U-21 All Ireland football championship 2014

Best of luck to shane with his own battle hope all works out and see him back in sky blue soon

No sign of a team announcement, i don't agree with this policy and believe that Dublin Gaa are letting themselves down badly with this carry on

champers wrote:No sign of a team announcement, i don't agree with this policy and believe that Dublin Gaa are letting themselves down badly with this carry on

I agree with that, although it isn't just the Dubs. I hate to see the wrong team in a programme. It's insulting to people who buy it, and it is unfair to the players themselves. In years to come, there will be plenty of lads who have started in AI finals, but the programmes will say otherwise - players deserve better.

Rugby are able to name accurate sides several days before, so I don't see why GAA sides can't.

Jim Gavin is worse than Conor Counihan for naming dummy teams.

The young Rossies are being overwhelmed here by a vastly superior, slicker Dublin XV. McHugh and Costello have ratcheted up about 9 points between them. 14-1 at the tea-break.

The Roscommon management must shoulder some level of blame here. They weren't totally swamped at midfield where they had two big able and earnest buckos, but the support levels for breaking ball were awful.

The half-back line crumbled and the blame will be thrust on the full-back line. This trio were indeed truly woeful, yards off their men, passing what crumbs they secured laterally and sluggishly (applicable to the entire defensive unit) and finally they haul ashore the 14 to correct the issue...Madness.

In any event they were fooked from the off, this was a wonderful Dublin effort. The approach play was top drawer, the finishing of either foot seamless, placed balls off the ground were converted effortlessly, and on the odd incursion the Sheepstealers ventured, they were heavily outnumbered.

Dublin were fit, fast and fluent.

Change the full-forward lines and you could well have changed the result. This was an incredible scoreline, but not an incredible Dublin performance. I watched the game knowing the result, and expected to see Dublin dominate in all sectors. They didn't, but what they did have was a lot of pace (legs and intent) and a lethal FF line that weren't marked. Well done to Dublin who were extremely and ruthlessly efficient, but the Rossies will wonder just how they were made look so poor.

But they couldn't get the ball forward TC. They had 2 big honest lads at m/f but not ball winning support.
They were fairly and squarely out of their depth in terms of ball winning and utilisation of possession.
Lateral passing, aimless kicking at shadows, who were constantly behind their men, terrible stuff.

This reflects upon their management. Possibly an air of bullishness, certainly an air of naitevity, these
Sheepstealers are ripe for shearing on May 18th....Van Morrisson says "There'll be days like this"..

The Dubs were something else in free flow today. Conor McHugh MOTM with 1-6 (only 0-10 before today in 4 games) thanked Roscommon for playing such an open game and allowing Dublin to express themselves. Terribly naive tactics from Roscommon in the first half and opening 5 mins of the 2nd half. Cavan,Meath and even Longford didn't allow Dublin to play their game.

That game had the potential to be a top match shame it turned into such a one sided contest due to one management team clearly doing no homework on the opposition. Well done to Dublin yet another All Ireland won and serious talent in their ranks now the conveyor belt is showing no signs of slowing down. The chasing pack should be very fearful.

Happy to be champions again Dublin Gaa is on an upward curve probably  
We are having some days we willl never forget  

Boxtyeater wrote:
But they couldn't get the ball forward TC. They had 2 big honest lads at m/f but not ball winning support.
They were fairly and squarely out of their depth in terms of ball winning and utilisation of possession.
Lateral passing, aimless kicking at shadows, who were constantly behind their men, terrible stuff.

And despite all that they still scored 3 goals, forced 3 outstanding one handed saves from the Dublin keeper (including a penalty) and squandered a couple more openings for goals. For all their lameness, Roscommon had the chances to keep the scoreline much closer throughout the game. I wouldn't say this was a great Dublin U21 side, but their full-forwards especially turned in a great performance when it mattered.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

Boxtyeater wrote:
But they couldn't get the ball forward TC. They had 2 big honest lads at m/f but not ball winning support.
They were fairly and squarely out of their depth in terms of ball winning and utilisation of possession.
Lateral passing, aimless kicking at shadows, who were constantly behind their men, terrible stuff.

And despite all that they still scored 3 goals, forced 3 outstanding one handed saves from the Dublin keeper (including a penalty) and squandered a couple more openings for goals.  For all their lameness, Roscommon had the chances to keep the scoreline much closer throughout the game.  I wouldn't say this was a great Dublin U21 side, but their full-forwards especially turned in a great performance when it mattered.  

Without being great till probably the final,its a bit unfair to say they are not a good/great side this U21 side is made up of the minor champions 2012 and bar 3/4 are all under age again next year

its a good sign of progress to keep it going from minor to 21 now its about trying to bring a few of these lads on to the senior panel,i believe 8 of team are going to be involved in the senior panel