NFL Rd 2 - Kerry v Dublin - Austin Stack Park Sat 5 Feb 7pm

[Moderator]

Time to start thinking about this one.

Home wins are vital in the league.  Consecutive losses for Dublin will add pressure on all their management and players and they are not used to that type of pressure - add in playing Mayo in Croker in Rd 3 and it shows how good this competition really is. 

Added a poll (just to see how it works).

[KY50]

When and where are tickets on sale for this match ?

[thehermit]

Tickets just on sale now!

[sambo]

Jan 31, 2022 10:03:32 GMT thehermit said:

Tickets just on sale now!

Where??

[thehermit]

am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/kerrydublin0502

[mg72]

Jan 31, 2022 10:30:21 GMT thehermit said:

am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/kerrydublin0502

They're also on sale in SuperValu shops this morning.

[horsebox77]

Are we sold out

[ballybunion]

Oops! We are experiencing technical difficulties

Ticketmaster reply at present!!!!

[thehermit]

They went fast so if that's the case, lucky I was keeping an eye on it this morning and managed to get a couple.

[colinsworth1]

Two players that we so badly need now
Joe o Conor and. OKunbar ( apologies don’t have his first name } are out injured
maybe there absence will be highlighted even more before this league is over .Greg Horan needs more time too and the search must go on for a few more strong athletic midfielders and half forwards
We can no longer rely on the brilliant David Moran as the clock just keeps ticking on his career
Jack Barry also V Tyrone last year showed us
That he’s not at that level required
Tyrone had two non footballing athletic midfielders and we all saw how well it worked for them . Sheer workhorses that can catch a high ball and deliver plenty hits and tackles too .
An athlete at midfield that can go box to box for the entire game would help a lot Adrian Spillane fits that mould to a degree and surely a sit down with video of game this week will show him how costly his needless fouls are to our cause ,
It’s early yet I don’t see us doing that well in league but if we find a few more physical players with plenty athleticism I would say it was a success
Midfield for Kerry traditionally has been our strong point ,yesterday midfield performance simply not even close to good enough
If you think the return of the two Na Gael player s will be the solution
That’s fine but I don’t share that optimism

[greengold35]

Jan 31, 2022 12:36:35 GMT colinsworth1 said:

Two players that we so badly need now
Joe o Conor and. OKunbar ( apologies don’t have his first name } are out injured
maybe there absence will be highlighted even more before this league is over .Greg Horan needs more time too and the search must go on for a few more strong athletic midfielders and half forwards
We can no longer rely on the brilliant David Moran as the clock just keeps ticking on his career
Jack Barry also V Tyrone last year showed us
That he’s not at that level required
Tyrone had two non footballing athletic midfielders and we all saw how well it worked for them . Sheer workhorses that can catch a high ball and deliver plenty hits and tackles too .
An athlete at midfield that can go box to box for the entire game would help a lot Adrian Spillane fits that mould to a degree and surely a sit down with video of game this week will show him how costly his needless fouls are to our cause ,
It’s early yet I don’t see us doing that well in league but if we find a few more physical players with plenty athleticism I would say it was a success
Midfield for Kerry traditionally has been our strong point ,yesterday midfield performance simply not even close to good enough
If you think the return of the two Na Gael player s will be the solution
That’s fine but I don’t share that optimism

The argument is irrelevant given that both O’Connor & Okunbar are out injured; O’Connor was fully fit & available last year but failed to make it - he had a good county championship but others misfortune ( Diarmuid O’C & David Moran injuries) seemed to have helped his case - forget about his county final appearance given that he was being marked by a guy who normally plies his trade on the edge of the square for Strand Roads B team.

Greg Horan turns 27 this year so I would be surprised if he makes the impact required - his contribution yesterday was minimal.
Adrian too , in my book has had enough of chances - his decision making is suspect, coughed up 3 scores yesterday which ultimately cost us.
The Jack Barry/Diarmuid O’Connor axis is the best available at the minute & I hope to see both on Sat night - Barry was carrying an injury for most of last year, Diarmuid was under utilised.
We need David Moran back but I hear it will be a while.

