a supremely talented group, who can impact and challenge those starting spots: 2) Dermo (if he sticks around), Cormac, Macker, Andrews. Then you have a fluid bunch of potential fighting it out for oppurtunites 3) McHugh, Collie, P Small, Bugler. Then you may have lads with hopes of getting onto the panel this year: Archer, Ryan Basquel, Doran, McGarry and Cormac Howley. I also like Steven Smith at Skerries but i think he might be a bit light for intercounty. We might see Archer in the league, but hes still 18 or 19 still and has another year at U 20 grade, personally id prefer to see him play the championship at U20. Might be brought in to train with the Seniors this but play with the U20s until the ned of their championship year like POCB. Any of Collie, Small, Bugler can kick on and get up to tier 2 after all impressing in the last 12 months. With the retirements i think that what they will be trying to do. I like Ryan Basquel i think he has a touch of the Alans about him and a bit of maverick, i think he takes some risks at times and i think that counts against him with Gavin risk adverse approach, wonderful player mind and i wouldn't be opposed to him being given a fling in the league. Doran and McGarry i can see in the O Byrne cup and if they impress who knows. Cormac Howley is one to keep an eye on he has many natural attributes in terms of size, physicality, toughness, engine and ability to field and score that would turn your head at inter county and would appeal to Gavin, i think he might look for a player like that as i wouldn't be surprised to begin to Howard at midfield or 6 going on, but that just an opinion/suspicion of mine. TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 3852 - 13/11/2019 14:47:52 2249465 Link 3 |
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Great breakdown of the levels and can't disagree with any of that. It's just such a tough line to break into and really that first 6 are not being broken up unless there are injuries or a drastic dip in form for someone. I can already hear the groans around the country when the bench next year has a few new names as you've mentioned appear and start to make an impact :)
TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 168 - 13/11/2019 16:16:58 2249484 Link 3 |
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It's the back 6 that needs the new blood as a matter of future proofing things. jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20164 - 13/11/2019 19:29:40 2249523 Link 3 |
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Your bang on Jimbo, it's a line we really could do with new blood in, I'm not as concerned as I was a year ago though. Three players really stood out for me this year as there best for the Dubs, Small, Davy Byrne and Murch. Small for me this year was brilliant, really understated and under appreciated, he's getting better and better a bit like Jamesy before everyone realized how good he was a silent star and is up there for the heir to Cian's no 6, didn't hear one person say we missed Cian with his injuries. Massively underrated and first name on the team sheet, never dropped. Davey Byrne is a player I've always had mixed feelings about, really capable but prone to a brain fart. Best year in Dublin shirt for me this year and seems to have progressed in the art of defending. Surprised me to be honest. Murch I'm guilty of always underatting and maybe judging him on size, he's actually a very good defender a real beater of a blanket, a nightmare to mark a powerful offensive weapon as the extra man breaking, this year and the club championship in particular has made me think, he's going to be a really big player and weapon for us, I think he's going to kick on be special. Less we forget he's also a capable man marker. One thing that stood out for me in the first Yerra game was how influential Brian Howard was at half back at 6, he absolutely ran and dominated the game, running through lads, winning ball, side stepping play making. He was brilliant in a high pressure game,. Far more influential at 6 in that game then at half forward. It's why I think he's a shout for being Cians heir. Else wise there is plenty left in the tank of Jonny, Fitzy and Jamsey for another two or three years. Dare we mention Rory with a full inter county training schedule done, hard to know, he looks of it. Philly and Cian still will have specific roles, but I'd say there loads will be managed and will be used in specific circumstances. Philly was sprung immediately when Walsh came on the second day as an example. Cian might benefit from rest with Crokes getting knocked out. I actually hope Daren Daly sticks around, I think he's been brilliant for us in any utility roll asked and always done a great job. As for prospects, I had a good look at Flatman and O Connor last year in the league and wasn't impressed. I saw a bit more of O Connor for Crokes in the Championship and can see why Gavin likes him, good technical player with that bit of quality above the norm, he's one we could develop and have hope in. Equally I thought Flatman was poor, but I've talked to some lads I'd respect and trust and they say he's a top prospect, very young still, so I'll take that. One player I really like is Sean McMahon at Raheny, excellent full back and I'd tip him to have an inter-county career, really disappointed he didn't play in the league this year, but maybe next. Midfield looks like it's going to be competitive as well, if MDM stays on, we Daren Gavin back hopefully fit, POCB who I have high hopes for and Cormac Howley can play there too as well as in the forwards, before we mention Jamesy or Howard. Having said all that above, I do think we have many challenges heading into the year, I think some of the retirements will have a bigger impact then we all think, while we will be developing lads too. Just thinking out loud at the moment, TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 3852 - 13/11/2019 22:22:59 2249555 Link 3 |
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POCB You're absolutely right, the fella has massive potential His natural height advantage, physicality and accompanied with his obvious football skills really could make him some player, imagine trying to mark him! sort of brings a whole new option as it's rare enough that Dublin have that sort of player. I know Fenton is hardly a short arse but POCB makes him look short He could be some target man for the advanced mark.. Dublin have the ballers to put in the quality ball Still only a young lad and has much to learn Let's not pin all out hopes on him wha.. ;) jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20164 - 18/11/2019 10:57:05 2250113 Link 2 |
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The lad is well though off, you can see that with him being brought right in to the senior fold for training last year and then on the bench for the first fantastic four's game. Was reliably informed Fenton was carrying a bug all the week of the first game hence POCB on the bench. Hes obviously highly regarded and down a bit of the way development while working with the seniors for a year, shows the regard for the lad. Last year was the first id seen him at midfield, he played minor at 3 and in the full back line and i liked him in there, he took a year away to do his leaving cert, before coming back this year, i believe the AFL were also sniffing around before last year. I think hes still learning at midfield, but the has some huge attribute sin there as you say, hes a good baller, fielder and the physical presence for the role. id have a critique of him maybe not being as mobile as Fenton and get caught behind the play when it breaks quick, but in fairness to the lad that might be harsh as most of what i have seen from him was 3 and last years U20 at midfield, where the teams were really high of a high standard and its a relatively new position for him. Be interesting to see if and how they could end up as a pair and as i expect to see it in the league maybe POCB could take up that anchor role Bastick used to have, but maybe thats unfair as i say the lad has offensive skills. Conventional thinking is we have a PTSD around our central channel due to the impact of Donegal in 14. I do wonder though, have we and do we over compensate now with that. When i look at the Fours, Mayo, Tyrone i dont see them hurting us the way Donegal did. It has me thinking is there now a need for midfield anchor or necessarily a sweeper like CIan and could and should we play now with a bit less of a sweeper at 6 and commit more as we are exceptional for work rate with the flood at the back and arguably we played without a sweeper in the latter stages of the championship this year.. I haven't quite made my up on that just yet and whether we are that good at the back or not, but now even the top teams Tyrone, Mayo and the Fours are playing a blanket against us. I still havent waived the white flag and Darren Gavin yet, i think there is a good player there, but i think he lack a bit of confidence and belief, hopefully that comes and he kicks on and develops. He is a bit similar to Fenton though to really complement contrasting attributes and could be a bit harder in my opinion. TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 3852 - 18/11/2019 13:52:14 2250154 Link 4 |