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Might as well move away from the Connacht Final thread.

As Kevin McStay said on Newstalk last night this talk of not being up for the Qualifiers is nonsense. To paraphrase him - have we won several All Irelands that we do not know about? Come Wednesday or Thursday the lads should stop feeling sorry for themselves and dust themselves down and get on with the next game. If they are as near to Galway as Sunday showed then why not give it a lash? To do otherwise is to disrespect the Mayo jersey.

So lads dust ourselves down because this Summer ain't over yet. Stick with the lads, constructive criticism only and sure we may be playing the Tribesmen again in a few weeks.

Our record isn't as bad as we make out in the Qualifiers:

2001 - Round 3 lost to Westmeath

2002 - Lost first round in Connacht and won all three qualifiers. Beaten by Cork in Quarter-Finals.

2003 - Round 3 lost to Fermanagh.

2005 - beat Cavan in Round 3, beaten by Kerry in Qualifier.

2007 - beat Cavan but lost to Derry.

So it is P8 W5 L3. 2 out of 5 times we have reached the Quarters throught the qualifiers.

I think wide-scale changes to the team is not the way to go, just tinkering. We have made out 2008 bed and we may as well sleep in it and see where we land.

With Galway have made significant improvements since last year all Mayo supporters will be extremely wary of shipping another heavy beating. Pride though should make the game competitive for probably 40 minutes when the Tribemen will in all likeliehood pull away.

Fair play to Wexford on Sunday. A 10 point turn-around in championship football with ten minutes to go borders on unprecedented. And must rank as one of the top all-time come-backs.

Of course a personal favourite is Mayo/Dublin two years ago.

And painful memories of the 1996 All ireland can't be easily forgotten either

We might as well set up somewhere to park ourselves for the next few weeks.

Make no mistake this is not the formality that many are suggesting. Mayo have struggled in the latter part of the league, and challenges do not appear to be going well. If the game was in Sligo I'd be seriously worried, but at this stage JOM cannot contemplate a home defeat against Sligo if his project is to continue.

The big thing for Mayo supporters in this years championship will be to see obvious improvements on the problems of the last few years, but particularly a step towards resolving the inadequacies of last year. A Connacht title is not unrealistic especially with the potential of two home games. The worrying thing is that to date we have seen no improvement just potential from young fellas but its not time to set a marker.

You would have to worry though about us if we make it as far as Croke Park against one of the big guns.

HOW would you like to find yourself at the nerve-centre of Mayo GAA? Do you think you're capable of organising the day-to-day business of the county's main sporting organisation? Do you believe that you have the ability, drive and desire to take on such a role? If you have answered 'yes' to all of the above questions then you could very well be in line for a change of employment.

The search is on for the first full-time secretary of the Mayo County Board and the closing date for applications is April 25th.


Chairman of the County Board, James Waldron, told The Western People that while the job is a challenging and exciting one, it is also tough and arduous, which will require great dedication and commitment.


"The workload is huge and we're very lucky to have been selected by Croke Park as one of the county's to get a full-time secretary. Our current secretary Sean Feeney has worked extremely hard in a voluntary capacity for years, giving huge amounts of his time to the job," the chairman explained.


It's understood that Mr Feeney will be applying for the position, but the job is open to the public and application forms are available from Croke Park by contacting countysecmayo@admingaa.ie. A job description and application form will then be issued to the potential applicants by e-mail only.



It is understood that the authorities in Croke Park will then appoint an interview panel, which should have strong Mayo representation according to Waldron.


"Croke Park set the criteria for all these things but I'm sure that we'll have some input, because obviously the successful candidate will be working hand in hand with the county chairman and the county board, so it stands to reason," he added.


The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day management of County Board activities and will be accountable to the County Committee and will report to the County Chairman. He or she will also have to have excellent written and oral communication skills as well as having a working knowledge of the Irish language. The new secretary will also have an under-standing of accounting systems and the capability to manage finances in conjunction with the treasurer as well as having a proven track record of leadership, management, decision making and organisational skills, or an equivalent qualification.

rte.ie

You are a top TV executive charged with picking a live match to show on Saturday.

What about Donegal/Tyrone or Laois/Kerry.

Nah, why not just show Cork v Cavan.

