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Stewards been attacked, Refs being attacked, Meath chanting on the hill in English accents. Has the opening up of Croke park to foreign sports caused all our problems?

He has done great things with Armagh but his stint with Galway have only met with endless failure. Galway have let him down big time for sure but we must not forget the great things he has done with proper teams.

Its heart warming to see after there agonizing defeat to Sligo the forever faithful Galway lads are out in there numbers to support there team.


Edit: I see there is a bigger crowd at the supermacs truck then in the stand.

Its sad to see the sorry state of Connacht football once more. We are at an all time low. When you have a team of the caliber of Sligo rising to the top its the sure sign of a sinking ship. Its rare to see both Mayo and Galway perform poorly in the same year but it is the crossroads we are are it. The Connacht council need to pour some funds into the future development of both Galway and Mayo, we cant have the situation where a team of Sligo's standard represents the province. Here is hoping for a Galway victory in the Replay.

Can anyone explained to me what happened with the waterford county board, the munster hurling final and the 50k. In a nutshell what happened? i tried reading around online but the week of work etc i cant make sense of it. So in a nutshell what happened?

Jesus its only the opening ceremony but them feckin horns are wrecking my head already.

Edit: Is it just me or does the stadium seem half empty?

The two best teams in the country play this weekend. there doesnt seem to be much interest. Kerry are playing thye cute hoor again i think with injuries to Galvin and McCarthy i think they'll win this year. They dont to be playing the likes of Antrim, Longford and sligo again. Its very hard to get motivated to play aginst teams like that.

With the resignation of the manager the county board voted in favour of pulling the senior ladies team from the all Ireland championship. a strange decision the only competition where we are likely to get some silver wear.

I was playing some basketball last Sunday for the first time in years. I had put a bit of weight on since then too. I must of pulled a muscle in my back because the pain has got worse since then. Its grand during the day but when i get home and sit/lie down for a while its pure agony. Anyone else ever get this? anything to take for it?

Louth V Longford- A hard one to pick. To be honest i know very little about either team but Louth seem to have some form of the last few years so i'm going for Louth

Waterford V Clare- Waterford reached the division 4 final and are rightly favourites at 1/2. Waterford to win this one.

Antrim V Tyrone- Last years Ulster final. You have to admire Antrim but yet you cant look beyond Tyrone for this one.

Meath V Offaly- Meath horrible team and horrible fans, the only county in the championship i actually dispise so i could never tip them to win. Offaly for this one

Courtesy of the Irish Independent

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaa-championships/gaelic-football/connacht-sfc-preview-2180619.html

Connacht SFC Preview

Friday May 14 2010

Galway

All-Ireland titles: 9 (2001)

Connacht titles: 40 (2008)

Manager: Joe Kernan (first season)

Captain: Michael Meehan

Last year: Galway 1-18 London 1-7; Galway 1-13 Sligo 1-12; Galway 1-14 Mayo 2-12 (Connacht Final); Galway 0-13 Donegal 0-14 (All-Ireland Qualifiers Rd 4)

2010 NFL: 5th in Division 1 (P7 W3 D0 L4)

Last big Championship achievement: 2008 Connacht champions.

Key man: Diarmuid Blake. Serious question marks hang over their full-back line, which makes Blake's job at centre-back even more pivotal.

Who could make a name for himself: Relative newcomer Eoin Concannon emerged to make a name for himself at corner-forward during the league, both from play and placed balls.

Fantasy signing: Sean Cavanagh. Midfield has been a weakness for them for some years and Kernan likes his centre-fielders to help out all round, so a player with Cavanagh's engine and versatility would make a huge difference to Galway.

Prospects: If they get to the Connacht final, they should win it because they're in the tough side of the draw and have to beat Mayo or Sligo to do so.

Odds: All-Ireland 14/1; Connacht 11/10.

Next game: May 27, v Mayo or Sligo in Castlebar/Galway.

Leitrim

All-Ireland titles: 0

Connacht titles: 2 (1994)

Manager: Mickey Moran and John Morrison (second season)

Captain: John McKeon

Last year: Leitrim 2-9 Roscommon 2-13; Roscommon 0-10 Longford 0-13 (All-Ireland Qualifiers Rd 1).

