Messages

This club v county thing is a very interesting debate but actually a bit of a bluff in the exact case of Armagh. There are not many Cross players that are actually chosen to take the field for Armagh anyway. So if Cross abdicated now how many of their players would be put in the starting Armagh team? Probably James Morgan is the only guaranteed starter. Then Tony Kernan, Kyle Carragher, and David McKenna might (but only might) get a chance.

There is not half an Armagh side waiting to come back. I think Cross are great ambassadors for Armagh and I wish Down had a club side that could deliver us All-Ireland titles in a fallow period of county football

No Paul Hughes???

Young Oisin O'Neill will feature for Armagh seniors in 2017 I'd say

Monaghan - Hit the Diff!

I'm very much in favour of games going to Blayney/Scotstown/Inniskeen, it makes for a good occasion and atmosphere and it's a great boost the host club and community.

A past member of a management team did make a good point to me about Clones however, that making it our base in the league helps it to become a 'fortress' in the championship.

Monaghan have recalled Paddy Kierans (Sean McDermotts) to the panel, they've been relegated to Junior football for this year

No Tommy Freeman?

Marathon Race report (been tipping at this on breaks since yesterday, when it was fresh).

Last year, the training, the race itself, the afters, couldn't have went better. Smashed the PB and felt good until the last few miles. But crossed the line with a smile. This reflected the training, which I really enjoyed and had a good crew to run with namely the brother who was doing it as well (and had a painful day).

This year, I'd put in a good year running wise. Never really took a break, ran 1.08 for a 10miler at start of the marathon training programme, got half marathon down to 1.32 and ran 40.30 for a 10km. Both of them came in spring/late spring for the half. So was motoring rightly.

When time Marathon came round I was fully on for it, all summer I was looking towards it. When it came to actually start the training, I was struggling. Not on the running but actually getting the runs in. Work, family life and the GAA where just taking time. Seriously thought about parking it after about 3 weeks into the programme but a very comfortable 15miler plus words of wisdom from her indoors "would you not like to do 3-in-a-row when you can" sealed the deal.

As with everything, I'd sacrifice something to get it done. It meant sleep! Early runs where the order of the day and truth been told I loved the peaceful mornings round the local forest park where I had a nice 5 mile route on repeat. One morning I'd a 19mile done at 8.20am as I'd a club function that weekend and a few pints would be in order!

By time marathon came round, I felt decent. Didn't stick to the plan as rigidly as last year but had good quality runs in. One thing bugging me was not hitting 22 miles in training LSR like last year. It also turned out I has 18,19 and 20 done this year against 20x2 and 22 last year. But what can you do. I'd get through it and said I'd go for a PB by breaking 3.20.

The weekend was upon us. A lot from the club booked in for Sunday night in Dublin. Last year, I travelled up on the morning and it worked well, so stuck with this. Hit the expo on Saturday, took the kids and herself up. They enjoyed it, had a nose round and a bit to eat down the road. Sunday done nothing, a 3 mile loosener like last year on Sunday morning and never left the house he rest of the day bar one trip which I'll get to later!

In my report last year, I mentioned a GAA legend in my club, Eddie murphy and his rounds of encouragement round the RDS as he waited on his sister who was running. Well, Eddie was running this year and taking on his first marathon. He travelled up with me and the driver, the brother who wasn't running this year, and we'd a good craic heading up the round.


Got dropped near the start and straight away I remarked how mild it was. First decision, wear the planned compression top with vest over it or just vest. Went with the compression top. Regret that soon enough!

We changed on side of footpath outside Earlsfort terrace which included a flash of the arse to whoever was looking. Off to bag drop and then waved each other off as Eddie was in wave 2.

Toilet break and then in the starting pen. Head a few others from the Rockets and we'd a chat and craic, few selfies etc and then I moved further up to get the 3.20 pacers in sight.

Plan was to keep them in sight until half way, move closer after that and try stay with them or even get ahead over the closing 10km or so. Sounded great and for the first 30km it was perfect!

The usual National anthem, the welcome, the cheers and then we where off. As always the first few miles where chaotic. Hard to get space, people cutting across, pavement jumping and this year we had the added distraction of pollards on the Green, normally they'd be down but a few ahead clipped them in the road and the shouts went back to be aware of them.

First few miles went grand, was about 8mile pace for first but then got to 7.35/7.40. I did miss the old route here and the buss of heading up O'Connell Street. The Combe and Thomas street, just didn't feel the same.

Breeze was in faces heading up the liffey but it still felt warm. I was immediately  regretting the compression top, even if it was light. We hit Hueston and position was great, 3.20 pacers about 200m ahead, pace was good and the field had spread out. The first tough was approaching but it wouldn't feel it so early.