[royalkerryfan]

Jan 31, 2022 12:36:35 GMT colinsworth1 said:

Two players that we so badly need now
Joe o Conor and. OKunbar ( apologies don’t have his first name } are out injured
maybe there absence will be highlighted even more before this league is over .Greg Horan needs more time too and the search must go on for a few more strong athletic midfielders and half forwards
We can no longer rely on the brilliant David Moran as the clock just keeps ticking on his career
Jack Barry also V Tyrone last year showed us
That he’s not at that level required
Tyrone had two non footballing athletic midfielders and we all saw how well it worked for them . Sheer workhorses that can catch a high ball and deliver plenty hits and tackles too .
An athlete at midfield that can go box to box for the entire game would help a lot Adrian Spillane fits that mould to a degree and surely a sit down with video of game this week will show him how costly his needless fouls are to our cause ,
It’s early yet I don’t see us doing that well in league but if we find a few more physical players with plenty athleticism I would say it was a success
Midfield for Kerry traditionally has been our strong point ,yesterday midfield performance simply not even close to good enough
If you think the return of the two Na Gael player s will be the solution
That’s fine but I don’t share that optimism

To be fair nether Joe or Stefan have played for Kerry yet so we can hardly say we desperately need them when we haven't seen them at this level yet. .

It's their potential that we are relying on and that's all at the minute.

For me Spillane as the spoiler and OConnor as the fielder may be the best option.

I just don't trust Jack Barry to be a leading man in midfield.

[kot]

Jan 31, 2022 12:14:33 GMT ballybunion said:

Oops! We are experiencing technical difficulties

Ticketmaster reply at present!!!!

same issue still for me

[southward]

Am I just more conscious of it because it's Kerry or do we get more than our share of injuries to top players every year? Seems like we're always down 2 or 3 starters and the rest. Do other counties get hit as bad, I wonder?

[mike70]

Looking ahead to Saturday night with regard team selection, a few variables,
- Na Gaeil boys available
- Sigerson games Tuesday & Wednesday
- Gavin W , looks like he might be out

You probably introduce DOC to MF, SOS to the forty, PC on the wing , other wing up for grabs DM/MB/JS or maybe go ultra defensive, slot JB in there.

Agree on TOS to wing, beaglaoi in the corner (assuming GW out)

Inside line, maybe start TB ahead of killian and use killian as impact sub, has always given us more in that role.

Will Dublin get con/copper/fitzsimons & Mccarty back , if so it’s a different dublin team.

Great to be back.

[royalkerryfan]

Jan 31, 2022 14:20:38 GMT southward said:

Am I just more conscious of it because it's Kerry or do we get more than our share of injuries to top players every year? Seems like we're always down 2 or 3 starters and the rest. Do other counties get hit as bad, I wonder?

I think they do infairness.

The Dubs have a raft of injuries at the minute.

Although some of our lads seem more prone than others. Every time Gavin white goes down I fear he's gone

[Mickmack]

Dublin team that lost to Mayo 2021



Evan Comerford;



Michael Fitzsimons, Davey Byrne, Jonny Cooper;

James McCarthy, John Small, Sean MacMahon;

Brian Fenton, Brian Howard;

Paddy Small, Ciarán Kilkenny, Niall Scully;

Dean Rock, Con O'Callaghan, Cormac Costello

Subs: Michael Shiel, Colm Basquel, Ryan Basquel, Sean Bugler, Aaron Byrne, Tom Lahiff, Robert McDaid, Philly McMahon, Eoin Murchan, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Cillian O'Shea





Dublin team that played Armagh

Evan Comerford;

Lee Gannon, David Byrne, Eoin Murchan;

Tom Lahiff, Brian Howard , John Small;

Brian Fenton, Emmet O Conghaile;

Sean Bugler , Ciaran Kilkenny , Niall Scully ;

Aaron Byrne, Cormac Costello , Ryan Basquel.

Subs:

Ross McGarry for A Byrne (16),

Dean Rock for Costello (30),

Cameron McCormack for O Conghaile (ht),

Lorcan O’Dell for Basquel (51),

Sean McMahon for Murchan (68).

