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In Tipperary, Michael Ryan cut a pile of lads last week including Conor Kenny, and (interestingly for the footballers maybe) Bill Maher. But Cork's cuts are either desperation or a real statement of intent.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/kingston-cuts-five-experienced-names-from-cork-hurling-panel-including-two-former-captains-391307.html

FORMER captains Shane O'Neill and Patrick Cronin have been released from the Cork senior hurling panel ahead of the Munster SHC quarter-final with Tipperary on May 22, along with other experienced players Paudie O'Sullivan, Cian McCarthy and Stephen Moylan.

Hi LAds,

Just wondering if ye know who is looking after development squads at U14 football in yer counties? I'm trying to organise a blitz in Thurles, and also plan a couple of practice matches, home and/or away, and I want to give the lads exposure to a few different styles. Ideally within a couple of hours of Tipp obviously, and I think we have the Munster Counties covered as regards blitzes and the like, so I'm really looking for Leinster and Connacht, but wouldn't mind making contact with a couple of the hallions up north either. Our lads need to learn how to insult people properly too

This is what we are up against in Tipp, how are we supposed to work like this? From examiner.ie

Semple Stadium Closed for 2016 Due to Playing Surface Concerns

Tipperary GAA chiefs have confirmed that the famed Semple Stadium, Thurles, will not be available to host any further league or championship games this year due to concerns over long term damage to the playing surface. As a result of the poor weather over the winter, and a heavy fixtures list, including several football games, there is a major worry that the pitch would not recover if it were subjected to further games over the summer period, and has thus been closed.

Tim Floyd, secretary of Tipperary GAA, has indicated that a major factor was the use of Thurles by the football team. "Unfortunately we have had to make this decision with regards to Semple Stadium, as we consider the long term implications for the pitch, which has always been one of the premier surfaces in the country. To be honest, at this stage it is hardly fit for the senior hurlers to train on, which they currently do 3 nights a week, and we just have to close it to protect it, and move the hurlers training sessions over to Dr. Morris Park. We will also not be in a position to host any games in 2016, while we allow the pitch to regenerate and recover itself, and we will spend approximately €100,000 to help in this process. Until then we are in talks with Limerick to host any Tipperary home games in hurling in Pairc na nGaeil".

On the football issue, Floyd added, "There's no doubt that the Football games that took place in Thurles earlier in the year had a negative effect on the pitch, the hurlers found it very difficult to train the following Tuesday. As a result we moved the Offaly game to Sean Treacy Park in Tipp Town, and the Kildare game to Ardfinnan or somewhere like that, I think. Anyway, we couldn't allow further damage to the surface, but unfortunately it was already gone too far to allow any more games this year."

Floyd added that he was confident the surface would be back to it's pristine self for the start of the Munster Hurling League in 2017.

One of seafoid's many threads reminded me I wanted to start one myself about this. What are the maddest/strangest sports you've encountered or seen, live or on TV? I was flicking through Sky Sports at the weekend and I came across Kabaddi. It looks like a mental Indian form of 'tag'. It's a professional league, and has hundreds or thousands in the stands cheering, and looks bizarre. I still have no idea what's going on, but it looks like great craic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaxewBxZ7-4

OK, this is inspired by a sidebar conversation on the Man Utd thread, but in fairness to the lads there, it really is a different topic. It is spawned by this phrase 'World Class', and what exactly that means. Is world class really just two or three players, who are basically the Ballon D'Or winners every year? Is it mainly confined to strikers and attacking midfielders? What constitutes 'World Class'.

So I want to see if we can arrive at a consensus of sorts. Imagine there is an Inter Galactic tournament in soccer, and we have to pick (after trials in Thurles) a squad of 23 that would compete in this. We have to select at least 2 goalies, and then fill the remaining 21 slots with a viable 'World Class' squad that can kick the Uranus off Mars. When you are nominating a player, indicate whether he is a Goalie, Defender, Defensive Midfielder, Midfielder, Attacking Midfielder, Attacker.

Enough of the loose talk, lets define world class. And then when Liverpool sign 4 of them, we can all say, Liverpool have World Class players

OK, I was listening to Newstalk morning a few days there, and I thought it might be interesting to see what people think of the various Constituencies and how they will go. This is *NOT* a thread to voice political preferences, or who you will vote for, I just want to see what we think will happen in each constituency. I'll get the ball rolling with Tipperary.