The drag from round Hueston station up and through the park was marked by a few in pre-race route reports. I planned to maintain effort but not maintain the pace, time could be got back on the other side. Dropped off a bit and was 7.50/8 or so. Moving nicely but the uphill climb was very noticeable and breathing was getting heavy. Kept it easy and was soon well into the park with the pacers about 400m ahead. First gel in ahead of second water station and I needed a leak as well!

Into the toilets just past the water station and sprung out clocking a female runner with the door as I opened it. I apologised and joked they should have windows on the doors! She was grand and said she'd learned a lesson not to run so close to the toilets again!

Picked up a bit as it was flatter and got a bit of time back but soon settled into nice target pace again. The breeze/wind was very noticeable in the wide open spaces of the park. It was more of a cross wind rather than head on but did take some extra energy.

Out of the park and through Castleknock. It was super, great noise and buzz in the village before the turn back down the hill. Eased up the pace a bit, as planned, to reign in the 3.20 pacers but not as much as others who seemed to bomb down the roads.

It was a fairly quiet section of the race, 2 miles of so on quiet roads and then back in to the Park. Into Chapelizod is always great, plenty of noise. By now I was very warm, sweating way too much and couldn't get enough water.

About 9 miles I decide to lose the compression top. Change on the run, vest off, top off, vest back on. Both of them where ringing. I knew it presented another problem - nipple burn. I had slapped on lost of Vaseline but knew this was lost on the compression top and the vest was very wet. But I'll deal with that later.

Top was flung in a bin outside the Hilton at Kilmainham. Crowds where huge and massive noise. Great enjoyed that part and seen first friendly faces from home in the crowd.

Through half way at Dolphins barn and was perfect. 1.39 or so with the 3.20 pacers just up the road. Met the brother and he give a few words of enoruragement and I was happy. Still very warm though, horsing in full bottles of water and knew tough section No 2 was ahead.

Another long drag up Crumlin, the wind always seems to be against you. I noticed people had started dropping off and field was well broken up. Some casualties already, including one of the Elite women with a blanket round her sitting on the pavement with some first aiders. She seemed fine, just keeping warm till a lift came no doubt.

Through Crumlim and past The Sub pub, right in position and pace still perfect but was working a bit too hard for it. Felt an effort now and felt very warm. Into Terenure and it was becoming a chore. We where further along this year than last but I remember feeling really good at same point last year.

I think it was going through Milltown, about 6 miles to go, I threw in the towel for the PB. It was in the head for the last few miles but I just didn't see where I'd get the legs from. I was feeling drained. 3.20 pacers had started to drift and I knew that Clonskeagh was ahead and its my least favourite part of the worse.

By now it was noticeable now many where suffering. Several had stopped and where cramping, others limped along. A runner in a all in one blue suit passed, how was he managing in the heat? He was fully covered.

The sun was now out and it was tough going, pace was over 8's and heading further away from required pace. Plan was to keep going, get over Roebuck and see how it goes. Legs felt gone.

Round the mosque at UCD,I just broke into a walk, needed some relief. I mentioned a trip to the shop on Sunday night, when packing I remembered Wine Gums! Got a packet and had them onboard. I had 5 gels in and was feed up of them. Took two wine gums and started trotting again.

When you walk, people home in on you and try to lift you again. You nearly feel quilty for not doing it for them but you feel helpless. Plus you start to listen to their conversations - "Jesus, they look terrible" "That fella looks very pale" "Will we go for a pint!".

Onwards, back into a very slow jog. Roebuck was grand. An experienced runner told me recently, if injured, train on hills, you'll feel great. Roebuck felt like that, its not much of a hill but got up and over great, was nearly some relief on the legs. Still very warm.

Down fosters avenue and walked again. Just drained, felt demotivated and sorry for myself. Heat was very apparent and back was stiffening. More wine gums, picked a target and ran from it again.

Stillorgan dual carriageway, another quick walk break, more wine gums. It was then apparent how bad it was. Just to my right, a frencg guy was trying to coax a runner to stop. I passed the guy but hadn't even noticed how bad this guy was. He was wobbling badly and dangerously towards the traffic, French runner was pleading with him to stop, his head was all over the shop and legs where barely holding him up. I seen two spectators and pointed back to this guy and asked them to get help. Another runner had him held up by now and French guy ran towards a Garda ahead. I'm sure that was the end of the race for him, about 3.50 to go.

Down and off UCD flyover, turned at RTE and yet another break. The walks where about 100m but seemed to take an age. Got to RDS and seem a few people I knew in crowd, few nods back but that was the height of it. Severve discomfort everywhere, felt sick but said to get to 25m mile mark as my wee lad had pointed it out when we left the expo at the RDS and we laughed about me racing home from there.