[colinsworth1]

Jan 31, 2022 13:04:38 GMT greengold35 said:

Jan 31, 2022 12:36:35 GMT colinsworth1 said:

Two players that we so badly need now
Joe o Conor and. OKunbar ( apologies don’t have his first name } are out injured
maybe there absence will be highlighted even more before this league is over .Greg Horan needs more time too and the search must go on for a few more strong athletic midfielders and half forwards
We can no longer rely on the brilliant David Moran as the clock just keeps ticking on his career
Jack Barry also V Tyrone last year showed us
That he’s not at that level required
Tyrone had two non footballing athletic midfielders and we all saw how well it worked for them . Sheer workhorses that can catch a high ball and deliver plenty hits and tackles too .
An athlete at midfield that can go box to box for the entire game would help a lot Adrian Spillane fits that mould to a degree and surely a sit down with video of game this week will show him how costly his needless fouls are to our cause ,
It’s early yet I don’t see us doing that well in league but if we find a few more physical players with plenty athleticism I would say it was a success
Midfield for Kerry traditionally has been our strong point ,yesterday midfield performance simply not even close to good enough
If you think the return of the two Na Gael player s will be the solution
That’s fine but I don’t share that optimism

The argument is irrelevant given that both O’Connor & Okunbar are out injured; O’Connor was fully fit & available last year but failed to make it - he had a good county championship but others misfortune ( Diarmuid O’C & David Moran injuries) seemed to have helped his case - forget about his county final appearance given that he was being marked by a guy who normally plies his trade on the edge of the square for Strand Roads B team.

Greg Horan turns 27 this year so I would be surprised if he makes the impact required - his contribution yesterday was minimal.
Adrian too , in my book has had enough of chances - his decision making is suspect, coughed up 3 scores yesterday which ultimately cost us.
The Jack Barry/Diarmuid O’Connor axis is the best available at the minute & I hope to see both on Sat night - Barry was carrying an injury for most of last year, Diarmuid was under utilised.
We need David Moran back but I hear it will be a while.

Your not too optimistic on the new blood
But you offer nothing new
So you’re happy with recycling the same tried and tested
Happy with the status quo
You know what they say about trying the same idea over and over again and expecting a different result ?
I would look at Tyrone’s two new midfielders as an example of the type of athlete one needs or don’t look beyond Kildares two in the second half
Feely and Flynn
For a decade now we have been turning out midfielders with containment as there only job playing two defensive midfielders in particular v Dublin
Where Fenton and McCarthy and others never had to defend our 8 and 9
We basically conceded that from the throw in
We’re being too conservative let’s get back to the days where teams fear our midfield one that can score and get forward once in a while ones that
Make Fintan run back and track back once in a while instead of making him look like a genius every time
Time for a change in my view

[dc84]

If kerry training is as hotly contested and narky as this forum is we should be ok the weekend!!
On the above I think Diarmuid was severly under used last year his efforts in extra time vs Tyrone and when we started to get the run 9n dublin in league stick ot in my head for me h3 has to start come championship whether that's with number 8 ,9, 10 or 12 or as a thrid midfielder I don't care.

[greengold35]

Jan 31, 2022 15:44:24 GMT colinsworth1 said:

Jan 31, 2022 13:04:38 GMT greengold35 said:

The argument is irrelevant given that both O’Connor & Okunbar are out injured; O’Connor was fully fit & available last year but failed to make it - he had a good county championship but others misfortune ( Diarmuid O’C & David Moran injuries) seemed to have helped his case - forget about his county final appearance given that he was being marked by a guy who normally plies his trade on the edge of the square for Strand Roads B team.

Greg Horan turns 27 this year so I would be surprised if he makes the impact required - his contribution yesterday was minimal.
Adrian too , in my book has had enough of chances - his decision making is suspect, coughed up 3 scores yesterday which ultimately cost us.
The Jack Barry/Diarmuid O’Connor axis is the best available at the minute & I hope to see both on Sat night - Barry was carrying an injury for most of last year, Diarmuid was under utilised.
We need David Moran back but I hear it will be a while.

Your not too optimistic on the new blood
But you offer nothing new
So you’re happy with recycling the same tried and tested
Happy with the status quo
You know what they say about trying the same idea over and over again and expecting a different result ?
I would look at Tyrone’s two new midfielders as an example of the type of athlete one needs or don’t look beyond Kildares two in the second half
Feely and Flynn
For a decade now we have been turning out midfielders with containment as there only job playing two defensive midfielders in particular v Dublin
Where Fenton and McCarthy and others never had to defend our 8 and 9
We basically conceded that from the throw in
We’re being too conservative let’s get back to the days where teams fear our midfield one that can score and get forward once in a while ones that
Make Fintan run back and track back once in a while instead of making him look like a genius every time
Time for a change in my view

I take your point about the go forward type of midfielder but neither player you reference is available; maybe they will become that type of athletic player in the future but for now our options are limited.