This is a new constituency now, and actually losing a seat as North and South combine to go from two 3 seaters to a 5 seater. All 6 TDs are running, so it will be close enough for the last couple of seats I'd say.

The six TDs are Michael Lowry (IND), Alan Kelly (LAB), Noel Coonan (FG), Tom Hayes (FG), Seamus Healy (IND) and Mattie McGrath (IND)


Fianna Fail were wiped out in Tipperary in 2011, but Mattie McGrath is as gene pool FF as you can get. He may well give them a problem in taking a seat here, but the smart money appears to be on Jackie Cahill taking one back for the Soldiers of Destiny. If that vote does swing to FF, then Noel Coonan, or Alan Kelly might be in trouble. Fianna Fail are running 3 candidates though, so it will probably be in the late rounds before they get a seat, if they get one at all. Seamus Morris is the Sinn Fein candidate, and while he's unlikely to get elected, he is a factor in that he polls fairly decently, and his transfers will help the independents.


Prediction - 2 Independents, with Michael Lowry probably having 2 quotas, and Seamus Healy, 1 FG (Tom Hayes), 1 FF (Jackie Cahill), and the last seat a dogfight between Alan Kelly and Mattie McGrath. I think Alan Kelly will get it because he is doing a lot of parish pump stuff recently, and has been all over the jobs announcements in Nenagh and Silvermines like a rash.

[Tipperary 2-17 Offaly 1-15:]

Tipperary 2-17 Offaly 1-15:
Michael Ryan declared himself pleased with his first outing in charge of Tipperary's senior hurlers, as the Premier County scored a five-point victory over Offaly in yesterday's Templemore challenge outing.

In what was a low-key encounter, devoid of any real quality due to heavy underfoot conditions, Ryan admitted that "application and a little bit of progress" was what he was looking for from his charges. For Offaly, this was a big step up in class after their comfortable Walsh Cup victory over Dublin IT, as Eamonn Kelly took charge against his native county.

Kelly said: "We got a poor contest last week so it was definitely up a few gears."

Ryan reflected: "You're never going to get quality, all you're looking at here is application and a little bit of progress. We were happy enough with that."

Tipp led by 2-10 to 1-8 at half-time, with Patrick 'Bonner' Maher and Adrian Ryan scoring the goals. Maher's effort was avoidable, from an Offaly perspective, as Conor Slevin, who was replaced at half-time, allowed the centre-forward's speculative effort from the right touchline into the net.

James Mulrooney, Offaly's best player on the day, scored a first-half goal to keep the visitors in touch but without dual players Shane Dooley and Joey O'Connor, both on duty with the footballers, it was an uphill battle.

Scorers for Tipperary:
A Ryan (1-2); C Kenny (0-5, 1f); Patrick Maher (1-1); S Curran (0-4, 2f, 2 65s); B Maher, D McCormack, D Quinn, J Forde, K Morris (f) (0-1 each).
Scorers for Offaly:
J Mulrooney (1-7, 0-4f, 0-1 65, 0-1 sl); P Murphy (0-3); S Ryan, S Kinsella, C Egan, S Quirke, J Gorman (0-1 each).
TIPPERARY:
D Gleeson; Joe O'Dwyer, M Breen, C O'Brien; W Ryan, J Meagher, Pádraic Maher; J Gallagher, B Maher; D McCormack, Patrick Maher, S Curran; L McGrath, C Kenny, A Ryan.
Subs:
D Fitzell for Gallagher (30), J Forde for Patrick Maher, M Cahill for Breen, D Quinn for B Maher, K Morris for McGrath, D Mooney for Gleeson (all half-time), L Ryan for W Ryan (40), John O'Dwyer for McCormack (43), B Maher for Morris (61).

OFFALY:
C Slevin; D Mooney, C McDonald, N Wynne; D Shortt, C Doughan, R Hughes; S Ryan, S Kinsella; P Murphy, C Egan, J Mulrooney; S Quirke, B Murphy, S Cleary.
Subs:
J Sampson for Ryan (23), J Dempsey for Slevin (h.t), P Camon for Hughes (41), B Mulrooney for McDonald (43), B Leonard for Shortt (43), F Hannon for Quirke (63), S Connolly for Wynne (67).

Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).

Bad times for Offaly hurling, gan dabht, but it's still notable that one of our great servants, Brian Carroll, retired from inter county. He has been one of the better Offaly forwards for at least 10 years now, but unfortunately for him, his era came just after Offaly started falling away badly from the top table. In some recent shellackings, he was the one bright light, his performace against Kilkenny below in Nowlan Park on Sky Sports being one such occasion.He had some success with Coolderry, which at least gave him some reward for his career at club level.