Just before the RDS, a 3.30 pacer comes past - F**K IT. I looked at Garmin and cursed it as well, it clearly went wrong somewhere. I waited for the other two pacers to past but no sign. Was too bollixed to look round to see if they where coming, so just ploughed ahead waiting on the inevitable. Still no sign, checked my garmin and convinced he was off track. So kept going and he was new target.

Round the corner from 25m mark and another quick walk, last 2 wine gums. I was now convinced that they where getting me home. We wear the Blayney Rockets tops and normally we get a lot of shout outs, as do all the tops with names on them. We'd get a lot of "Come on Blarney" as well mind but earlier in the race "Come on Blarney Robbers" was the second best shout out I got all day.

The best was round here, an older man standing on his own on opposite side of round past the Aviva, says to me "Keep going Blayney, theres a pint waiting for you in the Spinner!". I never really looked at him but he was a Dub and I didn't recognise him but he just named my local! I managed to laugh some how. 50 yards further was a man in a very bad way on road, eyes rolling and ambulance personnel with him. What are we doing to ourselves here!

In the last mile and crowds where just immense. 5 deep, more likely. It certainly put a spring in the step but everything was shouting back to stop. I'd have walked but couldn't stop, the brain had taken over and it just wanted to finish. Seen Eddies sister and two brothers ahead, screaming at me to go. Brother was on opposite side and he was roaring as well.

Seen a sign - 800m to go. It might as well have said 10miles. Couldn't see the finish yet but the noise from everywhere was deafening been honest. I couldn't hear anyone but I know lots where there from home as they told me afterwards. I seen the finish, brilliant, noise still unreal. 200m to go, a runner ahead goes down just as he reaches the blue mats for the final 50yards, couldn't believe, so close.

Two stewards come to his aid and link towards the line.

Push for the line and I'm done. I let a roar of two out of me and I'm done. Feel absolutely empty, no feeling of elation like last year or feeling of achievement, just sheer relief and my finishers pictures (link below) relect this. Eyes closed, hands on head - relief!

Next is the long walk - medal, t-shirt, bag of not-so-goodies. I only water the water and guzzle it.

Hopple round to the bag collection, get bag and then find a spot to sit and I just sit there for at least ten minutes. Shattered. Eventually peal off the runners, socks and feet are in bits, blood and blisters. Gather myself a bit, make the "I'm grand" phone calls and then get changed over the course of ten minutes. Hopple down to meet Eddie, He's ran a good race, just over 4.03 but ran it very steady. Is feeling it too.

He changes and we head off to get lift and meet some of the other rockets along the way. Its a quiet car down the road. Can't believe as we get towards Blayney the Temp is dropping all the time - we leave Dublin to 18degrees and nice blue skies and now its 13degrees with a nice drizzle, heaven!!

In hindsight, I'm happy I got 3.28. I'd have taken it last year. At 30km I was bang on course but knew the game was up, I wasn't suddenly going to get a burst of energy to maintain pace. Maybe I should have eased up earlier and made it easier on myself. Who knows. I give it a shot and they don't come around often enough to not have a dam good go.

I never dreamt I'd run a marathon. To do 4 is brilliant. As usual, when you finish, its a case of never again, why do that to yourself! But that passes and lets just say theres one in Berlin next September and I entered the ballot for it this morning 

http://www.finisherpix.com/photos/my-photos/currency/EUR/pctrl/Photos/paction/search/pevent/dublin-marathon-2014/pbib/3956.html My finishers Pics!!

Top class Bingo.... I stopped setting alarms at one stage during the summer, I could rely on you slamming the door at 6:55 am

[the whole beard thing,]

Very good post Wobbler. Agree with all of it. I believe that our win in 2008 contained a lot of those elements. After an apparent season ending defeat in Newry something clicked amongst the group. A cathartic moment where the whole team went 100% after Sam. The team became greater than the sum of it's parts and players who were on the fringes (Penrose, T Mc Guigan, McCullagh etc) dragged us home. IMO, the whole beard thing, whilst appearing silly, served a purpose in not only uniting the team but the county as a whole.

A whole county embraced their ugliness for the greater good

Has anyone got a table showing how much money each county has received over this last 10 years?

An excellent point.

Taken from the Armagh discussion forum:

Right folks. Please take time to read this as I feel strongly about this.

Its been a long time since I posted a comment on this site, although I regularly link in to read all the various insightful (and some less insightful) contributions about our county players and county team's performances.

I thoroughly enjoyed the game last night and the result and also the Monaghan/Kildare match - I even found myself cheering when Monaghan scored their first goal!

