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They wouldn't have pulled the plug. Legally the Ulster Council wouldn't have been able to proceed with them as the main contractor due to the massive increase in cost. There are strict regulations on procurement where public money is involved to ensure it's spent correctly. They would have signed a contract 10+ years ago at the cost of £70m. As the new cost is now more than 150% that contract can't legally be modified to suit the existing contractor.

Given the Ulster Council are the ones going to be signing the contract, I wonder what assurances/promises they have in place from the other bodies (specifically the UK government) who are providing funds, especially as regards going over budget and/or delays.

Wouldn't imagine there's anything other than general commitment currently as they still have no idea what the projected completion cost will be. They have an updated cost but it's from a contractor that they can't use. Once they have retendered the scheme and have more accurate costs there'll then be a commitment based on the value.

Can't know for certain but Casement will likely use a project bank account arrangement where the funding money is ring fenced in a separate account for draw downs to the supply chain.

It would probably be wise to announce how the build is being funded and providing details of financial guarantees before asking people to tender.
I mean, who is going to take the project on without that minor detail in place?
Any ideas on why Heron Bros have pulled the plug at this stage seeing how they've waited patiently on this project for 10 years?

They wouldn't have pulled the plug. Legally the Ulster Council wouldn't have been able to proceed with them as the main contractor due to the massive increase in cost. There are strict regulations on procurement where public money is involved to ensure it's spent correctly. They would have signed a contract 10+ years ago at the cost of £70m. As the new cost is now more than 150% that contract can't legally be modified to suit the existing contractor.

It now goes back out to tender on a pre approved framework of contractors which will speed up the tender process slightly. Not sure what frameworks being used and which contractors are on it but would imagine it'll be the usual big players in infrastructure projects such as Graham, Farrans etc.

There'll be a fairly lengthy design period on the back of an appointment as well. I'd imagine they might try and run the demolition and enabling works either concurrently with the design period or as a separate contract all together.

[I don't think Ardboe are as bad as they were made to look on Saturday but jesus they were blown away.]

You'd have to crown this Errigal team as the best seen in Tyrone in the last 15 years should they win by 3 or 4 plus next weekend? I don't think Ardboe are as bad as they were made to look on Saturday but jesus they were blown away.

You'd have to go back to the Errigal / Carmen teams of 20-30 years ago since we have seen anything like this, should they do the back to back.

Would you have Ardboe in the top 10 teams in Tyrone football?
Errigal Ciaran, Trillick, Dungannon, Dromore, Omagh, Killyclogher, Edendork, Carrickmore would all be ahead of them. Would they be any better than Donaghmore, Loughmacrory, Galbally? Debateable.

Did they not beat Omagh in the first round?  This Errigal side looks real deal pushing Glen close last year in first ulster run for a right few of the players could stand to them this year.  I see them beating the Armagh champions with something to spare if get over Trillick. 

Errigal definitely the justified favorites but Trillick will be a completely different prospect to Ardboe. Favourites yes but unbeatable they are not.

Moy run out handy enough winners. Clogher not really good enough. Frees kept them in touch. Good first half with plenty of goals and pace but second half not so much.

Can't see Moy causing Clonoe much bother.

Really? Think it will be close enough.

No chance. Clonoe will walk it. They have been handing out hammerings to the Moy for years and as recently as the league game this year. Next week won't be any different.

Is it true the cops are involved in the Clonoe/Moy saga?

I hope not. However, it wouldn't be out of character from a club full of stoops like the Moy.

Wise up. This will carry on until somebody is killed on a GAA pitch. This week of all weeks you should know that one punch is enough to kill someone.

So running crying to the RUC is the solution?

How cowardly.

I would say breaking someones jaw from behind, unprovoked is more cowardly.

breaking someone's jaw from behind is cowardly but that wasn't the case here. It was front on, he had a chance to protect himself.

Wow... The above just shows how far apart society is.

[Interesting to see what should come of it now. In terms of guidelines and rule books I really don't know what can be done outside of the obvious lengthy individual suspensions, which will likely be handed out.]

Interesting to see what should come of it now. In terms of guidelines and rule books I really don't know what can be done outside of the obvious lengthy individual suspensions, which will likely be handed out.

