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Would A Team Of Young Irish AFL Players Win The All Ireland

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Darragh Joyce Cillian McDaid Stefan Okunbor Colin O'Riordan Conor Glass Mark O'Connor Ray Connellan Anton Tohill Conor Nash James Madden Mark Keane Conor McKenna Red Og Murphy Callum Brown Ciaran Byrne Do people think this team could win the all-ireland in say 3 years time? The age of the players at the moment ranges from 18 to 23, which is very young to try and win an all-ireland. In 3 years time that would be 21 to 26 which is would be a good age. Please note that the reason Zach Tuohy and the like aren't included is because I was looking at the younger players. And the reason that the likes of Cillian McDaid is included even though he has returned is because there weren't enough players currently over there so I included all players who have been contracted to an Aussie Rules in the last year or 2. As regards the team itself, I tried to organise the positions as best as I could but there was on overload of midfielders but no corner backs! So do you think this team could win an All Ireland in a couple of years time? Kerry15 (Kerry) - Posts: 958 - 02/11/2018 11:50:36 2149248 Link
Replying To Kerry15: "Darragh Joyce Cillian McDaid Stefan Okunbor Colin O'Riordan Conor Glass Mark O'Connor Ray Connellan Anton Tohill Conor Nash James Madden Mark Keane Conor McKenna Red Og Murphy Callum Brown Ciaran Byrne Do people think this team could win the all-ireland in say 3 years time? The age of the players at the moment ranges from 18 to 23, which is very young to try and win an all-ireland. In 3 years time that would be 21 to 26 which is would be a good age. Please note that the reason Zach Tuohy and the like aren't included is because I was looking at the younger players. And the reason that the likes of Cillian McDaid is included even though he has returned is because there weren't enough players currently over there so I included all players who have been contracted to an Aussie Rules in the last year or 2. As regards the team itself, I tried to organise the positions as best as I could but there was on overload of midfielders but no corner backs! So do you think this team could win an All Ireland in a couple of years time?" They wouldn't beat the Dubs, but they'd hammer Kerry. Does that answer your prodigal rumination? shoulderghost (Limerick) - Posts: 863 - 02/11/2018 12:40:53 2149255 Link
Well as you say there are no corner backs. How do they stop the big counties star forwards from running riot? I'm just looking at how good the current AI champions are and unless Jim Gavin decides to manage that team you have named then they wouldn't have a prayer I'd say. SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 02/11/2018 12:56:02 2149257 Link
Replying To SaffronDon: "Well as you say there are no corner backs. How do they stop the big counties star forwards from running riot? I'm just looking at how good the current AI champions are and unless Jim Gavin decides to manage that team you have named then they wouldn't have a prayer I'd say." Yes the Dubs are unbelievable at the moment and would be very hard to beat. I suppose I am just looking at how good a team of the players who have left would be. You make a good point about the opposing corner forwards who could cause damage. The Aussies are looking for athletes who usually play in the middle third of the pitch so there are no sticky corner backs in the team. But what the whole full back line has in abundance is strength and pace which might help them. But the main defensive strategy of this team would be pressure on the ball outside and hope the delivery is poor because all these men are phenomenal athletes. Kerry15 (Kerry) - Posts: 958 - 02/11/2018 17:47:32 2149296 Link
Replying To Kerry15: "Darragh Joyce Cillian McDaid Stefan Okunbor Colin O'Riordan Conor Glass Mark O'Connor Ray Connellan Anton Tohill Conor Nash James Madden Mark Keane Conor McKenna Red Og Murphy Callum Brown Ciaran Byrne Do people think this team could win the all-ireland in say 3 years time? The age of the players at the moment ranges from 18 to 23, which is very young to try and win an all-ireland. In 3 years time that would be 21 to 26 which is would be a good age. Please note that the reason Zach Tuohy and the like aren't included is because I was looking at the younger players. And the reason that the likes of Cillian McDaid is included even though he has returned is because there weren't enough players currently over there so I included all players who have been contracted to an Aussie Rules in the last year or 2. As regards the team itself, I tried to organise the positions as best as I could but there was on overload of midfielders but no corner backs! So do you think this team could win an All Ireland in a couple of years time?" Ciaran Byrne is back home. OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 02/11/2018 18:39:10 2149302 Link
No, they wouldn't. tribesman125 (Galway) - Posts: 173 - 03/11/2018 04:14:29 2149356 Link
Surely they would be one of the top teams in the country. I doubt the Aussies are picking 2nd rate players! Who do people think is the best player on the team? Kerry15 (Kerry) - Posts: 958 - 03/11/2018 19:47:21 2149441 Link
Replying To Kerry15: "Surely they would be one of the top teams in the country. I doubt the Aussies are picking 2nd rate players! Who do people think is the best player on the team?" One of the top teams in the country at what? At Aussie Rules perhaps yes, as they're all good athletes. The question you asked though, was if they'd beat the Dubs at football. Most of these lads haven't even played senior intercounty. They'd be beaten out the gate. There's a lot more required by a top intercounty team than simply 15 strong athletes. In a few years time and with experience of playing top level intercounty they might make a decent team, but they seem short on scoring forwards and tight marking backs. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2039 - 03/11/2018 20:28:31 2149446 Link
They'd be hammered by most of the top teams. I remember Kennelly back for Kerry. Great engine, great tactical awareness, but at times he looked like had lost some ball skills. For my money, lots of the regular Kerry team were better. I agree that they'd be great lads to stitch into a team, but as it stands, I'd be reasonably sure they'd be beaten handily enough. essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 03/11/2018 20:46:42 2149447 Link
