DUNDALK FC HAVE announced Ciarán Kilduff as their new first-team manager.
Kilduff takes over from Jon Daly, who resigned following Dundalk’s relegation to the First Division.
Last month, Kilduff stepped down as manager of Athlone Town’s women’s team after leading the club to a first ever Premier Division title this season, followed by a 6-1 FAI Cup final loss to Shelbourne.
The Kildare native spent two years with Dundalk as a player, winning two league titles and an FAI Cup, along with playing an important part in the club’s 2016 Europa League run under Stephen Kenny.
Frawley fan here but yeah, man in possession put in a great shift under pressure. Judge a 10 when he is playing behind a struggling pack. It’s a good measure. …..any average player can play front foot rugby well. Think Frawley will push him and that’s good for everyone.
@Michael Murray: Crowley for me starting With Frawley off the bench. ( At least until I see more as pendergast matures). I get the loyalty to your province but with Leinster so rich with flyhalves, if you are not getting a game , move over to another province or over to France to get other opportunities/ ie, room to excel and prove your worth another way .. no point being a talented benchwarmer…
@Stuart: the IRFU will have to tweak the unwritten rule ‘play for Ireland, stay in Ireland’ as it’s causing the current bottleneck in Leinster in particular. I think they should allow the selection of players in Irish squads for those who left in search of game time and then excel in their new environment. Of course, objective to bring them back into the fold eventually for the benefit of one of the Irish provinces. Playing a couple of seasons in T14 would be brilliant experience for those players
There’s a heavy fan and media shift towards backing Frawley at 10. This article brings perspective and balance to it
@Laup Ekrub: Frawley has only a fraction of Crowley’s body of work as a 10
@Laup Ekrub: I don’t think anyone is calling for him ahead of Crowley. Ahead of the brothers Byrne, yes… but that’s it.
@Laup Ekrub: That’s solely because Frawley has been held back to give the brothers games. This was unjust hence all the talk about him at least getting the blue 10 and great yo see we have options in the chasm left by the best player in the world for the green shirt. There should be hype for that.
@Kevin Ryan: Not really. Crowley only really has one season as first choice 10 for his club. Munster kind of got lucky as Carbery got injured and Healy decided to leave for Scotland so Crowley got bumped up to 10 in April 2023. He played most of that season at 12!
@Carmine Lorenzo: Crowley has 45 starts at outhalf, Frawley has 14. Frawley has also only started 53 games for Leinster, Crowley 58 for Munster. With Frawley 2 years older he is quite a bit behind Crowley experience wise.
@Kingshu: roughly a third then.
@Carmine Lorenzo: agree munster got lucky but think you are incorrect as to why. Crowleys break through came due to Frawleys injury for the emerging Irish tour which gave Crowley the chance to show what he can do.
@Paul Ennis: I think lots of people are saying exactly that. I don’t agree with them that he is ahead of Crowley but i don’t think it’s crazy to believe that either.
@Kevin Volf: I think it is crazy. As good as Frawley is, Crowley is currently nailed on rightly as Ireland’s starting OH. Only an injury or massive loss of form will change that in foreseeable future
A conversation that needs to happen sooner rather than later is Mike Haley being called up, he was head and shoulders above Keenan last Saturday.
@Liam23: at 30 years old you wouldn’t get much of a return on the investment.
In my opinion the 10 debate was never on the agenda. Crowley has the jersey and it will take alot more than a few Leinster appearances and a SA drop kick to take the jersey from him. I believe that Frawls will retain the 22 shirt for a long time, even when Sam Prendergast eventually takes over the 10 jersey in a few years. His flexibility is what sets him apart from everyone else. Unfortunately, I just don’t think he has the raw talent of a Crowley or Prendy.
@Paul Ennis: Well if it never was on the agenda, I’ve lived a decent part of my rugby life wondering 1) why the IRFU appropriates let a gaping hole open up behind Jonny for so long and 2) why we have been firefighting since with- in alphabetical order Burns, Byrnes 1 & 2, Carbery, Crowley, Frawley, Healy, Prendergast….did I miss anyone?- to fill that gap.
@Michael Murray: Carthy
@Noel Roe: think everyone missed Carty especially at Nat selector level , sadly
@Michael Murray: paddy Jackson….an honourable mention?
@Michael Murray: Tyler bleyendaal and JJ hanrahan might be another two? I’m not sure what more the irfu could have done, there were just lots of not starters for a while.
@Michael Murray: Madigan maybe as well as the others mentioned. Mostly pretenders rather than contenders. Alot of faith was put in Carbery and Jackson before him. They were probably the only 2 with a realistic chance of replacing Johnny. One was unfortunate, the other misfortunate. Nobody could ever take the jersey from Johnny and it would have been irresponsible of the IRFU to just take it off him. All seems to have worked out nicely in the same way that we didn’t miss BOD, POC or Rory Best for very long.
