Messages

'82 for me. Gerry Armstrong, Falcao's celebration after scoring in their classic loss against Italy, the semi between W Germany and France (and Schumacher the ****!), Maradona getting kicked off the field by the Italians, then sealing a disappointing first WC by getting the line against Brazil (setting him up for the ultimate triumph four years later).

All this for me. I remember watching Gerry Armstrong scoring on my great aunts house in Castlefinn.

When they showed the replay all the older ladies celebrated again. 🙂

The muffled commentary at 82 and older World Cups gave a real sense of a far off land the you just don't get anymore. Also, as stated, far too many countries in it these days.

82 my first memory, but still have a clear memory of Manuel Negrete scoring a clinker for Mexico in 86.

India v Pakistan always worth a watch, 90K attendance, great rivalry. Demoralising last ball defeat for Pakistan. Great game

Incredible game. Last over was bonkers.

Started 'The Old Man' with Jeff Bridges. Looks promising.

Loved the first episode.

Turned it off for good by the 3rd.

Geezus the first 20 mins was dour, slow and depressing. I turned it off then!

Tweet deleted. What was the gist

Said hope the culprits are caught with no evidence for their being 'culprits'.

I think there are Ukrainians staying close by so not sure if there were insinuations.

Anyone been to Cologne and recommend a hotel?

I live about 1 mile from Balix just outside our parish.

Anything I can help with?

Does the townland have 2 ends ?

Not sure what you mean. This is the map for Balix Lower. Balix upper borders it to the south.

https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/strabane-lower/donaghedy/stranagalwilly/balix-lower/

I live about 1 mile from Balix just outside our parish.

Anything I can help with?

[starting]

Onto schools football for a moment, what the heck in going on at St. Pat's College**, Dungannon ? I was looking at the gradings/sections for the U19 & U16.5 Ulster football competitions for the coming academic year and with seven different grades of competition at U16.5 I thought it was bad enough with Sacred Heart Omagh playing in the "F" grade but then I noticed SPCD entering in the "G" grade! Something must be seriously wrong at a Catholic co-ed secondary school of about 800 students in an area where Gaelic football is very popular for them having to resort to entering at the lowest grade, the school that Art McRory once helped blood a lot of future club & county footballers through in the past (if I'm not mistaken)? In their same section is Drumragh Integrated and St. John's Dromore, the latter being the smallest post-primary school in Tyrone.

I wonder if it's time for the Tyrone County Board to look at offering a helping hand at both St. Pat's College and Sacred Heart Omagh, because with the amount of students at both places (even allowing for the "town" factor for each) they really should be ideally competing at higher grades than what they are right now, should be "C" or "D" at least?



** (note - not the Academy next door!)

Can never understand why there was never an investigation of similar ilk to Holy Cross Collage. One of the biggest schools in the North.

I've a nephew in HCC and he said it's just a soccer school similar to St Columb's in Derry. Apparently a few members of staff are really pushing GAA the past few years but nephew will be gone before anything happens from that.

Logically you couldn't expect much from them when you see the clubs surrounding them in the lower divisions of Tyrone football. Strabane didn't field a minor team for games this year! I'm not sure if they take children from Doengal but the likes of Lifford and Castlefin aren't big GAA areas either.

In fairness there is one or two teachers starting to push it and credit to them.

However re the surrounding clubs argument. I can understand why people say that. However there has to be systems and structures put in place at the school in tandem with the Clubs that starts to move things in the right direction. There has been plenty of years where the year groups have been made up of underage teams that were mostly grade one and grade two and there was no structured corresponding year group from what I know, hear and see. Reports of teams being told about the first training session the day before the game etc.

At the very least you've had decent year groups playing and losing in very low level schools competition.

The culture of GAA in North Tyrone is not as strong as the rest of Tyrone, and that's owned by the Clubs, and schools of the area, but the TCB, I would've thought would have a vested interest in helping improve that.

Agreed. Has the decrease in School resources/budgets had an affect over the last 12 years too though?

Soccer is obviously a more popular sport in that school but how successful have HCC soccer teams been over the last decade? Have they won anything notable? Omagh CBS won a soccer title last school year along with a few GAA titles. I'm not convinced it's just a lack of focus on GAA that's the issue.

More likely a lack of resources across all sports in Schools - especially those without the pedigree of performing at highest level of Ulster Schools.

