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The poles are a bit obtrusive - you'd think that in 2009 it would be standard design to have a cantilevered roof (not that I have any idea about designing stands or anything else!).
I was told by someone working underneath the stand that the facilities are very impressive - large dressing rooms and huge warm-up areas. It also has rooms for the match officials, and will house the county board offices. So maybe that's why it's such a large stand. If they built a 7.5k capacity stand, they probably wouldn't have been able to fit all those facilities in.

But the seats really annoyed me when I saw them! How hard would it have been to put in green and red seats - or at least spell out MAIGH EO on them! It's not a massive deal, but it's something you'd think would have been done without a second thought.

The media tower is going to be modified as far as I know - reduced in height and have a different finish on it so it doesn't look like a military installation! But that saga will prob go on for a while. The whole plannig this was handled terribly - by the county board and by the designers. But it's also worth pointing out there are two Castlebar councillors who have no fondness for the GAA and are loving this...

Not a song, but Barney McKenna's a genius with the banjo. This is him accompanied by Eamonn Campbell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiOWd7ArmWQ

Insert Quote
The man due to be questioned about the crash which claimed the life of one garda and badly injured another had been banned from driving for 15 years and should have been in prison.

Martin McDermott of Raphoe had 79 previous convictions and is expected to be questioned by gardai on his release from hospital

Garda Gary McLoughlin who was killed when his patrol car was stuck by another vehicle close to burt in the early hours of Sunday morning will be laid to rest in his native Leitrim later.

Fcking pr*ck - should have been locked up long ago if he had 79 previous convictions! Revolving door justice system shown up again for the disgrace that it is. 

any word on latest trial match. Hearing good reports about james burke - ex-Ardnaree man

That's the lad that plays for Ballymun Kickhams isn't it?
Good to hear he's getting a trial - there was talk (not sure if it was on this board) that the Dubs were considering trying to get him to join their panel

Usually go into town to meet the friends on Christmas eve - everyone's always in great form, best few pints of the year I'd say!
All the family are home before midnight (half-cut or fully cut) and then we start opening the presents - this is a recent enough thing, used to always leave it til the morning but we've been opening them just after midnight for the last few years. Drunken present opening and reactions way better than sober! 
On Christmas Day, the cousins arrive for the big dinner, and either myself or Dad usually end up making the Irish Coffees after the dinner. Ends in a sing song most years, and depending how much people have had to drink, the cousins might stay over.
This year, Dad is 60 on St Stephen's Day, so it's going to a tough few days on the system!!

This has little to do with football or hurling.
It should really be moved to the Non-GAA section (or the Ulster Squabbling section  )

I know its says that its the first of two trial games BUT...

No new talent in Ballina -
They have 4 players already involved in the 2009 Senior panel

No new talent in Ballintubber -
Even though we are

    * Division 1B champions - winning 10 games from 10
    * Senior 1/4 finalists 2 years running - drawing with last years champions
    * 2 in a row U21A County Champions '08 & '09


1 from Charlestown? (Even though they are Connacht club finalists - Where is Richie Haran btw?)

5 from Garrymore (Even though they dont get out of their championship group this year or last year and finish mid table in 1B)

5 from Castlebar (Even though they won... no wait...    - Where is Kirby or is he a bit young?)

Yeah, it does seem a bit ridiculous that 3 Castlebar U21s were called to the trial, yet none were called from the team that beat them in the final that day.
I'm just hoping that O'Mahony is planning to call a different panel of 35 for the second trial match, and that the teams omitted last weekend receive call-ups proportional to their recent records.

Interesting piece in The Mayo News giving the list of players who took part in a trial game on Saturday.
Some very promising young players, and a few who are over U21 but have earned their chance.
Looks like this put's the McD rumour to bed as well....

