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I watched that Cross team a lot as I was involved directly against them for years, it certainly was no fluke that they always seemed to grind out a late draw or win when you thought the other team had them on the ropes. We drew with them in the County final but lost the replay easily enough and that was the start of it as they went on to win the AI that year...All if's buts and maybe's...seen it so many times but that was the thing about that team, it wasn't just one or two players stepping up, there were so many leaders in that team it was someone different pulling it out for Cross (I sound like a Cross Cheerleader now...lol).

[Their semi-final v Clann Éireann will be the de facto final.]

Last four in Armagh:

Clann Éireann v Crossmaglen
Clan na Gael v Madden

Entertaining quarter finals over the weekend and all bar one that went down to the wire.

Madden probably the most impressive of the four winners with a handsome 7 pt victory, close at ht but Madden have that extra bit of quality that saw them win easy in the end against a dogged but also limited Mullaghbawn team.

The two Saturday night games were exceptional entertainment, the enigma that is Killeavy conspired to somehow lose a game that they were well able to win. They caused Clans all sorts of problems and with a bit more composure could have stolen a win. Maybe if they keep a management team more than 12 months they might actually kick on.

Clann Éireann got their biggest test to date and started to show why they have been one of the favourites from the outset, many people including myself fancied the Harps to take them and indeed they went toe-to-toe until a late goal won it for the Lurgan men.

The Cross/Cullyhanna game at ht looked like it was shaping up to be a foregone conclusion but credit to Cullyhanna, they reeled in Cross and almost did the unthinkable. Cross did what they do best though and moved the ball quickly to a man in space and there was no other outcome. Their semi-final v Clann Éireann will be the de facto final.

The winners of that game should just take Gerry home then. No point in playing the other semi final

Was at Wed CL game and the Hoops were very impressive and like someone said you can only beat what's in front of you. I was speaking to some Bratislava fans in the Hotel later that night and they didn't see that result coming, they thought they would get a tight game and snatch a draw. They were totally blown away by the atmosphere.

Today's cup game v Falkirk was poor enough but sometimes too many changes destroys the whole rhythm of the team and I think that's what happened today. 3-4 changes would have been enough. When BR put the Cavalry on Celtic blew them away. Glad to see big Idah getting among the goals again as he looked a bit sluggish the first few sub appearances but has now 3 goals in his last 2 games. I think BR has lost it with Palma, today he subbed him off straight away after losing the ball and looking like he didn't care too much. That man is so frustrating as he has so much talent but is not a team player and looks like he will get limited game time at Celtic with his stinking attitude.

Windsor was never mentioned once for a rebuild to bring it up to standard to host a Euro match until Casement came into the equation. The original fee's were worked out on the costs of refurbishment to the 3 stadiums based on size and need, there are larger attendances at GAA club matches than Irish League games and dare i say it some NI games. Windsor installed mixed colour seating so that it gives the impression that there are more at the game that actually went through the turnstiles and people are looking to make it bigger...

GAA stadia is 1/3 larger than soccer stadiums due to the obvious and hence will cost more to construct, close your eyes and visualise this stadium in East Belfast and using an oval ball. A Rugby World Cup is on the horizon and  matches are fixed for Ireland, the scheme would have been completed by now and never another word about it no matter of the cost. The fact remains...Casement is in West Belfast and is played mainly by Nationalist/Catholic population, the Unionist community celebrated the refusal of funding from the UK Government like they'd won the Euro's...That alone says it  all.

The Maze was never an option because the other 2 sports would not share the ground with the GAA for a reason I can't think off . The M1 and a rail track both run close by and would easily have been linked up with a 15 min drive from Belfast and 5 mins from Lisburn

[Tyrone Clubs have a terrible record in this competition nearly as bad as my own county Cavan]

Ulster Club is a great competition...For years Crossmaglen were top dogs, Tyrone and Derry have been consistently strong and by the looks of things will continue this way. Kilkoo in Down are so hard to beat and a great side. Donegal and Monaghan are usually strong too so in reality Ulster winners are not easily predicted.
Unfortunately IMO the tried and tested will come out on top again with either Glenn or Kilkoo as Ulster winners, I hope i'm wrong. Would love to see someone new make the break through...Carryduff maybe?