Regularly get to the latter stages of the NI Schools Cup.

Won the schools Cup at least twice in the last ten years.

[starting]

Onto schools football for a moment, what the heck in going on at St. Pat's College**, Dungannon ? I was looking at the gradings/sections for the U19 & U16.5 Ulster football competitions for the coming academic year and with seven different grades of competition at U16.5 I thought it was bad enough with Sacred Heart Omagh playing in the "F" grade but then I noticed SPCD entering in the "G" grade! Something must be seriously wrong at a Catholic co-ed secondary school of about 800 students in an area where Gaelic football is very popular for them having to resort to entering at the lowest grade, the school that Art McRory once helped blood a lot of future club & county footballers through in the past (if I'm not mistaken)? In their same section is Drumragh Integrated and St. John's Dromore, the latter being the smallest post-primary school in Tyrone.

I wonder if it's time for the Tyrone County Board to look at offering a helping hand at both St. Pat's College and Sacred Heart Omagh, because with the amount of students at both places (even allowing for the "town" factor for each) they really should be ideally competing at higher grades than what they are right now, should be "C" or "D" at least?



** (note - not the Academy next door!)

Can never understand why there was never an investigation of similar ilk to Holy Cross Collage. One of the biggest schools in the North.

I've a nephew in HCC and he said it's just a soccer school similar to St Columb's in Derry. Apparently a few members of staff are really pushing GAA the past few years but nephew will be gone before anything happens from that.

Logically you couldn't expect much from them when you see the clubs surrounding them in the lower divisions of Tyrone football. Strabane didn't field a minor team for games this year! I'm not sure if they take children from Doengal but the likes of Lifford and Castlefin aren't big GAA areas either.

In fairness there is one or two teachers starting to push it and credit to them.

However re the surrounding clubs argument. I can understand why people say that. However there has to be systems and structures put in place at the school in tandem with the Clubs that starts to move things in the right direction. There has been plenty of years where the year groups have been made up of underage teams that were mostly grade one and grade two and there was no structured corresponding year group from what I know, hear and see. Reports of teams being told about the first training session the day before the game etc.

At the very least you've had decent year groups playing and losing in very low level schools competition.

The culture of GAA in North Tyrone is not as strong as the rest of Tyrone, and that's owned by the Clubs, and schools of the area, but the TCB, I would've thought would have a vested interest in helping improve that.

Onto schools football for a moment, what the heck in going on at St. Pat's College**, Dungannon ? I was looking at the gradings/sections for the U19 & U16.5 Ulster football competitions for the coming academic year and with seven different grades of competition at U16.5 I thought it was bad enough with Sacred Heart Omagh playing in the "F" grade but then I noticed SPCD entering in the "G" grade! Something must be seriously wrong at a Catholic co-ed secondary school of about 800 students in an area where Gaelic football is very popular for them having to resort to entering at the lowest grade, the school that Art McRory once helped blood a lot of future club & county footballers through in the past (if I'm not mistaken)? In their same section is Drumragh Integrated and St. John's Dromore, the latter being the smallest post-primary school in Tyrone.

I wonder if it's time for the Tyrone County Board to look at offering a helping hand at both St. Pat's College and Sacred Heart Omagh, because with the amount of students at both places (even allowing for the "town" factor for each) they really should be ideally competing at higher grades than what they are right now, should be "C" or "D" at least?



** (note - not the Academy next door!)

Can never understand why there was never an investigation of similar ilk to Holy Cross Collage. One of the biggest schools in the North.

[Sat 8th Oct 22]

Sat 8th Oct 22

Clonoe v Donaghmore
Edendork 1:00 PM

Carrickmore v Loughmacrory
Pomeroy 3:45 PM

Sun 9th Oct 22

Omagh v Dromore
Loughmacrory 1:00 PM

Errigal Ciaran v Dungannon
Carrickmore 3:45 PM

No double headers to get as much money as possible?

Or there will be 4 x double headers with 4 x semi finals from Intermediate and Junior?

Gents- PC not booting up. I get to this screen and the only option that works is the option to go to firmware settings but not sure what to do after that.

There is no noise from the hard drive which is a worry. Tbh if I got the hard drive on to a caddy and got some files off it I'd be happy enough as it's an old PC.

https://ibb.co/KXqJrDp

Bump to see if any of the experts in here can help?

