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I actually don't mind Mark Sidebottom that much - at least if your listening to him, it means the BBC are showing some GAA. For me a lot of commentators, especially local ones, seem to try  be mimics of the greats like O'Hehir and Muircheartaigh - at least Sidebottom has his own style. I know it mightn't be everyone's cup of tea, but he sounds professional and often works well with his co-commentator.

As for the worst, it has to be Owen McConnon on Radio Ulster. He is appallingly bad at actually describing to the action or giving the score, for example he will say that someone is through on goal, but won't say who or at what and then say "oh what great save", leaving me screaming at the radio "Who, where?". Whenever something exciting happens, he normally just blurts out a load of excitable noises and it's left to Brian Canavan to describe to the listener what actually happened.

Had this Sky plussed from last Wednesday and only round to watching it last night. Seems a fascinating series about the Border Commission and how border was set up in the early 1920s - which areas were in the south or north and how the respective minority communities (northern nationalists and 'southern' protestants) reacted to it. It also has a few human interest angles and as well  speaking to various historians talks to people like Joe Kernan, Jarlath Burns and people whose family homes were along the border.

Second part is on TG4 tonight and it's also been shown on BBC NI, although not too sure of the day or times.

Anyone else see it?

Might be getting ahead of myself, but I think I can already predict who the next five Down managers will  be:

Mickey Linden, Greg Blaney, Gary Mason, Eamonn Burns, Neil Collins......

I think the public should stay off the field. The presentation will look better and all spectators young and old will have a good view.

This traditional argruement doesn't work for me, in truth it is a load of backwater shite that I wish people would leave behind. Just because you do something all the time the same way it is not a tradition. People used to shite in a bucket outside in the field but we don't do that anymore, well perhaps some bogmen. We all need to move on ffs.

Well put. I don't think many people would've realised yesterday, but they had two kids, one in a Kilkenny jersey and one in a Tipp jersey, who were supposed to carry the cup onto the pitch for the presentation. The GAA promised a "spectacular" presentation, but we'll never know what that was going to be. I can understand teams winning their first All-Ireland, or their first for about 50 years or so, but for the likes of Kilkenny or Kerry fans to invade the pitch when they have been repeatedly asked not too, is bad form.

[nd their County Board will spend the necessary.]

If we really are interested in Wee James, we should offer him the position now. With Grimley now away to Monaghan, I'd imagine Armagh will be examining his case very closely. And their County Board will spend the necessary.

What makes you say that wobbler?

Not sure McCartan would be interested taking the Armagh job on his own and I wouldn't be certain our county baord would contemplate appointing a Down man.

Would taking the Armagh job affect McCartan's chances of being the Down manager at a later date? Didn't stop the Mayo lads welcoming O'Mahony back I suppose.

Well he had Aidan O'Rourke with him at Queens, so maybe that'll be the new management team. 

So you're saying John O'Mahony's taking the Armagh job then?

I hear that big Joe is in the running for the Armagh Job?

Didn't he rule himself out a few weeks ago?

Looks like it:

Kernan rules out return to Orchard post
Gaelic Games
By Staff Reporter
23/07/09

JOE Kernan has ruled out any possibility of

returning to the Armagh management post left

vacant by Peter McDonnell.

The former All-Ireland winning manager has cited business commitments and the potential antagonism caused by having four sons on the panel as the key reasons why he will not consider going for the job.

Kernan and two business partners have recently started a new 'Sportstats' company. They have bought the franchise rights to a Global Positioning System (GPS) that monitors players in training.

Kernan's sons are now running his estate agency company while he focuses on selling the GPS kit to a range of teams from Gaelic football, hurling, rugby and soccer.

"I've started this new business and in the climate we are in at the moment, and after 30 years of looking after everybody else, I think I have to look after myself," said Kernan.

The Crossmaglen man went on: "I was very lucky to work with my club and my county. I do believe that with all the young boys who are there, we have a good future. But at this minute in time I would have to say: 'No'.

"I'm going to look after my business. We've got a lot of very big contracts and I think it's time for me to look after myself."

Kernan, who led Crossmaglen to three All-Ireland club titles, admitted that the potential for controversy due to the involvement of four of his sons in the squad was another reason why he would not allow his name to be put forward.

