I agree with this,Declan Kelly is the standout manager in the county and deserves a chance. We have had a horrific standard of coaching in the club scene, (there are some green shoots), but this feeds through to the skillset of the players.Fairplayalways wrote: ↑Sun Feb 18, 2024 9:28 pm i think our problems are beyond whos managing us, Kelly deserved a go at it to be fair, football in the county is now like slot of the other weaker counties, we can talk it up and say its very competitive, it is but at what standard...MT every week articles about schools football in Leinster finals and what have you and when you read on its C and D level...Ime talking generally before anyone attacks...Tullamore as county champions played an average team from Meath in Leinster, yes they had a few big names but Meath are no longer a major force...Tullamore done everything bar attack them when the game was there for the taking, kicking and handpassing the ball everyway bar towards the opposition goals..not running them down at all, thats how they were coached obviously...our county team in ways reminds me of that approach, just when an opportunity is presented, and they don't appear too often, we seem locked into this cautious mentality, which shuts down any forward thinking players we have, we just don't kick on...its going on a number of years now..too long...
but going to today, anumber of players stood up, and played very well but Anton, WTF???? Seemed to be sulking when he came on and kicked away 3 balls during the game. Gave Clare an easy chance that they missed up in the first half.
After a very poor opening 15mins we kicked on to lead by 9 with less than 20 left. Poor kick out that was straight to the Clare goalie led to a counter and a penalty. From there on the team dissolved. Nothing management could do about it at that point. But penalty at the end, that goes in and we are up and running. Great power but Jaysus, just had to hit the target.
And lads on here talking about Clare being , theyve beat Sligo, couldve beat Westmeath in Mullingar, and have 4 points from 6. Limerick and wicklow none, Sligo 2, win 3 of the last 4 games and we stay up, job done as we are not above Div 3 now.
The manner of the defeat is hard to take but need to get out and suport the lads and management and all need to realise that this is a battle.
Managers ain't growing on trees and Kelly deserves his chance, and theyll need to understand how the fade out happened and ensure that we build on leads like that in the future. With Hogan and Jack Mcevoy as 2 other options, hopefully a few more lads will put their hands up. Form of Cian Farrell is a huge worry as is Antons reaction to losing his place.