2010 NFL: 5th in Division 4 (P8 W4 D4 L4).

Last big Championship achievement: 1994 Connacht title.

Key man: Free-taker Michael Foley is regularly their top scorer and he showed a return to some of his best form during the league.

Who could make a name for himself: The management tried out a lot of players during the league and Wayne McKeon (Ballinamore) caught the eye at wing-back.

Fantasy signing: Bernard Brogan. Like many lower division teams, Leitrim are usually well organised defensively, but lack a flair forward like Brogan to open up defences and open up their attacking options.

Prospects: Being on the easy side of draw meant it was better than for many years, but the tragic death of team-mate Philly McGuinness has left them grieving deeply and lifting themselves from that will be difficult.

Odds: All-Ireland 500/1; Connacht 25/1.

First game: June 20 v Roscommon/London, Hyde Park/Carrick-on-Shannon.

Mayo

All-Ireland titles: 3 (1951)

Connacht titles: 42 (2009)

Manager: John O'Mahony (fourth season)

Captain: Trevor Mortimer

Last year: Mayo 2-19 New York 0-10; Mayo 3-18 Roscommon 0-7; Mayo 2-12 Galway 1-14 (Connacht Final); Mayo 1-15 Meath 2-15 (All-Ireland Quarter-final)

2010 NFL: 2nd in Division 1, beaten finalists (P8 W6 D0 L2).

Last big Championship achievement: Won Connacht last year and 2006 All-Ireland finalists.

Key man: Attacking wing-back Kevin McLoughlin was one of the stars of last year's U-21s and was one of their few players to impress in the NFL final.

Who could make a name for himself: Aidan O'Shea's older brother Seamus (pictured right )had really impressed during the league and needs to recover quickly from the league final because they badly need leadership in midfield.

Fantasy signing: Alan Brogan -- or any forward capable of firing with accuracy from outside the 30m range. Mayo only seem capable of scoring within 20 metres of goal and can't open defences with that flaw.

Prospects: A lot worse since the league final. That performance, and the hype now surrounding Sligo, makes a backlash possible. If Mayo can recover their composure, they would then have to face Galway. If they retain their title they'll have really earned it.

Odds: All-Ireland 12/1; Connacht 5/4.

First game: June 5 v Sligo, Markievicz Park.

Roscommon

All-Ireland titles: 2 (1944)

Connacht titles: 19 (2001)

Manager: Fergal O'Donnell (second season)

Captain: Peter Domican

Last year: Roscommon 2-13 Leitrim 2-9; Roscommon 0-7 Mayo 3-18; Roscommon 0-11 Wexford 1-8 (All-Ireland Qualifiers Rd 2), Roscommon 0-11 Wexford 0-8 (replay); Roscommon 0-11 Meath 2-12 (All-Ireland Qualifiers Rd 3)

2010 NFL: 7th in Division 3 and relegated (P7 W1 D0 L6)

Last big Championship achievement: 2006 All-Ireland minor champions.

Key man: Donie Shine. Even though they got relegated he was the second highest scorer in Division 3 with a booming long-range shot which is why the Aussies are already sniffing around him.

Who could make a name for himself: U-21 full-back Neil Collins (Castlerea), who captained the U-21s Connacht title victory, is tipped to make the step-up this summer.

Fantasy signing: Brian Dooher. Roscommon have seriously lacked leadership in recent years, especially the sort of player who will grab a game by the scruff of the neck and single-handedly win it, if needs be.

Prospects: London gave them a right rattle five years ago and are a potential banana skin, but if they win they have Leitrim in 'The Hyde', so a Connacht final place is very realistic and a huge carrot for the Rossies this summer.

Odds: Roscommon 300/1; Connacht 15/2.

First game: May 30 v London, Ruislip.

Sligo

All-Ireland titles: 0

Connacht titles: 3 (2007)

Manager: Kevin Walsh (second season)

Captain: Charlie Harrison

Last year: Sligo 0-12 Galway 1-13; Sligo 1-13 Tipperary

1-12 (All-Ireland Qualifiers Rd 2); Sligo 1-10 Kerry 0-14 (All-Ireland Qualifiers Rd 3)

2010 NFL: Won Division 3 (P8 W6 D0 L2)

Last big Championship achievement: 2007 Connacht champions.

