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Brigids are a good team. They beat Corofin well though I didn't see yesterday. Everything you read would suggest that all Glen need to do is turn up. That's a dangerous place to be when you're playing decent opposition. It's different if there's a massive gap but there's not here.

The thing too is St Brigids know how to win an AI,  Glen don't. Going into a final under the radar is a great way to be so they'll be happy with that.

for me this statement is only true if there are players/management involved who have won them before. If it is brand new team with no previous experience of winning AIs then you cant really say it

I think there are a few players involved,  not many I might add but it would be foolish to think that they don't have players who won in 2013 involved in the build up over the next few weeks.

I think Brigids are potentially a dangerous final opposition for Wattys who will have spent the whole year aiming to beat KC but still haven't won anything. Derry teams haven't won this competition for 2 decades. Roscommon is a serious football county and the standard in Connacht is high at the moment.

They have won 2 Ulster titles in a row, think they are doing well enough. Derry have plenty of All Ireland club winners...

There are only 13 counties that have won it, so not winning it in 2 decades is still better than the counties that have not. the Rossies only have won it once so no real pedigree in this, Ulster have won it 13 times and for all the hype about Dublin clubs, Leinster have only 11 titles

And 2 of those were UCD , who presumably had a fair spread of counties in their teams. Cork alone has the same number as Leinster , although none since 2003.

The comment above that Glen "still haven't won anything" is bizarre. They've won back to back Ulster and 3 in a row in Derry. They had never won a Derry senior championship prior to that. I think (open to correction). As if success at club level is only determined by all-Irelands.

Ah come on quoting figures of how many AIs each province has is a real red herring. Ulster clubs have 13 wins but ourselves and Burren have 8 of them,  Cork has 12 titles but Nemo and the Barrs have 10.  Corofin have 5. There are no real standout teams in Leinster, Crokes and St Vincent's have 3 an each but they're well spread out. Kilmacud have a 14 year gap between 1st and 2nd and then another 14 year gap to their 3rd. Money on now to win it in 2037?

The reality is that Glen could win the final but it's absolutely no shoe in. Connacht has a strong club set up and between Corofin and Brigids have won 5 of the last 10 finals.

Brigids are a good team. They beat Corofin well though I didn't see yesterday. Everything you read would suggest that all Glen need to do is turn up. That's a dangerous place to be when you're playing decent opposition. It's different if there's a massive gap but there's not here.

The thing too is St Brigids know how to win an AI,  Glen don't. Going into a final under the radar is a great way to be so they'll be happy with that.

How's all the new year stuff going 1 week in?

Dry January proving easy, or was it broke over the weekend?

Dry January still going good for me. I drink every weekend, so first hurdle passed. A few pangs for it, mild enough. Next weekend will be the tester.

Not a dry January,  just a drier one!  Pint of Guinness yesterday when out for Sunday dinner and that's been that. Heading away this weekend so will have pints but that will be it till the end of the month. 3 runs done in 7 days so that's more important to me!

How that game went ahead is beyond me but what do you do?  I don't think it had a bearing on the outcome. Glen were excellent in the first 40 minutes and held Walsh in particular very well. Their style is very good for this time of year and they are exceptionally well conditioned. What is very telling is how good everyone single player is on the ball. Inevitably Crokes would always come back into it and Mannion was unerring and Walsh showed his calls with the burst and pass for the goal. Big players, big moments. I thought at that point with the momentum behind them they would finish it out but Glen showed a lot of character to get the next score to push them back head after Crokes drew level. It was hard to determine on the TV who played well but Warnock, Glass and McFaul were great leaders at key times.

Crokes are a really good team. People will maybe question them because of the whole Walsh transfer etc but that's been their model for as long as I have known and he is not the first and won't be the last. A second All Ireland would have out them into the 'great team' status so that will be a disappointment I'd say.

On another note congratulations to Cullyhanna in making the final. Not a bad yet for my home parish and hopefully they'll finish it out in the final.

Whiskey drinkers are always arseholes. Waistcoats with jeans and stupid beards. Wear those converse or vans trainers even though they're over 40. 
Sorry, but you all know this to be true.

Bordeaux reds are the best. Californian reds can be lovely as well. Love a nice Chablis. Also like the odd Australian Syrah.

BC1 has a really stupid beard.

Ye wanna see my waistcoat collection....

I have to say I love my drink and live my nights out but I'm trying to go drier for a while. We like heading for afternoon food on a Saturday and then trying to get the last bus home ( that is generally dependent who we fall in with in Maddens!). The thing is though I can take it or leave it. I drink to enjoy it. Generally too we are at live music somewhere so they're not big drinking sessions.

