Messages

Got tickets on ballot. Absolutely buzzing. My absolute favourite band of all time.

Well done. Did you have to go in a queue or what way did it work?

I never had any joy with the ballot. I'll try in the morning at 8 but wouldn't be very confident.

Got the presale code, logged on early. Initially in a waiting room and the second it was open, clicked on about 45 minutes before and was 2000 in queue.

You could have logged in from 7pm last night and tried to buy your tickets then!

That's what I done.

Ah good enough then!

Got tickets on ballot. Absolutely buzzing. My absolute favourite band of all time.

Well done. Did you have to go in a queue or what way did it work?

I never had any joy with the ballot. I'll try in the morning at 8 but wouldn't be very confident.

Got the presale code, logged on early. Initially in a waiting room and the second it was open, clicked on about 45 minutes before and was 2000 in queue.

You could have logged in from 7pm last night and tried to buy your tickets then!

How many people knew about this Louth talent before Harte became manager of them? They had a better/longer championship this year and a worse league campaign. 2025 will likely show how much Louth has actually kicked on under Brennan or year one under him was more about the ground work that was already done by Harte.

Harte went into Louth at a good time. They were division 4 when traditionally they had mostly yo-yoed between divisions 2 & 3. So he was starting from a low base. He did raise standards though and done a good job there especially in getting them into division 2 and keeping them there in their first season. A bit similar to Rory Gallagher when he took over the Derry job when the only way was up since they would have been traditionally a division 1/2 side languishing in division 4.

Football is played totally different to when Mickey Harte had his most successful years and sometimes you've got to know when to fold them.

As for successors, I would be very surprised if Derry went back to Rory Gallagher at this stage. They've already had one PR disaster with Mickey Harte and reappointing Gallagher would be another huge own goal. There are plenty of other good options about as the job must be an attractive one to get this time around.   

'.....plenty of other good options...' ?
Not sure about that? Apart from Malachy O'rourke it's a very shallow talent pool out there. Plenty of chancers and bluffers on the circuit but Rory Gallagher was possibly the best coach in Ireland last year. Jim Gavin isn't realistic. James Hogan isn't good up in that bracket either as well as being unrealistic re the travel etc.

I'm also pretty sure RG took over after Derry were promoted into Division 3.

Think your correct here!

Did DMcE take them from 4th to 3rd??

[With two or three retirements imminent]

It was a panic move by Derry last September. They were all in with Bringing RG back until that was option was blocked by Ulster Council. In fairness it's a very very shallow talent pool at that level and that Derry panel wouldn't have tolerated anything less than a big name to build on where RG had taken them too. The appointment was probably more about getting Devlin in than Harte. The gamble has seriously backfired on Derry co board but at least they have moved quickly ( or the players have) to limited the damage. With two or three retirements imminent RG will have no option other than to widen the panel. Though personally, I'd like to see our minors play out their u20 careers rather than plunging them straight into senior.

Chrissy potentially.....who else you thinking?

Possibly Ciaran mcfaul and Emmett Bradley. Though if it's Gallagher he may convince Ciaran to stay on. Emmett won't.

Yeah potentially Emmett B....

Why McFaul though?  What age is he btw?

Right...

What's the thoughts on the next manager??

In no particular order...

1.  Rory Gallagher (again)
2.  Malachy O'Rourke
3.  Damian McErlain (again)
4.  Conleith Gilligan

Who else's name will be thrown into the hat??

[With two or three retirements imminent]

It was a panic move by Derry last September. They were all in with Bringing RG back until that was option was blocked by Ulster Council. In fairness it's a very very shallow talent pool at that level and that Derry panel wouldn't have tolerated anything less than a big name to build on where RG had taken them too. The appointment was probably more about getting Devlin in than Harte. The gamble has seriously backfired on Derry co board but at least they have moved quickly ( or the players have) to limited the damage. With two or three retirements imminent RG will have no option other than to widen the panel. Though personally, I'd like to see our minors play out their u20 careers rather than plunging them straight into senior.

Chrissy potentially.....who else you thinking?

Horrendous by the Ref...

Trying his best to keep Armagh in it..

This Ref has been really sore on Derry with the over carrying calls...

Derry appear to be getting their frees a lot handier than Armagh.

I was thinking the exact opposite!

Can you arse the ball? Like block it with yer arse at the point of contact?

No that's a penalty 100% against the offending player and a yellow card for the Keeper....

Can't believe someone above was making claims for a foot block.

People are twats. Nothing more to it. It was night and day compared to McKinless last week.

If you kick the ball off someone's arse/thigh is it not a foot block and a penalty?

Seating fairly strange for this one.

Haven't seen anything available for Lower Cusack sections 306 to 310 at all this week!

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wanted to see Armagh and thry booked a whole section.

 

Seating fairly strange for this one.

Haven't seen anything available for Lower Cusack sections 306 to 310 at all this week!

Those sections were probably reserved for season ticket holders

Was thinking that....

Must be serious uptake in comparison to recent years....

Seating fairly strange for this one.

Haven't seen anything available for Lower Cusack sections 306 to 310 at all this week!

All the Derry wans raging about the set up for the past month.  Are they stuffed or plucked tonight?

those problems aren't gone anywhere. they pulled it out of the bag today as a matter of pride, but they will be beaten comprehensively next weekend. mayo were never going to be the team to put them away.

Mayo were hot favourites this evening against Derry and a harder draw than Monaghan....Roscommon...and Louth...

Great stuff...