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The Ulster Championship proper hasn't even begun and Throne are gone. Summer will arrive in 4 weeks and hopefully Donegal will join them in the qualifiers.

Can't see anything other than a very comfortable win over a struggling Louth team on Saturday night at the Athletic Grounds. Onwards and upwards to Division 2.

A new theory could answer the question of how life began – and throw out the need for God.

A writer on the website of Richard Dawkins' foundation says that the theory has put God "on the ropes" and has "terrified" Christians.

It proposes that life did not emerge by accident or luck from a primordial soup and a bolt of lightning. Instead, life itself came about by necessity – it follows from the laws of nature and is as inevitable as rocks rolling downhill.

The problem for scientists attempting to understand how life began is understanding how living beings – which tend to be far better at taking energy from the environment and dissipating it as heat – could come about from non-living ones.

But a new theory, proposed by a researcher at MIT and first reported in Quanta Magazine, proposes that when a group of atoms is exposed for a long time to a source of energy, it will restructure itself to dissipate more energy. The emergence of life might not be the luck of atoms arranging themselves in the right way, it says, but an inevitable event if the conditions are correct.

"You start with a random clump of atoms, and if you shine light on it for long enough, it should not be so surprising that you get a plant," England said.

Paul Rosenberg, writing this week on Richard Dawkins' site, said that the theory could make things "a whole lot worse for creationists".

As Rosenberg notes, the idea that life could have evolved from non-living things is one that has been held for some time, and was described by the pre-Socratic philosophers. But England's theory marks the first time that has been convincingly proposed since Darwin, and is backed by mathematical research and a proposal that can be put to the test.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/new-theory-of-life-could-prove-how-life-began-and-disprove-god-10070114.html

A GAA star is facing a criminal investigation after sending a Tweet urging people to "punch a Jew".

Former Tyrone player Tommy McGuigan has apologised for the Tweet, but the PSNI has confirmed it is investigating the comment as a potential hate crime.

The All-Ireland winner had tweeted: "If you are lucky enough to know or work with a Jew, punch him right on the nose tomorrow."

He has since deleted the Tweet, claiming it was written as a joke and was meant as "nothing serious". The comment was originally posted on July 29 at the height of the Israeli offensive on Gaza.

It was picked up and denounced by Israeli media, with some outlets confusing Gaelic football with soccer. One denounced the Ardboe clubman under the headline: 'Soccer star urges fans to punch Jews'.

Threats

McGuigan said he received threats afterwards.

"I apologise for any offence caused," said the 29-year-old. He said he had been watching news coverage of the death and destruction in Gaza when he sent the Tweet.

"It was meant as a joke. You're sitting watching the news and you're thinking this is not right. I am not in the public eye and it was just a joke to the people I hang around with."

However, the footballer said he accepted that he had caused offence and would take more care in future. McGuigan has faced the wrath of the Jewish media. He said one London-based Jewish columnist requested to speak with him in order to confront him over his comment. "I said it was meant as a joke, nothing serious. He agreed to let it go," he said.

However, the PSNI is now investigating the Tweet.

Two good footballing teams, none of your oul pulling and dragging that you get with Tyrone. Should be a cracker.

Armagh have been hit with the news that Morgan Fuels has decided to severe all commercial links with them and has withdrawn from its sponsorship of the Athletic Grounds.

The announcement comes just a week after Armagh announced Rainbow Communications as their new jersey sponsors, replacing Morgan Fuels who has supported the county for the last 15-years.

In 2010 Morgan became naming right sponsors of the redeveloped Athletic Grounds but there has been a breakdown in the relationship between the company and the Orchard County board in recent times, with the company suspending their financial support.

Commenting on the decision to server commercial links with Armagh GAA, Hugh Morgan, Managing Director, Morgan Fuels said: "Since 1995 Morgan Fuels has contributed a very significant sum to the support and development of Armagh Football and Hurling, a sum that is well in excess of seven-figures.

"In very recent times, however, we have witnessed a serious decline in the atmosphere prevailing at County level matches, reflected in poor results and the souring of key relationships. As the principal sponsor of the County teams and of the Athletic Grounds, we have been in a very difficult position. Not only have we increasingly found ourselves at odds with the County Board over their failure to provide the branding and corporate hospitality benefits that were to be provided as part of our sponsorship agreements, but even more importantly, over their failure to take decisive and strategic action to stem the decline of Armagh Football.

