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http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-09-15/late-stage-lying-pneumonia-theory-vs-parkinson%E2%80%99s-disease-theory-doctors-chime

Mayo beat Tyrone in a "very thorough manner" in the same way that Russian beat Michael Conlan in a very thorough manner.

But they have the right feng shui

On what basis do you way Mayo have improved? Sunday is the only time we will be able to tell that I think but so far nothing to suggest they've improved.

Beat a much touted Tyrone team in a very thorough  manner. Cantered past Tipperary who had beaten Cork and hammered Galway.

Not sure I'd agree with that synopsis of those games. Did they beat Tyrone in a very thorough manner? Tyrone missed about 4 good chances towards the end to draw or even sneak a win in that game. Yes they beat Tipp by 5 but Tipp were on top for long spells in the game and really it was a purple patch just before half-time that was the difference in the end. Plus a rather jammy goal near the end. I mean a win is a win in the end and the Tyrone one especially was a good one as Tyrone were well fancied beforehand but it was still nip and tuck all the way.

My impression is that Mayo aimed to peak for now this year. They were off the pace in June whereas in previous years they would have come out all guns blazing. They had a gradual progression through the qualifiers, efficient but not flashy. They beat Tyrone who fancied themselves. So far so good. They had 2 moral victories in 2014 and 2015. It's time to do it.

On what basis do you way Mayo have improved? Sunday is the only time we will be able to tell that I think but so far nothing to suggest they've improved.

They got past the semi final. Players have more experience. They got over the Galway loss.

A child, no matter the background is born innocent and depends entirely on his/her guardian/s for their safety, welfare and guidance through upbringing.  The abuse of children either physically, mentally or by negligence should have serious consequences for the perpetrators of course, but questions should also be asked in cases like the one above,  how was the level of neglect allowed to get to this stage? 
In the Republic, resources are a major issue. Ideally, at risk families are identified at an early stage. They may be dependent on social welfare, have addiction issues etc. To ensure the welfare of any children in the family requires frequent interaction with the family by a dedicated social worker, unfortunately these are few and far between, especially those with adequate training. All too often children who are at risk are only coming to the attention of social services when they start school, by which time behavioral difficulties are prevalent and a lot of resource time is taken up by teachers trying to help these children adapt. The problem is often exasperated by malnutrition and poor hygiene.
Governments everywhere, not just our own need to understand that to plan for the future is to invest in child welfare for how they are brought up will dictate their future role in society.

Good post

Unfortunately our election cycles are too short for politicians to give a crap about how kids might turn out.

Mortality differentials by social class are massive but it never gets much attention.

Byrne, Small, Cooper, McCarthy, Fenton, MDMA, McManamon, Kilkenny, Rock and Brogan are nothing out of the ordinary in comparison to their Mayo counterparts. Some may be better on their day etc but that's it. Some of the sh1te being talked by Dubs fans is quite the eye opener. You'd never hear Kerry men talking like this. Keep it coming.

Sounds very much like your a Dub (certainly not from Mayo anyway) by the tone of your posts. Even going to the bother of setting up a new account to spout nonsense. The reality is that Mayo are going into this final as the biggest underdogs in at least a generation. No amount of drivel you post will change that. Yes they have a punchers chance but that is all.

Mayo have beaten this Dublin team twice. Hardly underdogs on the scale of Galway v Meath in 2001 or Offaly v Kerry in 1982

That Galway side had been AI champions and were only beaten to the final the previous year by Kerry after a replay so they had every chance. The fact is that you may have to go back 34 years to find a similarly one sided final match up.

I shouldn't bite, but ffs we drew with Dublin in semi-final last year, lost to them by a point in the final 3 years ago and beat them by 4 in the semi-final the year before that. We've been in 6 semi-finals in a row, and this is our 3rd final in that time.
Dublin are rightly favourites, but we've a damn good team too.

Dublin favs on the basis that it is a final I would say. If Mayo turn up and focus for the 70 minutes they have every chance. Mayo have been so close recently , losing semis after replays etc

Surely any county that made progress this year can look back with some satisfaction. Most counties are never going to win Sam.

Felix da Housecat - Frankie Meets Pauline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxsWwRPJA-E

Byrne, Small, Cooper, McCarthy, Fenton, MDMA, McManamon, Kilkenny, Rock and Brogan are nothing out of the ordinary in comparison to their Mayo counterparts. Some may be better on their day etc but that's it. Some of the sh1te being talked by Dubs fans is quite the eye opener. You'd never hear Kerry men talking like this. Keep it coming.

Sounds very much like your a Dub (certainly not from Mayo anyway) by the tone of your posts. Even going to the bother of setting up a new account to spout nonsense. The reality is that Mayo are going into this final as the biggest underdogs in at least a generation. No amount of drivel you post will change that. Yes they have a punchers chance but that is all.

Mayo have beaten this Dublin team twice. Hardly underdogs on the scale of Galway v Meath in 2001 or Offaly v Kerry in 1982

That Galway side had been AI champions and were only beaten to the final the previous year by Kerry after a replay so they had every chance. The fact is that you may have to go back 34 years to find a similarly one sided final match up.

