Messages

1

Cavan / Re: Official Cavan GAA Thread

« on: September 29, 2022, 06:54:40 PM »

I don't think there should be a hard and fast approach to amalgamations at underage. Numbers in smaller clubs can vary drastically year to year. If a club has the numbers to field, and facilities are there locally, you're always better getting as many youngsters playing as possible. If they have insufficient numbers on a particular year then an amalgamation is the way to go.
 Regarding senior, I would like to see a Kerry model where there is a separate county championship where every club is involved to make up 12-16 teams, maybe 6 stand alone senior clubs and the rest amalgamations. You still keep senior, intermediate and junior club competitions to run separately.

2

General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL FAI Thread.....Roll on 2023 Women's World Cup

« on: September 28, 2022, 11:34:17 PM »

Whatever about the game that interview was car crash stuff last night. If a team is a reflection of its leadership then never was it more apt than with that interview. Just meandering and directionless waffle. Stan took a lot of slack for his inarticulate demeanour but at least you always knew the point he was trying to get across. Kenny was just bizarre, big happy head and couldn't even finish his sentences. Was like a lad on meds.

Yes, car crash stuff! Anger tinged with relief should have been the overriding emotion from the Manager. Instead we got a manager who looked like he had just come out of Willy Wonkas Chocolate factory.

Yes a bit of anger would have been apt. Interviewer suggested as much but he just went on some waffle that was hard to comprehend. Think the gist of it was he won't see the lads again till November so he couldn't send them away in a bad mood or something. Bizarre bizarre stuff.

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General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL FAI Thread.....Roll on 2023 Women's World Cup

« on: September 28, 2022, 11:11:11 AM »

Whatever about the game that interview was car crash stuff last night. If a team is a reflection of its leadership then never was it more apt than with that interview. Just meandering and directionless waffle. Stan took a lot of slack for his inarticulate demeanour but at least you always knew the point he was trying to get across. Kenny was just bizarre, big happy head and couldn't even finish his sentences. Was like a lad on meds.

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General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL FAI Thread.....Roll on 2023 Women's World Cup

« on: September 27, 2022, 09:53:05 PM »

You can say the football has improved a bit but passing and composure still absolutely shocking at times. Even with the Armenia meltdown and up against 9 men the amount of times we hoofed the ball back up the park to them was extremely amateurish. Had they kept 11 men I'm not confident we would have seen that game out.

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General discussion / Re: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

« on: September 27, 2022, 01:24:49 PM »

They looked very good when playing at a high tempo and running at opposition (although that's not a great German team). They have some very electric and exciting players but they don't look like a team who can control the tempo of a game that well. Their passing game is not strong enough and they inevitability come up with a stray pass. Look sloppy and error prone in defence when the pressure is on too. They will take beating of course but probably not equipped enough for a tournament like the WC. Would take a very lucky draw for them to be in the shake up and a big improvement in form to boot. 

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Cavan / Re: Official Cavan GAA Thread

« on: August 09, 2022, 05:58:08 PM »

 If you believe the rumours Bonner was the number 1 target if he left. Plausible I suppose but not exactly awe inspiring. Anyway 2 more years it is but there is absolutely no way IMO he will see that out if we have another annus horribilis. I'll not use the word "minimum requirement" as it's meaningless going on last few years with no consequences for failure to achieve it, but it would be great to get to Division 2 next year. Falling short of that it depends on performances. If we fall just short with green shoots but some bad luck thrown in then that's forgivable. Maybe redemption in TC. But if we find ourselves in a relegation scare or God forbid back in Division 4 then we need rid ASAP and start the long overdue rebuild. I think we need to focus on the league first and foremost and forget this BS that was peddled that it doesn't matter. The league is a massive reflection on the health of your squad and it's strength in depth. In this regard we have free-falled very badly last 4 years.

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Cavan / Re: Official Cavan GAA Thread

« on: August 09, 2022, 11:45:04 AM »

I'd say it's a mixed bag from Cavan fans. Some happy to see him stay, some not so much. Personally I think he's a poor IC manager overall but there is no obvious replacement. Either way the most important thing is that he has the full backing of the players. It would be interesting to know what the reaction from players would be if it was put to them like with the previous two managers. Doesn't look like this was bothered with which is a worry but maybe not as big a worry as some of the replacement rumours I heard.

8

General discussion / Re: Boxing Thread

« on: August 08, 2022, 10:26:25 PM »

Anyone watch "The Kings", 4 part documentary on Duran, Hearns, Hagler and Leonard. Thoroughly enjoyable watch. Duran some man for one man.

Not seen it but I doubt you'll read a better sports book than George Kimabll's "Four Kings"

Thats a brilliant book. Where can you watch this documentary?

Not sure, think it's on Prime but mightn't be free. I saw it on the dodgy box.

9

Cavan / Re: Official Cavan GAA Thread

« on: August 04, 2022, 06:47:59 PM »

Gearoid a big handful for anyone when he gets the service. Crosserlough had no one to handle him in a very open game. I'd imagine the championship game mightn't be as open. With a cup in the bag, Patrick Lynch to come back and McVeety to improve the Lough should be very happy going into championship. Still question marks over them in their tenancy to let teams back into it but they are still formidable opponents. First round game very important now for both teams. No matter who you are you lose the first one you're under pressure straight away and sweating on the draw a bit.   

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Cavan / Re: Official Cavan GAA Thread

« on: July 27, 2022, 01:24:34 AM »

Mullahoran Division 2 champions via penalty shootout and Templeport win Division 3.

