I dont think Cork are as good as last year.They should beat Kerry next week though.
I think Dublin look to be the team to beat overall. Kilkenny getting rave reviews for them. If hes that good I wonder will he be “left” go to Oz?
Dublin only won their 10th Leinster U21 last night but theres been 3 in the last four years.
Dublin famously didnt give a damn about the U21 grade up until the last 10 years or so, something which I always found a little strange. Maybe Sid or some or Dublin poster can fill us in more on it.
Yeah. And since they started taking it seriously they have won Als at U21 and Senior. Dont know why they ignored U21 level.
Then again Galway have I think 3 AI U21s in the last 10 years and it didnt follow onto senior level.
Never understood why Dublin acted that way to the U21 grade, but much like the hurling it just goes to show once you organise a large population the sheer weight of numbers will come up trumps in the end. As for Galway, much like their underage hurling structures, they’re not producing what they need the most, full backs, centre backs and midfielders. If ever a county needed a Mannion and a Walsh back, its Galway.
Sid, what is the latest on Ciaran Kilkenny, is he still Australia bound or will heaven and earth be moved to try keep him?
There’s definitely a contract with Carlton on the table and I had thought he’d already signed it. I expect serious efforts will be made to try and stop him going and I’d be bloody disappointed if they weren’t. Kyle Coney from Tyrone had a contract signed with the Sydney Swans but was persuaded not to go so it can be done. Kilkenny doesn’t strike me as the type of player who’d be especially suited to Aussie Rules. He’s first and foremost a ball player. That isn’t to say I don’t think he’d make it though.
The most obvious thing to do would be for Gilroy (or Anthony Daly) to draft him into the squad for the championship once the U-21 championship is over. I could see him starting.
Did Coney not go out for a period? I cant recall for sure. I’d agree with your assessment of Kilkenny, but then I didnt think Tuohy would make it out there initially until he completely transformed his body and game, so you never know.
It was only for a few weeks at most.
MBB, Laois are playing Cork U-21s down here next Monday, how strong a Laois team is it likely to be? Cork have near their first team out, might go if Laois are likely to put a decent side out.
Could you see him for starting for hurlers and/or footballers? If he does stay whats the view on what he will pick to play hurling or football? Or will he try both. If he sticks around he will have a busy few years if he will be a dual u21 and senior.
He has the potential to be an excellent hurler but is even better at football and if he stayed that would be almost certainly what he’d pick.
I hope he goes to Oz so!!
Seriously though he must be good if he is standing out more at U21 level than he did at minor level last year. Trying to do both and combine U21 and senior in both codes could wear him down. Sounds like a real talent though (shite!)
Laois U21 Hurling? I dont know much about the U21’s at present, but I’d advise to stay away, Like the U21 Footballers, I cant understand why they’d fix challenge matches against the likes Cork at the moment.
Laois seniors MBB.
That makes more sense. Imagine it’ll be as close to full strength as we have (for what thats worth). Not sure things are progressing very well under Teddy at present.
Ah ok. Will probably head in for a look then, is Keenan still out injured?
Zane? Wont commit this year for some reason. He’s an odd one.
Great night for Cavan, back to back Ulster U21’s and it seems Val Andrews is on his way out. Good news all round.
Correct Sid. I have a slightly vested interest as Kilkenny is from my own club. Underage he was certainly a better hurler but his strength and conditioning has meant he has come on leaps and bounds in football. Both Daly and gilroy have been out to the house several times to see him with Gilroy in particular recently looking for him to get involved once the 21s are over.
There is a deal on the table with Carlton that is unsigned until such time as he finishes his Leaving Cert this summer. His family have his head screwed on so that gets priority at the moment. Carlton have him on a specific programme aligned with whatever training he does at a county level.
I have heard rumours that the county board are putting some sort of package in place along with a definitive job but that’s just rumour at the moment.
Judging from what I’ve seen around the county he’s definitely the greatest prospect to hit Dublin football in 10 years (Bernard Brogan was a late bloomer). His step up into 21 in his first year has been sensational and he was head and shoulders above everyone else in the Leinster u21 final. Other Dubs were missing a dropping shots from 30 yards against the breeze. He scored 4 from play in a row in this period off both feet from at least 40 yards out.
Could see Dublin build a team around him in years to come not to mention our club! Watch the semi (and hopefully the final) and enjoy it while he’s here.
Spidey were the rumours of him being ‘encouraged’ to move clubs a year or two back, true?