@brian o’leary: …yeah, often wondered if the whole continuity process was suspended temporarily for ‘The Joe & Jonny Project’….Joe on the paddock, Jonny on the pitch …..and we will deliver a World Cup? Both were very similar personalities and matched up well. ‘Command & Control’ Management Style….both of them…..not suffering fools ….. not unreasonable to at least include it in the list of possible agendas.
@Michael Murray: didn’t joe schmidt advise joey Carbery to move to munster go get more and better game time?
@brian o’leary: No, they wantes him to move to Ulster to replace PJ, Carbery chose Munster.
@Michael Murray: Short memories. 1) Paddy Jackson was the successor; 2) Then Joey until his injury problems; 3) Carty, Burns and R Byrne tried and found wanting; 4). Obvious huge gap between JS and the rest, so crisis! 5). Stick with Joey as back-up/successor with utility back Frawley seen as an option on NZ tour; 6). Frawley injured again for 2022 EI tour with chance given to then Munster 3rd choice, Crowley who takes it; 7) Farrell gives up on Joey in favour of Crowley. (Ben Healy gives up on Ireland and Joey can’t respond). And Sexton still a street ahead 8) 2023WC – After ban Sexton plays all games ahead of rookie Crowley. 9) Just as well as Crowley needed to play non-stop for Ireland and Munster in ‘24 10) Frawley emerges as alternative to Crowley; 11) And Sam P 4 the future
We have so many great players now
I know there’s been a lot of fan fair for Frawley at ten after his cameo in South Africa but I still think it’s Crowley’s jersey to be taken off him at Ireland. Hopefully Frawley gets more time at ten with Leinster to prove he should be first choice for Ireland but he has some catching up to do
What do people think of Aidan Morgan, Could he develop into an option down the line?
@Mike O’Loughlin: We have plenty irish born number 10′s at the moment
@Mike O’Loughlin: ‘Could’ – yes. But much too early to say whether he’s a real contender
@Mike O’Loughlin: Absolutely… he is younger than all of the other contenders with the exception of Sam P. One or two injuries and he is in the picture.
@Steven O shea: that’s not how it works.
@Steven O shea: Lol oh dear seams you have ruled out Frawley then as well.
@Mike O’Loughlin: Des Lamont pretty much sumed it up, has potential very early yet to judge fully but seen a lot of good things but lot to work on too. What does set him apart is what DH said about Ireland not producing flair players and having to relay on the likes of Hansen, Lowe, JGP, Aki for that spark that Irish rugby doesn’t produce currently that SH does. Morgan also has that creative spark that sets him apart from the other OH options. But needs to refine the NH aspects of his game, is still very young so has time.
@Kingshu: I think Crowley has shown quite a bit of X factor. I know from talking to French observers of the Irish rugby, that they rate him highly- one or 2 I’ve spoken to think he is better than Johnny Sexton was based on his ability to do the unexpected. JS is seen as very structured, following a designated game plan. Personally I don’t agree with that opinion but it does show that Crowley is seen as a more intuitive player (which they like in France)
Why wouldent he be by far the best 10 in ireland
@Shawn: Is this meant to be two sentences? Strange question otherwise
@ Mike O’Loughlin: Certainly not until he brings his kicking game up to standard, and I mean line kicking, place kicking, punting for territory, pass kicks, chips & grabbers. He hasn’t, thus far shown ability, never mind mastery, of any kick and that is a prerequisite in NH rugby, particularly in the four Irish Provinces.
When JGP arrived in Leinster / Ireland he was equally inept at strategic kicking and he told Leinster that half-back kicking had never been in the coaching agenda in NZ. But he worked on it, particularly with Joe, and he took Conor Murray & Eoin Reddan (mostly on tape) as his benchmarks. Coaches have told me he’s a great student and certainly today, his kicking is a huge strength. So, that’s Morgan’s benchmark. Minimum, two seasons, if he works hard under the 10-year Irish kicking Coach.
Up Loughmore Castleiney. Amazing…look it up if you don’t know.
Even if Leinster had kicked on and put 50 on them like they threatened to, it still wouldn’t have been enough. It’s Crowley’s jersey for the moment, certainly for the short term. But he definitely needs to tighten up on one or two things. The placekicking is inconsistent and certainly his game management at times. Can disappear a bit during games I’ve found.
The expectation far outdoes the reality, there is a need for balance here. ROG took a number of years to achieve greatness, Jonny was precocious and dangerously selfish in his youth until he invoked his own self-discipline. All these things take time. One year of Crowley has shown us his determination and desire and his discipline. The fruits to come I’m confident will be worth waiting for. The management of Frawley has been unfortunately poor as he certainly has great potential, thankfully Andy pulled him up the levels he was being blocked from progressing past. Ireland rugby is in a strong position currently. Patience boys, enjoy the ride