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The Pursuit of Perfection by Cormac's brother, Dónal Mc Anallen, had me in bits -- a very well written, though extremely harrowing, and brutally honest, account of our erstwhile captain.

I bought her dad this book for his birthday, he cried reading the back!!! Hasn't stopped thanking me for it since, says its a great read

We run up Cavehill every Saturday morning, take different routes. Great for leg strength

We've just moved back to north Belfast and my husband previously loved running up Cavehill.  Could you set out some of the different routes so I can pass the info on?  He did out to Jordanstown and back along the loughshore on Sunday but I'd say that would get a bit tedious as the only hill variance is running back up Fortwilliam Park to the house.

Rois he's more than welcome to join us, we go different routes from the Castle, sometimes up the steps and back that way (approx 5.7km), sometimes we go up via the caves and steep climb from there and back down the (approx 4.6km). We all train together in PureGym, it has built into a group of people of various ages and abilities prepared to get themselves fitter plus it has a social element too, lots of people are very friendly with each other now. A few of the guys live in around Fortwilliam too ,PM me if you want

IMO, the big question mark against Connolly being one of the greatest of all times is his record in All Ireland finals.

In my opinion, great players deliver most on the big day when most needed by their team.

Connolly is a fantastic footballer, no doubt, but I just think his record in AI finals leaves him a bit short of all time greatness.

He has played in 5 and a half finals (including '16 replay & '17 second half). He has scored 1-4 in those 5.5 matches and the goal was a penalty. For a top class forward his scoring return is poor enough (especially compared to the likes of Canavan or Cooper).

it's not all about scoring, it's about what else he contributes

I agree it's not all about scoring, but he has been marked out of at least two of those finals. I just think overall he hasn't contributed enough in finals to be considered an ALL TIME GREAT.

But that just my opinion. And there is no definitive list of all time greats, just people's opinions of who the all time greats are!

True, it's all about personal perception. It's hard to shine on the biggest stage when you are being marked by currently the greatest man-marker there is, they will both cancel each other out. But DC is one of the best players in the game, and has been for a number of years, that surely stands.

IMO, the big question mark against Connolly being one of the greatest of all times is his record in All Ireland finals.

In my opinion, great players deliver most on the big day when most needed by their team.

Connolly is a fantastic footballer, no doubt, but I just think his record in AI finals leaves him a bit short of all time greatness.

He has played in 5 and a half finals (including '16 replay & '17 second half). He has scored 1-4 in those 5.5 matches and the goal was a penalty. For a top class forward his scoring return is poor enough (especially compared to the likes of Canavan or Cooper).

it's not all about scoring, it's about what else he contributes

[you were looking sharp last night]

There was a group that did a haphazard half marathon race in Belfast a while back, turned out to be a joke also, water stations were poor, organising it was badly done and wasn't really associated with any running club, I'm sure imtommygun could fill in the details but it sounds like it was a money making thing rather than something that would normally be expected for a city race!

Less than 3 weeks to go for me, did my long run there on Sat morning , my phone lost battery service at 28.8km but I'd ran another 3.2 km to get to 32km... pace was 5/23 and no real issues, knees sore yesterday but all good today...

should I do another long one before the 15th? The thought of doing it is sickening! To be fair I've not stuck to a plan, just to busy so I've just got out when I could

you were looking sharp last night

Second time using the gels, think they work, used a water belt which carried 2 300ml bottles managed to have a small bit left at the end but I was thinking of filling them at a station along the way

Was fecked, recovery run just, how many miles you get done? and keep it up

First run in 2 weeks after a chest infection, was happy enough to do 5.4k. Been training doing bootcamp with running 3 nights a week , plus extra weights and running. We run up Cavehill every Saturday morning, take different routes. Great for leg strength

Good man, and you's all seemed to look like your were enjoying it, well considering lol

Enjoying ti would be a bit drastic lol. Signed up for a few 10k runs coming up so that gives me a target to get out, don't think I'd ever hit your standards but its all relevant. you have serious targets, I'm trying to get back in shape and lose a few kg lol

[you were looking sharp last night]

There was a group that did a haphazard half marathon race in Belfast a while back, turned out to be a joke also, water stations were poor, organising it was badly done and wasn't really associated with any running club, I'm sure imtommygun could fill in the details but it sounds like it was a money making thing rather than something that would normally be expected for a city race!