Of course his father (Pat, RIP) was a great player, and won All Irelands for the family, and Brian had a lot of Pat's attributes in terms of skill and wristiness.

Best of luck to him in the retirement, and thanks for all the hard yards he put in.

Lads, a lot of ye will remember this. I think the last time we did it was 2011, and the one before that was 2007. I must see if there is some correlation with Rugby World Cups. Anyway, it will be interesting to see if any new movies have come into the consciousness.

Rules are simple.

1. Nominate your 5 favourite movies of all time in order of preference from 1st down to 5th, and if there is multiple 'versions' (like Miracle on 34th Street) please put down the relevant year of the version you like. If you put down a movie series like 'Star Wars' without putting the specific movie you mean, I will take the first one released. In this case Star Wars IV - A New Hope.

I will assign 5 points to your first choice, 4 for second, 3 for third, 2 for second and 1 for fifth.

That's It. Easy as.

I will close the nominations at 5 pm on Friday 11th of December, and will publish the countdown up to the 22rd of December.

Let's get going....

How did our predictions go?

GAA/GPA Allstar Hurling Team 2015

1. Colm Callanan (Galway)

2. Paul Murphy (Kilkenny)

3. Joey Holden (Kilkenny)

4. Noel Connors (Waterford)

5. Daithi Burke (Galway)

6. Tadhg de Burca (Waterford)

7. Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny)

8. Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny)

9. David Burke (Galway)

10. Cathal Mannion (Galway)

11. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)

12. TJ Reid (Kilkenny)

13. Ger Aylward (Kilkenny)

14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)

15. Maurice Shanahan (Waterford)

An awful week for Offaly GAA with the news that Padraig Moran, from Tubber, a guard up in Dublin drowned on Monday in the Liffey. Padraig was 46, and a member of the Offaly All Ireland U21 team in 1988. I played against him up in Offaly, he was just 4 years older than myself. Shocking news to read today in the paper.

And then we had the horrific incident with Adam Mangan, from Kilclonfert, who died in an accident near Rhode. Adam was a young lad on two Offaly minor panels, and had played rugby for Leinster as well.

Tragic news and a horrible, horrible week for Offaly. God rest both of them.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/dublin-gaa-club-pays-tribute-following-untimely-death-of-one-of-its-members-31590121.html

I haven't seen this in another thread, apologies if i missed it, but here are the minor and U21 Leinster draws for next year.

Eirgrid Leinster U21 Football Championship 2016

Round 1
1. Wicklow v Carlow
2. Wexford v Longford
3. Louth v Laois

Quarter Finals
4. Wexford/Longford v Westmeath
5. Kildare v Offaly
6. Louth/Laois v Wicklow/Carlow
7. Meath v Dublin

Semi Finals
                                    Match 4 v Match 5
                                    Match 6 v Match 7

Bord Gais Energy Leinster U21 Hurling Championship 2016
1. Kilkenny v Westmeath
2. Dublin v Wexford
3. Carlow v Laois
4. Kildare v Offaly

5. Match 1 v Match 2
6. Match 3 v Match 4

Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football Championship 2016
Kilkenny v Wexford
Dublin v Offaly
Kildare v Wicklow
Meath v Laois
Carlow v Louth
Westmeath v Longford

* Subsequent rounds to be decided by Leinster GAA CCC at a later date

Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship 2016
Tier I
The 2015 Leinster finalists Kilkenny and Dublin are seeded into the next round

Tier II
Wexford v Westmeath
Laois v Offaly

Tier III
Carlow v Kildare
Wicklow v Meath

[Carbery Rangers v Nemo Rangers]

To round out the provinces, the following is the state of play in Munster

Waterford - A right mess. The final is fixed for October 25th, but for that to happen, there'll need to be games played every weekend, and even midweek. Hard to understand why this is given the county hurlers are out since August, and the footballers never really got going. It appears to be still in the group stages of the championship.

Cork - Semi Final Stage Carbery Rangers   v   Nemo Rangers and Castlehaven   v   O Donovan Rossa , both this weekend.

Kerry - Quarter Final Stage. All this weekend.

