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Ballycran are avery young team with a couple of older heads. Dunloy have all the experience of years at the top in Antrim, Ulster and the All Ireland series and must be short priced favorites.

Ah sure we'll go along and give it our best shot. We'll maybe keep her tight till half time and you never know on the day how it will go.

Any Truth in the rumour that Joe Edwards jacked it in? Big loss if he has I,d say

What happened?

Brian Cody is signing his book in Ballycran tomorrow at 12.00 for anyone looking for a Christmas present.

Brian Cody is signing his book in Ballycran tomorrow at 12.00 for anyone looking for a Christmas present.

Hurling final on Sunday, Portaferry v Ballygalget. Should be a good game.
There's little between the 2 team. Ballygalget beat them in the league a few weeks ago and in the SHC last year but I would still make Portaferry slight favorites. They had a tough semi final with Ballycran whereas the Galgets had a virtual walk over v South Down. Paul Braniff is back and when he plays well so does Portaferry. No quarter will be given or expected in Ballycran and I expect Portaferry to win by 3pts.

Without Magic Portaferry will eat them. If they can stay injury free they might even give Ulster a rattle (for once!).

I don't see us being 'eaten' by Portaferry and if Hugh clamps down on Dules diving big Aaron can keep him quiet enough in the closer confines of Ballycran provided the Ports don't try and suck our two corner backs up the field and they follow them. Wee Liam should be left in to cover around the house. The Ports don't have a whole lot left in the scoring stakes and I'd be more worried about Andy and Cougie in midfield than any of their other scoring threat. A lot will depend on how Gabriel Clarke gets on with BA. If Gabs gets a good start he usually has a stormer, but if BA gets on top Gabs falls away badly as he's no plan B after the tippy tappy stuff fails.
As I've said before we'll need at least parity in midfield to give the forwards enough ball to win the game, something Ballycran managed in spurts by fast early ground hurling to by pass the Ports half back line and trouble a dodgy Portaferry fullbackline. Our half forwards are the line we need to see most improvement out of as Gary Flynn and Stevie Clarke can become non-entities in the game far too easy. They need to start winning their own ball and taking scores now that Magic is gone. I think the ports have a decision to make in who picks up Dingy, as young O'Prey may be a bit green for his wiles. Historically Zelda has done well on Dingy but he's not the same hurler now that he was and may be the man to lose out for Murph's return. I'd expect Paddy Rat to get the nod ahead of Jonny Boon as we need to try exploit any lack of pace in the ports defence but he'll need to be a bit braver than normal.

The Ports will be favourites but I don't see them as world beaters unlike Deccy Bacon and our lads would need to step it up a gear but its not beyond them plus they'll be well reminded of their limp perfomance last year against Ballycran so giving up is not an option.

Good analsys JC. I'd make a couple of comments. Portaferry showed a fair degree of mental strenght against us in the semi. I hear what you're saying but I think they are over that issue now. In previous years they would have crumbled when we had them on the rack but this year they didn't.

I agree with you and Bacon on the lack of strenght in dept and for that reason neither will trouble Ruiri Ogs or Kevin Lynch's. I'm looking forward to a great game and I'd expect Ports to win by 2 but I certainly wouldn't recommend putting any money on it. Is Fox offering odds?

Is it reasonable to make the benign assumption that this is not on the front pages because the media realise that the woman needs help and that hyping up her self-harming might only serve to encourage it?

That's what I thought when I saw her interviewed. She needs help. Do they have the equivalent of sectioning under the Mental Health Act in the South?

Cheers Colonel, Naomh Colmcille from Tyrone in Preliminary round @ Down venue on the 28th, winner plays Armagh winner(Away) the following week.

Where are you playing your home games? Bredagh used our pitch last year. I take it you'll use Newry?

Camlough play St Malachy's, Portadown in the Armagh final this weekend.

Shocking that a GAA man can't even spell the name of his county! 

Who do Ballela play in Ulster Whitehair? Best of luck.

Is that woman that leads the opposition to Gas/Oil pipelines still on her hunger strike?

Surprising result but it sounds like they were well worth it.

In Derry

Kevin Lynch's v Swatragh

Are you sure? I thought it was Shaughneil?

What time is the replay in Casement tomorrow?

Thanks.

How did Gareth Johnston do for Loughinisland?

McGourty will now be available for Darragh Cross in the IFC final. 

SHC Result Portaferry 1-12 0-13 Ballycran. That's that for another year. Portaferry will be favorites to beat Ballygalget who, as expected, had no difficulty seeing off South Down.