Tyrone Clubs have a terrible record in this competition nearly as bad as my own county Cavan.

Is Karl Lacey still over Kilcoo?

What? Tyrone have the best club championship in Ireland sure!

Anyone take a stab at each county winner?

Antrim - Cargin - Agree
Armagh - Clann Éireann - Certainly have the players but a wee bit soft on the under belly for me (always have been)
Cavan - Ballyhaise - Castlerahan maybe?
Derry - Glen - Agree
Donegal - Naomh Conaill - Kilcar
Down - Kilcoo - Agreed but hoping Carryduff or Burren do it
Fermanagh - Enniskillen Gaels - Agree
Monaghan - Scotstown - Agreed but Clontibret should be there abouts
Tyrone - Errigal - Agree

[Tyrone Clubs have a terrible record in this competition nearly as bad as my own county Cavan.]

Ulster Club is a great competition...For years Crossmaglen were top dogs, Tyrone and Derry have been consistently strong and by the looks of things will continue this way. Kilkoo in Down are so hard to beat and a great side. Donegal and Monaghan are usually strong too so in reality Ulster winners are not easily predicted.
Unfortunately IMO the tried and tested will come out on top again with either Glenn or Kilkoo as Ulster winners, I hope i'm wrong. Would love to see someone new make the break through...Carryduff maybe?

Tyrone Clubs have a terrible record in this competition nearly as bad as my own county Cavan.

Is Karl Lacey still over Kilcoo?

Agreed, but they're quality sides and should be doing better. Why do they under perform in Ulster? or maybe that's their level and I think they're better than they actually are.

Ulster Club is a great competition...For years Crossmaglen were top dogs, Tyrone and Derry have been consistently strong and by the looks of things will continue this way. Kilkoo in Down are so hard to beat and a great side. Donegal and Monaghan are usually strong too so in reality Ulster winners are not easily predicted.
Unfortunately IMO the tried and tested will come out on top again with either Glenn or Kilkoo as Ulster winners, I hope i'm wrong. Would love to see someone new make the break through...Carryduff maybe?

Joe still has lead in the pencil...fair play at his age. If you're reading this Joe stay off the blue pills...

Antrim GAA are the losers in all this, no stadium and nothing on the horizon for them. TBH I've no wind left in my sails for this project, I was like a Duracell bunny 10 years ago or more for this project but right now i'm just dejected and don't care anymore what happens as it's like force field stopping this.

We have the UK Government shafting us
We have the Unionists celebrating not getting it
We have the Southerners complaining that their own stadiums aren't getting enough and why Belfast.
We have the sh1t show of Stormont who couldn't agree on the colour of their sh1te

There's more but just pissed off typing this up...

I see now this morning a figure of £450m has been used...WTF. I'm hearing the figure on the Tender Doc's in £285m. There is no other way to dress it up other than we have been shafted...GAA was promised a Stadium in line with the other two sports and it was reneged on. The sooner you men from across the dirty border realise that the other half up here believe this is money for the Provos and nothing else, they have celebrated up here for not getting the funding like they'd won the lottery.
You can compare it too whatever you like but Ulster and more importantly Antrim do not have a stadium to play inter county matches in and that's not right, I genuinely don't know where it goes from here but it needs sorting ASAP.

It's only Friday lunchtime have some patience...

 

Could we send a bill to whoever whoever was responsible for not getting the original planning process done correctly?

Good luck with that, DUP is all over that one

Irish Government really should finish this scheme and send them sectarian bigots over the edge, they'd go into melt down and tell N Ireland to play their games elsewhere.

I see the South as better infrastructure, better Health, more multi cultural, more laid back, more tolerant and much more wealthier.
I see the North as more bigotry/sectarian, more resilient, better footballer's & less diverse...Ohh & better Tayto

More tolerant??

What I meant by that is the Mexicans are more willing to accept what the Government tells them whereas the Comanches up here don't really listen and do their own thing.

I see the South as better infrastructure, better Health, more multi cultural, more laid back, more tolerant and much more wealthier.
I see the North as more bigotry/sectarian, more resilient, better footballer's & less diverse...Ohh & better Tayto