Crazy choice

Huge game in Newbridge for both teams.

Kildare's thrashing in Derry puts them in trouble with score difference, and with Kerry still to be played this is a must win.

Mayo have recovered from the Donegal defeat (which is making things really difficult) and were much improved defensively against a weakened Kerry forward line. However the return of McGarrity, Heaney and Trevor Mortimer over the past two games has been the decisive factor in improving things.

Toss of a coin really but the Lillies are hard beaten in Newbridge.

Here we go again. Live on TG4 I believe. Huge game for Mayo. After losing to Donegal at home defeat here will surely mean curtains.

So will it be another implosion:



or samba time for the GAA brazillians:

Saw this post on anfearrua.com by An Fear Rua himself so I presume its a press release, and not a joke.

Eight celebrities have swapped their glamorous lifestyles for the raw passion of a GAA training ground.

The contestants of the new reality television show, `Celebrity Bainisteoir`, were revealed today as they took control of their local football clubs.

Top model Glenda Gilson, celebrity solicitor Gerald Kean, journalist Nell McCafferty, comedian Jon Kenny, television presenter Baz Ashmawy, politician Mary O'Rourke, bookmaker Ivan Yates and former Rose of Tralee Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain have taken the reigns of an intermediate club football team in their home county.

Officially sanctioned by the GAA, the tournament will feature four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and the final, which is to be played on May 9 at Parnell Park in Dublin.

The show will hit our screens on RTÉ One starting Sunday, March 23.

Glenda, who has one of Ireland's most photographed faces, has stepped off the red carpet and on to the pitch at Crumlin GAA Club in Dublin.

She said her new role – which she started just over a months ago – was her most daunting ever.

"The first day of the training session I nearly started crying," she said.

"I wasn't able for it at all and felt I was like a schoolgirl on a street corner trying to be cool in front of boys.

"It's been the most daunting experience of my life.

"I've never felt so sick in my stomach as I have going out on to every training session with 25 to 30 lads and training them.

"The crew and producers were telling me I had to be harder on them, and I found it quite hard to be tough, but I have to say as the weeks have gone on I've been able to give them a bit more lip."

Gerald travels home to Mayfield in Cork, with Nell training St Mary's Faughanvale, Derry, and Jon leading the way at Galtee Gaels, Limerick.

Wicklow man Baz will manage a team at Ballymanus, while Mary – Fianna Fáil TD for Longford-Westmeath – will give the orders at Maryland.

Ivan, a former Fine Gael politician, goes home to Taghmon-Camross GAA Club, Wexford, and Aoibhinn, a regular on The Panel, goes to Kiltimagh GAA Club, Mayo.

Although Glenda admitted she hope's the coverage will enhance her career prospects as a television presenter, she said she took the challenge because it was very different than anything she's done before.

"We have a really good team with great players so I hope to god we'll win," she added.

"Our first game is Gerald Keane's team at Mayfield and we're definitely going to kick their ass."

Each of the Bainisteoiri will have an experienced mentor on hand to help them train and manage their team.

But the celebs – who will battle it out for title of `Celebrity Bainisteoir 2008` - will be responsible for team training, tactics, and picking the teams.

Producer Jean Devlin, of Animo Television, said the show was about showcasing and celebrating the passion, skill and commitment of grassroots GAA.

"But we're having a bit fun with it by throwing celebrities into the mix," he added.

"At its heart it's a uniquely Irish family entertainment programme.

"For the clubs it's a rare chance to showcase club football to a national audience in an entertainment programme, while for the celebrities it's a chance to learn a brand new skill."

2 weeks away from the big throw-in. The real stuff about to get underway.

The first thing Mayo fans will look for is a more determined and focused effort than in our last competitive game in Celtic Park. The home team will be big favourites though.

Cris Kindle is a big thing in our office every year. Why for the life of me I cannot understand.

Anyway this year after drawing myself, I drew a girl that to be honest I would have a soft spot for.

Budget of €50.00 and don't know what is the best way to go about spending it.

Any ideas would be gladly welcome!

From the Cork Examiner:

TEDDY HOLLAND, coach of the Clonakilty senior football team, was appointed Cork senior football manager last night by the Cork County Board to succeed Billy Morgan.


