Sharp Eye wrote:Paschal Keelaghan seems to think the Offaly border finishes at West Clara. Ferbane are the current minor champions and they have four better forwards than Stephen Hannon or Declan Hogan. St Rynaghs defeated Edenderry last year to reach the co under 21 semi-final. Where was Niall Wynne (St Rynaghs) the most consistant freetaker at this age group. The fielding skills of Pat Camon (St Rynaghs) were badly missed last night as we struggled at midfield for the full game. Changes are required for the Kildare game, we cannot continue playing defenders in the forward line and a reliable freetaker is a must.
Not that I'd be criticising my own, but Stephen Hannon is a wing back and he had a good outing marking the Meath captain, while Declan Hogan did a very, very good job as a deep lying wing forward, getting on a lot of ball and using it quite well. Equally I didn't think we struggled at midfield either.
Ferbane have a lot of good young forwards, but with the exception of Aaron McDonagh, they're all still minor. Unless you're truly exceptional, it's only right to be playing at your own grade first and foremost.
You could go picking Niall Wynne, but we didn't actually get a free last night that I can remember, so that wouldn't have worked out well either.
I would have said that Tom Spain was hard done by not to get a longer run, I felt he was the fall guy for the lack of height elsewhere in the forward line, and personally I think Aaron can do a great job of killing a game late on and his pace could have been well used - he also has a great work rate off the ball. That said, and I'd be the first to have raised an eyebrow at the selection, it was justified by the result.
Deadandgone wrote:Is young carroll not on u 21 or is he too young. I see he is goin to london for aussie trials.
Not too young necessarily, but still minor as well, so even though I think he's an exceptional footballer, he'd still struggle at county under-21.
Kevin Egan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.
