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It's strange. Horan was far less bullish in years where things were going better, less quick with the talk of championship pace leagues (if Mayo's performance against Derry is Mayo's idea of championship pace we will be very happy campers on Sunday) and talking about other teams' weaknesses or levels.

I dunno if he's trying to dispel the cloud that's been over Mayo as a county since September. Everything I heard suggested he was dead-set on doing that by winning a league title but that didn't go anywhere close to plan.

I suppose he knows he's probably one defeat from this huge journey he and that team have been on being over so he's doing everything and anything this year. Well, except for changing the line-up.

He came out with fairly bullish and similar statements prior to the Galway match last year so it might be best not invest too much hope in it being false bravado.

http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=192512

Fair enough but Horan's regular approach has been far more coy than he has been this year. He's not deflecting criticism as much this year either. There is a clear change in his demeanour this year.

He certainly gave some good lines for our team talk on Sunday in the presser for this match and that isn't very Horan-like. We'll see.

In fairness now you getting close to reading the tea leaves territory or determining the outcome of the game based on how the swallows are flying. Will be hoping myself that I won't see a lone magpie before the game. Never a good sign.

Ironically the Kerryman did try a makeshift version of the blanket against Tyrone last year and I think he even made himself sick because he has not gone back to it in the league. Then again there was little need.

What a stupid conversation by Ros posters asking Mayo posters what Ros players they'd like to have. Isn't it bad enough that they are already taking their pick of Ballagh.

Looks like a black card inspired move. Big 15 stone all muscle lad like that storming through, backs will have to be careful not to haul him down. You add the two O'Sheas ploughing through and that could be Mayo's tactic this year.

These "bright young things" that are being rolled out for FF in particular are merely pawns in the game. The old faces don't fit any more so the young ones are getting fast tracked in in an effort to regain power. Same wolf, different sheep. Martin will get "shafted" (I believe this is planned a long time) conveniently to end the link with the "old FF" and give them the extra boost and eejits will fall for it. FF will be back in Govt after the next election unfortunately and that will prove how stupid/gullible Irish people really are.

FG/Lab "didn't bankrupt the country" merely because they weren't in power at the time. I do not believe they would have done anything materially different. They haven't done a single thing different since they got to power than FF would have done. Anyone who believes there is any difference, bar number of years in office, between FF/FG/Lab is deluded or naive in my view. FF appear more corrupt because they have been in power more and "know the ropes" a bit better.

Disagree. Historically, Fine Gael/Labour have brought in a lot of social legislation that  Fianna Fáil would never have brought in (divorce, contraception, abortion, equality). FG/Lab have taken on Catholic Church, FG at the risk of losing votes since they have a conservative vote base in rural areas. Never saw a FF leader lambaste the Vatican, nor SF for that matter. Labour were only party to vote against bank guarantee so it cannot be claimed they would have done the same as FF.  As for SF, they tolerated a man working for them who had raped his daughter and they tolerate a leader who knew this man had raped his daughter. If they don't have the moral fibre to call him to resign over that, how can you say they deserve a chance to govern. It's an infinite amount of times more serious than what Shatter resigned for.

Hard to know how the other Semi Final will go. The Rossies haven't met a half decent side yet which won't help their cause. If the supporters are anything to go by they are thirsty to prove to everyone that they are a good side. The reality is that if they lose at this stage they will be a side who walked through a weak Connacht and fell at the first real hurdle.
A Roscommon lad I know told me the other day, deadly seriously, that he'd love to get past Cork just to get another go at the Dubs and revenge for 2012.

Most Ros supporters I talk to would see Dublin and Cork as teams to beat  with Cavan and Roscommon as even enough albeit having two very different football styles. And everyone knows the Dublin team of 2012 were as good a U21 team as has been  seen. As for weak Connacht, when draw was made Ros were expected to travel to Mayo, Sligo and Galway to win a Connacht title. Few counties in Ireland would have relished that draw considering the talent Mayo and Galway had at their disposal. We'll have to wait until Sat to see how weak Connacht was. I'm hopeful anyway.

Whew! The relief. That man always frightened me. Reminded me of someone ... can't quite place it ...

Think he was Richard in Keeping Up Appearances

Gilmore on the news threatening Russia. If Vlad is listening - He's only a gobshite, OK? Don't mind us. Sure you probably have an Irish granny.

Nearly up there with The Skibbereen Eagle telling the Czar it was keeping its eye on him...

I see Paul Williams, the "journalist" (term used very lightly), has been busily trying to cover up/deflect attention being paid to potential Gardaí corruption over the bugging scandal. His article in the good ol' indo today has been rubbished by the security firm involved, who called it "wholly inaccurate".
http://www.thejournal.ie/verrimus-statement-reporting-1320967-Feb2014/

On a totally unrelated note, Paul was one of those who had penalty points kindly wiped by the Gardaí last year and who's hobbies over on wiki are listed as including " being among his associates in the pub; these associates are mostly serving or former gardaí". Ah, isn't that nice.

Interesting alliances here. Verrimus mostly made up of ex-sas, Sunday Times (Murdoch right wing rag)  FF and Sinn Fein versus Gardai and FG.

I'm willing to bet that GSOC were taken to the cleaners for 18 grand and standard security vulnerability was described as potential bugs. A bit like the lad with the new website that's told by his developers showing him a fancy report that he got 100 thousand hits in his first month as if hits were unique users.

Some claim the phrase "hip hip hooray" beloved of GAA captains on All-Ireland day has anti-semitic roots.

Mayo ye are acting like nouveau riche because ye have some sates now at McHale bought on credit.  A real Gaa supporter would never turn his nose up at having to stand in a terrace or sit his arse on a cold concrete slab. Some great games were viewed by men standing on muddy embankments on wet winter days. They never complained. They were a better breed of man too and many were your county men back in the day.

Would have Snow Patrol Chasing Cars up there.

Well Paul can't accused of county bias anyway.

Anyone have a video link to the Ciaran McDonald goal from a free versus Ballaghaderren in the county final a few years ago. Although it took a bit of a deflection, thought that was the best Hail Mary I've seen.

Good positive move by John Evans to name the team first, none of this keeping the opposition guessing as if that's an advantage. It's true, Jaspar Tully's famed paper was a downer this week leading with the hurling loss followed by a selection of morose predictions about Castlebar. Even Willie didn't have the usual purple patch of similes. Hopefully it will make for better reading next week.