Topics

I have been giving some thought to giving this a go in the last few months. Im a bit long in the tooth to return to playing now but would like to stay involved in some capacity and think id have a decent temprament and knowledge of the rules to get involved in reffing.

Theres not alot of info on gaa.ie on the process of qualifying as a ref,who to contact, fitness requirements etc. If there are any active referees who contribute on here, would you drop me a line and point me in the right direction?

Now that Gerlock has been shown the door, who is the man to get he best out of this talented, if slightly watery, bunch of players? Two candidates from within the county in Heverin and Michael Bond. Bond (with Mike Coleman, Joe Cooney and Steve Mahon as part of his team) will get alot of backing, probably moreso because of the three legends lining up behind him. Heverin (with Anthony Cunningham) has the more recent pedigree with what hes achieved at Portumna.

Would anyone from outside the county touch the job with a barge pole at this stage?

May as well get the ball rolling on this one.......4pm start to this one next Sunday. Extra couple of hours in the pub pre-match me thinks 

What's the feeling on this one amongst the Rossies? Ye will no doubt tear into us but not sure if Ros have the firepower to win this one......I think they will get enough ball into forward line through O'Neill but not sure if the inside forwards have enough to pull out a result. Is Ger Heneghan fit for match? Last I heard he was carrying an injury.

Hows Michael Ryan getting on up there?

Can anyone point me in the direction of decent hotel accomodation that is reasonably priced in Boston City Centre or alternatively a place near the subway on the outskirts for easy access in and out of city?

Ive been doing the internet homework and everywhere central seems fairly pricey......

Pedestrian killed in Galway road crash
Wednesday, 27 February 2008 22:53
A pedestrian has been killed in a road accident on the outskirts of Galway city.
The man was struck by a car while walking at Oranswell on the Galway-Moycullen road shortly after 9.30pm.
Gardaí are urging motorists to avoid the area as a section of the road is now closed and diversions will remain in place for several hours.


Two die in Dublin & Cork crashes
Thursday, 28 February 2008 08:47
Two people have died in separate road accidents in Co Dublin and Co Cork.
A man died following a crash on the Naas Road, Baldonnell, at about 6.15pm last night.
The man's car hit a pole on the Naas Road and he was pronounced dead at Tallaght Hospital.
Gardaí are investigating.
Separately, a 35-year-old man died in a two-vehicle collision at Coachford, Co Cork, at about 7.30pm yesterday.
The crash happened at Roovesmore, on the Farran to Coachford Road.
A woman who was driving the car was taken to Cork University Hospital with minor injuries.

Jesus, another three people dead over-night, Lord Rest Them. I dont know whats going on.....if its drivers, roads, Road Safety Authority, Government or what is the root cause of all these unnecessary deaths by their actions or indeed, inaction. I know my own home county has had a ferocious time in the last fortnight with fatal road accidents. Whats the feeling on the board?

Connacht officials have defended their decision to build a new €10m provincial training centre in Mayo, saying there is no danger it will become another 'white elephant' facility.

"It will get far more use than most of our big competition venues, specifically because it will not be a stadium but will, largely, consist of pitches," Connacht secretary John Prenty said yesterday as details of the province's audacious plan came to light.

Connacht officials visited a wide variety of training facilities in Britain, including those of Manchester United and Fulham FC and Sale rugby club, to get ideas for their new project which will have six pitches, an indoor hall and indoor training and meeting facilities.

Yet, with so many counties already building their own 'centres of excellence,' on top of county grounds, questions have been raised as to the wisdom of investing in yet another multi-million euro GAA facility when others often lie idle.

But Prenty said Connacht's proposed new centre will be fully utilised and fill a gap which still exists despite the plethora of recent GAA infrastructure. "There may be lots of venues around but the problem is that schools cannot get into most of them to play their games," Prenty revealed.

"It is schools, and development squads, who will benefit most from this."

Insiders say that the €10m costs being mentioned are exaggerated, but there is no doubt that the facility will need heavy investment.

Prenty said Connacht Council will largely fund it themselves, but will apply for Lottery funding and grant aid from Croke Park, for the new venture on a 57-acre site at Greenwood, in the parish of Bakan, half way between Ballyhaunis and Knock.

Connacht Council President Larry Quinn (Sligo) said the venture has received full backing from all five counties in the province and from Croke Park.

"When I took over as president almost two years ago the idea of a centre of excellence for Connacht was put to me," Quinn said. "From that moment I started to work on the project and I am delighted to say that it is now at quite an advanced stage.

"With headquarters now in a position to help out financially, it was a massive boost to us that GAA president Nicky Brennan gave our proposals the thumbs up," he added.

"We hope to finalise the plans for this exciting new development over the next few months. "The site is as close to suiting every club in the province as you could get," said an enthusiastic Quinn.

"There are over 100 clubs within 40 minutes of it and it will benefit every GAA person from under eight right up to inter-county players. "It will be of special benefit to schools and colleges -- particularly for teachers as they will no longer have the nightmare of trying to get pitches to play their games," he added.

"The list of those who will reap the rewards of this new centre of excellence is just endless."

- Cliona Foley Irish Independent

Its been two bad years for us football followers down Wesht..........the post mortem is inevitable. Where do we go now? Who's for the chop? Who should have been in the senior panel that wasnt??