Diarmuid O’Connor is that type of player in my opinion & hopefully will kick on and develop into a top class midfielder - for the moment , given injuries etc think that Barry & DO’C are our best combo; I would love to see a MDMA type of swashbuckling player emerge but cannot see anyone at the minute.

[greengold35]

Jan 31, 2022 15:57:43 GMT dc84 said:

If kerry training is as hotly contested and narky as this forum is we should be ok the weekend!!
On the above I think Diarmuid was severly under used last year his efforts in extra time vs Tyrone and when we started to get the run 9n dublin in league stick ot in my head for me h3 has to start come championship whether that's with number 8 ,9, 10 or 12 or as a thrid midfielder I don't care.

Our decision to start Dara Moynihan instead of DO’C last year was madness - Moynihan was severely short on match sharpness & keeping O’Connor on the bench for the best part of an hour proved very costly.

[peanuts]

Jan 31, 2022 15:57:43 GMT dc84 said:

If kerry training is as hotly contested and narky as this forum is we should be ok the weekend!!
On the above I think Diarmuid was severly under used last year his efforts in extra time vs Tyrone and when we started to get the run 9n dublin in league stick ot in my head for me h3 has to start come championship whether that's with number 8 ,9, 10 or 12 or as a thrid midfielder I don't care.

Diarmuid got injured against Cork. That's probably why he didn't start against Tyrone as he was just coming back. I'd say he started all other games. I agree we need him in the middle third whether at midfield or wing forward.

[peanuts]

Jan 31, 2022 16:20:02 GMT greengold35 said:

Jan 31, 2022 15:57:43 GMT dc84 said:

If kerry training is as hotly contested and narky as this forum is we should be ok the weekend!!
On the above I think Diarmuid was severly under used last year his efforts in extra time vs Tyrone and when we started to get the run 9n dublin in league stick ot in my head for me h3 has to start come championship whether that's with number 8 ,9, 10 or 12 or as a thrid midfielder I don't care.

Our decision to start Dara Moynihan instead of DO’C last year was madness - Moynihan was severely short on match sharpness & keeping O’Connor on the bench for the best part of an hour proved very costly.

DOC was just coming back from injury too.

[royalkerryfan]

Tickets sold out.

Hope everyone who wanted one got one.

[colinsworth1]

Jan 31, 2022 15:57:43 GMT dc84 said:

If kerry training is as hotly contested and narky as this forum is we should be ok the weekend!!
On the above I think Diarmuid was severly under used last year his efforts in extra time vs Tyrone and when we started to get the run 9n dublin in league stick ot in my head for me h3 has to start come championship whether that's with number 8 ,9, 10 or 12 or as a thrid midfielder I don't care.

DC  no one getting narky here ,not yet anyhow its early  but lets not get too restrained by being pc all the time either 
great forum here very respectful with decorum for the most part. Some times we are bending over backwards being nice to players and Coaches and I get that totally but for this forum to be of use we need some straight talk too all the while being considerate to everyone.

DOC is emerging as our great white hope and why not, he checks a lot of boxes  lets hope this is a breakout year for him and he delivers on his potential  we certainly need him and  few more besides.
Jack o Connor if im correct gave us Paul Galvin and Aidan o Mahony  and showed that he s prepared to hunt and seek out raw talent with potential.and maybe its not from development squads maybe outside the normal production line.No need to espouse the merits of Paul and Aidan here but there has to be more of that ilk out there in one the countrys  best club football Counties  

On that subject  what ever happened to the big strong o brien lad from strand road ?

