Joe McDonagh Cup round 3
Kildare 0-14 Kerry 1-17, Hawkfield FT

Kerry are on 5 points. The last two games are away to Offaly and home to Laois.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7811 - 22/04/2023 14:58:03    2472406

Counting chickens? :) - I wish Kerry the best - I look forward to a 6-team Muns Champp.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2567 - 22/04/2023 15:12:13    2472410

Looked like a great Game in Carlow
Another draw for us but means we are still in the huny

Blackbog (Carlow) - Posts: 704 - 22/04/2023 16:40:04    2472429

Joe McDonagh Cup round 3
Kildare 0-14 Kerry 1-17, Hawkfield FT
Carlow 1-22 Laois 1-22, Netwatch Cullen Park FT
Offaly 1-26 Down 1-15, Glenisk O'Connor Park FT

Offaly finally get a weekend off after being on the go for 7 weeks in a row. Division 2A champions and 6 points from 6 in the McDonagh. Can anyone stop them?
Offaly on 6 and Kerry on 5 have guaranteed McDonagh status. Kildare v Down realistically will be a relegation playoff.
Offaly are the clear favourites to make the final. Carlow, Laois and Kerry are in a three way battle to join them. Carlow have put themselves in a good position.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7811 - 22/04/2023 16:55:32    2472432

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1731 - 22/04/2023 17:11:02    2472443

Another great game we never seem to do it straight forward but good result today to get the draw.

Again gaa missed a trick by not showing any games this weekend the lack of promotion of this tournament is ridiculous when you consider the standard of games.

Hopefully 2 points against down and then a do or die against Offaly who we beat last year so shouldn't fear.

Looking like points difference may play a part yet.

ITSCHOLAR (Carlow) - Posts: 291 - 22/04/2023 19:04:56    2472489

Rolo2010 (Donegal) - Posts: 738 - 22/04/2023 19:23:31    2472500

Usual from gaa wonder if Dublin gaa where relegated to the Joe Mac what would happen???

Major chance missed and they wonder why the best sport in the world is dying ...

ITSCHOLAR (Carlow) - Posts: 291 - 22/04/2023 23:47:17    2472599

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11697 - 22/04/2023 23:54:10    2472606

I know RTÉ have a lot of games to cover but they could at least have shown the McDonagh table after the Carlow v Laois highlights and discussed how the battle for the final places is shaping up.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7811 - 23/04/2023 12:05:24    2472678

So kildare have lost their last 4 games in a row now which is an alarming drop to what they were doing. Offaly easy enough winners in the league final, trounced by carlow, another easy enough win for offaly and kerry doing enough yesterday.
Were kildare completely over rated by people, they were getting massive national and local media promotion more or less saying to prepare for div 1 hurling next year along with being up there to win the Joe McDonagh, did some of this get into the players heads and make them complacent to a certain extent and not put in the extra effort required. Something has gone seriously wrong since the league final and it's a downward spiral so much so that I can see down beating kildare now after being blown up so much in hurling circles

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 733 - 23/04/2023 14:07:53    2472727

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7811 - 23/04/2023 14:39:49    2472736

Fantastic game on Saturday between Carlow and Laois. For the first 20 minutes in both half's, Laois built up a 7 point lead and looked like they would go on and win it. But Carlow were able to claw their way back each time and were aided in the second half by a Laois red card. Once Laois went down to 14, Carlow looked like they would go on and win, but too many stray passes and wides meant Carlow couldn't build on their dominance. To Laois' credit, when the sides were level going into injury time, they were able to rattle off three points and looked like they would take the win, but a hopeful ball into the box resulted in a penalty for Carlow, which Marty Kavanagh smashed into the net.

Laois will be disappointed, as they were the better side for most of it and should have been able to see off Carlow with a minute left in injury and three points up. Was impressed with Laois, played some lovely stuff at times and their full back line was very good. Ross King and Paddy Purcell as always were very god, along with Stephen Maher.

Carlow will be relived at the end, but they will also feel they left it behind them, as between 60-70 minutes they were on top, but the ball just wouldn't stick at the vital times. Certainly had enough possession and control during that phase, just didn't make it count of the scoreboard. Both Kavanagh's were excellent for Carlow. Marty was Carlow's only real scoring threat, as Laois had the better of Carlow's forwards. Conor Lawlor, Diarmuid Byrne and James Doyle the other standouts for me.

TaosHum (Carlow) - Posts: 235 - 24/04/2023 08:33:29    2473043

It's advantage Carlow to join Offaly in the final after R3. Laois need favours.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7811 - 24/04/2023 11:21:10    2473152

Couldn't make it to the game on Saturday so had to listen to it on the radio. Seemed like Carlow were second best for long periods but could have won it at the end. Tbh I was relieved with the draw as its a better result for carlow. We do tend to make things hard for ourselves so I'm a little nervous about the Down game. Always a difficult place to play and they are fighting for survival in the McDonagh. If Carlow can get through that one it'd be great to see a large crowd in Dr Cullen Park for the Offaly game. Not counting chickens yet but am hopeful.

Unusedsub (Carlow) - Posts: 76 - 24/04/2023 12:32:09    2473210

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1412 - 24/04/2023 13:57:00    2473261

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7811 - 24/04/2023 17:54:02    2473413

Fixtures going into round 4

Laois vs Kildare
Down vs Carlow
Offaly vs Kerry

Expecting a Laois win over Kildare, but with the week off, I think they could put it up to Laois.

Carlow have struggled in Ballycran over the past few seasons, so this will be far from an easy day out for Carlow. I'd still be expecting a Carlow win, but might only be a score in it at the end.

Offally vs Kerry is the tie of the round and will have a huge impact on the table going into the final week. Carlow will be hoping for an Offaly win, as they will be through when the come to Carlow the following week. Laois probably want a Kerry win, as it gives them a chance to catch Offaly and beat Kerry in the final weekend. Given it's in Tullamore, I'd expect Offaly to come out on top by a score, but I wouldn't rule out a draw, have been very impressed with Kerry so far.

TaosHum (Carlow) - Posts: 235 - 05/05/2023 09:20:55    2475825

Saturday 6 May
Joe McDonagh Cup round 4
Laois v Kildare, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 2.30pm
Sunday 7 May
Joe McDonagh Cup round 4
Offaly v Kerry, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 1pm
Down v Carlow, Ballycran, 1pm

Laois and Carlow wins are more or less a certainty. Offaly are raging hot favourites on Sunday to secure a first ever McDonagh final. Carlow will be in a strong position after this weekend to secure a final spot. 3rd and 4th from last year.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7811 - 05/05/2023 11:22:15    2475863

I'm a bit worried about Carlow playing Down. If it was in Dr Cullen Park I'd be very confident but we struggle up there and have a habit of making things difficult for ourselves. I'd be happy with any positive result from the fixture no matter the margin.

Unusedsub (Carlow) - Posts: 76 - 05/05/2023 16:34:40    2475955