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From another poster on the Derry thread:
From what I've heard it's £100k deal for use of all facilities but during the day only

Would most clubs not be fully booked on pitches with training and matches for Gaelic games without adding the local soccer team in?
Owenbeg is going to be used during the day at times when little GAA activity, can't see it doing any harm or setting a precedent.

Cuala doing a good impression of EC in the first 20 minutes, look panicked.

EC getting wiped out all over the field could get very bad on the scoreboard.

Are they fitting in relegation play offs for the 8 first round losers if it is straight knock out?
Not sure it is great for a club player to train for 7 or 8 months and have their only meaningful game be a championship defeat.

Scales may have been a better fit for the physical challenge of Dundee but other than that it was probably the strongest side BR could pick given players returning from injury. Idah needs to do more than celebrate others sticking the ball in the net and whilst McGregor's performances have dipped I don't see anyone in the squad who can take his place. A young defensive minded midfielder would be a good addition to the squad.
Does anyone else think we are awful at set pieces - attacking corners seem to be hit and hope and defensively we don't look solid. Conceding 17 seconds after an attacking corner isn't a good stat and they do look vulnerable against a break in these situations. I also think they are really bad at retaining possession from throw in.
   

Maybe more counties should cook the books like Derry.

They won two games in Ulster by a point the other by 5. Hardly indicates a huge superiority over their contemporaries. And they were relegated from Derry senior championship, if I recall correctly, without winning a group or relegation play off game.
Congratulations Ballinderry on reaching the Intermediate final.

Happy New Year let's hope Derry win their first and last match of 2025. *(Not a last group match game)

Did a game today with the new rules...

I tried to concentrate on how best to position myself within the game to work out the positioning of the three players inside their own half, the kick outs, the tap and go (as you ain't ready for it as you'd move up the pitch a bit) there was other stuff that had you second guessing to, inside/outside the 40 zone and so on.

I thought I'd come off a bit more confused but wasn't as bad so far (one swallow doesn't make a summer) I think it'll take the ref's a good few few games to understand and adopt.

Challenge games are one thing though

MR2 what age group, level was the game?

[no way the Downeys deserve to be involved]

Some selections that are living off their fathers names. There's absolutely no way the Downeys deserve to be involved and Tohill might have the physical attributes but football wise is severely lacking. Derry selections as usual are just about keeping certain clubs happy for a new management team.

I'm not sure anyone is trying to keep St Brigid's in Belfast happy.
I would think the more players that the new management can have a look at before the start of the season the better for putting a final panel together. Would be nice if county teams published training squads or at least gave some information out so supporters aren't relying on conjecture.

Magherafelt v Dungannon 2pm tomorrow (Ardboe, I think)

Rossa Park, Magherafelt. First named team has home advantage this round.

https://x.com/ulsterschools/status/1862142929130725379?s=46

Corn na nOg (3rd year A football)
St Mary's Belfast 6-09
St Mary's Magherafelt 2-08


There's no context but it must be the best result an Antrim school has had in Colleges football in a long time.

I believe this is the shield competition semi final.

Offaly alternate jersey looks pretty good. Limerick goalkeeper jersey horrific, Sligo very nice. See hoganstand.com for the images.

If the late hit had been given as a free CE would have had a tap over from where the ball landed and EC would not have got an easy turnover to launch an attack. Taken in isolation the two bookings do look harsh from TV pictures. But ref gets to see things once or not at all for the late hit, and sending off may have been for persistent fouling. Easy to blame him in a tight game but missed goal chance and the 45 sent wide show players make mistakes that can be equally as costly.
EC had two players who made a difference and won the game for them.

Anymore news on NFL fixtures besides away in Omagh the first week?

I presume these are the provisional fixtures
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_National_Football_League_(Ireland)