[Whosinmidfield]

It’s still the early rounds of the league, we need to be looking at players. I’d definitely start Dylan Casey at corner back in the absence of Gavin White with Tom moving out to the wing. Who I’d put on the other wing, I’m not sure between Paul Murphy, Brian O’Beaglaoich and Gavin Crowley. I’d probably go Beaglaoich but I wouldn’t mind seeing Crowley start either. Midfield I’d partner Adrian Spillane with Jack Barry but Barry will need to show a lot more than he has in recent years. We need him to show more confidence in his abilities and also use his size and physicality more. Forget about marking Fenton, he needs to play his own game. Fenton doesn’t need to be man marked anyway in my opinion, his influence isn’t as big as it once was. Diarmuid O’Connor, Sean O’Shea and Paudie in the half forward line which I think could end up being our championship half forward line. That’s a huge improvement on what we lined out with against Kildare. Inside I’m not sure would I start Spillane or Brosnan along with Clifford and Geaney. Do we give Brosnan a chance after Spillane failed to take his or do we give Spillane a chance to put that performance behind him? I think I’d give Brosnan a shot with Spillane coming on.

[greengold35]

Jan 31, 2022 17:12:34 GMT colinsworth1 said:

Jan 31, 2022 15:57:43 GMT dc84 said:

If kerry training is as hotly contested and narky as this forum is we should be ok the weekend!!
On the above I think Diarmuid was severly under used last year his efforts in extra time vs Tyrone and when we started to get the run 9n dublin in league stick ot in my head for me h3 has to start come championship whether that's with number 8 ,9, 10 or 12 or as a thrid midfielder I don't care.

DC  no one getting narky here ,not yet anyhow its early  but lets not get too restrained by being pc all the time either 
great forum here very respectful with decorum for the most part. Some times we are bending over backwards being nice to players and Coaches and I get that totally but for this forum to be of use we need some straight talk too all the while being considerate to everyone.

DOC is emerging as our great white hope and why not, he checks a lot of boxes  lets hope this is a breakout year for him and he delivers on his potential  we certainly need him and  few more besides.
Jack o Connor if im correct gave us Paul Galvin and Aidan o Mahony  and showed that he s prepared to hunt and seek out raw talent with potential.and maybe its not from development squads maybe outside the normal production line.No need to espouse the merits of Paul and Aidan here but there has to be more of that ilk out there in one the countrys  best club football Counties  

On that subject  what ever happened to the big strong o brien lad from strand road ?

Gavin O’Brien never really kicked on when he joined Kerry set up - had a fine county championship in ‘18 which led to the Kerry call up but has been unlucky with injuries - he suffered a hamstring injury in the warm up of last years county final and was a huge loss to Strand Road - played Sigerson with CIT since but was well marshalled by Fionán Mackessy when playing MTU & failed to make the starting line up in the next game, again due to injury.

[Whosinmidfield]

Also I’d like to see Paul O’Shea and Eanna O’Conchuir see game time from the bench.

[veteran]

Jan 31, 2022 17:00:22 GMT royalkerryfan said:

Tickets sold out.

Hope everyone who wanted one got one.

Do I feel another delayed start coming on!

[Ballyfireside]

Jan 31, 2022 17:55:52 GMT ciarraimick said:

To be fair I think Paul Galvin and Aidan Ó Mahony were brought into Kerry panel by Paidi. However it was Jack that gave them the regular starts.

If it helps solve the simultaneous equation, PO'6 along with Bernie Callaghan visited Liam Flaherty of an evening in his milking parlour to coax him back for another go - the way it was told was that Liam left it to his father Dan, i.e. the workload would fall on poor Dan and sure wouldn't a fella prefer playing ball than farming, great auld tales and Dan wouldn't have had to think twice, he'd only be delighted God rest him, a great supporters club man - a great man to sum up a game in one single sentence. If today was yesterday he'd be a great asset on here, the arse would fall out of the price of ink!

Good call by PO'6 too, things he didn't get credit for, in this case taking a laddo away from his animals - ah jazus don't tell me 'twas Ballydonoghue that put all them animal ideas into his aul head?

Ah, the picture of it gave me a wee bit of inspiration here so let's dedicate a few lines to heroes past -


If truth be told they'd sacrifice all,

one word answered how, who, what, why, when and where.

Even the milchy Kerry cow nodded in agreement,

everyone and anything in the name of the game.

All that matters now is not that they are gone,

but that they left their mark on the homeplace.

For when the enemy had to be dealt with,

the battle was won and pride of homeland saved.

They wouldn't want commotion, fuss or nonsense,

just continue to play honest, hard and brave.

And just like memory brings passed hero back,

maybe Sam will likewise be reclaimed.