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1991 was not just a damp squib it was a borefest of rank bad football

91 was a poor game, but 92 was worse. Down went to the Pathetic Grounds as reigning All Ireland champs. Armagh just couldn't raise their game for that one, though in fairness they were going through a barren patch that lasted for 118 years at the time. They couldn't even give the reigning champions a guard of honour for the game, so we kicked the round Armagh and got the respect we deserved that way. Then we have the 83 national league final were Armagh also failed to show up. The first meeting of these teams in a national final and big game nerves just got to the minnows. They still hadn't won a big game in Croke Park even though our association was about to celebrate its centenary.
Armagh were no match for the great Down teams until the end of the 1990s. Since then they have won the odd game here and there and have to be congratulated for winning their first national titles. Some people, especially the morbidly obese, would have you believe that football was only invented circa 1999, but most of us know better. Saturday evening should put right the wrongs of the last decade and send the buckfast brigade back across the Clanrye river in the same way that they have done for the best part of a century, with their tails firmly between their legs. Normality will return on Saturday night for the followers of the Red and Black. The game is worth more than the 2 league points on offer, it is about more than local bragging rights. This game will remind everyone there and those who will be listening in from home and abroad that Down are once again on the up.

Think you will need a ticket to get into the club - as its behind the turnstiles

You can get into the club before a game without going through the turnstiles, but the club closes about 15 minutes before a game and doesnt open until the game finishes.

Down unchanged.

1. Declan Alder
2. Daniel McCartan
3. Brendan McArdle
4. Damien Rafferty
5. Kevin McKernan
6. James Colgan
7. Conor Garvey
8. Ambrose Rogers
9. Kalum King
10. Danny Hughes
11. Martin Clarke
12. Stephen Kearney
13. Paul McComiskey
14. John Clarke
15. Brendan Coulter

16. Brendan McVeigh
17. Kevin Duffin
18. Mark Poland
19. Aidan Brannigan
20. Peter Fitzpatrick
21. James McGovern
22. Conor Laverty
23. Ronan Murtagh
24. Gerard McCartan

Down unchanged.

1. Declan Alder
2. Daniel McCartan
3. Brendan McArdle
4. Damien Rafferty
5. Kevin McKernan
6. James Colgan
7. Conor Garvey
8. Ambrose Rogers
9. Kalum King
10. Danny Hughes
11. Martin Clarke
12. Stephen Kearney
13. Paul McComiskey
14. John Clarke
15. Brendan Coulter

16. Brendan McVeigh
17. Kevin Duffin
18. Mark Poland
19. Aidan Brannigan
20. Peter Fitzpatrick
21. James McGovern
22. Conor Laverty
23. Ronan Murtagh
24. Gerard McCartan

The only unbelieveable thing here is that a so called GAA man would buy the Belfast Telegraph. Oh I forgot its Fearon we are dealing with here. 

According to Mondays Irish News, Venables was living in South Armagh up until he was arrested. I am sure he felt right at home.

they have to be seen to do something, however little or late.

Is the Ulster minor league match still in Cullyhanna tomorrow afternoon? Might take a run over, pass the time before the rugby.

It was still on yesterday anyway - hopefully it is because I had it put in today's Irish News.

http://www.hoganstand.com/armagh/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=125245

Circus in town early this year TAC?  Even Stepehn Casey wouldn't have resorted to these defensive tactics

I hear they are going to bring in a few ringers. 

Armagh have to be raging hot favourites for this years AI. A county with such a history and with such a record in AIFs has to be one of the front runners every year. Add in the new management and his standing with the Armagh support, is it any wonder Darragh O`Se retired.

Hardstation he has bombarded me with abusive and threatening pms over the past month. I reported some of them  to the mods but the abuse continued and actually got worse. I had more of the same today and I have decided enough is enough. We will see just how big he is in Pairc Esler on Saturday evening. He is a typical keyboard warrior and I expect him to back down and cry like a big fat baby when asked to repeat some of the things he has said over the past month or so.
I also have a serious disliking for fat people.

Any true, serious GAA fan should own a season ticket, in my opinion. You avoid all the hassle on occasions like this and can rest content that your seat/ticket is always secured no matter what. It was the prime motivation as far as I was concerned at any rate

Sounds to me like the GAA is doing its best to sell out a game that would have attracted between 13,000 to 15,000. Once people hear its all ticket they panic and a rush develops that would not otherwise have materialised. Good marketing ploy all the same

Are you trying to portray youself as a serious gaa man? Your own county wouldnt even give you a ticket for the All Ireland final in 2002. Thats how seriously you are taken. There were quite a few of your customers wetting themselves laughing at you in the credit union and they could easily have sorted you out. Go back to Windsor Park, it was your first and only true love.
I see you are now predicting 15000. What happened to your prediction of 10000 last week?

This should not be decided with 5 days to go. If a clear decision had been taken earlier they could have sold tickets at the Armagh Kildare game, or the last Down home game, reducing the hassle for the clubs and all concerned. .

It is the Down county board we are talking about. Reducing hassle for the average fan is not on certain peoples agenda. Obviously I cannot say too much on a public forum, but not everyone is happy. This is going to mean a hell of a lot of work and grief for some.

Bad as Frazer is, is he any worse or any more pathetic than Tony Fearon? Both of them like the sound of their own voices, but they are both whinge bags who crave publicity. At least Frazer can still see his feet.

You have to quit the obsession.

As soon as fat boy stops sending abusive and threatening pms.

Do us all a favour and just send him pms back because I'm sick listening to you

Actually I would prefer to ignore him, but its hard when he just wont stop. I tried asking the mods to do something about it, but I had been told that he is allowed free reign on this board. He will get a chance to put his point across on Saturday evening.

A totally irrational decision by the Co.Board, if it were they that made the decision have game all ticket. The charging off U16s is an absolute disgrace, and i hope a decision they have not heard the last off. The Clubs must make their voices heard on this issue

The decision was made around lunch time by the county board. I got a text during my lunch from someone who was at the meeting. They are even takling Wednesday off which means that they have 3 days to sort this mess out.
They had originally planned to make the game all ticket but dropped the idea.

Patrons attending Saturdays game should not be shocked at the site of what looks like 2 orange hippos. It is actually Tony and Fiona. The stewards on duty have been told to expect them and will open the gates to squeeze them in one at a time.
Thankfully natural selection or survival of the fittest has insured that they dont need tiickets for the kids.