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In the post GFA world and with SF looking a strong possibility of being in Government in the 26 next time out, should they re-consider their abstentionism, especially as they could have the swing votes in a very tight vote in the House of Commons?

There is the possibility the SF abstention could allow the Unionists to get a Tory Government over the line, with the inevitable political favours returned to Unionists. Would the political fallout be worth it to stop that happening and, better still, direct the favours in their direction?

Just a few points on this:

The UK house of commons has 650 seats. At the last general election Sinn Fein had 5 MPs. Minuscule in comparison.

The topic of Sinn Fein taking their seats is largely driven by the self generated 'importance' that the DUP may play in the event of a hung parliament.  The DUP can enter a coalition in order to gain favours for themselves, but for Sinn Fein this would not be possible as no other party would enter into coalition with them. Simply look how demonised the SNP are for daring to vote for independence.

In short, their policy of abstentionism is a vote winner, but taking Westminster seats and swearing an oath to the Queen would loose them swathes of core support. So no.

My concern is the redefination of marriage to accommodate abnormal relationships.What next? Will people be allowed to.marry their dogs?

You compare homosexuals to dogs?
Their relationships are abnormal? The relationship as a whole or specific parts are abnormal?
Yes, their sexual intercourse cannot produce offspring, but by your logic that implies that the only aspect of a relationship is sex to produce offspring. (This by extension would move infertile heterosexuals into the same abnormal category).

I would contend that there is more to a relationship than sex to produce offspring; things like love and companionship to begin with.

The black card was introduced, in my view, under the premise that the malaise of football was down to the cynicism of players and 'nasty northerner tactics'. We see after this years league campaign that teams have adopted even greater levels of defensive strategy. This is in contrast to predictions of pro black card advocates who claimed it would allow the skillful players to flourish.

The outstanding issues are still what they were before the black card introduction:

• The tackle is not clearly defined
  Refereeing inconsistency (both between different referees and the same referee at different periods of a game)
  

When do you think we will know for definite:
1. that there are games this weekend
2. what day they are on
3. what time they are at

Depends what and when Fergal Logan tells them.

What if the U21 final ends in a draw?

Surely in light of the fixture debacle which currently exists, the timing of the championship for the end of May needs to be urgently revised.  Clubs are looking at a situation where they may have only 3 league games with a full panel available.
This weekend's games see teams having to field without their under 21 contingent.  The management told these boys that they were forbidden from playing with their clubs in the first league game of the year.  I will make a prediction that they will hold a training session to coincide with the games to really hammer home the point.

Next weekend sees the semi final taking place.  If Tyrone win, the players will not be available for next weekend or the following weekend. Even if they lose, how able will these players be to play for their clubs on the same weekend?

Also, can anyone seriously believe that the proposed double round of fixtures due to take place at the beginning of May will actually happen?  At most one of these games will be cancelled in the run up to the seniors game with Donegal.
This will mean a scenario where clubs are expected to prepare for the make or break game of the year with a very limited number of league games with a full panel to pick from. 

Is the under 21 management to blame?  I don't think so.  They need to be afforded the best chance to bring us some badly needed success at this level.

Is the senior management to blame?  Again, no.  It is terrible preparation to have a double round of fixtures so close to the Donegal match.

The sensible thing is to postpone the championship until August.  Realistically, unless there is a huge upturn in fortunes, Tyrone will not be playing in the All Ireland semi finals this year.  The championship could easily be run off during August and September.

There is a massive elephant in the room that no one seems to be talking about.  Which teams are best placed to prepare fully for this year's club championship?  Surely it is those who have no players involved with the two county panels.  They are able to play every league game with their full team, allowing them to perfect systems etc.

Anyone know of such a team?

Where is the CCC chairman from?

Ahem.

There is the driving force for the current shambles that exists.

Quite disgusting really.

Red Hand Man,
I agree with many of the points you have made. I think the common sense thing to do would be postpone the club championship until August for the good of both county and club players. This would allow the county players to devote all of their efforts into achieving all they can in their respective county competitions, and also giving some breathing space and certainty to the club players calendar.

Ultimately the fixture problem here in Tyrone stems from Croke Park and its unwillingness to change the county championship structure/calendar. The Tyrone County Board can only make minor adjustments to fit ACL and club championships around these dates set in stone for the county games. Not until this scenario is resolved will club players get the fixture certainty that they need. Although, I still don't believe even given this limited influence the TCB should have considered playing the championship first rounds at the end of May. (I've made this point before so won't repeat)

Finally, your comment about the CCC chairperson is a cheap one. These decisions are taken on a board/committee format, and not down to any one individual. The discussion is best served when contributors refrain from hyperboley as it can take away from well made points.     

[I'd be very surprised if any of the u21 county lads that have any aspirations of starting during the week will take part in club football this weekend. It's not a perfect scenario but sure when is it ever guna be, just have to make-do]

"Quarterback" the point your trying to make about making club football more of a priority is fine but your arguments are absolute nonsense. Playing a game that close is definitely not enough time to be at the level you would want to be at going into an All Ireland series. And no, Tyrone training would absolutely not be as intense on a Tuesday night during the season as a club match would be.. you've no idea what your talking about if you think that's the case.

