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Messages - PAULD123

#1
General discussion / Re: The IRISH RUGBY thread
September 09, 2023, 11:28:54 AM
I wouldn't get sucked into the hype about France. This post may sound like I am a New Zealand fan, I'm not, don't really like them at all. I just think that France weren't as impressive in analysis as emotion perhaps made people feel on the night.

They were dysfunctional for a lot of the game without N'Tamack. No fluidity at all, resorting to their standard kicking game a lot, but without the intelligence of N'Tamack. Jailibert is a genius player but didn't impose himself for most of the game bevuase he doesn't play the way France play, DuPont was clearly in charge and that limited French attack because it is either long kicks or short inside passes. Their defence was extremally Narrow and exposed easily by Telea when New Zealand had the sense to release him.

France were dominant and deserved to win, the better team yes, but look at the opposition. New Zealand stuttered because of Mo'Unga, if Barrett was 10 I think he would have controlled their possession better. But the biggest thing was discipline. New Zealand gave away 7 kickable penalties and France took 5 of them. If you give away 15 points to the opposition you are not gong to have an easy night. France didn't create a lot for the first 50 minutes of the game, New Zealand's appalling discipline handed them the authority.

Incidentally the last try should never have stood. France turned the ball over before Jalibert's kick. In the turnover Vincent crystal-clear knocks the ball forward on the ground. It literally goes round his body before he gathers it and offers it back to his team. Even the Try itself - Jaminet does not have control of the ball in the air and it brushes off Mo'Unga's head before gathering it. That's a knock on and it should have been checked.

Now that try aside, France already had the game won. France deserved to win and are a really good team but I think the All-Blacks made them look better by poor discipline threw the game away. Take away the penalties and France aren't in a position to open up for the Final flourish.
#2
General discussion / Re: The IRISH RUGBY thread
September 09, 2023, 10:44:58 AM
Quote from: weareros on September 08, 2023, 11:55:47 PM
I think in rugby terms New Zealand are Kerry, South Africa are the Dubs. The Aussies are Tyrone and France are Mayo (always coming up short). England are Armagh (won it once in recent memory in fairness). Ireland are the Rossies. Can take out a big team in an early round but can't get past a 1/4 final.

I think that's really funny because it's not far off accurate. made me smile today
#3
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
July 16, 2023, 06:38:10 PM
Quote from: Lotto on July 16, 2023, 04:05:34 PM
And what difference would either of those make. He is the manager, again he looked lost along the line yesterday and frequently clueless. Not sure what Mc Guinness does on match day but all of his other men don't seem to have much input or influence. I'd have Mc Guinness along the line and just let Laverty be a coach as he hasn't a clue how to be a manager.

That's pretty harsh. New manager tested at a level that, yes, he admittedly came up short in. But he has made great progress at both age levels. He has made us entertaining again and his team look enthusiastic and united together.

saying he hasn't a clue how to be a manager is an exaggeration, he hasn't so far become a really goo manager but he certainly has managed fairly well, certainly better than we had.

#4
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
July 06, 2023, 02:46:21 PM
Quote from: meatsy86 on July 06, 2023, 01:58:05 PM
Quote from: PAULD123 on July 06, 2023, 01:49:26 PM
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.
#5
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
July 06, 2023, 01:49:26 PM
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.
#6
GAA Discussion / Re: AIQF Armagh v Monaghan
July 02, 2023, 03:08:10 AM
No matter who lost today they were going to walk off disappointed with themselves. Both teams showed reluctance to make best use of the chances they had. Both teams had plenty of opportunities to win that game.
#7
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
June 26, 2023, 12:44:45 PM
Quote from: thewobbler on June 26, 2023, 12:25:56 PM

Mooney was Down's best player in five minute bursts here and there.

As illuminating and electrifying as those bursts were, he was nowhere close to being Down's best player in any year he played for the county.

Well, that's a fair comment about Mooney. He was always like that, even as far back as St Colman's. There was a lot of time you wouldn't even know he was on the pitch, then suddenly he'd score a goal and a few points in five minutes. But that could be the winning of the game.

Now I get what you are saying, but his five minute performances were often something that no one else could do. As you say he was the best player for five minute bursts but at least when those bursts came along they were the best minutes anyone on the team played.

So could Laverty perhaps get work rate out of him and increase those bursts? Even perhaps an impact sub?

If it's just workrate that's the problem and not talent then it would be pity to through the baby out with the bathwater, no?
#8
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
June 26, 2023, 07:45:51 AM
We have a few players that have been our better players in the team for the last five to six years that didn't play yesterday mostly due to injury. Just wondering what people think, Would Caolan Mooney, Niall McParland, Jerome Johnston, Barry O'Hagan improve that team (I've missed a couple haven't I)?

I'm thinking particularly of Mooney. He has probably been our best player for about five years but in a team that could never make the best use of his talents and a team that frankly never really looked enthused to be playing. Laverty has really made this team look like they want to be there and that they believe in the plan. Could we finally get the best value out of Mooney's abilities in this team?

Or do you think we should move forward with the players we have now that have got us this far and not be looking backwards to players pushing into their 30s?
#9
Down / Tracksuits
February 06, 2023, 12:20:57 AM
Bit of a random one but just wondering if anyone would like a couple of classic Down tracksuits. I've one from the 2000s and one from the 2010s. Never been worn size small. I also have one from the 1994 All-Ireland year, but I have worn that one.

