Messages

Portaferry left it behind them, lack of experience at this level cost them unfortunately and SN were the exact opposite. Hung in the game even playing below par and got over the line. Standard of the game well below the semi-final but this was to be expected.

Couldnt see Ballygunnar being stopped at all this year and definitely not by that Sars team, but fair play they brought a level of intensity that was so far unseen. Massive achievement to beat that BG team on a big open pitch. Fairly throws it open now.

Lack of experience shouldn't be a excuse, this is their third year on the bounce in Ulster and only one new starter from last years extra time loss, not sure how much experience you need.

Experience of winning big games and getting over the line JC, maybe more so than just getting to this level.

Was young Sands injured? didnt look to be moving well at any point in the game, or maybe just well marked out of it. Hard to tell from that aspect just from TV?

I wasn't referring to disenfranchised in terms of their vote, more that they are disenfranchised from access to housing, access to a fair economy and access to employment and opportunities.

Housing is certainly an issue, but people today have a much better economy, more access to education and employment and so more opportunities than their parents or grandparents ever had.

Agreed, but all that is relative to the cost of living and the housing market. Even back in the day with less education and employment opportunities owning your own house in your own community wasn't the pipe dream it is today.

Could go round in circles with this all day but that is just the way it is and more and more young people are coming into that reality every year.

I think SF are cutting through in the electorate that will matter going forward, there will be another block of disenfranchised young people at the next election looking at the same problems facing those who voted SF this time around.

Young people are not 'disenfranchised', they have the same vote as everyone else, although they seem less inclined to use it. Some people seem to have the view that they are more important than everyone else, when democracy is one man one vote. Some of the language from SF about mandates is over the top for the third biggest party, it reminds you of the claims of the unionists in the North who speak as if they represent everyone.

I wasn't referring to disenfranchised in terms of their vote, more that they are disenfranchised from access to housing, access to a fair economy and access to employment and opportunities.

Access to employment ? It's there for anyone that wants it

That pays enough to live where they want to live, buy a house at a reasonable percentage of their income?
Really?

I think SF are cutting through in the electorate that will matter going forward, there will be another block of disenfranchised young people at the next election looking at the same problems facing those who voted SF this time around.

Young people are not 'disenfranchised', they have the same vote as everyone else, although they seem less inclined to use it. Some people seem to have the view that they are more important than everyone else, when democracy is one man one vote. Some of the language from SF about mandates is over the top for the third biggest party, it reminds you of the claims of the unionists in the North who speak as if they represent everyone.

I wasn't referring to disenfranchised in terms of their vote, more that they are disenfranchised from access to housing, access to a fair economy and access to employment and opportunities.

Portaferry left it behind them, lack of experience at this level cost them unfortunately and SN were the exact opposite. Hung in the game even playing below par and got over the line. Standard of the game well below the semi-final but this was to be expected.

Couldnt see Ballygunnar being stopped at all this year and definitely not by that Sars team, but fair play they brought a level of intensity that was so far unseen. Massive achievement to beat that BG team on a big open pitch. Fairly throws it open now.

was good to see the Greens get decimated but a pity still that Roderic O'Gorman retained his seat.
mind boggling that Helen McEntee topped the poll in her constituency, why on earth would anyone vote for her?

Was I wrong or did I see Sean Boylan campaigning for her?

Great vote management by FF, pretty good by SF and a mixed bag by FG.  It's FFFG for the foreseeable future in Ireland until there's another major crash.  SF just couldn't convince enough people that they would actually change things.  They leaked votes to nearly everyone.  I'm not sure where SF go from here?  A left leaning transfer pact going into an election looks essential not as an after thought the day before voting.  I can't see Mary Lou leading them into the next election.  She's good with people but got stuck on the detail in some interviews.

I think SF are cutting through in the electorate that will matter going forward, there will be another block of disenfranchised young people at the next election looking at the same problems facing those who voted SF this time around.
While at the other end of the scale you will have the FF FG vote dropping off.

The issues facing the country aren't going away and if anything there are going to get worse which will play harder to those seeking change.

Plus the old 'But the Ra' argument loses more and more impact with every passing year.

Good result at the weekend.

Still massive holes in the team, but there are green shoots of a system. Get a bit of confidence back into the players and see where they can go over the rest of the season.

Something very likeable about the new manager, hopefully he can make the team more likeable in turn.

Spot

As a neutral I felt Peter Owens was poor overall yesterday for both teams.  There was some blatant fouls on both sides (High Tackles, Holding, push in the back when bending to lift etc) that were just seemed to be waved played on.  I understand the conditions weren't great and lads were slipping but on most occasions these fouls were clear as day and in clear view of Peter Owens.  He may have been trying his best to let the game flow but when there are some outrageous fouls being let go it becomes dangerous.

Spot on. If he's going to let it go he has to be consistent, some of the things going on were absolutely scandalous, so Carey started matching it as there was no other option. As you mention the second thing was the danger element - headlocks, high sticks etc.

Boys we can't have it every way. He got the all the praise for the Cushendall SN game basically for ignoring the rule book for 80 minutes of a great game. Difference was that game was on a faster pitch with the ball moving and less rucks.