He said: "While there are great people out there, there are still a few bigots who just can't accept that Joe Kernan could manage a team with four of his sons on it.

"That is very sad. A few things have been said about it already. I had my own problems with it when I was there near the end.

"Some of the things which were done were very unfair. It's just sad that some people would spoil something that should be very good.

"But I would prefer to have happiness in my own house with my own family. My family means more to me than anything."

Following the news that Kernan has ruled himself out, speculation will now centre on whether Kieran McGeeney and Paul McGrimley will throw their hats in the ring.

McGeeney and his assistant manager Paul Grimley have won widespread praise for the job they have done with the Kildare footballers.

It will not have escaped the attention of Armagh fans that the Lilywhites racked up tallies of

1-16 (v Offaly), 2-12 (v Wexford), 2-18 (v Laois) and 0-18 v (Dublin) in the Leinster Championship.

Kildare were once totally dependent on John Doyle, but under McGeeney they are scoring freely from a variety of positions. Armagh supporters can certainly relate to a side that can struggle to score due to an over-dependence on a couple of marksmen.

Kernan said he was confident that McGeeney would be a success with Armagh, but noted that there was no guarantee the former Orchard captain would leave the Lilywhites.

"He's doing a good job in Kildare. I don't know what sort of a deal he has with them and whether he would be willing to leave them. That is up to Kieran.

"He has settled in well and he is doing a good job with the players. His players would jump through hoops for him and I'm sure he is very happy up there."

However, Kernan insisted that a great opportunity exists for whoever replaces Peter McDonnell. He firmly believes that Armagh have the potential to lift another All-Ireland title.

"In my honest opinion I think we can win another All-Ireland within the next five years. The players are all young enough. From Ronan Clarke at 26 to Kieran Toner at 20, I honestly believe that we are good enough to go on.

"I don't think we are going backwards," he said.

16 pts to 1 -11 - Tyrone ahead. Why do Canning and Carney refer to the referee as gaeilge?

he changed his name there a year or so ago

And his county...unfortunately, he's still an awful ref.

While I can understand why Wobbler and others think Peter McGrath would be turning back the clock, back to back Ulster u21 titles suggest differently. He has also proved that he can get the best out of senior players at An Riocht and Bryansford. He stayed in the post far too long the last time, but two Sams probably entitled him to believe that he could turn things round in difficult circumstances.

The bottom line is that he has also been responsible for bringing home six of our last eight provincial championships - two each at minor, u21 and senior.

He did fall out with James McCartan in 1993, but they were able to patch things up and allow James to play on for another decade. McGrath, with the right assistants - why not including McCartan - is by no means the only option but still looks the best overall bet.

I think Pete would command the respect of the players too. Rumours were rife under Carr and Kane of fallouts with players, etc.
I remember reading this quote from an Irish News article with Timmy Hanna written by Kenny Archer. His comments about McGrath are interesting:

"Although he's already graduated to the county seniors, his footballing education will continue in good hands at club level, with the legendary Pete McGrath now the Bryansford boss. The man who led Down to Sam Maguire Cup triumphs in 1991 and 1994 was also in charge of the Mourne county U21s, and Hanna agrees with a smile that "you can never have too much Pete, he's a great manager".

I think they'll try and exhaust all the possibilities within the county before looking outside.
Think Mark Turley is worth a shout, he knows the best the talent that's coming through in the county having been involved in developlment squads and minor set-up for a good few years.

Peoples' reservations with Pete McGrath may be based on the fact that the game has moved on considerably since he won the All-Ireland in 91 and 94, but he has shown with his success with the U21 that those fears are unfounded.

Would love to see Pete get it with maybe Wee James as his number two (if that's possible!)

I think O'Callaghan will start, O'Connell will probably have a say in that.

I think with the strength of the euro against the pound since this time last year, supporters from the six counties will see little or no difference this year.

Despite the current economic gloom, Sainsbury's has said it had it's best ever Christmas.
I am fully convinced this 90% down to it's Newry store, I think I saw car regs from every county in Ireland in the car park over Christmas.

Tyrone pictures is it you're after?

A rather flimsy excuse. The Chelsea-Man United game kicked off at 2pm and was over by about 3.45. There's no reason they couldn't have shown the Tyrone-Kerry match.