Messages

Not honestly sure I could pick 3 Nirvana songs I like without using the Unplugged album.

Loved Nevermind when it first came out, but Nirvana are just a little too raw, too intense for a soft old chap like me.

I do think  your music tastes  change as you  get older.  I was a big U2 fan but I  struggled to name   a top 3 for them.

No doubt. I'd have similar feelings about Led Zep and the Doors, who soundtracked my mid teen years. Love listening to Metallica's intros but can no longer take Hetfield's voice.

I find myself now pulling towards Neil Diamond and Kris Kristofferson. My younger self would hate me lol.

[It stops players from taking a man on]

If there's a silver-lining to yesterday's performance it's that Armagh put on an exhibition on why the attacking mark should be ditched. Such a stupid rule.

Odd take. I think the attacking mark works. I also don't know why you would get rid of it because 2 Armagh players didn't have a shot.

Why does it work? It stops players from taking a man on and the art of 1 v 1 defending in many instances. I think the general concensus would be that the majority would like to see a player take his man on as that is what gets punters off their seats, not someone being able to take a free shot at goal or worse slow down the attack then kick it back. 

It does not stop that, you can still take a man on and many teams do. It does stop a man catching a long ball in and getting swamped by 3 defenders and getting turned over.

You might well be the only person in Ireland who's in favour of the forward mark.

Not honestly sure I could pick 3 Nirvana songs I like without using the Unplugged album.

Loved Nevermind when it first came out, but Nirvana are just a little too raw, too intense for a soft old chap like me.

It's not lazy analysis Tonto.

Armagh sat back deeper and counter attacked with fewer numbers after going 4 ahead.

Armagh took the easy point ahead of the clear goal opportunity.

Armagh refused two kickable marks in preference for clock killing.

Armagh were 2 ahead in extra time and then went into hiding. Witness Donegal's last or second last point were most Armagh players drifted across to the left-half back position - with no attempt  to make contact - and left the other half open. 

Armagh have better players than Donegal, more experienced players than Donegal and better conditioned players than Donegal. But a fear of losing strangled them once again.

Looking for other reasons for them not winning is wrong.

I don't agree APM.

The first half was enjoyable and maybe the the best exhibition of long distance shooting I've seen.

But it was more-or-less a contact free half of football, with as good as no contested kickouts

It takes more than long range shooting to perk me up. Each to their own.

A few things after  watching all that:

Football as a spectacle is  pathetic.

Penalties need to go

I think McGeeney has taken Armagh as far as he  can. I expect change  there

Would those first two thoughts not be in competition with each other? 

One thing we don't need is more games of football.

Another thing we don't need is teams that do not push for a win, are rewarded with a replay.

Spurs have had one penalty in 36 games so this scenario is borderline implausible

Neither of teams deserve to win.

The very least thing anyone should do sport is try to win.

Neither team tried to win that game.

Sport ruining c***ts, one and all.

That's a bizarre take. Both teams knackered.

Sorry to tell you fella, but if you think there's any glory gained from what happened in the last 10 mins of normal time, or in part of extra time, then you're institutionalised.

Sorry to tell you fella,  if you didn't think that was a high quality exciting game of football maybe you should consider a different pastime

It was a good game for 50-55 mins.

Then it became unnecessarily tactical turgid nonsense, with two team who both deserved to lose because neither tried to win.

Neither of teams deserve to win.

The very least thing anyone should do sport is try to win.

Neither team tried to win that game.

Sport ruining c***ts, one and all.

How would you possibly know unless you've played sport to this level.. Have you? You think these teams don't want to win? Pressure of a final etc etc.. Typical hurler in the ditch posting

Level has got nothing to do with anything.

This is sport.

When your heart is set on winning, things happen.

When you heart is set on not losing, things don't happen.

Neither of teams deserve to win.

The very least thing anyone should do sport is try to win.

Neither team tried to win that game.

Sport ruining c***ts, one and all.

That's a bizarre take. Both teams knackered.

Sorry to tell you fella, but if you think there's any glory gained from what happened in the last 10 mins of normal time, or in part of extra time, then you're institutionalised.

Neither of teams deserve to win.

The very least thing anyone should do sport is try to win.

Neither team tried to win that game.

Sport ruining c***ts, one and all.

Why oh why oh f**king why do teams just not try to win?

Nobody can miss.

Can't remember a game like this. No frees. No hits. Just great point kicking from distance on repeat.

I honestly would love a rule passed somehow somewhere that sellers cannot cross county lines.

Newry Shamrocks, Burren, Mayobridge etc are fundraising, and I'm happy to support it. But a club from e.g Derry? What in holy f**k are they doing taking GAA money out of Down?

The only real marketing drive undertaken by county teams (unless fundraising for their holidays) takes place after matches when youngsters can storm the pitch and meet the players. And the use of the term "drive" is wrong, it's   an entirely organic thing that admin/mgt cannot control. But look how successful it.

And the GAA won't thrive in terms of marketing until the stars of the show are made more accessible to the public. A good start to that would be to somehow breakdown or dismiss  the current (and longstanding) ruse that a player who revels in the spotlight is condemned as being too big for his boots unless he delivers 10/10 every week. This is why Clifford is such a rarity. Nobody can misconstrue his performance levels.

Hurling I think would benefit tremendously from personalised helmets. But traditionalists and management teams would likely be aghast at the thought of someone within the ranks having an individual personality.

Hurling and football would each benefit hugely if lads didn't have to be 10 years retired to enjoy a Laochra Gael profile. Why can this (or an equivalent) show not focus on current players? I think we know why. Anyone taking time to do that instead of train would be seen as too big for their boots.

Hurling and football would both benefit from a 15 min morning magazine "skills" show each championship weekend, that runs through top 5 scores, top 5 catches, top 5 hits, top 5 team moves, top 5 saves, top 5 bloopers, and so on. But it would be better again if a handful of players involved vox popped the action. And GAA Go would benefit hugely if they ran this as the filler before coverage started.

Small ideas in the grand scheme of things.

But ultimately I'd expect  reluctance here comes from within the camps, rather than from the marketing people in GAA land.