The Carey game was in winter conditions and on a smaller heavier pitch which inevitably led to more contact and collisions.

To be fair I thought it was a great game from both teams and while the ref did let blatant fouling go, he did so for both sides. At no point did I feel he was coming down on one side or the other.

We need to decide what we want from the refs.

Anyway congrats to Carey was delighted to see it after a very tough year.

Portaferry will be kicking themselves today, that was one that got away for sure. I thought SN would struggle to get back to the heights of the semi-final and it proved to be the case.

How is a pitch in Loughgiel going to be playable this weekend?

Dry for the next few days, but heavy rain on Friday and Saturday.

Ulster Council will need a back up plan.

How is a pitch in Loughgiel going to be playable this weekend?

Dry for the next few days, but heavy rain on Friday and Saturday.

Ulster Council will need a back up plan.

I think it will be needed.

Poor enough start to the Amorim era at the weekend after going a goal up in first few minutes. He will need time especially given the fact that the majority of players aren't used to the system and majority away with national teams. 

Eriksen at this stage of his career playing in a midfield two is just asking to be overrun.  Interesting that Mainoo didn't get any minutes at all.  Was surprised that he started Rashford through the middle instead of Hojlund but he put the ball in the net something Hojlund hasn't done consistently since he was signed.  Would expect them to turn Everton over at weekend then big test away to Arsenal especially with Odegaard back and into a bit of form. 

Some of the squad had one session with the new Manager/ system prior to the weekend, hence why he went with the players who weren't on international duty.

I think he is switched on enough to know how big a job he has on his hands with that squad the way it is.

Anything I've seen or heard from him so far has been good in terms of what he wants to do even in terms of the culture etc

How is a pitch in Loughgiel going to be playable this weekend?

Personally thought the standard was poor from both teams, intensity at max, effort at max but 2-13 is a very low scoring return

Na Fianna should win handy enough

Did like the young bucks though of KK, up for a battle

But just think the Dubs should come through, think the winner of the other semi will win the title though, so, a huge hurdle for the Ulster champions (should be S'neil)

Couldn't fault the effort level of either team and conditions were tricky, but my god the quality was low.

That little bit more experience just got KK over the line, the big man coming on toward the end got them back into the game and then got on a lot of ball to keep them there.

Super game at the weekend, Cdall still will be wondering how they managed to throw it away after getting back into it.

Credit to SN they kept going and actually played some really good hurling, Cdall couldn't loved with the pace and power and directness.

Forwards have been hard to come by for Cdall for a good few years now, plenty of really quality backs but very few quality score getters.

Game of the weekend hurling wise for sure.

Credit To SN they kept going and actually played some great hurling.

When will some of these Antrim men finally give Slaughtneil the credit they deserve and stop with the snide remarks.

How they managed to throw it away? I'm sure they can't believe how they managed to take it to extra time.

Slaughtneil were easily 10 points the better team on the day.

McCormack making the bold call of telling the McKaigue brothers to stay at home if they weren't going to commit has helped Slaughtneil hugely!

Total credit too them, wasn't for a second taking anything away.

I think though observers would fairly admit that in previous years the hurling came a bit behind their physicality and their desire. On Saturday night they definitely brought a new and better style of hurling to the game. Obviously well coached into them by PMcC.

For what it is worth I had two SN lads ahead of BR for MOTM but they can't seem to go past the big names for those types of awards.

What observers? Physicality and desire is part of the game as is hurling ability?

Physicality and desire doesn't win you 4 Ulster titles in the last 7 years.

I think Neil McManus deserved MOTM but rarely does anyone on the losing side get it, therefore I think Brendan with being Slaughtneil's top scorer probably deserved it.

When did I say physicality wasn't? Point is their hurling was slicker on Saturday than it ever has been previously. Which is why there was less rucks and less dirty ball to be won on the night. That kept the tempo of the game high and allowed them to use their energy as the game progressed.

I was impressed with them for sure.

Super game at the weekend, Cdall still will be wondering how they managed to throw it away after getting back into it.

Credit to SN they kept going and actually played some really good hurling, Cdall couldn't loved with the pace and power and directness.

Forwards have been hard to come by for Cdall for a good few years now, plenty of really quality backs but very few quality score getters.

Game of the weekend hurling wise for sure.

Credit To SN they kept going and actually played some great hurling.

When will some of these Antrim men finally give Slaughtneil the credit they deserve and stop with the snide remarks.

How they managed to throw it away? I'm sure they can't believe how they managed to take it to extra time.

Slaughtneil were easily 10 points the better team on the day.

McCormack making the bold call of telling the McKaigue brothers to stay at home if they weren't going to commit has helped Slaughtneil hugely!

Total credit too them, wasn't for a second taking anything away.

I think though observers would fairly admit that in previous years the hurling came a bit behind their physicality and their desire. On Saturday night they definitely brought a new and better style of hurling to the game. Obviously well coached into them by PMcC.

For what it is worth I had two SN lads ahead of BR for MOTM but they can't seem to go past the big names for those types of awards.