"Earlier this year, I reluctantly came to the conclusion that, not only were the County Board complacent about Morgan Fuel's continued financial support, but they were failing to use the money to invest in the development of the teams. I sought to bring pressure on the Board by asking them to bring forward a strategy that would equip Armagh Football to go forward with confidence and to strive for the success they had achieved previously. I made it clear that unless such a strategy was developed, the financial support of Morgan Fuels could not be guaranteed. I am sorry to say that my request was ignored and, consequently, I had no option but to suspend our financial support. This impasse has continued for the last 6 months and led to the complete breakdown of our relationship with the County Board.

"On Sunday 28th October my brother-in-law died suddenly and on that same day I received by email a letter from the Chairman of the County Board making reference to my bereavement but informing me that new team sponsors were to be announced imminently, proposing that we could continue to pay for the naming rights to the Athletic Grounds and requesting a meeting the following evening (Monday). This was obviously impossible in the circumstances and showed no respect for me or my family. On Monday evening the County Secretary also sent me a letter by email regarding the sponsorship, again with no thought for my personal circumstances

"I wish everyone associated with Armagh GAA every success going forward and hope that the new sponsorship agreements bring appropriate benefits to the companies involved and the County. Until very recently, I have always enjoyed my association with Armagh and have been proud to play a small part in the County's development and success over these last 17 years."

A very strange case, they were unlikely suspects in my opinion, but they have been found not guilty after the prosecution offered no evidence.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18236545

Would anyone have any idea how far it is from the ar park in Newcastle to the summit of Donard. I know its roughly an hour to the Mourne wall and then 20 minutes or so to the summit, but have no idea on the actual distance.

Also if anyone knows any loop walks in the Mournes I'd be glad of any advice, ended up walking back along the main road to Newcastle, which isn't ideal.

A committee of MPs has said it is disappointed at the lack of progress on new measures to tackle fuel fraud in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee said customs officials should work harder to acquire new technology.

This is to prevent red diesel from being sold illegally by paramilitaries and criminal gangs.

The report comes after the committee heard evidence from a series of witnesses at Westminster.

Laurence Robertson, chairman of the committee, said it was "bitterly disappointed at the seemingly slow pace of progress on acquiring effective technologies to tackle fuel crime".

He wants Revenue and Customs officials to acquire the latest "rebated fuel marker technology" as soon as possible, begin a pilot scheme and report back to the committee before the summer.

In the latest report, the committee said it recognised the commitment and effort of individual HMRC officers in the fight against fuel crime in Northern Ireland.

However, Mr Robertson said: "It should make a more concerted effort to eradicate the problem in Northern Ireland, where it is most prevalent".

Northern Ireland is estimated to have lost £70m in tax revenue due to fuel fraud in 2009/10, down from £250m five years ago.

Mr Robertson said only four people had received a custodial sentence in Northern Ireland when convicted in connection with fuel laundering.

"It is a serious crime. It affects the environment, it affects health and there is the tax evasion element as well," he said.

"We want to see sentencing guidelines, robust guidelines.

"There is a tendency to think it is only the tax man who loses out. It isn't, it's schools and hospitals. It isn't a victimless crime."

Sinn Fein councillor for Newry and Mourne Terry Hearty agreed.

"This has a serious cost on local councils and local councils pick up the tab for it," he said.

"In the last year we have paid out between £80,000 and £100,000 to lift some of the residue.

"There's a site at Cullaville that hasn't been touched yet, but it's going to cost in the region of £40,000 to clear away.

"So the rate payers of Newry and Mourne would definitely see it as a serious crime."

Down haven't won in the Athletic Grounds since Methuselah was in short trousers. League form goes out the window, this one is too close to call. Armagh could have done with the Cross boys but yesterdays draw put paid to that. Armagh are fighting for survival in Division1 and won't go down without a fight.
Verdict Armagh.

Can't find a thread for division 1 so thought I'd start one.

Wins for Kerry, Mayo & Down, with Armagh and Cork playing out a draw.