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My own take on the ranking for the ulster championship (based on form and the draw).

1 - Derry - out and out team to beat regardless of the draw. 
2 - Armagh - draw lends to an 'easier' route to the final. 
3 - Donegal - seem to be a resurgence in them, should give Derry a game with a fully fit team.
4 - Down - Should get over Antrim with no fuss, and may catch Armagh on the hop to make it to a final.
5 - Tyrone - should get over the line in their first game, likely to get beat by Derry/Donegal. 
6 - Monaghan - expect them to beat Cavan and give Tyrone a game, but fall short at this point.   
7 - Fermanagh - expect Armagh to beat them, but it will be a grind for the most of it.
8 - Cavan - no real expectations on Cavan, exit at the first hurdle. 
9 - Antrim - Down seem to be showing promise, so expect Antrim to go out at their hands handy enough. 

Derry v Armagh a likely final. 

Derry's only downfall in my eyes would be injuries to key players(Mc Guigan, Rodgers or Glass) or taking their eye off the ball. 

For Armagh to win, they would need to get over the mental hurdle of caving under the pressure of big games that has haunted them this past 3 years. 

I'd agree with most of that but on what basis are Down the 4th best in Ulster? Beating up Tailteann Cup teams does not make them a better side than both Monaghan and Tyrone. Down for me are the 7th best team in Ulster. 

He's not saying Down are 4th best team in Ulster, his assumption is that Down will likely get past Antrim and then are 70 min from an Ulster final potentially catching Armagh on the hop, his rankings are reflective of the draw.

(not saying I agree that Down will be anywhere near Armagh IF they get past Antrim)

i would say its unlikely down get to final but not extremely unlikely

Add in to the mix the health of the Armagh team and the drying weather around the county...it's anyone's guess.

[Down's Liatroim have won their first IFC in 25 years]

It has the makings of a very strong Ulster IFC this year. Down's Liatroim have won their first IFC in 25 years and are stacked with a lot of talent including a couple of county players. Would imagine Arva would be big favourites for the JFC.

And went on to win the first ever Ulster Intermediate Championship that year, that was the end of the road as there was no All Ireland series yet.

That looked a bad enough row between Ballycran & Laotrim in the hurling, supporters over the fence and into the middle of it

I see Liatroim posted on social media that the game was ruined by the ref. Any neutrals see the game and know what that is about?

Wasn't at it but not surprised as I'd predicted something to happen during the week. 

Liatroim were leading pretty well right into injury time when Ballycran scored two very late goals to win it by two points, it would have been a massive shock for Liatroim to win this one but from all accounts a few decisions didn't go their way at the end or as is the case not given to be more precise.

We'll be very interested in how this pans out considering our U15's along with Carryduff got put out of the U15 championship after our match was abandoned for absolutely next to nothing, two young lads rolling around on the ground, with a few other's pushing and shoving. Thing was over in less than 30 seconds.

Easy making an example of a bunch of kids, but lacking fortitude when it comes to the bigger teams!

First they stole the players then they went after the eggs.

For the integrity of the competition a Ballycran win was essential. Over a quarter of the Liatroim team shouldnt even be playing for them. (How this was allowed to happen the County Board has a lot to answer) The managers sons are quality players and should be with their own club in Belfast, McCusker should be with his own club, instead of glory hunting, is more suited to intermediate level anyway.

Imagine being a Liatroim player born and bred and then these outsiders coming in and taking your place, and then to stand back and be treated like an idiot. Pathetic stuff.

Having watched a lot of Ports this year was disappointed with their performance yesterday but still fancy them to get over the line in the final.

My overarching feeling as a Fontenoy over the weekend is immense pride, we were moments away from having 3 codes in adult finals over the coming weekends. The lads hurled brilliantly yesterday and deserved to come away with the result, however that wasn't to be, there is no doubt that questionable decisions put paid to that, however those are to be expected when you head over the water. The positive thing from a east/south down perspective is that the seeds are been sown at underage to develop hurling which can only benefit the county as a whole, whatever the hurling clubs in the ards think. On the previous post, I would have my own personal thoughts on the personnel, however from a club perspective I would argue that any success (relatively speaking, that would be contesting a senior final for us) at adult level can only breed interest at the underage levels, the reality is that the majority of that squad are Liatroim born and bred and the kids along the line yesterday see them at the field every week and as such will wish to emulate that success if/when it can be achieved.

We head in to this week with an intermediate football final and a senior camogie final to look forward to, and a pitch that is hiving every night of the week, so transfers aside I'm content we are heading in the right direction.