Legion versus Feale Rangers
Dingle versus South Kerry
Kenmare versus Laune Rangers
Dr. Crokes versus  Austin Stacks   

Limerick - Semi Final Stage Ballylanders versus Newcastlewest and Dromcollagher Broadford versus Monaleen , both this weekend

Tipperary - Still in the early enough stages, which is still a real problem in Tipp. 'Preliminary' quarter finals have been played and the Quarter Final proper draw is on tonight.

Clare - Final Miltown Malbay versus Cooraclare

[Sean O'Mahoney's versus Saint Patricks]

So now that the All Irelands are all done and dusted, time to assess the current situation in the various leinster counties club championships.

Louth - Final Sean O'Mahoney's versus Saint Patricks - Louth GAA site says Thursday the 6th of October, but I assume it's next Weekend?

Meath - Semi Final Stage. Na Fianna versus Gaeil Colmcille and Navan O'Mahoneys versus St. Peters Dunboyne Both fixed for next weekend.

Dublin - Still at relatively early stages (last 16 I think). Upcoming fixtures this weekend include Saint Vincents versus Ballymun, after which Indiana might like Philly McMahon even less

Wicklow - Final Saint Patricks versus Rathnew - Sunday 11th October

Wexford - Semi Final Stage Castletown versus Saint Martins and Shelmaliers versus Saint James - Both this weekend.

Carlow - Final Old Leighlin versus Palatine October 11th

Kilkenny - Railyard crowned county champions since 28th August.

Kildare - Semi Final Stage Sarsfields V Celbridge and Athy V Johnstownbridge both this weekend

Laois - Semi Final Stage (I think) Arles Kilcruise versus Emo and Arles Killeen versus Portlaoise both this weekend.

Offaly - Final Rhode versus Edenderry October 11th.

Westmeath - Final Castledaly versus Saint Lomans October 11th

Longford - Final Abbylara versus Emmet Og Killoe This weekend.

This is a pity. I'd say Teddy lost the rag a bit, but is there no-one there in Croke Park that could say 'Jaysus this is the only lad that won both medals, would ye let him in?'

CorporateGAA

http://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/they-were-treating-me-like-a-bowzy-in-a-nightclub-teddy-mccarthy-refused-entry-for-cork-jubilee-celebrations/40750?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Promoted+Post&utm_campaign=SportsJOE_Sep15

Sad to post that Eddie Connolly has died from Brain cancer last night. You may have seen the fundraising drive to try and get more treatment for him, and for St Lukes, but unfortunately it was not to be for Eddie. RIP, a great loss to his family, friends, club and Tipperary GAA in general.

Tipperary GAA Press Release – Eddie Connolly RIP
Friday, September 18th, 2015
It is with great regret and sadness that we learned of the death of Eddie Connolly who sadly passed away last night peacefully at home with his family.
Eddie was born on October 22nd, 1985 and played for the Loughmore Castleiney GAA club. Eddie won County and Munster Club Championship honours with Loughmore Castleiney in 2007.
Eddie played for the Tipperary Under 21 Footballers in 2006 and was part of the Tipperary Senior Football panel in 2006 and 2007. In continuing his upward ascent Eddie finally arrived on the Tipperary Senior Hurling panel in 2011, making his National Hurling League debut against Offaly at corner-back in March 2011. Further success followed when Eddie captained Tipperary to Munster and All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling titles in 2012.
In late 2013, Eddie was diagnosed with brain cancer. Since then he had been bravely and courageously battling to overcome his illness and had a terrific outlook on life and was undergoing a new form of cancer treatment in Spain.
The Eddie Connolly Trust Fund was established to help fund this special cancer treatment for Eddie by organising a special "Night at the Dogs" for tonight, Friday September 18th at Thurles Greyhound Stadium.
At the request of his family, tonight's Eddie Connolly Trust Fund "Night at the Dogs" at Thurles Greyhound Stadium will still go ahead in a celebration of Eddie's life as the GAA community of his native Loughmore Castleiney, Tipperary and further afield come together to honour and remember Eddie.
In paying tribute to Eddie Connolly, Tipperary County Board Chairman Michael Bourke said, "When the light of life is extinguished in someone young it always strikes to the heart with immense pain and grief. With the passing of Eddie Connolly that pain and grief is more intensified because Eddie was determined to overcome this battle and get back to what he did and loved best, playing for his club and county.
Eddie took to this his greatest test with the same determination and belief that he carried to the fields of play with Loughmore Castleiney and Tipperary, a true warrior in every sense of the word.
On behalf of Tipperary County Board we extend our heartfelt condolences to his mother and father, Maureen and Jim, sisters and brothers, Niamh, Fiona, James and Gerard at this very difficult time."
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam
Funeral arrangements to follow.