Significantly, given events of the last week, Holland will have an input into picking his selectors, though a motion to rescind the decision taken at the last board — to remove the right of inter-county managers to choose their own backroom teams — was defeated by 77 votes to 35.

Holland, who was put forward by the seven-man committee consisting of county board chairman Mick Dolan, vice-chairman Jerry O'Sullivan, secretary Frank Murphy, PRO Bob Ryan, Bob Honohan (Bishopstown), Finbarr Hennessy (Dohenys), Kieran Hegarty (Clonakilty), was overwhelmingly sanctioned by the delegates at last night's meeting by 103 votes to five.





However, not unexpectedly, the board's decision did little to placate the Cork hurling and football panels, who poured cold water on the board's deliberations with a terse statement issued last night: "We, the Cork senior hurling and football panels, informed the County Board formally of our position last night. The selector/management issue has not been addressed properly. The Cork senior and football panels do not want to play any part under the system as it stands."

Ballinascarthy native Holland, a former detective sergeant, brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having been involved in the Cork minor footballers' campaigns from 1998 to 2001, during which time the county won two Munster titles and an All-Ireland title in 2000.

To that end, current senior players such as Noel O'Leary and Kevin McMahon, among others, have worked with the new manager in the past. Holland has also figured as a senior and U-21 selector with the county.

When he moved from Ballinascarthy to play with St Finbarr's, he won four county championship medals, two Munster and two All-Ireland Club medals. During his career with the gardaí, he also served with the UN in Cyprus.

The appointment — which was approved by an overwhelming majority — was unexpected insofar as controversy has raged in Cork for the last two weeks about the county board's new method for picking managers and selectors.

The disagreement has provoked the current stand-off between the two county senior panels and the county board, which has resulted in the players issuing a strike threat in a statement released to this newspaper last week.

It was also agreed that in conjunction with the County Board's executive that Holland will also have an input into who his entire backroom team will be.

In a statement issued after last night's meeting, County Board PRO Bob Ryan said it was the unanimous decision of the meeting that Holland be appointed as senior football coach with a two-year term.

"It is the wish of the Executive that this is the end of the matter. Hopefully the players will accept the democratic decision of the meeting," he said.

"As was stated very clearly at the meeting, there is a process in place if the players have an issue. There are liaison officers with every team to deal with issues which may arise from time to time.

"Now that the new manager had been appointed, it hoped that his entire team will be completed as soon as possible. I would like to wish him every success in his new post. He is a very experienced person.

"I have said before that here in Cork common sense always prevails and I would like to think that is the case with this particular issue tonight."

The meeting ratified the selectors for a number of teams for the next two years.

Under-21 hurling: John Considine (Sarsfields), Tony O'Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), Jim Cashman (Blackrock, Denis Ring (Fermoy), Paddy Daly (Ballymartle). Considine is the new coach.

Intermediate Hurling: John Keane (Liscarroll, coach), Pat O'Connell (Delanys), Ger O'Halloran (Ballinhassig), Dara Holland (Inniscarra), a fifth is to be appointed.

Minor hurling: Jer Manley (Midleton), Tony Barry (Carrigaline), Pat Moylan (Blackrock), John O'Callaghan (Donoughmore), Joe O'Brien (Glen Rovers).

Minor Football: Michael Slocum (St Finbarrs, coach), Paddy Sheehan (Mallow), Neilly O'Keeffe (Carrigaline), Tony Nation (Nemo Rangers), Brian Cuthbert (Bishopstown).

No matter what tips I get online I cannot master it. Anybody able to give me a good guide on either.

Also, anyone know when itunes will have tv programmes to purchase in Ireland. I know you can in the States and UK.

Just finished reading Keith Duggans book "House of Pain" on Mayo football. Excellent read, although there are some factual inaccuracies on some matches which probably only a paranoid Mayo fan would spot, but annoying nonetheless!

When you see the last 30 years narrowed down to a few hundred pages you sometimes see trends arising. In this instance for me it strikes me that Mayo have had potentially top-class forwards over the past 30 years that never had full careers for one reason or another:

- Ted Webb died in the mid-seventies.
- Padraig Brogan and Ger Geraghty were the men of the mid-80s - one appears to have gone have the rails, the other emigrated to America.
- Kevin McStay suffered serious injury in the early 90s.
- mid 90s John Casey laid down a marker early on but had to retire at the age of 25!
- Ciaran McDonald for all his great days has missed out on many days for one reason or another.

