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I was very impressed with the Newbridge CHB McMullan [I think], he is quite young I think but thought he would have been worth a look, has great positional sense and composure.

I was as well. Possibly a bit light at the moment but looked like he'd a decent frame to fill into too. Very composed and a strong runner.

He's with the U20's I believe. Was minor (U17) 3 years ago.

Yep Paddy is still under 20 this year

Who are the favourites for MacRory this year?

I would guess Magherafelt would be well fancied as they have James Sargeant and Derry won the U17 All Ireland last year

Are any of them youngs playing as well? Wasn't much between them and Omagh last year

Eamon Young and Luke Grant there too who like Sargent were starters on Derry's all Ireland  winning minors team the last two  years

Piano Man
Goodnight Saigon
Allentown

Suggestions of a Guinness shortage and sure enough the Ballix from Bittles is out talking about price surging Guinness up to a Tenner a pint in December.

He really is an attention seeking ballbag

Some craic when the newtownabbey ones and Shankill ones got the Black taxis up the Falls to the Royal hospital..

"Next stop" everyone stares at them in the taxi..

Prods said next stop for Black hacks we just rapped the windy.
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I remember getting told that protocol when I started using Black taxis from Bridge street  out to Jordanstown

Probably the right call, a great servant over the years for Derry

I can recall in the 80s teams playing All Ireland club semi finals at home.

Yeah, was at an ill tempered AI club semi-final in Ballinascreen, between Lavey and Skibbereen, and that was in '92.

I remember that, iirc lavey had played the London club tirconnail Gaels in the quarter final at ballinascreen the same year, incidentally I think wee James was playing for the Londoners that day - it was another tempestuous affair, with Lavey squeezing through.

Pretty sure Lavey played Thomas Davis in Celtic park in the semi-final the year before too.

Anyt

I can recall in the 80s teams playing All Ireland club semi finals at home.

Yeah, was at an ill tempered AI club semi-final in Ballinascreen, between Lavey and Skibbereen, and that was in '92.

I remember that, iirc lavey had played the London club tirconnail Gaels in the quarter final at ballinascreen the same year, incidentally I think wee James was playing for the Londoners that day - it was another tempestuous affair, with Lavey squeezing through.

Pretty sure Lavey played Thomas Davis in Celtic park in the semi-final the year before too.

That was a hell of a game against Tir Connwl James Mccartans , Mattie Mcgleenan were playing for them that day

This is out of date, but I saw Billy Connolly in Belfast years ago and I've never laughed as much in my life. I could hardly breathe.

Billy Connolly still the funniest I have ever seen too, Have seen David O'Doherty and Foil Arms and Hogg a few times each and whilst maybe not everyone's cup of tea  I really enjoyed them

Newbridge were unlucky there - I felt they were very unfortunate on some of the ref's decisions.
Still some year for them.

With about 6/7 to go there was a definite foul on McAteer(who is electric) I think, just across from us on the terrace not given, CE bomb down the pitch and score... But Falloon overall was grand

Agreed. We were on the terrace right beside where that happened. Round the neck tackle. To be fair he also gave the Bridge a couple of soft ones. The Bridge gave too many 50 50 passes in the second half. I think a more experienced team would have recycled more when the pass wasn't on. Still, a very bright future for such a young team. Plenty of pace. Padraig and Eamon Young as well next year!

And Cahair McBride too, disappointed to have lost but proud of how such a young team battled to the end against such a  talented and physically strong CE Team ,

I know not necessarily a comedy but Arthur Daly in Minder is one of the best characters to have appeared on the box.

And I'll throw in Oz from Auf Wiedershen as another great comic character.

Would definitely agree on Arthur Daly I have caught some old reruns on ITV4 recently and really enjoyed them

Congratulations Newbridge. Glen didn't look anywhere near dominant this year and you took them out when the chance game along and it mattered most.
Out of curiosity who beat the under 16B team in the final mentioned and who played and won in the A final?

Glenullin beat us in the B final as to A final I am nearly sure it was Magherafelt who beat Lavey in that final

It'd be interesting to see who has won the U14, U16 and U17/18 underage championship titles in Derry this past 30 years.

I'd say Magherafelt would be up there with a huge majority of them?

I would say Ballinderry & Bellaghy would have more than Magherafelt

Dungiven and Kilrea would have one a few too over the years

Congratulations Newbridge. Glen didn't look anywhere near dominant this year and you took them out when the chance game along and it mattered most.
Out of curiosity who beat the under 16B team in the final mentioned and who played and won in the A final?

Glenullin beat us in the B final as to A final I am nearly sure it was Magherafelt who beat Lavey in that final

Crozier and Moran with a high profile outsider is the latest I've heard.

Well done to the bridge. Hopefully their exile is enjoying things; comes across as a good guy.

Thanks Champion it's been an amazing couple of days , I'm so proud of the way that young team performed on Sunday especially when Glen looked as if they were going to kick on in the last 10 minutes

Have Clann Eireann many older players on the team now or is the bulk of the team in the mid 20s?

Their older players Henderson, Bell, Leathem have all retired now from the 2021 winning team or playing for seconds team. I don't think they have anyone over 30 playing in county final possibly Adam Kelly who the majority of the subs used would be as good as.  They have a couple of subs they didn't use that I think would push to start for most sides so they won't be going anywhere anytime soon I don't suspect. 

Also won the minor championship and the seconds had a very good run in intermediate, presume theres lads from both those panels that will be knocking on the door in the next few years.

Two Division 1 league titles (minus 5 starters) and two senior championships in three years. They'll supplement that with this year's minor championship winning team. They'll quite possibly win the u21 championship. They're in a really good place to start a period of dominance in Armagh senior football.

2 championships in 4 years but yeah agree they are doing some great work up there. Age profile is excellent and the 3 county men are all early to mid twenties. Clan Na Gael have plenty of youth too and will improve and well Cross will always be Cross. Club football is in a decent place and hopefully CE can do something in Ulster with Glen gone.

Clan Na Gael have done exceptionally well having come up from intermediate football to being competitive at senior football and have had good success at underage level recently.  The worry for them would be that Soupy is coming 34 and is a generational talent and himself and McParland generally contribute a high percentage of the teams scores. 

That side of Ulster draw has really opened up with St Eunans, Cargin, Errigal, CE and Newbridge there none of who would have much experience of the latter stages of Ulster. 

Yeah was thinking that about Soupy but then again he's still flying at county level so theres bound to be a good few years of club football left in him- unreal talent and will be hugely difficult to replace when he does go. Plenty of good young lads coming up though.

I'd say Newbridge will go fairly hard at the celebrations as will Clann Eireann but I reckon  CE will regroup quick enough for a run at Ulster.

Just after seeing one of underage coaches put up a post that 5years ago today we were beat in an under 16 B final and off that team 7 started against Glen with another 4 on  the subs. That's some yield from an underage team

Just after seeing one of underage coaches put up a post that 5years ago today we were beat in an under 16 B final and off that team 7 started against Glen with another 4 on  the subs. That's some yield from an underage team