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Galway, however, will be without half-forwards Eamonn Ryan and Cyril Donnellan. Ryan fractured a wrist in the win over Dublin, while Donnellan misses out after being sent off against Dublin, his suspension ending a day before the final next month, thus making him eligible to play.

GAA suspensions are a joke. Why not suspend the player for a number of matches that matter instead of a meaningless time-based system?   

http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/committee-established-to-end-pitch-invasions/

Good luck to them. The pitch invasion is no less part of our national heritage than the chicken schnackbox or the churchgate collection for Fianna Fail. Who will ever forget the Jimmy Cooney watch pitch invasion of 1998 ? 

Who is responsible for the classifications  on this board- junior member, senior member, hero member etc? It's all very dry.

Over on http://www.ballinasloe.com/forum/ posters are divided into junior shams, drs of shamology and profs of shamology.

Couldn't we do something similar here?

Eg

Junior C corner forward
Intermediate bainisteoir
Maor lifetime achievement award winner

any other suggestions ?

A very interesting insight in the Irish Times

As one sports psychologist once explained: "If you're a player with an unsuccessful county, you'll have been reared going to matches, watching them lose and returning home in the car listening to adults slagging off the players. It's hard to shut out the negativity."

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0310/1224265980283.html

Can counties like Mayo get over this kind of self defeating shite or is losing inevitable ? 

At what age did you go to your first GAA match ?
Who played in the match?
Do you remember anything about it ?
Who were the main figures involved in introducing you to the GAA ?
What was your first match in Croke Park ? 
Who were the first GAA players you were aware of ?
Is anyone else in your family as interested in GAA as you are ?
Did your indoctrination involve any bad-mouthing of soccer  or was it more ecumenical ?

I came across this article recently. Bernard Flynn, the Meath ligind, had a hip replacement at age 44. Shocking. Are there any other former stars of the game paying such a heavy price in wear and tear only a few years after hanging up the boots?   

http://www.tribune.ie/article/2009/dec/06/one-on-one-bernard-flynn-former-meath-great/?q=bernard%20flynn

I was surprised that he only won 2 all-stars. To me he was the best of the Meath forwards back in the day.

Kevin Cashman used to write amazing pieces on hurling in the Sunday Tribune. I remember reading his stuff in the days when Galway would beat anyone, when they were still hurling at the back end of august. Is there any book or place on the internet where his articles are compiled ?

I read somewhere that since 1998 the all-Irelands have been split as follows : 7 to the cats, 4 to the Rebels and 1 to tipp.
7 is some haul in such a short time period , only 1 short of the combined historical achievement of Galway and Offaly added together. 

How do you think the next 12 all-Irelands will be split ? Have Offaly or Galway or any of the other triers got a hope of getting their shit together or will it be another 12 years of the Old Firm ?

I came across a listing for the Tyrone under 15 development squad that featured a player called
Karsan Varsani (Naomh Mhuire). How many counties have promising under age lads who would have roots in other countries such as Poland, India or wherever ? Is there likely to be a decent contingent of these players in the next 10 years or so ?   

http://www.tyronegaa.ie/county/football/news/story.jsp?newsid=935

I was going through my files there today and I came across the following correspondence from 2003. It brought a tear to my eye. The All-Ireland was on September 28th as I recall.   

The Real Tony Fearon
Registered User
Posts: 1088
(8/11/03 8:37 am)
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Get the hotels booked now!

In the sure and certain knowledge of being there on Sept 21st,i have reserved accommodation this morning,at a very reasonable rate,,for the 20 and 21st of Sept,at Citywest.I advise you to follow suit,as hotel space will be at a premium with premium rates come Sept 21 "

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2008/0829/1219875242019.html

John Allen going on about pre match 'war music' to be played for the Waterford hurling team on the big day.

What songs would you recommend for the Deise ? Youtube links welcome.