They have been stored in a vacuum sealed bag in my attic but I'm having a clear-out. Just thought on the off chance that someone might be interested I put it up here first before sending them to the recycling.
#10
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
May 31, 2022, 06:24:46 PM
Quote from: bigarsedkeeper on May 30, 2022, 04:56:05 PM
Quote from: PAULD123 on May 30, 2022, 04:47:54 PM
Sorry to ask what is probably a silly question but are the leagues only one round. In particular I was wondering about underage football. The current fixture list on Down GAA website says the all the teams will have played each other once by 26th June. Is that the season over for the wee lads or has a second round of fixtures to be yet released?
Is that U11s or 13s? I know for the 11s they were planning to split the leagues and run more fixtures from there.

Yeah thanks, my little nephew plays U11. All the fixtures stop on 26th June allowing for either a home or away game against each other side. But I seem to remember him playing all summer last year and it was home and away for every side. this years the leagues are bigger because they went from four divisions to three divisions but I was surprised at the thought that they might only play one round of fixtures.
#11
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
May 30, 2022, 04:47:54 PM
Sorry to ask what is probably a silly question but are the leagues only one round. In particular I was wondering about underage football. The current fixture list on Down GAA website says the all the teams will have played each other once by 26th June. Is that the season over for the wee lads or has a second round of fixtures to be yet released?
#12
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
October 15, 2019, 05:16:17 PM
Gutted about the result but would never argue about it. Kilcoo were probably just about one point better from start to finish.

But I do believe the Point have the potential to win a championship. It's a fairly young team, most of them won the U21 championship only 5 years ago.

Year by year the Point have improved. This team has a few more years in them.

But all credit to Kilcoo and I will support them in Ulster, as I would for any of our county champions.
#13
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
October 09, 2019, 05:47:12 PM
Quote from: champion1981 on October 08, 2019, 09:49:37 PM
Smurfy he didn't admit to anything ,that came from bridge fella , if hes suspended from minors can he play for his seniors this weekend? He gets a run out for them doesn't he?

The way I see it is that eventually technology will be forced in. A company has already developed GPS trackers and it wouldn't take much to add wee mics to them. Our society is becoming increasingly sensitive to words and language (not judging good or bad, just saying). So I would see an eventual demand. Then there would be no he said...

Would have been science fiction twenty years ago but now I don't think its so far fetched.
#14
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
September 29, 2019, 08:22:06 AM
Two very different semi-finals.

If Kilcoo had played Ballyholland in that form they also would have hammered them. So scorelines mean very little for me.

Looking at Kilcoo last night I would say that they are more vulnerable than previous years but still have certain aspects that are magnificent.

Passes that are looping are a disaster against Kilcoo (like high looping hand passes). That gives them time to see where the ball is going, the receiver has to effectively stand still and wait for the ball and by the time it gets there Kilcoo have surrounded him with 2-3 players to force a turnover.

Running into contact with kilcoo players is equally a disaster.  Same thing, first guy slows the attacker down then they quickly get 2-3 round the man to force turnover ball.

They way too beat Kilcoo seems to me to find a way to attack that excludes thier ability to surround and force turnover, it is their main strength and they rely on it heavily.

CPN are fast and move the ball well, and are happy to get it quickly into the full forward line with long direct play, but have some attackers that are more than happy to take men on. And indeed, to run at a second defender while being chased by a first. If they do that to kilcoo I think we could see them getting swallowed up very quickly.

I think the Point can beat Kilcoo but they need to be moving the ball very fast once it goes into the full forward line, it can't be a held-turn-run option very often.

In defence CPN look probably capable of keeping the Kilcoo players reasonably quiet. However Kilcoo have scored a lot more freely in the league, average score is 16 points per game even if you exclude the fluke score against Downpatrick in the first game, and have averaged 15 in the championship (fairly consistently).

Basically, if the Point can keep working hard in defence and avoid getting swamped in their long balls forward to Ross, then I think they have  very good chance against a Kilcoo team that is still very good but probably a touch off the abilities of their own team a few years ago under McCorry.
#15
Quote from: sligoman2 on June 13, 2019, 12:51:44 PM
I would suggest they have the final before the super 8 with the winner automatically getting a spot in the super 8's or a playoff for entry to the 8's.  That would give enough encouragement to commit to and win the second tier.
They need to sweeten the pot a little in my opinion.

I see your point but the problem with giving a super-8 place to the winners is that the prize then becomes the access to the Tier 1 competition. If you have a Tier 2 competition it has to be valued in its own right. Maybe it allows access to next year Tier 1, that makes sense, but the competition must be an independent competition to have it's existence be of any genuine merit.

Teams genuinely want to win the Junior & intermediate All-Ireland club titles. Our club won Ulster and missed out in an all-Ireland semi by a point. The Ulster title didn't get us into USC or All-Ireland senior. But the prize was great - being Ulster champions (even though at effectively tier 2 level).

If we go back to Junior All-Ireland (Tier 2) then that has to be a competition alone and not a same-season stepping stone. Otherwise we may as well just keep the qualifiers.

Also I think the final should be played as a curtain raiser to the All-Ireland senior. The minors could come before it as a 3 match day (If we really insist on having minor final match senior final), or minors could be played at a separate event. Is the minor final really that important or popular except for the participating counties?