Replying To WanPintWin: "One of the top teams in the country at what? At Aussie Rules perhaps yes, as they're all good athletes. The question you asked though, was if they'd beat the Dubs at football. Most of these lads haven't even played senior intercounty. They'd be beaten out the gate. There's a lot more required by a top intercounty team than simply 15 strong athletes. In a few years time and with experience of playing top level intercounty they might make a decent team, but they seem short on scoring forwards and tight marking backs." Ya what I meant really is talent wise. Kerry15 (Kerry) - Posts: 958 - 03/11/2018 22:22:52 2149458 Link
Replying To essmac: "They'd be hammered by most of the top teams. I remember Kennelly back for Kerry. Great engine, great tactical awareness, but at times he looked like had lost some ball skills. For my money, lots of the regular Kerry team were better. I agree that they'd be great lads to stitch into a team, but as it stands, I'd be reasonably sure they'd be beaten handily enough." Ah I think Red og Murphy, Ciaran Byrne and Conor McKenna would get the scores on the board. These lads are all one of the the best players in their county so I don't think they'd go down without a fight. Kerry15 (Kerry) - Posts: 958 - 03/11/2018 22:28:38 2149459 Link
Replying To essmac: "They'd be hammered by most of the top teams. I remember Kennelly back for Kerry. Great engine, great tactical awareness, but at times he looked like had lost some ball skills. For my money, lots of the regular Kerry team were better. I agree that they'd be great lads to stitch into a team, but as it stands, I'd be reasonably sure they'd be beaten handily enough." Kennelly struggled a bit initially when he got back for 2009 but by the end of that season he was absolutely flying and even won an all star. There is bound to be a period of adjustment after playing a different sport with a different shaped ball. The OP question is impossible to answer they'd be unbelievably physical but would lack specialists in certain positions. It's strange that we can name a full Irish team from the AFL when so few used to go there. Some top talents on that list it's a shame that many of them won't play much GAA again they are a big loss to our game. GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2105 - 03/11/2018 23:19:40 2149463 Link
Those players will benefit from playing in Oz. Kildare had 4 players that returned on their championship squad this year and they did well. Living the life of a professional athlete cannot hinder them and the opportunity presented is fantastic. Unlike Tomás O Se, I think the GAA should make more of the link. If we are staying amateur, then why not use the AFL as a marketing tool to get young players to play. Guys like Mike Quinn, Brendan Murphy, Red Og Murphy, Ciarán Byrne have almost no chance of ever winning an All Ireland or playing in front of full house at Croke Park but all got a chance and to travel play a professional sport through GAA involvement. Its grand for Kerry, Dublin etc who can sell Gaelic football as their are loads of AI medal winners hanging around and you are always in with a shout of winning. Not the same in most counties but AFL not discriminating by county. Tomás also worried about the poor club coaches who have their players poached from them by the thieving Aussies. I know Mitchelstown are extremely proud that Mark Keane is going yo give it a go. I am sure many others feel the same. bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 03/11/2018 23:57:02 2149468 Link
Replying To bennybunny: "Those players will benefit from playing in Oz. Kildare had 4 players that returned on their championship squad this year and they did well. Living the life of a professional athlete cannot hinder them and the opportunity presented is fantastic. Unlike Tomás O Se, I think the GAA should make more of the link. If we are staying amateur, then why not use the AFL as a marketing tool to get young players to play. Guys like Mike Quinn, Brendan Murphy, Red Og Murphy, Ciarán Byrne have almost no chance of ever winning an All Ireland or playing in front of full house at Croke Park but all got a chance and to travel play a professional sport through GAA involvement. Its grand for Kerry, Dublin etc who can sell Gaelic football as their are loads of AI medal winners hanging around and you are always in with a shout of winning. Not the same in most counties but AFL not discriminating by county. Tomás also worried about the poor club coaches who have their players poached from them by the thieving Aussies. I know Mitchelstown are extremely proud that Mark Keane is going yo give it a go. I am sure many others feel the same." I disagree completely. In GAA we need new teams to be coming all the time to freshen up the championship. In Derry they have produced and nurtured 3 outstanding talents in Conor Glass, Anton Tohill and Callum Brown. This is a once in a generation trio that an Ulster championship could be built around but all 3 are gone. Thanks for training them up lads but we'll take it from here. Like their style of football or not. Donegal brought huge colour and drama to the championship when the started to come in 2011. If Murphy, Neil Gallagher and Karl Lacy had been cherry picked with McBrearty to follow where would Gaelic Football be in Donegal compared to where it is now? As a Cork man I may need to get a check up at the local GP by showing sympathy for Kerry but they have put huge work in at underage and deserve to be at the top table battling it out with the Dubs. I wouldn't be surprised to see Clifford go to the AFL in the next year or 2. In his statement last year indicated he would be with Kerry for 2018, no more than that. How demoralising would that be for Kerry gaels to lose Clifford on top of Mark O'Connor and Stefan Okunbor. There is no way the likes or Lee Keegan would escape the AFL scouts now. Our game would will undoubtedly suffer if we start to hemorrhage our top up and coming stars year on year. I am with Tomas O'Sé 100%. Remember the AFL cost hurling their greatest ever marketing tool in our own Setanta O'hAilpin 15 years ago. In his one year at senior he had every kid in Cork wanting to hurl. This is definitely not something to be encouraged. Best scenario is the majority of the lads who have gone return home and provide little return on investment for their AFL clubs. dahayeser (Cork) - Posts: 337 - 07/11/2018 10:48:27 2150029 Link