Messages

All you want Over the Bar is a bit of gossip but I thought there was a thing against naming names here. I have no intention of telling you who. What I will say that I am not spoofing. One of my posts mentioned about the new Ardboe manager which was quickly dismissed by a club man because the club meeting hadnt taken place. He later then admitted that it was true. And before you try to guess, it was not the new Ardboe manager.

The point I was making was that because there were so few men willing to take teams then what they were asking was higher than before. Now I am not saying that they should not be paid. If a man were to come into the club to do a bit of painting or plumbing then he would be paid. A manager is no different if there is a willingness to get someone from outside the club. The problem is that there are few good men willing and able that they are able to ask a big price. The going rate from what I know __ yes know not hear__ if anything from £160 –200 per week. Any that is for any of the clubs in any of the divisions. The most worring thing is where a few clubs have started to pay their own clubmen to take the team. I am against that because how can you ask an inside man to take a youth team if someone from inside the club is being paid for an adult team. I know this did happen in the lower divisions last year for 2 clubs, both in the West of the county. I am sure some of the people up that end of the county can verify this.

Seems a lot of clubs in Tyrone are finding it hard to get managers this year. I was talking to a few lads from different clubs and they have said that many of the usual names are not willing to get involved this season. One club in particular has been trying since before Halloween and as yet have not agreed on a new man. They have already got together with a few of the older players taking pre season training.

Part of the problem is that with the changes in the leagues many clubs are looking for an outside man to keep them up for next year. The reality is that there will be more teams relegated this year than any before. This may explain why there are so many outside men taking teams in Tyrone and so many from outside the county. The leagues are to start earlier this year are there are still a large number of teams with no manager appointed. And it is not just the Junior teams, but some of the bigger teams. It also means that some of these men are asking for crazy money. I know our own club was asked for a massive wage by a man that we could not afford. It turned out that he was playing us off against another club, which he has now went to.

Heard that too about McKeown and Killyman and that the Killyman managers -Tony Quinn and one other- from last year are away to Aghaloo
Had heard before Christmas that Tony Collins was approached by Killyclogher as the players wanted rid of McCann. Collins is working in Magherafelt with John McElholm and I had heard that Loughmacrory had also approached him as the players there refused to take John O'Brien for another year.

Heard also that McElholm was taking winter training for Drumragh so he may be intending to go there in the new season.

With the changes in the leagues this year there is so much pressure to do well and clums are looking for the right man to get them up keep them up. Like most years you can see a few early manager exits by the first half of the league.

I'll take it that
Sean MacCumhaill Park is Ballybofey, Fr.Tierney Park is Ballyshannon and O'Donnell Park is Letterkenny

What sort of ground does Letterkenny ahve. Does it have a stand. With bad weather it would be better to cater fro the real supporter who goes out in all weather rather that bringing the games to the town.

Any plans in Donegal for floodlighting and of so where are they intending to put them.

Heard also that Devenney, Cassidy and McFadden are back in the Donegal panel for this year and that Donegal are already training one night a week before Christmas in Castlefin under lights. If those three are back Donegal will be no push over this year. They looked very promising last year but with a bit of bad luck, fall outs, injuries, suspensions they were not able to show their full potential. I would fancy them against Armagh this year. Good to see another team in Ulster with the real potential to go the distance. I think that Armagh will be there or there abouts this year but not the real deal so they may be replaced in the short term by Armagh

frankie was born in Westmeath, so technically he's allowed transfer

I dont think being born in a county gives you a right to play there. I think that you have to live there or be employed there full time. If being born in a county is enough we are screwed in Tyrone because there are no maternity units in the county. Most here are born in Magherafelt, Derry Enniskillen or Belfast

Can anyone update a total list of managers for the various teams in Tyrone?There are so many changes across all divisions.Very hard to keep track of them all.

Any word on any big changes. Heard that McGinn is staying with Dromore for another year and Corrigan is to stay with Carrickmore. Heard recently that Roger Keenan is to 'help' train Ardboe. Dont know if this is just rumour but I think that he cannot take a team on his own because of his job. Ardboe would be a bit out of the way for him but if he works in Belfast all the time it may be OK.


Any word on Errigal. There was some talk from one of the Omagh lads that I know that their managers were being considered by some in the club, but others wanted Canavan to do it, and as of Christmas he had not agreed.

The McCarron from Omagh is a forward. Wee bit surprised that McCarron from Dromore did not make this panel. Maybe he is part of some of the college teams. I see Aidan McCarron is back in the McKenna Cup panel. I thought he did well last year and then was not kept for the League panel. I heard that a big of bad blood developed between him and Harte over his dropping but then he was recalled for the McKenna Cup Final. After that he went to NY and was man of the match in their game against Roscommon in the championship. It will be interesting to see if he makes it this year. We could have done with him last with so few forwards in the panel.