As for favourites definitely Chateauneuf de Pape for red. Like whiskey and gin and picked up a few bottles of Islay single malt in Scotland recently which are deadly and always have a variety of gins,  with Dingle a particular favourite.

Monday night football generally sorts out any weekends as does Sunday rooting about the garden or going for a good run.

LLS was shite and you knew it wasnt filmed live as there more atmosphere at a bloody wake

Was poor alright. Paddy struggles with reading an autocue. 

As for the Tumbling Paddies....Nathan Carters pet project at the minute so they'll go places. Rest of the guests were poor,  the whole influencers tipped it for me too. Jools was streets ahead. All the music,  bar Rod, was fantastic. The Wallopers are really going places, great band and lovely people. Great for Da Town! 

Hard to believe that these shows are recorded weeks ago and no one bats an eyelid on the whole 'live' show charade!!

Missing haaland, Dias and pretty much stones all night the last night. Grealish needs more central too if he's to be played. I'd be surprised if they don't push on. Arsenal faltering already and Liverpool without salah unlikely to do the same damage points wise.

The good thing for LFC is that January there's only 2 PL games that Salah will miss, Bournemouth and Chelsea.  There are 2 League Cup games and FA cup versus Arsenal. He is unlikely to have started these anyway. Egypt will likely qualify for the last 16 at least so he will miss at least 1 more PL game,  but that's against Arsenal. I actually think Endo will be just as big a lose as he is key to how the team is set up. The Asia Cup basically follows the same sequence as the African Nations Cup

[Confidence far exceeds his ability.]

HOW do the Everton defenders not throttle Pickford?!
He jumps around like a lunatic shouting every time any shot is taken, yet along a goal.
Then he forgot his mirror for the 3rd goal so didn't know who to shout at...

A real Beano w**ker. Slicked back hair, sleeve tattoo. Confidence far exceeds his ability.

And also the reach of his arms...

Honestly don't think Nunez is gonna make it at Liverpool, wouldn't be surprised if he is sold in the summer.

I think Gakpo in with a fair chance of starting as false 9 on Saturday with Nunez missing out, just not happening for him at the moment. Would be a big lift coming off the bench against tired legs on Saturday.  Gakpo can also occupy Rice at the base of the Arsenal midfield and hopefully stop his influence.  Would like to see: 

Ali,
Trent, Konate, VVD,Tsimikas
Szobo, Endo, Jones
Salah, Gakpo, Diaz

I reckon that team starts. The options then off the bench are Nunez, Harvey, Jo Go with Trent to MF (which really works when a game opens out), possibly Gravenberch if fit. The thing about Arsenal is that they will come to play football and win the game as opposed to parking the bus. It won't be easy but would be a nice position to be in for Christmas

That's brilliant. Wonder would he fire a few quid at Casement while he's at it lol.

The JP McManus Casement Park...imagine that all over the TV screens during the Euro's.

Some investment and says a lot about the man

I see Arlene and Michelle have been publicly found to have something in common ie a willingness to destroy any records that might show how inept they were in power.

They're a pair of c***ts, on the same level as Boris.

My understanding is that the ministers didn't wipe anything. They handed back the phones when they were no longer service as ministers.
Civil servants then reset them to factory settings.
I can see why they'd do this, but I also beleive that if there was official communications done via Whatsapp or other means then those records should have been retained.
Sounds like a break down in process again.

Yeah, heard Naomi Long on about it this morning and that seems to be the case. Don't think this sits at the door of Arlene or Michelle. Civil service are responsible for this.

Not their fault but the facts never get in the way of a good headline. Bad press that phones where wiped and that's probably all most people will hear.

Would we really want to read Snarlene's (alledged) flirty texts with her chauffeur?

'Oh baby I can't wait for you to drive your big limo up my traditional route!'

All set up for a United win at Anfield on Sunday!!!  Nothing to lose,  pressure off,  all pressure on LFC we table toppers...United will take great pleasure in being party poopers!!

I see Arlene and Michelle have been publicly found to have something in common ie a willingness to destroy any records that might show how inept they were in power.

They're a pair of c***ts, on the same level as Boris.

My understanding is that the ministers didn't wipe anything. They handed back the phones when they were no longer service as ministers.
Civil servants then reset them to factory settings.
I can see why they'd do this, but I also beleive that if there was official communications done via Whatsapp or other means then those records should have been retained.
Sounds like a break down in process again.

Yeah, heard Naomi Long on about it this morning and that seems to be the case. Don't think this sits at the door of Arlene or Michelle. Civil service are responsible for this.