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Terrible crowd in Newry tonight,  time to return to knockout football,  would have been 3>4 thousand easy

carryduff have the biggest pick in down
laverty a huge miss for saul , they just missed out on promotion again
havern a huge miss for saval
downpatrick down players that would see them in promotion mix
glenn down players that would see them safe
longstone down players that would have seen them safe
clonduff down players
mayobridge down players
burren huge squad and depth
kilcoo huge squad and depth

yes players were released but take any top players out of training and the level drops across the board. take them out consistently for 7 months and the level of clubs will drop. the old rule was 5 starred games , teams didnt have their players back in training this year until gameweek 14 . county board need to push the start of the league back and have end of July and august for league games with the 9 second half of league games being played in 7 weeks . that allows 6 weeks to run the championship off to have a fortnight before the ulster campaign

The league is for playing
The championship is for winning.

But 80% of the crowd have the tickets that a lot of us want and cant get for the TC

I Every one who asked for a ticket through the clubs got one.

Apparently there was some rational that Kerry fans had been made to travel on a Saturday to a game for the quarter final and the top brass didn't think they should have to travel on a Saturday for two games in a row. Some vague idea that people might have to give up work to travel on Saturday but not necessarily on a Sunday.

I know, before anyone starts on me, I'm am not defending this decision. There is next to no sensible thinking here. We could have played our game on the Sunday and just switched with the junior championship final.

For by that, even playing the final at all alongside a semi final of the Sam is a further failure of the GAA to make this a seriously respected competition. I think we should have a finals weekend, over two days. Saturday play the Tailteann cup and Minor all-Ireland finals, maybe a third one if you need it to fill the stadium (perhaps the ladies final because that deserves to be promoted too). Sunday just let it be the Sam all-Ireland on it's own.

The reason for playing the big final on it's own is that there are always far more fans from both finalists than ever get tickets partly because some tickets are being given to two other counties who are in the minor final. And because of the very small allocation the fans of the minor finalists often miss out. 

So let every minor finalist fan see the match, let every Tailteann cup finalist see the match, and let both those finals be the prelude to the big match the next day. And if there is third match (to fill the stadium) then let the ladies game be promoted in front of a decent crowd.

The GAA say they want the Tailteann to be a respected tournament but then they treat it as a throwaway event.

Ladies Finals Day is always a triple header in Croke Park, Senior, Intermediate and Junior. Junior Mens Final is the Sunday because both semi-finals are played two days before on the Friday. Agree though in regard to Minor Final it should be played in Croke Park in front of a big crowd.

I get the theory of the three ladies finals together. To pull the senior ladies one out would promote that but then denigrate the others. It was just a thought on how to promote the ladies game, but obviously not if it meant reducing the resect for the other levels. 

But definitely a finals day for Tailteann, Minor and then another, perhaps the junior final. Or maybe a third match could be the Masters final. That would be a bit of craic, seeing stars of the last generation giving it another bash. And again, would promote that competition.

Wouldn't this all create a lovely lead up to the big match the next day on the Sunday.

Plus the format could be replicated for the Hurling.

A lot of the points you make are good and would make sense but the GAA hierarchy don't do 'common sense' so we have to expect irrational thinking.

The minor final should always be a showcase event on AI final day but as far as I know the last time that happened was 2018 - the most recent AI minor finals have been stand alone fixtures in provincial grounds. For eg; this Sunday the AI minor final is in Armagh AG

Secondly, the Masters is not a GAA affiliated competition for some reason unless that has changed in the last 12 months. It has never got the publicity it deserved, never pushed hard by the head honchos at Croke Park.  As you say, it could be part of finals weekend but obviously the GAA don't think so.

The fixture scheduling for the AI semi finals, the Tailteann Cup and the Junior final is another disaster by the GAA but they will have an obscure reason why they fixed it the way it has been done despite common sense dictating otherwise.

..


Have to laugh at all these posters worried about the scheduling of the TC final, and the importance of it. Its on a Saturday at 3, cause nobody outside the 2 finalist cares about it, viewing figures will be poor  and 80% of the crowd for the AISF won't be in for it with over a  hour between games.

CPN on the hunt for a new management team..

Another bad day for the minors, lost every game in the group.

Embrassed in all 4 games,  4

Time for mcgeeney to pass on the reigns? Tactically inept and just can't win close games.

Armagh have the talent, just wrong man at helm.

Any thoughts on your own Tyrone taking a trimming tonight? Could be McGeeney's Armagh that officially send Tyrone down to Division 2.

I've little doubt we will beat a hopeless Tyrone side but we won't beat Kerry or Dublin unless we make changes. Current management set is just not up to the task

Totally agree how has mc Geeney got away with it for so long

Can anyone post the Kilcoo team that won the PRFC this year please?

1. S Kane
2. R Greenan
3. D Mcevoy
4. T Fettis
5. O Mcevoy
6. C Rodgers
7. M Hynes
8. F Mcgreevey
9. J Clarke
10. G Mcevoy
11. C Rooney
12. N Rodgers
13. C Oriley
14. J Morgan
15. S Og Mccusker

A lot of them featured through out the senior championship this year
T

That squad would be comfortable in Divison 3 never mind 4

At least 10 of that that team  would be on the 1st team squad so would not be available for 2nds if playing at the same time

Darren O H officially retires from Down duty

What a player and role model to many

For 5 or 6 years he was brilliant.

A nice debate to have

Would Darren be in Downs top 100 players ever to grace the jersey?

From 1960-2022?


Enjoy retirement Darren

For me Darren was one of the few players in recent memory that probably would start in the 90s teams and and would probably be a good player for even some of the biggest counties as well. He'd definitely start corner back for the dubs 6 in a row team

Catch yourself on he wouldn't get near the Dubs 6 in a row 15, 

Rumours that Mark Poland has left wpoint.

Seriously? Why?

Yes left

The NFL D3 fixtures should be officially released shortly but, barring some unexpected review, we are due to be away to Tipperary on the first weekend. Although it's a long journey to a county which has been getting better results than us over recent seasons, we need to target a win if we are serious about promotion.

Away to Tipp and home to Antrim... first two games we really should win comfortably. Panel is set to be cut next week and challenge games have been organised for this side of Christmas including a tasty one v Mayo.

you are awy to louth also
home to offaly and lonford ( i belive)
all home games i understand to be saturday nightgames

I think u will find louth are a Div 2 team

Why do the Red High play in the McLarnon rather than McCrory cup?
They have a large pool of players from some good senior clubs.
They often have multiple county minors & development squad members.

Surely they should be testing themselves against the best in Ulster rather than chasing B grade trophies?

Because they aren't at that standard. If they were, they'd win or at least challenge for it regularly.

They won it two years ago & make the later stages most seasons.

If, however, as you say they aren't at that standard, then why not given my points above?

I see st Pauls Bessbrook beat St Pats Maghera in Rannafast quarters yesterday. Are there any Down players on the squad?  Fair play to them for testing themselves against the best.

Fair play for testing themselves , if they have a good team they will but if not they stay at B level, a school with their numbers should be A all competitions/ years.

I see CPN are in the Junior Hurling Championship this week aswell, big Fortnight for the Parish. Fair play. Just curious, any dual players on the squad?

I think big Jamie Grant is the only one

Serious question...

If your club had an open management position, would you touch Poacher with a barge pole?

Football is horrendous to watch, and his side-line antics aren't much better.

No, the man only can play one way, has never won anything at club football

Massive fallout even heard miceal magill wants his sons to transfer to the point!!

No thanks