Big game in Crosskeys Sunday, a precursor for the first round of the championship.

Should make for a great game. Both teams you'd imagine will be pretty much full strength and looking to make waves later on in year. No better way to start a campaign than picking up a bit of silverware. Nice crowd should be expected and make for a cosy atmosphere.

Championship first rounds for next month
Bridge v Laragh
Xlough v Gaels
Lavey v Lacken
Mullahoran v Ballinagh
Gowna v Killygarry
Kingscourt v Ramor

Some tidy match ups in there.

11

GAA Discussion / Re: Pat Spillane to leave Sunday Game role after 30 years

« on: July 21, 2022, 12:35:18 AM »

Spillane was a Sunday World sort of analyst. There wasn't a lot of content but there was always plenty of noise. And he was a Kerry chauvinist who found the 6 in a row extremely hard to swallow, especially when his Kerry team lost the title of greatest team of all time. Ochon is ochon o.

If any of the best Ulster teams from the 1950s onwards only had to beat Cork to get to an AISF they could easily have done 4 in a row as well. Pat’s Kerry team were good but they only had to play 3 matches against actual football teams to win Sam in any year.

I've heard a lot about how the Kerry team of the 70s wouldn't have won as many All- Irelands if they had to come out of Ulster but these were some of Kerry's results in the semis:

76: Beat Derry 5-14 to 1-10
79: Beat Monaghan 5-14 to 0-7
82: Beat Armagh 3-15 to 1-12

And this was against the best team in Ulster. Do you think the games against the lesser teams in Ulster would be any different?

If Kerry had an extra couple of games v the likes of Longford or Fermanagh would having played 5 games really be much more of an achievement than playing 3 games where the 3 games were against the 3 best teams?

Also, I believe it was only 1 year that Kerry played 3 games, but you'd swear it was every year of the 70s and 80s the way that people go on about it.

I doubt playing a few extra games against Ulster teams would have done them much harm. Likewise it would have done Ulster teams a world of good too.

There was a lack of exposure for Ulster football back then and it shouldn't be understated what a big deal it was to get out of your province and have your big day in Croker in front of the cameras. It really was alien territory and the cut throat nature of Ulster football meant you didn't become too accustomed to it. I think when BBC started their championship programme it helped teams be less daunted by the "glitz" when heading down South.

Yes Kerry were still the superior team in those semi-finals but how much was the margin of victory a result of the gulf in class or stage fright for the interloper.

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Cavan / Re: Official Cavan GAA Thread

« on: July 18, 2022, 12:53:13 AM »

Crosserlough v Gaels final. Should be a good indication of championship form. Mullahoran v Arva div 2. Div 3 Templeport v Drumalee. 

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Cavan / Re: Official Cavan GAA Thread

« on: July 16, 2022, 01:21:09 AM »

 There's a serious rebuilding job coming up one way or another. Whether this management is up to the task is a big if. 4 years in and we barely have subs. If we're really honest, when it comes to the crunch, they don't trust our bench and use it very sparingly. Westside mentioned game management mode, getting your nose in front and containing the game. It's Division 4! If you're afraid to try something different here then you can forget about championship.
 I think we've stagnated on the squad front and lost a few years. Management's hand will most likely be forced due to retirements. But I'd also worry some of the younger lads may be getting fed up with the huge inputs but lack of opportunity. If they are to turn this around a big shift in philosophy is required.   

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Cavan / Re: Official Cavan GAA Thread

« on: July 14, 2022, 01:09:53 PM »

 Very disappointing last Saturday. Westmeath had us well sussed out and got their matchups spot on. Much the more positive team in their approach to game and how they moved the ball. We on the other hand reverted to type- slow, unadventurous, risk adverse. Very casual in defense. In saying that we were in a good position before Galligan's brain fart as you'd expect at this level but very disappointing to see how we managed the game after that. Having no reliable free taker compounded matters of course but once again when it was put up to us our limitations were exposed. We didn't score for effectively the last 20mins and failed to make a sub after the red card for what was at least 10 minutes. Then we changed Moynagh for Fortune, which didn't really address the issues. Brought on 2 corner forwards for injury time and lumped a few balls in. Might have worked but in truth we didn't deserve any bit of luck that may have came.

 Don't know what to say really or where to from here. Graham has given us some great days out and can have a bit of a flair for the big occasion and getting the matchups right, but equally when plan A falls flat there hasn't been anything I can see in the way of backup. I felt last year management weren't capable of developing the squad forward. 12 months on, and with a reshuffle and more autonomy on his part, I can't say I've changed my mind despite a few green shoots. 
 If he stays or if we get someone in, and that's another gamble, I'd like to see some fresh blood in this team and a fire lit under it. We've lost our verve. Players who once made things happen have either left the panel, are injured or just playing it safe. And we need 20 lads up to speed and we need management to make the changes when needed, regardless of their name. If you don't perform your position should not be safe.
 I ask myself what changes I would have made last weekend and in truth I haven't a clue. For the first time ever following Cavan I can't answer. We've seen so little of anyone else in any meaningful scenario. Team picks itself and has done for a long time. All the while failing badly in Division 3 and flapping in Division 4. I hope that at least dispels the nonsense that league doesn't matter.

 

15

General discussion / Re: Boxing Thread

« on: July 06, 2022, 12:20:59 AM »

Anyone watch "The Kings", 4 part documentary on Duran, Hearns, Hagler and Leonard. Thoroughly enjoyable watch. Duran some man for one man.