Got Fibrus installed a couple of weeks ago, however now can't connect to my work VPN, they tell me I now need a static IP and that I need to pay £8/month for the privilege - can anyone out there advise if this is reasonable or if there is a potential DIY fix?

Also, wondering how best to get the internet round the house, I have just completed a new build and have had CAT6 wired through the house, handy for hard wiring TV / work laptop etc, however how would I best create a wireless network throughout the house? Any help appreciated!

Lads, surely someone in Down can update the Twitter account with score updates. A woeful service for outsiders who have an interest

Is there any other Twitter account that regularly updates on all Down championship games. Every other county has several guys who update on games who are not part of the county board or official county pages

I wonder is it at the request of the streaming company. (No basis for this other than my own meandering thoughts)

[Well they can take it up with his Da then, the one who put in a lot of work to get those fancy new lights up.]

Oisin McManus hurling for St Johns now?

A lot of Liatriom people are unhappy about this as he is only in Belfast, its only a 40min trip. They should give the intermediate hurling a right rattle even without him.

Well they can take it up with his Da then, the one who put in a lot of work to get those fancy new lights up. Sure the new manager has brought his own son(s) down to play for them, swings and roundabouts.

Intermediate hurling is between them and Carryduff, Duff probably favourites, but a winnable game for the Fontenoys.

Go on...

Are you saying his Da wasn't involved in the planning application for the lights?

I didn't get this from his Da either BTW, but another Liatroim lad involved in it.

Now johnny don't be at it, I said nothing at all.

For what it's worth it would be surprising if people weren't disappointed to lose a great hurler/coach and fella by all accounts.

Oisin McManus hurling for St Johns now?

A lot of Liatriom people are unhappy about this as he is only in Belfast, its only a 40min trip. They should give the intermediate hurling a right rattle even without him.

How many's a lot?

[Well they can take it up with his Da then, the one who put in a lot of work to get those fancy new lights up.]

Oisin McManus hurling for St Johns now?

A lot of Liatriom people are unhappy about this as he is only in Belfast, its only a 40min trip. They should give the intermediate hurling a right rattle even without him.

Well they can take it up with his Da then, the one who put in a lot of work to get those fancy new lights up. Sure the new manager has brought his own son(s) down to play for them, swings and roundabouts.

Intermediate hurling is between them and Carryduff, Duff probably favourites, but a winnable game for the Fontenoys.

Go on...

Anyone looking tickets, I have 4 for upper Cusack, section 714. Face value (40 each) ono.

That's 5 wins out of 5 for our boys.

What was the score? Didn't get and no word of it on Downgaa yet.

I am in the final throes of a new build, during which I installed CAT6 cabling throughout the house - do I plug a router into each socket where I wish to have wifi (obviously I can use the hard connection in certain circumstances)...I hadn't thought that far ahead.

On a more upbeat note the Down hurlers had a good win over Carlow in Div2A, goaling deep into injury time to win by 2.

considering Carlow were stuffing them by double digits a few years back that's progress.

Great result for Down hurlers.  Disgraceful reports in the irishnews of Carlow players calling Down players prods and brits throughout the game. They got their medicine the way they deserved It with defeat. I cann recall being called something similar in Aughrim in 2009 .

Haven't heard that and was talking to one of our players on the team yesterday evening who never mentioned it. If it did happen I'm sure it was laughed off by the player or players involved.

https://twitter.com/newryhurler1/status/1490341462378225671?s=20&t=K5snVK5CaN55ha7nHuH4kQ

Been dragged into a half marathon later this summer.. Slightly novice runner.. Anyone any tips/websites/plans to follow on best way to train? Tks!!

Depends on what you want out of it? Have you a goal time or is just finishing enough?

Finishing i suppose, but not to make a sham out of myself!! Circa 2-2.5hrs is what i'd imagine?

https://www.halhigdon.com/

Find Hal's programs great, think someone recommended them here a good few years ago

[Liatroim were riddled with injuries and if they are going to improve in football they will need to choose hurling or football]

Clonduff looked good on Sunday and I expect them to beat Burren. Burren looked good on Sunday in the first half but Mayobridge will be kicking themselves with some wayward shooting. I think Clonduff forwards will be a lot more clinical and a Kilcoo v Clonduff final will certainly be a tasty affair.
Darragh should now win the intermediate after Liatriom being ousted. Liatroim were riddled with injuries and if they are going to improve in football they will need to choose hurling or football. It's not doing the players any good.
The Fin are strong favourites for the junior and I expect the 3 championships to come to the East in the next few weeks.

No merit in that, none of those you're referencing had anything to do with hurling.

Drumgath were a very well organised outfit and full value for their win.