Less than 3 weeks to go for me, did my long run there on Sat morning , my phone lost battery service at 28.8km but I'd ran another 3.2 km to get to 32km... pace was 5/23 and no real issues, knees sore yesterday but all good today...

should I do another long one before the 15th? The thought of doing it is sickening! To be fair I've not stuck to a plan, just to busy so I've just got out when I could

you were looking sharp last night

Second time using the gels, think they work, used a water belt which carried 2 300ml bottles managed to have a small bit left at the end but I was thinking of filling them at a station along the way

Was fecked, recovery run just, how many miles you get done? and keep it up

First run in 2 weeks after a chest infection, was happy enough to do 5.4k. Been training doing bootcamp with running 3 nights a week , plus extra weights and running. We run up Cavehill every Saturday morning, take different routes. Great for leg strength

There was a group that did a haphazard half marathon race in Belfast a while back, turned out to be a joke also, water stations were poor, organising it was badly done and wasn't really associated with any running club, I'm sure imtommygun could fill in the details but it sounds like it was a money making thing rather than something that would normally be expected for a city race!

Less than 3 weeks to go for me, did my long run there on Sat morning , my phone lost battery service at 28.8km but I'd ran another 3.2 km to get to 32km... pace was 5/23 and no real issues, knees sore yesterday but all good today...

should I do another long one before the 15th? The thought of doing it is sickening! To be fair I've not stuck to a plan, just to busy so I've just got out when I could

you were looking sharp last night

Second time using the gels, think they work, used a water belt which carried 2 300ml bottles managed to have a small bit left at the end but I was thinking of filling them at a station along the way

Indeed CB. My knowledgeable contact played in that Antrim minor team that won the Ulster cship. 82 was the year correct. I stand corrected on the Mc Rory cup stat. St Mary's lost to eventual winners St Pats by a point in the semi final after extra time. Think for some reason that match was in Glenravel.

The last time we won the McRory Cup was 1986, i was on the panel. That team gave to the county numerous minor, u21 and senior players

Poor aul John Small
His left jaw needing an ice bag despite it being the right side of his face that Donie Vaughans arm slid up against (after initially making contact with the top of his right arm).

At no stage during Smalls tackle on Boyle or during Vaughans tackle on Small was the left side of his face in contact with the opponent.
The disappointing thing with this image was that the "physio" (or whatever his role was) only applied the ice bag to the face when McQuillan came back on the scene after talking to his linesmen.

Was it as disappointing as Boyle clutching his face on the ground after being shouldered in the chest?

In fairness, the good thing about Boyle feigning a head injury was that it caused Donie to explode.

if you have a look at Vaughan immediately after Small hits the ground you'll see Vaughan pointing to his shoulder as if that's all he hit him with, why? Everyone knew he swung his arm

There is more chance of Aiden sitting on the bench than Arlene Foster leading the next Pride event in Belfast. Aiden is solid and predictable, he doesn't lose the ball a lot or make a lot of mistakes. However, he doesn't do a whole pile either. He's a strange one. I am struggling to think of one standout bit of play from the last two matches. He's not an out and out marker and doesn't do a whole pile moving forward.

This is not meant as a slight on the man or footballer, rather a constructive criticism. I really can't see why a younger, more dynamic footballer couldn't get a shot in the corner. Surely someone like Rory Brennan would be ideal. He's dependable, good defender and also would contribute a whole pile more to the attack.

For some of the first half he was actually standing in the corner forward position, I think he was given a man marking role maybe and tha'ts where his marker took him.

As a Dublin fan I'm worried about the semi final, for 2 years now I've told herself that I think Tyrone are the only team capable of beating Dublin, i hope I'm wrong or she'll tear into me in 3 weeks time

Regarding McCarron's sending off, does his 2nd sending off for yellow cards not incur a suspension? He was absolutely brilliant on Saturday but that's twice in a row hes done something daft and got himself the line, he'll be a liability

had the "pleasure" of playing against that great Offaly team at both minor and senior, serious outfit

Totally agree with this, Johnstones is the only paint i will spec on a job now

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/entertainment/bono-thanks-britain-for-looking-after-the-irish-at-u2s-london-gig-796996.html

Jesus wept

can someone confirm or deny this for me please, and I hope its deny...
as an out and out U2 fan, complete nut, who was brought up in north Dublin city, lived beside friends who went to the same Mount Temple school that spawned U2, I was disturbed on hearing that Bono came out with a statement on stage in Twickenham thanking England for looking after the Irish.....first thing that popped into my head was the "no Irish or blacks" thing.
any truth he said this?