They were playing MEATH.
Mayo would be grand if it was a semi. They have to overcome the psychology . The Dubs are the best team to do it against.

Byrne, Small, Cooper, McCarthy, Fenton, MDMA, McManamon, Kilkenny, Rock and Brogan are nothing out of the ordinary in comparison to their Mayo counterparts. Some may be better on their day etc but that's it. Some of the sh1te being talked by Dubs fans is quite the eye opener. You'd never hear Kerry men talking like this. Keep it coming.

Sounds very much like your a Dub (certainly not from Mayo anyway) by the tone of your posts. Even going to the bother of setting up a new account to spout nonsense. The reality is that Mayo are going into this final as the biggest underdogs in at least a generation. No amount of drivel you post will change that. Yes they have a punchers chance but that is all.

Mayo have beaten this Dublin team twice. Hardly underdogs on the scale of Galway v Meath in 2001 or Offaly v Kerry in 1982

Who is the most hated person at a Borussia Mönchengladbach match?
The fan who starts chanting "Give me a 'b', give me an 'o'..."

Definitely Dublin. And Mayo.
In Hurling I would say Tipp and then Kilkenny.

Tipp' obviously, not sure would I agree with KK, they've finished the year with a number of overhanging positional question marks. Deise's 2 game saga with KK plus the U-21 win has them finishing the season on the up. Galway hurlers may get some kudos from being the closest anyone got to Tipp' but I'm fairly despondent for next year, (my default setting in fairness). Will JC regain full fitness and when, and the type of hurlers we need just aren't coming through. Need at least 2 top-quality defenders and 2 more for the forwards.

Like the hurlers, if Mayo win the AI, Galway footballers will get a bit of praise for being the only team to beat them. The truth remains though that this is a truly terrible, wretched Galway team and it's an absolute mystery how they won Connacht. Div. I football is essential to develop a better team and panel, and next season's NFL draw isn't too unkind, with the 3 away games to Fermanagh, Down and Meath not the toughest, but a major overhaul again of the squad is needed I think.
As for the rest, Clare and Tipp' will probably take the most positives from 2016.

Mo I was trying to imagine what you would be like if you had been born in Mayo.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/all-ireland-final-a-mayo-win-means-all-we-know-is-wrong-1.2790121

Mayo as All-Ireland champions. How will we cope? We won't have Nixon to kick around anymore. No more jokes about the gang that couldn't shoot straight. No more sad heroes. We'll never hear Ciaran McDonald's name again. Liam McHale can go back to being an ex-basketball star. Pat McEnaney can go to Westport on holiday.
Dinner dance
Will Galway bate Mayo? Doesn't matter, Willie Joe or no. They're All-Ireland champions and managed to throw Galway an oul' win along the way just to get their hopes up. That will fairly take the legs out from under the end-of-year Galway GAA dinner dance. Maybe they'll get Aidan O'Shea along to hand out the Connacht medals.
Ah here, this is starting to get scary. Mayo as overlords. Mayo as the guy who gets the girl. Mayo played by George Clooney instead of Paul Giamatti. Everything we know will be wrong.
Famine
If Mayo win the All-Ireland, who will we cry about then? Whose famine do we adopt as our own? Cavan haven't won since 1952, Roscommon since 1944, Kildare since 1928. Sure when will any of them be in a final again? Or anywhere close to one? Mayo are interesting because Mayo, like the poor, are always with us. But if they win the All-Ireland, will they even be Mayo anymore?
These are questions of philosophy, of psychology, of theology almost. Nearly makes you hope for a Dublin win, just so we don't have to delve too deep into them.

We could moan about the inequality in modern day football and how money has changed (corrupted?) the modern day game – that's another story entirely.

The "champions" league is a joke. It's ruined football in smaller nations and given them absolutely no chance of progression. How on earth are you supposed to compete when the odds are so stacked against you.

Bring back the old European Cup.

I agree. Barca are a great bunch of lads but they get illegal state aid as do Real.
and you'll never see a team from Eastern Europe winning the CL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osGXE2Aje5Q

NI is not something the GAA recognises. I don't think it should be featured at GAA matches, any more than the butcher's apron should.

There is a difference between "featuring" and having a tacit acknowledgement of reality.  The ad only reflects the fact that Donnelly's business is in a part of the world called Northern Ireland.  Just like taking sterling at the stile acknowledges that Northern Ireland is part of the UK.

Plus as members of the GAA surely people want to promote the games?

Michael Hasson talks of "outreach to unionists" and Ulster Council signed up to "Sport Uniting Communities". It seems incongruous to say Ulster GAA wants unionists involved (and take grants for it through outreach schemes) but then sends the message that any mention or acknowledgement of Northern Ireland (even on the periphery) is unacceptable.  If this club approves of what happened the ad, they should also table an object through County Board to GAA participation schemes like "Sport Uniting Communities" and cancel the "unionist outreach" as they involve recognising Northern Ireland is part of the UK.

/Jim.

Sterling is the currency in use in NI so it's not comparable IMO.
NI is not a fact of nature. It's a political arrangement that the GAA as an all Ireland body does not recognise
If you want unionist outreach there are other ways of doing it