Messages

Time to restructure the leagues. remove play offs, top two up or final in division 1 and bottom 2 down. 7 games with county players worth 4/5 points and 7 without worth 2 points. Clubs like pomeroy and trillick will be able to regain points potentially lost without county men and serious incentive for clubs to win with 5 points on offer. championship not played until leagues are finished. possibly in an attempt to save reserve football they could play in their own league separate to their senior team.

As regards to clubs not agreeing to change games. This what happens when the county board don't take charge and make poor decisions. In our case there were several variables in relation to the fixture holy communion, a wedding and relations looking to attend u17 game. Again had the county board taken a decision with club players at the heart of it and kept the games as fixed the backlash would have been minimal.

The crux is over 1000 players have their game changed due to an underage game involving max 40 people. People connected to players and back room staff would have had everyone's understanding if they missed supporting their club for one game to attend the county game I'm sure.

Could well have been complaints if the day had been changed. IMO the county board chose the worst option, showing the least amount of respect to clubs and club players.

Club players treated poorly once again. County board could have

1. Moved the games to the Saturday evening. Bear in the mind any player playing u17s is ineligible to play reserve or senior club football.

2. Simply left the games as fixed and issued an explanation that they couldn't possibly inconvenience over a 1000 club players and anyone with a connection to the u17 panel would have to miss a club league game.

Does absolutely nothing to help with the present narrative that playing for your club is too much commitment.

So much for anonymity. I must have been very obvious.

Will league be pushed back if Tyrone make league final?

I would be 99% sure those pairings won't happen. The first round will always throw up a shock in intermediate. Still no fixtures? Club players left hanging again in regards to being able to plan any semblance of a summer.

Gortin would have more issues with numbers than loughmacrory. Lough have a good young squad, could definitely push on. Lough must have one of the biggest underage membership in the county atm. Always big numbers at multi sport and summer camps.

Div 1 championship will again be extremely competitive even if the quality imo has subsided over the last year or two. Errigal, Trillick, Omagh and Coalisland are all in with a great chance Clonoe will take time to rebuild, Dromore are a total enigma regarding champo this last few years a change in management combined with U21 success may be the catalyst they require, Kyc are very systematic and hard to beat, a heavy inter county season won't help their chances. League will again be top half comfortable and bottom half fighting for survival.

Div 2 is an absolute mind field. Would love to know stats on average points difference between top 4 and bottom 4 over the last 10 years. One team rarely totally dominates this division and teams coming down have to be really tuned in or they can be easily caught out. Pomeroy and Galbally both have the potential to do very well but whether or not they can achieve that potential is another question.Aghyarn have a great tradition and will win nearly all home games. Loughmacrory have a good young squad who will have another years experience. Stewarstown have a potentially good squad of the back of a few u21 teams. Augher and Gortin both are well organised and competitive teams, probably both struggling with low numbers. Owen Roes will be looking to push on after a very solid first season. All three Div three teams will take great motivation from last years promoted teams. Urney will have a few younger lads around this summer, if Johnny Lafferty is available they will be a handful. Strabane have a very young squad with a decent sprinkling of talent. Would not like to be making predictions for this division.

Div 3 if Kildress get themselves sorted under new management they should manage to get promoted. Although an extremely competitive top half with eskra,rock, derrytresk and aghaloo all in with a great chance.

Cathal Mc Anenly is managing Gortin.

I've played in it many times myself. I think the furthest journey we had was to newry. Always decent craic on a spin to games. The fee is minimal and a club wouldnt be long running up a bigger bill paying refs and possibly booking pitches for half way venues etc. In terms of focusing on conditioning and fitness a good manager would have their team putting in the work despite games as it is only a pre season comp. Games are key to fitness anyway.

All ulster league groups and fixtures up on ulster GAA websites. Strabane , Mooretown and Gortin are all in different groups in the intermediate section. Always surprised at how few clubs use this comp. officially organised and refereed games readily available without the hassle of ringing around looking challenge games and organising a referee etc.

i don't think it is up officially yet. Just heard chat that the format has been altered to allow all teams a knockout game. I'm assuming top 2 in each group go forward and possibly a shield or secondary knockout stage for bottom 2 in each group. I could be wrong.

I notice Louth have adopted the Kerry model regarding an All County championship with intermediate and junior teams combining. It was discussed on joe.ie gas hour at length. It will be interesting to see how it works out.

Has anyone a definitive list of clubs and managers at this stage? Are many Tyrone clubs entering the Ulster league? I see the format has been rejigged to guarantee all teams at least 4 games.

Are many clubs out training yet? Considering the length of the season and falling playing numbers February would be time enough to get to the pitch. Still leaves a full 8 weeks plus for pre season and challenge games. Division 2 will be a tougher task this year with the addition of Pomeroy, Galbally and Aghyarn. All will be expecting a quick return to senior football especially the two neighbours who have relatively young squads with a good sprinkling of talent.