Anything beyond this would be breaking new ground and more than likely result in appeals.
Worth noting the Moy had a player sent off for striking in the same incident, so that adds another layer to how this is dealt with.

Bottom line, the injuries incurred are unacceptable. I do struggle however to differentiate between one incident and another purely down to "damage caused" per se.

If a game this weekend has a similar one punch striking incident, are we to say this is fine as long as the player felled gets back on his feet and carries on? Obviously it is not fine, but this is normally the attitude with these things, as they happen regularly throughout a year's football. This one is especially tricky due to what happened the two lads, which again, should never happen at a football match.

All in all I wouldn't foresee much more than the usual lengthy individual punishments, what else can you do within the realms of sensible application of rules?

You know what will happen. Same as with every other incident, sweet FA and then it will all happen again somewhere else and somewhere else and the GAA will wonder why they have a problem. I understand Doris from Clonoe is finished now anyway.
The issue is much bigger than Moy v Clonoe or Tyrone GAA. It needs a national strategy, coupled with heavy sanctions from HQ for player and club. Stamp it right out before there is a fatality.

I would assume the same problems occur all over the country. No linesmen or neutral umpires at league games meaning the referee has no chance of seeing many of these incidents unfold. A lot of the time even when there are neutral officials and incidents are seen yellow cards are issued rather than the appropriate action. We're effectively telling our club players that we can't guarantee their wellbeing because our referees can't see everything that is going on.

One of the incidents in the weekends game was seen and a red card issued but the punishments don't tally with the actions.

Congrats to Errigal. Very worthy champions and showed their bottle well to hold on.

Jesus must have been some blow moy manager got as moy Facebook state "needed hospital treatment". Also good luck to Carrickmore today let's bring home number 16!

I wouldn't be surprised to see this go further than the football field. The man was assaulted and subsequently hospitalised. It was an act of absolute thuggery. I will wait and see if Clonoe wish the manager a speedy recovery in their social media summary. If he did that on the street he would be looking at time.

With respect, it would be fairly seldom and would require an entirely specific set of circumstances for someone to go to jail for giving someone a bloody nose on the street. Probably happens every weekend, the length & breadth of the country with no prosecution. Certainly not something we need in our games but neither is the hyperbole.

Reports this evening are that the manager has a broken eye socket and the full forward a broken jaw. Not something that happens the length and breadth of the country. If true it just shows how dangerous these actions are.

What he's Get Out last night. I know it's been around a while but superb film. Billed as Horror / Thriller it was definitely more of a thriller. Finely recommended

Lads interested is that Clonoe relegated?

Clonoe relegated. Hearing rumours moy had 16 players on the field for a few minutes and in that time frame Moy scored 2 points (they won by a point). Can anyone confirm? Surely Clonoe will take that to the county board with video evidence

Complete nonsense. Referee had to stop the game to order a Clonoe player that had been subbed off the field. Never any evidence moy had 16 on. Bad tempered end to the game. Moy manager and full forward both struck and badly injured. Clonoe had a 20m free to level it at the end and hit the post. Very close game that could have gone either way.

Are the episodes coming out weekly? I have never seen GoT so I'm working on the assumption that if I start with the new series it'll be a lead-in to GoT or is the plan that this is a spin-off rather than a prequel similar to Saul and Breaking Bad?

I'd watch Game of Thrones First. Many of the surprises are from the past.

Loved GOT but I don't have Sky Atlantic, migrated to the dodgy box - can you stream it anywhere?

Does the dodgy box not have Sky Atlantic / series to stream?

Best bet would be to wait until the season is over and get a Now TV Entertainment subscription for a month. Think it's around a tenner.

House of the Dragon.

Decent first episode. Don't see it straying much from the GOT formula.

Are the episodes coming out weekly? I have never seen GoT so I'm working on the assumption that if I start with the new series it'll be a lead-in to GoT or is the plan that this is a spin-off rather than a prequel similar to Saul and Breaking Bad?

Episodes are out weekly. First episode was very good.

Seems to be a prequel although it's hard to tell yet whether it will have much lead in if any to Game of Thrones.

As a United supporter it's going to be a long night

I like cold crisp winter mornings

Can we not just agree that different people will have different views on the topic? 

It just shows the level of disparity in views held within our own community never mind cross community.