Anyway, as has been said, I'd be very surprised if any of the u21 county lads that have any aspirations of starting during the week will take part in club football this weekend. It's not a perfect scenario but sure when is it ever guna be, just have to make-do. I for one am just mad looking forward to getting the league up and running.

I think this is very unfair, particulary on a club like trillick, who have 4 u21s , who play strabane in thier first game back up in senior.
I would say that this weekends club games wont go ahead, which I wouldnt really have a problem with, apart from the fact that this is now thursday and noone still seems to know what it happening

Everything I've heard is that games will go ahead, but yeah its absolutely a disadvantage to Trillick and every other team involved, theres plenty I know, but postponing the league I wouldn't be in favour of myself. I don't know what the official line will be but I'm just saying I'd be very surprised if any of the lads were to take part in club this weekend, a Saturday match for all the teams affected seems to be the compromise being proposed but we'll know shortly enough

CCC now reaping the result of the decision to play championship at end of May. As regards u21 s not playing this weekend, clubs hav. 5 matches before championship, with 2 starred games, can you imagine how the u21 player will be treated if comes in saying I not playing this weekend to compound the county players missing with starred games, leaving clubs with county Sen and u21s having two games with full squad, playing a blinder there the CCC taking into account August will be free for club football in this county., of that anyone watching and knows football can see

But that requires a bit of common sense to be employed. We can't be having that.

Just throwing the topic of club tactics out for discussion.

Firstly, I ask the question, are we in for the year of super defenses?

Just a few points to note from last year:
On the club scene last year, Omagh's defensive strategy paid dividend.
On the county scene, the Dubs without doubt were the best team to watch but ultimately succumbed to defense and strategy.
Given Tyrone's adoption of all out defense, will that influence individual players to encourage the same strategy with their own clubs?
Personally, I think this year will be about the defenses (unfortunately), but would appreciate your views.

Secondly, do you think that a team is best served employing the tactics of the day? Or playing to what they deem to be their strengths?

Frank Donnelly was the scorer of 4-11 for Tyrone in a Lagan Cup match Vs Fermanagh. I believe it was in 1957.

Topic does what it says on the tin.
GAA-man come new Rugger fan; Going to Dublin Sunday to sample the atmosphere for the England match. Any suggestions where might be good venues for scoops before/during/after the game?
Immediately thought of the Berkeley (/Clyde) Court... but it'll be jammed.

Thanks!

That illustrates the problem nicely. Your dogma teaches you that people's private life decisions, which have no impact on your ability to live your life as you please, have the same status as crimes. And that that gives you the right to interfere in those decisions.

Hear, hear.

Decent set-up in Greencastle alright, but a $hite place to play from a players perspective as the wind is always ridiculous.

Nothing like a big wind to ruin a match. Greencastles facilities are top notch, it's the exposed location that lets it down.

Sorry it is an obligation on all Christians not to facilitate sin.By not facilitating or endorsing sinful practice is in no way or by any stretch of any anti Christian imagination,an act of judgement moral or otherwise on anyone.

Where is the line drawn between not facilitating a sin and loving the sinner, as Christians profess to do, in this case of the hypothetical Christian B&B owner?

The problem is that it leaves 50% of clubs out of championship football.  Rips the heart out of a club no matter how big/small.  When your club is in the championship there is always that glimmer of hope that we can win this.

Boys look to America, lose interest, the league suffers.  I wouldnt be in favour of a very early championship

Added to that, teams are expected to peak in May and then again 3 months later when Tyrone are knocked out of the All-Ireland.

[the CB only care about the fixture list being completed]

Keyboard your missing the point, the CB only care about the fixture list being completed. They know, and anyone with half a brain knows Tyrone wont be playing football in August. So what is the rush? They think that letting county players be with their club for one week or two weeks in other cases is sufficient tells us all we need to know of how they respect us. Is there any where for the customary respectful league game prior to the club championship. Boys they are rotten
BTW its the 17th May

I'd agree with that.

Leagues confirmed to start 12th April, hearing the championship due to go ahead in late May

League can't be confirmed to start on that date as Tyrone's final group league game is on Sunday 5th of April, just a week before the date you've stated. The league could go ahead provided that Tyrone do not qualify for the knockout stages however that isn't clear yet.

As for the championship taking place in late May:
Tyrone vs Donegal is fixed for Sunday 17th April. The winners play Armagh 4 weeks later on the 14th of June with the losers entering the first round of the qualifiers 20th June.

It is logistically possible to run the first round in this 4 week window, yes, but is it probable? I would hazard a guess at no. I base this on a weeks recovery/time with clubs for county players (at a minimum), the county boards need to spread out game start times in order to maximise gate receipts and the preparation time required for the county team for their next fixture (be that Ulster championship or AI Qualifiers).