Anyway, most of you will be familiar with the big "Garvaghy Road Orangemen On Tour" banner which the Breen brothers from Portadown have taken to Armagh matches all over the country for the past decade and and half. It has appeared at McKenna Cup matches, N/League matches, and Championship matches. You name the ground - that banner has been there - especially not far away from the goal end-lines where it has been seen on TV on countless times. The lads and their banner have seldom missed a game.

As genuine county fans, they have followed Armagh through the glory years and the lean years.

What many people do not know is that each time before they leave for an Armagh game, they go to St John's cemetery to place the Armagh flag over their brother's grave. He was an ardent Armagh fan who died too young.

That said, I don't know how many of you saw or noticed the incident involving the Breens in Croke Park at Saturday's match. The lads had spread their banner across several rows of empty seats in the old Canal End (now the Davin stand).

Given the ongoing and horrific events in the Middle East, the Breen brothers had added four words to their banner -"We Stand With Gaza" - along with a Palestinian flag.

At half-time, Croke Park officials - not the stewards, but the well-paid men in green jackets - sought to remove the banner. When the Breen's refused, 'the men in green jackets' threatened them with the Gardai.

The Gardai dutifully arrived and threatened them with arrest.

Sitting at the far end of the Cusack Stand, myself and a number of other fans were too far away to help the lads.

Clearly, such a banner was deemed by 'the men in green jackets' as possibly upsetting to some SKY viewers.

After a lot of arguing, the lads reluctantly removed the banner.

However, during the second half, when all "officialdom" had left the area in the belief that the brothers had been cowered, they again spread their banner out once more where it stayed until the final whistle. And at the final whistle, they raised aloft the Palestinian flag.

Next Saturday, Armagh are back in Croke Park - its been a long time since we've been there two weekends in a row!!

The Breen bothers will also be back with their banner.

Yes, I know there are those who say you shouldn't mix sport and politics.

But opening up Croke Park to other games was done for political as well as financial reasons.

Inviting and hosting the British (or as our Celtic cousins in Scotland would say) the English Queen to Croke Park was done for political as well as 'national reconciliation' reasons.

Putting "We Stand With Gaza" on a banner may be political to some, but given the civilian death toll and the hundreds of children slaughtered there, it is also a very basic humanitarian sentiment shared by tens of thousands of ordinary GAA members, players and supporters.

Saturday's 'Irish News' (2/9/14) had an article on page 7 stating that the Michaela Harte Foundation had launched an appeal to help those children suffering in Gaza. Michaela's widower, John McAreavey, was quoted as stating that he had been "horrified by the death and destruction in Gaza".

I have no doubt that, at some time in the near future, John and the Michaela Harte Foundation will most likely seek to promote that cause in Croke Park.

Just like the Breen brothers who have also been horrified by the death and destruction in Gaza.

Hopefully, the Breens will stand with their banner behind the Goals in Hill 16 next week.

All I am asking is that Armagh, Donegal, Dublin and Monaghan fans all stand firmly beside the Breen brothers next week in case 'the men in green jackets' try to stop their banner's message from offending the sensitivities of some SKY viweres.

If we all stand together, 'the men in green jackets' will not be as keen in enforcing their petty censorship.

I remember an Ulster final 2004 I think it was against Donegal in Croke Park. The Garvaghy road Orangemen on tour banner was draped from upper deck of canal end. They were asked to remove it then and they did. Only a bit of craic FFS.

On a personal note, my sympathies are very firmly with the Palestinian people. I think the Jews are acting the Hitler in this situation.

But I also believe that all politics, be it republican/unionist or anything else, should be kept out of the GAA.

Terrible refereeing performance!!

On another note, was Hiran trying to get knocked out today?! The substitutions were bizarre....

Brolly's tweet wasn't that far wrong....

What was that ?

SKY = BBC + Baywatch Babe

Although in fairness, Rachel Wyse was decent

Brolly's tweet wasn't that far wrong....

I coach under 12s and under 14s.... I do this too

My club is part of a parish with 3 clubs, and for community games, join up with our bigger neighbours.

2 of our club's players wouldn't play community games football, as they would have to wear the jersey of the local rivals. They completely refused to go, and said they'd never wear that jersey. A compromise was reached, and they played in bibs.

The two boys are 10 and 9!!

I'm delighted.... The TV3 coverage was shite!!

Anchor - McDevitt?

Panellists - I really like Malachy Clerkin, but can't imagine he'll feature
Dave Brady - Every man/woman/monkey!
Galvin - a very fashionable shoe-in
Cooper? - he's free for the summer, but don't think he'd be that good
McConville - no bullshit with him, needs to brush up on the elocution though!!
Parkinson  - 🔫
Moyles - not keen on him
Eoin Mulligan - he'll get a chance, but only a few

I fear they will go down the Niall Quinn/Shane Long route though..... I wouldn't mind Kevin Moran