Topics

10 June 2009
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaa-championships/gaelic-football/leinster-council-to-cash-in-on-massive-dubs-earning-power-1767699.html

8 June 2009
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/munster-set-for-windfall-1765283.html

4 June 2009
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/dubs-royal-rivalry-on-track-to-hit--836414m-mark-1761048.html

Is it just me or are the Irish Independent GAA journalist money obsessed. The can't seem to go a few todays without pointing out how much money is been taken in by the GAA. Maybe they should get up off their backsides and go out and get some real stories instead of number crunching behind a desk.

Now that we're both as good as finished with the league, we might as get focussed on the 31st in Carrick. 

Neither will be heading into this game with great league form especially ourselves, but as always we seem to up our performance by an extra 20% when we see the primrose and blue.  Mind you it should be some craic around Carrick and Drumshanbo that weekend.

Sligo
Kilkenny
Carlow
Clare
London
Leitrim
Antrim
Waterford
Antrim
Wicklow

Not as clear cut as you would think, it could really come down to who scores the most against weaker opposition like Kilkenny and London

The new owner of Manchester City, Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, has intimated that Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (ADUG) could back a £135million bid for Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo in January.

The agreement of an ADUG takeover deal at Eastlands was announced on Monday and was followed by the shock capture of Real Madrid forward Robinho for a British record fee of £32.5million.

Chief executive of Hydra Properties, Al-Fahim is reportedly 10 times richer than his counterpart at Chelsea, Roman Abramovich, and he has revealed there are plans to bring in a 'minimum 18' players to the club.

"Ronaldo has said he wants to play for the biggest club in the world, so we will see in January if he is serious," Al-Fahim said in The Guardian.

"Real Madrid were estimating his value at $160million (£90m) but for a player like that, to actually get him, will cost a lot more; I would think $240million (£135m). But why not? We are going to be the biggest club in the world, bigger than both Real Madrid and Manchester United."

It is also reported City will look to target the likes of Liverpool striker Fernando Torres and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas as the club aim to build a side capable of achieving success in Europe's most prestigious competition.

Al-Fahim added: "We want a team who can win the UEFA Champions League. We're not just going to spend money on anyone, but if we can get the biggest players in the world, and of course if the manager wants them, then we will get them."

source: Sky Sports

Is this the end of football, i thought the introduction of Abramovich was bad but this crowd look like they will just take over at any cost.  I wonder are they interested in investing in Leitrim football with a few Kerry forwards!!

Leitrim GAA are delighted to announce that Mickey Moran and John Morrison will take over the vacant senior football management positions after ratification at tonights special county board meeting.
Mickey Moran started coaching as player manager for 2 years at Derry´s helm and when he hung up the boots he completed a further 2 years for the county.
Before his playing days ended he had played for his home club Glen, Derry, Ulster and the Rest of Ireland and was an All-Star replacement.

He was the Derry coach in 1993 as he assisted the late Eamon Coleman during Derry´s capture of the All-Ireland title.

Towards the end of the nineties he was involved with the Irish International Rules team with Colm O´Rourke, John O´Keefe, John Tobin for two years.

Having coached in Sligo and Donegal, in between stints with his native county Derry, he then took the top role in Mayo in 2006 taking them to a National League semi-final appearance, a Connacht final win and to an All-Ireland final appearance against Kerry with a superb win against Dublin along the way. Leitrim fans who were in Croke Park for the Tommy Murphy cup final against Louth may remember the fantastic Dublin v Mayo encounter that followed.

Mickey Moran is partnered by John Morrison who is only one of a small number of 'GAA master coaches´ in Ireland. He is no stranger to coaches in Leitrim as he has undertaken several coaching seminars in the county in recent years as part of our games development plan. Earlier this year he was one of the high profile tutors included in the 2008 Coachworks series held in Armagh, this programme which "transforms theory into practice" offered useful tips on how best to deliver coaching messages and skills.

He is known for his ability to analyse player athleticism and performance and to provide a variety of solutions to enhance both.

The colourful Armagh native has coached with no fewer than five county teams and whose expertise has also been sought by Ulster Rugby and Leicester Tigers has partnered Mickey Moran in each of Moran´s last three managerial appointments in Mayo, Derry and Donegal.

In conjunction with the development of playing and training facilities Leitrim GAA look on this appointment as another phase of development of Gaelic football in the county. Not only will Mickey and John be the senior team managers they will also be involved in the preparation of coaching programme´s for county underage teams & development squads. They are willing to assist in the preparation for our county U16´s, Minor, U21´s and Junior teams.

At grass roots level they are very willing to work with club coaches throughout the county and will be available to help in preparing program´s for club teams. Their commitment to Leitrim GAA will further enhance the comprehensive Coaching and Development plans already in operation and this is a much valued addition to their duties as Senior team management.

Source: leitrimgaa.ie

Thought I'd set the ball rolling on this one. 