Key man: Harrison is the rock on which Sligo's whole game is built. One of the best corner-backs in the game at the moment.

Who could make a name for himself: Stephen Gilmartin is still only an U-21, but has given real leadership already and is a midfielder who can score as well.

Fantasy signing: Kieran Donaghy -- or any towering full-forward because Sligo lack a tall target-man to secure ball and dish it out to nippy forwards like Adrian Marren, Colm McGee and Alan Costello.

Prospects: The best they've been since 2007 after winning back-to-back league titles, but to win a Connacht final they'll have to beat both of the province's only Division 1 sides, which is a big ask.

Odds: All-Ireland 100/1; Connacht 16/1.

First game: June 5 v Mayo, Markievicz Park.

London

All-Ireland titles: 0

Connacht titles: 0

Manager: Noel Dunning (sixth season)

Captain: Conor Beirne

Last year: London 1-7 Galway 1-18; London 1-7 Down 1-16 (All-Ireland Qualifiers Rd 1)

2010 NFL: 8th in Division 4 (P8 W1 D0 L7)

Last big Championship achievement: Beat Leitrim in Carrick in 1977.

Key man: Ex-Galway player Paul Geraghty was injured during the league but he has been the Exiles' big leader for the last few years.

Who could make a name for himself? Centre-forward Killian Phair, their top scorer during the National League.

Fantasy signing: Tomas O Se -- or a similar defensive totem, because during the league London conceded a whopping 7-120 which was nearly twice as much as the 4-71 they scored.

Prospects: This is their best chance of winning a game since meeting Leitrim in Connacht in 2007, particularly as they memorably ran Roscommon to a point in 2005.

Odds: All-Ireland 2000/1; Connacht 200/1.

First game: May 30 v Roscommon, Ruislip.

I see in Martin McHugh's column in the Star where he derides the unfairness of the Provincial championships. He says the only two competitive provincial championships are the Munster Hurling and the Ulster Football. I fail to see his point with regards to the Ulster football championship, there has been only two winners in over ten years and it looks like Armagh again this year. Are Ulster teams at a competitive dis-advantage compared to teams in other provinces. What can be done to rectify it? I never really likes McHugh's articles his Ulster bias is clearly in evidence each time he writes.

With reference to his recent radio interview where he says the only chance of Tipp beating Kerry is if the Kerry lads all get the flu. Not a great attitude for a manger to have going into the game tomorrow, is it cute Kerry hoorism on his behalf? I think its something he should of kept to himself really.

Are Sligo promoted to Division 2. I see from the leage tables that Antrim, Wexford and sligo are level on 10 points. I;m not sure of the head to heads. fair play to Sligo. A Brilliant manager in Walsh and a fine club system to boot. Great for Connacht football to see them progress. The Championship in Connacht will be an exciting one with Galway, Sligo and Mayo on the the same side of the draw.

Shameful acts from the St Colmans supporters at the Hogan cup final. Worse then soccer holigans apparently. Its a shame that a team cant win with dignity. Anyone else at the final to verify the acts? more can be seen from this blog.


http://www.mikessportsfile.blogspot.com/

Very interesting article in the weekend review of the Irish independent about payments to players. In 1888 when Galway were playing Tipperary Seven of the Tipp team refused to travel to the game due to a row over payments.

The article points out that the amateur status was not codified until 1954 and that some players would take leave of their jobs and train for 2 to 6 weeks. Roscommon players in 1946 received 10 pounds per week and in 1953 Armagh players received 20 pounds per week the GAA hierarchy then banned this practice in 1954. Its very interesting i was never aware of the murky history of payments to players/managers i just assumed that the amateur status was there from the beginning. Does anyone else have any other info or stories on this?

Why does it seem to me that all Nordies on GAA message boards are deeply paranoid about bans, southern media etc. Its not the case when we meet up with our Northern brothers at GAA matches up and down the country, in fact there sound great craic. But on the message boards they seem very bitter. One look at the TITS thread will show that the nordies especially the Tyrone ones genuinely think there is a big conspiracy against them. So what is it lads do you think we're all out to get you or something?