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Even this bit doesnt make sense

5.44   
When an Aggressive Foul is committed, the Referee may allow the play to continue if the referee considers that this presents the potential of a goal-scoring opportunity or another advantage to the team offended by creating or capitalising on time and space. The Referee shall signal that advantage by raising an arm upright and shall allow the advantage to run by maintaining that arm in the upright position for up to five seconds after the foul or for less time if it becomes clear that no advantage has accrued. If the referee deems no advantage to have accrued, the Referee may subsequently award a free for the foul from where it occurred, except as provided under Exceptions (v) and (vi) of Rule 2.2

The referee may allow the play to continue if there is a potential for an advantage in the next five seconds but can allow less if no advantage accrues in that lesser time.  What if no advantage accrues after say 3 seconds but one might still occur.  What does the ref do?  The tenses are wrong are they not?

I am even more confused now by the rule than I was when i didnt actually know what it was

Yesterday morning on the Met.ie website the forecast for Sunday had rain the later part of the day. Yesterday evening the forecast for rain was gone, and it predicted dry and sunny, Today the rain is back but a bit earlier and likely to be a problem. The BBC website predicts light showers. Weather forecasting in Ireland is not yet able to predict this far in advance.

Two types of meteorologist in the world. Those who don't know what the weather will be like and those who don't know that they don't know what the weather will be like.

And how is the fouled player to know he has an advantage? eyes in the back of his head?
It's a totally idiotic advantage rule when you can lose the advantage inside 4 seconds.

If a player does happen to notice that he has the advantage, can he stop play and say, 'thanks ref but I want the free kick not the so called advantage'?

No, he has to 'honestly' play on and make the ref call it that no advantage is being gained.

I think a ref would give the free in the case of getting bottled up, as it would be clear no advantage is being gained at the start of the bottling up.

It's where the attacking player overcarries for no ones fault but their own that a foul would be called.

Doesn't sound like a consistent application of the rules. If you give the advantage surely you have to let the 5 seconds play out in case you come out of being bottled up.

Never liked the advantage rule. I think it's trying to be all things to all men and ends up just being farcical

At least it's not in conflict with the rule book that's happened in the past. Again though I think it shows the need for root and branch reform.

It's also a bit of a nonsense to me. Get fouled. Get advantage. Get bottled up by good defending. Lose advantage.

How exactly do you claim the free kick then. Must you shoot or play the ball to an opponent or something?

Also how is a shot at goal (regardless of outcome) not an advantage over say a 21m free?

Also where is the rule on the advantage procedure contained?

During the advantage period of 5 seconds, I thought any technical fouls by the attacking player was a free against them. i.e you can't just stand there or overcarry to claim the free.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice said the ref came back for the advantage after Conroy overcarried in the 1st half.

I thought you could. Otherwise what's the point of the advantage it would actually at times be a disadvantage

No a technical foul during the advantage should result in reversal of the original decision

I thought you simply couldn't benefit from a technical foul during the advantage.  What if a foul occurs after you as you go to solo or toe tap preventing you from toe tapping does the ref signal play on and then immediately change their decision?  Can they not give an advantage in that scenario? 

I have never liked the advantage rule in GAA anyway its like a bad hybrid of the rule in soccer and rugby.

From a neutral perspective I just thought he had a strange game but I did say about the 63rd minute that whoever loses wont be happy with his performance.  That didnt change in the last 12/13 minutes

During the advantage period of 5 seconds, I thought any technical fouls by the attacking player was a free against them. i.e you can't just stand there or overcarry to claim the free.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice said the ref came back for the advantage after Conroy overcarried in the 1st half.

I thought you could. Otherwise what's the point of the advantage it would actually at times be a disadvantage

Gleeson the match winner for Galway.  FT Galway 0-16 Mayo 0-15

Some might argue it was Gough was the match winner. Some strange decisions from him second half. Didn't think he had a great performance

David, regarding the PPS. How many people work there?

So say a case comes to them from the cops. Do a small group of them look at it and decide to prosecute or is it discussed between a big group and an answer is given?

I was just wondering how it works. I hear PPS mentioned a lot but am just wondering how it is behind the scenes.

Not sure of the exact numbers but around 150 - 200 prosecutors and 300 - 350 support staff split across different regions and specialisms. Cases will be effectively triaged to the correct team and level of seniority. Ultimately it's the directing officers responsibility but they will know seek help and assistance from colleagues and superiors if necessary.

David, regarding the PPS. How many people work there?

So say a case comes to them from the cops. Do a small group of them look at it and decide to prosecute or is it discussed between a big group and an answer is given?

I was just wondering how it works. I hear PPS mentioned a lot but am just wondering how it is behind the scenes.

Not sure of the exact numbers but around 150 - 200 prosecutors and 300 - 350 support staff split across different regions and specialisms. Cases will be effectively triaged to the correct team and level of seniority. Ultimately it's the directing officers responsibility but they will know seek help and assistance from colleagues and superiors if necessary.

I have recently seen the police decide cases are not worth pursuing and a waste of public expenditure, but are passed to PPS for endorsement, yet the PPS dig in and proceed with the case.

Do the PPS have graduates who they throw minor cases at for them to gain experience?

Well they recruit lawyers at different levels. Cases would be triaged when they are received and some types of cases will require specialists but generally not really. Prosecutors will get training and won't be able to make their own decision until they complete that thought. But it's not a case that the newbie will get the no licence case or something like that.

Can the PPS back off with the prosecution (eg after 6 months) but reserve the right to take it up again in the future?

The general answer to your question is yes but with some caveats.

Armagh and Donegal have played 140+ minutes of football this season with a single point separating them.

Yes, it's clear that it's Donegal's to lose.

I know the game was scrubbed but the McKenna cup did happen

2 very similar ability teams

I thought it was a decent team with a solid game plan against a slightly better team with no clue,

That last free, he didn't blow for the 'first' foul, blew for the obvious round the neck free, spoke to linesman, free then given for first free (which you can't do) and thankfully he missed

Three times in the game he over turned frees awarded to Armagh and let's not mention the on the ground he gave with the ball a foot in the air

Got out of jail there.
Down played out of their skins.

Armagh are a limited side, a different ref today and they were bate.

A different ref and Armagh win that game comfortably despite playing awful football.