MAYO manager John O'Mahony ran the rule over 35 footballers who were not part of the county senior squad last season at a trial match last Saturday morning in Castlebar.
The likes of Ballaghaderreen's James Kilcullen, Shrule/Glencorrib's Kevin Walsh, Castlebar's Alan and Richie Feeney, Garrymore's Jimmy Killeen, and Westport's Damien Keane were all given an opportunity to impress the Mayo boss ahead of the start of the FBD League next month.
The Mayo senior and U-21 management teams were both in attendance for the first of two trial games to take place this month between senior and U-21 hopefuls.
Under GAA regulations on winter training, two trial games can take place involving players who were not part of the 2009 squad.
The following is a list of those who took part last weekend: Michael Schlingermann (Kiltimagh), Robert Hennelly (Breaffy), David Gavin (Breaffy), Shane McHale (Knockmore), Pat Mulchrone (Burrishoole), Liam Feeley (Claremorris), Jason Healy (Kiltane) Shane Nally (Garrymore), Alan Feeney (Castlebar), Kevin Keane (Westport), David Kilkenny (Aghamore), Richie Feeney (Castlebar), Lee Keegan (Westport), Eoin Hughes (The Neale), James McAndrew (Cill Chomáin), James Kilcullen (Ballaghaderreen), Alan Freeman (Aghamore), Michael Gallagher (Achill), Cathal Carolan (Crossmolina), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole), Conor Keane (Ballinrobe), Chris Walsh (Ardnaree), Andrew Farrell (Killala), Damien Keane (Westport), Enda McManamon (Burrishoole), Jimmy Killeen (Garrymore), Kevin Walsh (Shrule/Glencorrib), Enda Varley (Garrymore), Paul Doherty (Kilmaine), Cormac Healy (Moy Davitts), Michael Walsh (Ardnaree), Sean Morris (Charlestown), David Dolan (Garrymore), Caolan Crowe (Garrymore) and Alex Quinn (Killala).
A number of other players were injured, involved in club fixtures or unavailable.  They included: Neil Douglas, Aidan Walsh and Ger McDonagh (Castlebar), James Burke (Ballymun Kickhams), Gerry Higgins (Knockmore), James Mulderrig (Moy Davitts), Marcus Hannick (Killala), Alan Egan (Bonniconlon) and Cathal Freeman (Aghamore).
A panel of players for the forthcoming FBD league will be announced early in the New Year. 
Mayo begin their Connacht League campaign with a home game against NUI, Galway on Sunday, January 10. They will also play Sligo IT and Roscommon.

Was in 2nd year in college in Limerick - used to hate the fact that our exams were a week or so after we came from Christmas!
Was probably about a stone and a half heavier than I am now, apart from that I'm pretty much the same as I was then.

Quote from: Barney on Today at 02:09:56 PM
Anybody know anything about the panel training at the moment.

Any trial games? Additions? Omissions?


Heard from a few sources that some Cross player with blonde hair had a stormer at full forward in a recent trial game scoring a fair few points.....i kid you not

I saw something like that on hoganstand but presumed it was shite talk. Where are you getting this from ballinaman?
I'd be very surprised if it turns out to be true, but stranger things have happened.

Quote from: Tubberman on Today at 09:53:57 AM
Quote
Ballintubber 2-6 0-11 Castlebar Mitchels

Good game by all accounts considering the conditions. Nice to win back to back titles. I was looking at the cup and Ballagh were the last to do it in 04 and 05. I think Davitts had a 3 in a row in the 80's which is impressive.

Yeah, I thought it was a very good game considering the conditions.
Mitchels started very well, and Ballintubber had to work very hard to keep them at bay, including a crucial save from Ger Murphy in goal - had Castlebar got a goal at that stage, it would have left a mountain for Ballintubber to climb.
Castlebar had most of the play but the Ballintubber defence were working extremely hard and didn't give away any soft frees for Mitchels. Jason Gibbons was moved from full-forward out to midfield and that helped to even up the midfield battle.
Cillian O'Connor got an absolutely crucial goal that brought us right back into it and a half time scoreline of Mitchels 0-7 Ballintubber 1-1 wasn't a bad position considering Ballintubber would be playing with the strong wind in the second half.
Ballintubber started all guns blazing in the second half, and two spectacular points over the shoulder from Alan Heraty gave Ballintubber the momentum they needed. Pointed frees from Cillian O'Connor had Ballintubber a point up, when a Mitchels kick-out only dropped as far as Alan Heraty who lobbed the goalie for a goal similar to James Horan v Kerry in 96!
It looked like Ballintubber would go on and tack on another few scores, but an injury to Seanie Larkin stopped play and the momentum that was built up was lost. Mitchels came right back into the match and their pressure led to 3 pointed frees from Neil Douglas, but Ballintubber held out for a deserved and famous second U21 A title in a row.
For Ballintubber, the workrate throughout the team was fantastic. I thought Seanie Larkin (before injury), Myles Kelly, Danny and Ray Geraghty and Alan Heraty were the standout players.