Right lads, who do we think?

Goalie - Callinan (Galway)

Corner Back - Noel Connors (Waterford)
Full Back - James Barry (Tipperary)
Corner Back - Cathal Barrett (Tipperary)

Wing Back - Tadhg de Burca (Waterford)
Centre Back -  Kieran Joyce (Kilkenny)
Wing Back - Daith Burke (Galway)

Midfield- Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny)
Midfield - David Burke (Galway)

Half Forward - TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
Centre Forward - Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
Half Forward - Eoin Larkin - (Kilkenny)

Corner Forward - Joe Canning (Galway)
Full Forward - Seamus Callinan (Tipperary)
Corner Forward - Paul Ryan (Dublin)

As i was posting on another thread, I had a thought. What are each county known as/stereotyped as? Obviously in some cases there's substance behind the stereotype but a lot of times it's lazy analysis.
How many of these are still accurate, or never were? Are there others?
Here we go for Football.

Leinster
Louth - Dangerous because you never know anything about them. In fact they are not too sure themselves.
Meath - Never beaten/ Teak Tough
Dublin - Shapers/Great with their tails up/Will fall apart under pressure/Physically super fit
Wicklow - Dirty/Hard to beat at home
Wexford - Hardy, but not real footballers/Hard to beat at home
Laois - Infighting, not as good as they think they are, ill disciplined.
Kildare - Not natural footballers, no forwards, robots, Big.
Westmeath - Flashy but fragile
Offaly - Lazy, Capable of a one off shock but not a threat to serious teams
Longford - Hard to beat at home, produce the odd top footballer lost amid a sea of mediocrity
Carlow - No interest in the county team, Happy to give Laois or Kildare a fright. Oblivious to everyone else.


Connacht

Mayo - No forwards, Mentally weak
Galway - Skillful natural players, couldn't be bothered half the time
Sligo - Honest, Limited but capable of a shock. Dangerous
Roscommon - Cocky with limited evidence to support it, produce good players but fail to produce the return they should
Leitrim - Pairc Sean is a tricky draw

Munster

Kerry - All natural players, do nothing else down there, All Irelands medals are found in change,
Cork - Strong and powerful, well able for Kerry, never fulfill their potential, always seen as below the hurlers in their own county
Waterford - A couple of strong enough pockets, dangerous in the club championship
Clare - All Wesht Clare, Stoney, hardship type footballers. Would love to be able to hurl.
Tipperary - A coming team, good at underage, will always play second fiddle to the hurling and won't make the breakthrough because of that
Limerick - All the football is based along the Kerry border, hard luck stories, being left behind by 'the hurling crowd'

Ulster

Donegal - Were flashy, now the opposite, soul destroyers, disciples of Jimmy and his prophet Rory, negative, destroying Michael Murphy
Derry - Underachievers since 1993, selfish, moody players
Tyrone - Ermmmm
Fermanagh - Fighting against the odds, brave wee lads, but don't take it too seriously
Armagh - Ultra serious, humourless. Robots. I must break you.
Down - The Aristocrats, Kerry of the North, without the titles or consistency or ruthlessness.
Antrim - Infighting, crazy county board, more interested in Club than county teams.
Cavan - Old school, left in the past, Larry Reilly
Monaghan - Glass ceiling, love playing in Ulster, hate anywhere else, tough boyos, but not that cute yet.

Horrible news from Mayo about this young lad. Scored 1-2 in an All Ireland 2 years ago, and now his life is gone. Terrible stuff. Obviously deepest sympathies to his family, friends and everyone in Kilmaine and Mayo GAA.

http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=243087

2 announcements last night, one expected, one maybe a little surprising. In Offaly Brian Whelehan is not going for a third year, which is pretty much as we expected/hoped. Brian Whelehan is a hero in Offaly, and is loved for what he did for Offaly hurling, but his reign as senior manager was not as he would have wanted. I felt sorry for him in post match interviews, he looked a broken man, so I'm happy he's stepped down. We can, and will, remember what he did for Offaly as a player, and that he took a job he didn;t really even want as a manager to try and do a job for the county, but it didn't work out. There's bigger issues than who is wearing the Bainisteoir's bib.

The other announcement surprised me a little, but Davy Fitz is staying on with Clare. I thought he looked like some of the players weren't enamoured with him, and the vibe wasn't great. It will be interesting to see how they handle another year with him...