Gents- PC not booting up. I get to this screen and the only option that works is the option to go to firmware settings but not sure what to do after that.

There is no noise from the hard drive which is a worry. Tbh if I got the hard drive on to a caddy and got some files off it I'd be happy enough as it's an old PC.

https://ibb.co/KXqJrDp

[15. McShane]

McKenna gone. McShane struggling for form. M Donnelly best years behind him. No Bradley, no Brennan, no Donaghy, no O'Neill.

You have to be honest and say it will take one hell of a job by Logan and Dooher to keep Tyrone in Division one next year.

Dooher and logan need some time to rebuild. 2021 was not consistent with where we actually are. Few of the established players are in the final years of their career and it will take time for new players to put their mark.

Too much being put into brennan, o'neill and Bradley leaving. All 3 of them hardly played in 2021 and even in 2020 they didn't feature much.

Bring in a few of the u21 and let them get some game time.

If we stay in Division 1 next year and reach a ulster final I would say it would be a success.

10. Meyler
11. Canavan
12. Canavan
13. Dazzler
14. Donnelly
15. McShane

GLOT

Big year for him. Needs to deliver on his promise.

What is this promise? Came back after a horrific injury that he was lucky to get back playing at any level to score a goal in the semi and final in last years great year. Struggled for form this year but we could say that about 80% of team. Tyrone fans are getting more and more fickle when it comes to players - mickey O'Neill, McKenna, McShane to name a few!

McShane got a huge package to stay. The injury was 2 years ago. 2021 we saw glimpses. 2022 was non existance same for alot of player Let's put it simply he needs to warrant that package.

I don't believe it's fickle at all. Some players got a lot handed to them and tyrone bent over backwards to help them. You either are fully committed or not at all in my opinion.

What makes your think he is not fully committed?

Is the fact that he has returned from a serious injury to get an All Star nomination, score in an AI semi final and final, not a good indicator of his commitment?

His commitment can't be questioned.

Stewartstown's 2-22 to 1-19 win over Aghaloo means that it's their Division 3 league title to lose now, one point ahead of Strabane & three points ahead of Aghaloo with three rounds to play with the head-to-head against both. Also, Glenelly's 0-12 to 0-11 win over Drumragh is a big boost to them in looking to secure a promotion play-off spot.

Good win for us today to stay in front but there's a couple of away games that aren't certainties due to the local derby nature of them, and Derrytresk in particular has always been a difficult place to go for us. And you only have to look at Aghyaran blowing the Division 2 league title last season to know that you can't take anything for granted. Having said that I'd rather be in our position than Strabane or Aghaloo this evening.

Stewartstown's last three league games are against Killyman, Derrytresk & Brocagh - even allowing for derby atmospheres, that's three clubs that have nothing to play for other than pride right now in the league. Funnily enough Strabane's last three league games are against the same three clubs, just in a different order. If Stewartstown succumb to a loss against any of those three having remained unbeaten so far, I'll be shocked.

Coalisland thirds have pulled out of Division 3, they've handed walkovers to all remaining opponents. Still down to play Drumquin in the 1st Round of the JFC.

Hopefully thats an end to thia nonsense. County board need to have a serious think when allowing these teams to make a joke of the junior league.

Maybe Coalisland will try and regroup their efforts to field a third string for 2023 but it looks like that ain't gonna happen. I'm repeating myself here, but to field a thirds team in the Tyrone ACFL then you need a seriously deep & committed panel of players locally to be competitive. Errigal Ciaran are the only club so far to have made it work. Carrickmore failed to do so, it's almost certain Coalisland will meet the same fate here while time will tell with Donaghmore. As it is, if your club has a surplus of players who'd like to field a competitive third team then they presently need to know what they're letting themselves in for - if they're essentially a drinking team with a football problem then they'll end up getting massacred. Perhaps the county board should be sounding out to the bigger clubs as to wherever some sort of third-team competition should be organised for players who'd rather play more recreationaly in a tournament etc. at their level rather than needing to commit to playing in the ACFL?

When you see the squad size Donaghmore have had at underage the last few years, there is probably a chance that they can sustain a decent 3rds team.

By the way, good to see you posting regularly again Fionntamhnach, on here. Always good discussion points, and information from yourself.