Thats a good report Tubberman. I was way to hungover on Sunday to write one 

I thought Cillian O Connor always looked dangerous and Jason Gibbons was causing serious panic when he went to Full Forward in the second half. Keith Coleman that replaced the injured Seanie Larkin played very well for a young lad. He had two blocks and overturned and came out with the ball at vital times.

For Mitchles I thought Kirby did well in the middle. Douglas is a class act and caused all sorts of problems early in the game. Number 10 for Mitchles, Tom King had a good game although he drifted out of it in the 2nd half. I couldnt get over pace of him though! Someone was saying that he had a short professional football contract in England for a while.

Mitchles losing Aidan Walsh probably weakened them a little as he was their freetaker. That said, Douglas had a fine day kicking frees so I dont know how much of a loss Walsh was.

Cillians goal was crucial and that save by Ger Murphy kept us in it. I felt going in at half time that we could shade it when we had the wind in the second half.

Some drink afterwards... im still not right!

I went to make an attempt at a post yesterday but had to admit defeat - hadn't the energy for it! 
Was grand this morning when I posted, but going downhill rapid as the day goes on....

Yeah, Jason Gibbons was causing havoc when the quick high ball was sent in to him in the second half. Keith Coleman came out with the ball from the middle of a crowd of players near the end - I dunno how he managed to get the ball, all I could see was bodies, but it was vital - a loose ball could easily end up in the net in a situation like that.
Douglas was class for Mitchels, always looked dangerous - thankfully he was mainly confined to scoring from frees.

Ballintubber 2-6 0-11 Castlebar Mitchels

Good game by all accounts considering the conditions. Nice to win back to back titles. I was looking at the cup and Ballagh were the last to do it in 04 and 05. I think Davitts had a 3 in a row in the 80's which is impressive.

Yeah, I thought it was a very good game considering the conditions.
Mitchels started very well, and Ballintubber had to work very hard to keep them at bay, including a crucial save from Ger Murphy in goal - had Castlebar got a goal at that stage, it would have left a mountain for Ballintubber to climb.
Castlebar had most of the play but the Ballintubber defence were working extremely hard and didn't give away any soft frees for Mitchels. Jason Gibbons was moved from full-forward out to midfield and that helped to even up the midfield battle.
Cillian O'Connor got an absolutely crucial goal that brought us right back into it and a half time scoreline of Mitchels 0-7 Ballintubber 1-1 wasn't a bad position considering Ballintubber would be playing with the strong wind in the second half.
Ballintubber started all guns blazing in the second half, and two spectacular points over the shoulder from Alan Heraty gave Ballintubber the momentum they needed. Pointed frees from Cillian O'Connor had Ballintubber a point up, when a Mitchels kick-out only dropped as far as Alan Heraty who lobbed the goalie for a goal similar to James Horan v Kerry in 96!
It looked like Ballintubber would go on and tack on another few scores, but an injury to Seanie Larkin stopped play and the momentum that was built up was lost. Mitchels came right back into the match and their pressure led to 3 pointed frees from Neil Douglas, but Ballintubber held out for a deserved and famous second U21 A title in a row.
For Ballintubber, the workrate throughout the team was fantastic. I thought Seanie Larkin (before injury), Myles Kelly, Danny and Ray Geraghty and Alan Heraty were the standout players.

Well this isn't good news. 
Still, at least the decision is a year away.

Article take from hoganstand.com

O'Shea offered AFL contract
04 December 2009
Mayo's Aidan O'Shea has been offered an international rookie contract by Aussie Rules club Western Bulldogs.

However, the 19-year-old Breaffy clubman won't be signing any deal until this time next year at the earliest, which means he will be available to Mayo next year.

O'Shea, who came to prominence during Mayo's run to last year's All-Ireland minor final and has since established himself as a regular in John O'Mahony's senior team, has spent the past fortnight on trial with the Bulldogs.

Before flying out to Melbourne, he had given John O'Mahony his word that he would be available for selection in 2010.

Bulldogs' head coach Rodney Eade said that the club would be monitoring O'Shea through sports agent Ricky Nixon and his Ireland-based talent-scouting team. The club will also endeavour to send a member of the coaching staff to the country to check on his progress before inviting him to return to Whitten Oval next year.

"He's a bit more of a power forward than a running-type player. He's got good agility and he's a good competitor with good hands," Eade said.

O Shea is going to sign next year by all accounts.

Which O'Shea are you talking about? Mayo or Kerry?