Clubs in Tyrone have already been asked to provide their numbers for tickets for the next meeting. For a match like this the clubs will be the main source of tickets. I know people who bought tickets on the web before Christmas and they were not good ones.

I think it will draw a big crowd. There is the thing about the first floodlit match in Croke and the fact that it is on a Sat night should also draw a crowd. Also the juvenole tickets are £5 to encourage the younger supporters to go

As far as i can remember throw in is at 7 o clock which means it will be over in good time for the pubs. Can see a big weekend in Dublin for the Tyrone supporters

Looks to be a good panel. There will always be soem disagreement but it looks promising when you think that the other college players and the injured players are to be included.At least some of the dead wood of the last few years are gone - the likes of Bradley, Devlin, Brendan Donnelly, the meenans. Its a long time since there was a trillick player on the senior panel

Any word on whether Harte has freshened up the backroom team. I know from talking to some of the players that they were unhappy with the quality of training over the past 2 years. They never felt it was up to county standard and said that they took too long to get fit. The ones i know said that in 2005 it was only through so many games that they eventually got up to championship shape but a few of the older heads dont want a long slog this year. I heard they were asking for some additions to training last year but then things ended earlier than expected. Any word out there of additions to the training staff.

Dont expect too much from the Foundation Award coaching course. In my expereince attending them they are very poor and they depend very much on who is taking them. In Tyrone the likes of Roger Keenan and Raymond Munroe have taken the ones recently and they are not bad. Before this they  were taken by Enda Kilpatrick and Terry McCann. Kilpatrick is OK but McCann is an a**hole who spends his time making fun of people. Generally the courses test what you can do not train you to coach. Any it is well known that you cannot fail the foundation and will not fail the level 1 if you complete your logbook.

Much better are the mid week observation courses that someone else referred to. You go and watch someone else coaching. Over the past few years I have attended those in Cookstown with Tony Scullion, Mickey Loran, Danny Quinn, Monroe, Keenan and they were all very good. They use some of the development  squads and go through a series of drills for different things like the tackle, drillls for fitness, scoring skills, mini games. The drills are suitable for underage or adults. The drills are then put on the ulster gaa website   at
http://ulster.gaa.ie/coaching%20articles/ucCoachingDrills/ucCoachingDrills.html. You can print out the drills

I have found that to be any more useful than the foundation award. The only thing is that some clubs look for the qualifications.

Sorry Ziggy. Did not mean to offend regarding Greencastle. Just jealously since we are finished up for a few weeks. Congratulations and well done. When is the next round? Is there a break now until after Christmas. Oh an by the way I had asked about managers and movement for next year. I dont suppose there is much chance of getting Sean Teague. Only joking!!!!!!!!

Fairly common throughout is the effect of going to college ruining many a great career. Its often ahrd to make the long trak back home to play at the weekend and even harder to train on your own. Im one of those who was a club footballer all my life and trained away and won nothing but enjoyed it none the less. Maybe im just getting too old but the younger boys are not as comitted as before. Too many temptations and more money. Think now that the ages of 15-18 is the time of the greatest drop outs. Hitting the drink at an earlier age is taking its toll. In many clubs bad managing at that age group contributes to the loss. Its hard to balance between allowing for the young lads growing up and trying to keep discipline in the squad.

Its that time of year. The Playoffs are over and the decisions about who plays where are made for another year. The Tyrone Trials are done and the new hopefuls are in training for the McKenna Cup. Errigal are out of the Ulster club and the season of the AGM's are here with us. The Only thing to talk about is 'Who have yous got to manage you next year?

Any big changes on the management front. I see there is another thread about the Managerial Merry Go Round in Cavan. Well whats new in Tyrone. What big name is going where? Who has moved and who has moved on?

I expect Errigal and Carrickmore to hold on to their men. The others im  not sure. This will be a big year with the leagues going to 3 divisions next year. Well whats the news?

Some good stuff on this. I think that a thread on coaching would be a good thing. MAybe many of the posters here are watchers rather than players or coaches. If any posters have a favourite drill for any skill I think that any coaches looking in would value their ideas. I am involved in coaching and feel I use the same drills over again which is boring for the players. Gratful for any help

The talk of Francie not getting a all star is strange. He has a limited amount of football ability. What you get from him every day is everything he has got and some days that is not enough. For a number of years he was protected with Geezer sweeping. He was never exposed as the space in front of his was closed down. When Armagh started to struggle defensively francie suffered. McKeever is a very good centre half but was not a natural sweeper like Geezer. I looked forward to the Kerry game as i thought the contest with Donaghy would be a good one. The truth is that Francie met someone who was stronger in the air and matched his physical strength. The real difference with donaghy was that when he hit the ground with the ball he was a footballer. He had just too much in the locker for Francie. Donaghy had more to offer than height and Francie could not cope. He will still be able to do a job but will have more diffucult days ahead that all star days