Messages

The NFL is really sneaking up on us without fuss or publicity.
You'd miss th'oul FBD as it got us thinking about the County game again, experimental lineups who's in who's out etc etc.
No one knows how these new rules will pan out, will they make a farce of the League,  will they suit some teams more than others  and so on
We're hoping we can repeat 2015, 2018, 2020 and 2022 by getting up after 1 season and winning the cupeen as well.

I think the new rules will suit Roscommon more than a lot of teams.

I've honestly no idea who will start for Down, and even guaranteed starters like McEvoy and Docherty, I'd be unsure where they will line out. Murdock got a hat trick from ff in the inter provincial game so he might be an option there instead of midfield.

I've never been to Hyde park so I'm looking forward to ticking that box this weekend.

A fist class looper.

The country would be in meltdown if a fella was doing this to woman, she needs locked up.

Very true. The false story about the gaa player assaulting her and her being forced to have an abortion, sure that shite could ruin a man.

Now now that's not the attitude, where is your sense of equality,inclusion and diversity brother. This is 2025 and just because your right what you say doesn't mean you can say it

Even  the older story where she lured Johnny B to that house in Dublin, imagine the gender roles were reversed there?

Well yeah, because that would be different if it was the other way around. Obviously it was terrible to deceive him in that way, but a short little girl is never going to be able to physically overpower a big grown man. He wasn't in any danger, and there is no epidemic of women murdering or assaulting men.

So if the gender roles were reversed it would be worse.

She wouldn't need to physically overpower him. She could  spike his cup of tea etc.more than one way to skin a cat.

Having said that, I think the tap and go rule will suit most of the Down players. Interesting few weeks ahead

To be promoted

Roscommon Evens
Monaghan 15/8
Cork 2/1
Down 2/1
Cavan 11/4
Louth 4/1
Meath  11/2
Westmeath 6/1

Opening round fixtures

Saturday 25th

Cork v Meath - 5pm
Cavan v Monaghan - 6pm

Sunday 26th

Roscommon v Down - 2pm
Westmeath v Louth - 2pm

Very interesting D2 this year, the 2 that came down will want to bounce back up, but Cork and Louth should be pushing to go up as well. Westmeath a good side and well Meath could either win the league or go down neither would shock me that much.

Down very short odds are they not? 

I was suprised Down were so short odds, particularly as we only have 3 home games.

I don't think we have the forwards to take advantage of the new rules, compared to the likes of Roscommon, although I'm looking forward to our 1st league game this year in the Hyde.

Started watching Black Doves, 2 episodes in and good so far.

I watched the whole series, I thought it was good too. Women at war is very good. Ww1 & 2 were horrific.

Thanks Jc

Are there any challenge games arranged for this weekend or next week?

It's a pity the McKenna cup was scrapped this year. I definitely would have went for a look to see how the new rules are being managed.

I'm looking forward to the Roscommon game, though I think Roscommon could be one of the teams to benefit from the new rules. I think they have the forwards to capitalise on the changes.

Having said that,  I think the tap and go rule will benefit Down, Liam Kerr in particular would have benefited from this, but unfortunately won be available.

In the inter provincial games Odhran Murdock got a hat trick from ff, I wonder will Laverty have him at ff or midfield. It's difficult to predict who the 3 players we will likely choose to stay forward and just as tricky to pick the 3 who might stay back.

If a Slaughtneil man had to have connected with a Sarsfields man's helmet similar to the controversial incident I think he would have got a red card.

There was a blatant push on the back by the Sarsfields corner back towards the end of the game, instead of a free in resulted in a Sarsfields attack.

The overcarrying incidents that were not pulled up was ridiculous, at least 4 blatant cases.

I honestly think Slaughtneil were very harshly dealt with.

I could see Chrissy Rooney playing a more prominent role next season, and prehaps Jerome Johnson taking on Lavertys role as an impact sub.

Money aside. If anyone has a daughter at college and she's looking a job over the summer, I couldn't recommend 5 weeks away in Italy enough..

Free food accommodation, use of car and weekends off and only working till they came back from work.

She'd met up with other Au pairs and they stayed away each weekend in different cities..

Proper ball!

Not sure it beats Wildwood New Jersey    but looked a lot more stylish

I was in Wildwood nj for 3 summers 96-98, great days.

Yeah, they were 8 ahead in or around the 45 minute mark. The club games on rte and tg4 this year have been very enjoyable in both codes.

Sarsfields were very impressive today, the winner of their game v Slaughtneil will be my favourite for the final.

I see pp have Na Fianna as favourite to win the All Ireland, I think they will struggle v Loughrea.

Na Fianna always seemed in control. KK always chasing it.

A couple of points:

Funny KK don't have a sponsor on front of jersey?

Funny Currie on the frees instead of Burke and Burke on the frees at inter-county level.

Who has a No. 38 jersey. 

Liam Rushe (6) went off injured, he was bleeding and came back on with the no38 jersey.

Could it be that Down are punching above their weight at county level, and Derry are underachieving at county level.

Down have the Ards which is primarily a hurling stronghold, whereas Derry would have more genuine dual clubs, ie Swatragh, Slaughtneil, Ballinascreen and I'm sure there are more.

Over the last few years Derrys best hurlers have also been their best footballers particularly the Slaughtneil contingent, the 2 McKaigues, Brendan Rodgers and Shane McGuigan, have all focused on football recently at county level.