And now you have to wonder is Pierce Hanley the next great hope to have vanished, and will the wait go on.

Now of course like in every county the potential greatness of these players multiplies by their absence.

What about your own counties - who wore the county jersey for far too brief a period?

Nicky and the lads will be on at 7 on Network 2 doing the draw for next year.

Things to remember:

Football:

Munster - Cork and Kerry are seeded and cannot meet until the Final.

Connacht - Sligo begin in London, Leitrim are going to the Big Apple. Two of Mayo, Galway or Roscommon must meet in a  preliminary game.

Leinster - Dublin, Laois, Offaly and Wexford are all seeded and avoid the preliminary round.

Ulster - no restrictions.

Semi-Finals - Its Connacht v Munster and Leinster v Ulster.

Hurling:

Westmeath play in the Leinster Championship but not in the McCarthy Cup.

Winners of Munster and Leinster go straight to the All-Ireland semi-finals and cannot meet until an All-Ireland Final.

You're Summer will be mapped out shortly.

Are they easy to get.

A mate is heading there for a stag weekend and wants to arrange it around a match. Would be good to see if Anfield is all its cracked up to be.

Don't shoot the messanger. Voted for by yourselves:

Brendan Murphy (Meath)

Marc O Se (Kerry)                     Kevin McCloy (Derry)                       Graham Canty (Cork)

Tomas O Se (Kerry)                  Conor Gormley (Tyrone)                  Aidan O'Mahony (Kerry)

Dara O Se (Kerry)                     Nicholas Murphy (Cork)

Stephen Braay (Meath)             Declan O'Sullivan (Kerry)                 Paddy Bradley (Derry)

Colm Cooper (Kerry)                 Kieran Donaghy (Kerry)                   Tomas Freeman (Monaghan)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1zX-DDznyk

Being too young to even know about football at the time can anyone tell me was the goal scored in injury time? Did Kerry get a chance to get back? Was it as good a game as people say?

Looking at old footage of Matt Connor he certainly looks one hell of a class act.

Especially for Stephenite from the Mayo News:

MAYO GAA Board Secretary Seán Feeney was unanimously ratified for a further two years in his position last night, taking him up until the end of 2009. The increase in Feeney's term will also see a change in his role from a voluntary official to that of a part-time paid position.
Feeney, together with County Board chairman, James Waldron, told Monday night's County Board delegates meeting that they felt it best for Feeney to continue in his position while redevelopment work on McHale Park was set to begin.
Feeney was keen to stress that while he would be remunerated, he would prefer if he could continue in a voluntary capacity. "Because I have already served over five years, if I am to continue it has to be in a paid capacity," he told The Mayo News.
"For me payment is a secondary reason for remaining on. We are in the middle of a big infrastructural project at McHale Park and it wouldn't be practical to pass all the responsibility to someone at this stage. But it won't be any longer than two years. I definitely will be calling it a day at the end of 2009 and someone else will be taking over."
The proposal to extend his term received unanimous backing and is now only subject to ratification by Croke Park.
Regarding the re-development of McHale Park, James Waldron told the meeting that he expects the contract to go to tender before the end of October. He also added that as Mayo have home championship matches next year, they did not want to be in the middle of renovation work for those games.
"What we intend to do is carry out as much of the work on the new stand off-site and then commence work on-site in July or so. We are looking at having it ready by the following May (2009)," explained Waldron.
County Board Treasurer JP Lambe told the meeting that gate receipts for club championship games are on course to at least match last year's tally. To date, €148,540 has been taken in, in advance of county finals.
County Board Vice-Chairman Paddy McNicholas said that, due to the FBD Final in New York between Sligo IT and New York, the final round of county league games were now back to the weekend of October 21.
It was also announced that the 2008 Convention would take place in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel in Belmullet on December 10 next. The 2008 Comortás Peil na Gaeltachta Maigh Éo will be hosted by CLG Acaill, the meeting was told