As far as I'm concerned this game will make or break this Leitrim team as they have been together knocking on the door for nearly six or seven years.  Was in Salthill yesterday and from what I saw of Galway from that game they are not a team to be feared.  The key to a Leitrim win will be the marshalling of Joyce and not giving away soft frees because Meehan will punish us.  I doubht Galway will play Clancy again in the same role as Leitrim will counter act this easily with Reynolds being given license to follow him out the field and try himself to link up with our own forwards.  I don't think Maxwell will have it all his own way like his last visit to Salthill - the Galway full back looked very comfortable yesterday. 

If they handed out cups for morale victories we'd be going for a five in a row, with div 4 looming next year I think many lads will see this as their last big push for a Connacht title.

P.s. nice double with pp Cavan at 5/2 nd Leitrim 8/1 to win there next games   

Heard this last Sunday morning on Today FM.  Sounds like a complete piss take, but the Superintendent sounds very genuine. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyQEPfvmcFg

Is this taking advertising to new lengths?

The Tongan player, formerly known as Epeli Taione has changed his name to Paddy Power for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.  On 28 September Paddy Power will line out for Tonga against England

Paddy Power to score a try against England  8 - 1   
Paddy Power to be Top Tongan Tryscorer in the RWC  14 - 1   
Paddy Power to be sin-binned against England  20 - 1   
Paddy Power to score a drop goal against England  33 - 1   
Paddy Power to get sent off against England  100 - 1   
Paddy Power to win man of the match against England  150 - 1   
Paddy Power to be Top Tryscorer in the RWC  500 - 1   

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=q_X-02FiLUI

saw this on tv3 news - have to admit above all the stupid acts to do this could of easily gone seriously wrong, I hope it isn't copied.

Am I the only who noticed that TV3 are showing the Rugby World Cup, can't believe RTE let this slip along with the Heineken Cup.  If TV3's live soccer coverage is anything to go by then i can't see many people watching it on TV3 when they can watch a more professional coverage on BBC or SKY.

Thought i'd get the ball rolling on this game.  From a Leitrim angle there were bet 1-11 to 0-8 by Westmeath last night.  Some injury doubhts over McKeon, Duignan and McCloskey but I'd still expect them to play regardless.  As usual Galway willl be favourites and rightly so but having said that it'll be a close game - but if we are to beat Galway we'll have to be able to close out the game if we are in front in the second half unlike last year against Mayo where we were wasteful - but then again you never know stranger things have happenned.

I think this video sums up Enda Kenny :L

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrDKvOms7YA

Looks like a packed line up -

MAY 13
2PM LONGFORD V WESTMEATH
4PM CAVAN V DOWN
MAY 20
2.15PM FERMANAGH V TYRONE
4PM GALWAY V MAYO
MAY 27
2PM CLARE V CORK
4PM DONEGAL V ARMAGH
JUNE 2
7PM WESTMEATH/LONGFORD V LAOIS
JUNE 3
2PM CLARE/WATERFORD V KERRY
4PM MEATH/KILDARE V DUBLIN
JUNE 10
2PM LIMERICK V TIPPERARY
4PM LAOIS/OFFALY V KILKENNY
JUNE 17
2.15PM FERMANAGH/TYRONE V DONEGAL/ARMAGH
4PM CLARE/CORK V WATERFORD
JUNE 24
2PM GALWAY/MAYO V LEITRIM/LONDON
4PM MEATH/KILDARE/DUBLIN V CARLOW/OFFALY
JULY 1
2PM MUNSTER SENIOR FOOTBALL FINAL
4PM LEINSTER SENIOR HURLING FINAL
JULY 7
ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS X 2
JULY 8
2PM CONNACHT SENIOR FOOTBALL FINAL
4PM MUNSTER SENIOR HURLING FINAL
JULY 14
ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS X 2
JULY 15
2.15PM ULSTER SENIOR FOOTBALL FINAL
4.15PM LEINSTER SENIOR FOOTBALL FINAL
JULY 21
ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS X 2
JULY 22
ALL IRELAND HURLING QUARTER-FINALS X 2
JULY 28
ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS X 2
JULY 29
ALL IRELAND HURLING QUARTER-FINALS X 2
AUG 4
ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL QUARTER-FINALS X 2
AUG 5
CHRISTY RING CUP HURLING FINAL
ALL IRELAND SENIOR HURLING SEMI-FINAL
AUG 11
ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL QUARTER-FINALS X 2
AUG 12
NICKY RACKARD CUP HURLING FINAL
ALL IRELAND SENIOR HURLING SEMI-FINAL
AUG 19
ALL IRELAND SENIOR AND MINOR FOOTBALL SEMI-FINALS
AUG 26
ALL IRELAND SENIOR AND MINOR FOOTBALL SEMI-FINALS
SEPT 2
ALL IRELAND SENIOR AND MINOR HURLING FINALS
SEPT 9
ALL IRELAND SENIOR CAMOGIE FINAL
SEPT 16
ALL IRELAND SENIOR AND MINOR FOOTBALL FINALS