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Of the 8 teams remaining, who has the most reliable free-taking combination, i.e. right side and left side? Farrell is very reliable from the left hand side but we struggle when a free is awarded out on the right hand side. Stephen Bray should be well able to take them with a bit of practice. I still prefer to see a man taking free's off the ground a la Vaughan, Meehan, Masters, Sheehan. It's a huge weapon to have for a team and I have to say I've been very impressed with Vaughans kicking. If the Dubs (God forbid) go all the way, he will have made the difference from previous years. I think Sligo and Monaghan may struggle with their free-taking in the big games, from what I have seen of them so far this season.

Lads, when you go to hoganstand.com (I know, I know) the picture you click on to get to the mainpage, is of a fella in a gorilla suit running down the pitch at a game somewhere this year. Going by the colours in the stand it is possibly a Galway or Westmeath game. Can anyone tell me where it happened? I have to say, I broke my hole laughing when I saw it first.

It's payback time. Possibly. Discuss

from intercounty football. Only just turned 29. Savage player. A word of advice though Declan, if you see Mick O'Dwyers merc pulling into the driveway, lock all your doors and windows and hide in the hot press!

Well what do we think the changes will be for this one? Defence was very solid, midfield a bit dodgy and the forwards surprisingly weren't great in Newry. Will Graham be back next Saturday evening? Have to say I was encouraged by Coyles attitude with regard to the possibility of Grahams return to the panel in his interview after the match. To be honest, we need him. Fermanagh folk, you are a bit of a bogey team for us so you'd have to fancy your chances.

I have stated on another thread that i think he has been the best full-back in the championship based on his 3 performances this season. Bcarrier disagrees. Neutral opinions required! If you don't think he has been the best, by all means tell me who has been better.

Following on from the ginger thread (full of blonde players), I'm looking for outrageous hairstyles. You could probably pick an entire Tyrone team from the '80's and get 15 mullets but there'd be no fun in that. Someone start me off with a keeper. The bigger the hair the better!

Have to admit Humphries piece on the back page made me smile. It's called "A day in the life of an embittered mentor". Good fun.

[Westmeath anger at latest off-the-ball incident]

Have many other counties had problems of this nature playing challenge matches? Do people think they will get away with more because it isn't a league/championship fixture?

From hoganstand.com.

Westmeath anger at latest off-the-ball incident

02 May 2007

Promising corner back Francis Boyle has become the third Westmeath footballer in four years to have suffered a serious facial injury following a challenge match off-the-ball incident.

The young Killucan clubman, who came to prominence in the Lake County's run to last year's All-Ireland quarter-final, had teeth knocked out after he was allegedly struck off the ball during a 'friendly' match against Cork at Park/Ratheniska in Co. Laois last Sunday week. Despite the seriousness of the injury, he is expected to be fit for Westmeath's Leinster SFC opener against Longford on Sunday week, May 13.

It's understood that Cork manager Billy Morgan withdrew Boyle's alleged assailant following the intervention of the referee.

Unsurprisingly, there is much anger in Westmeath over the incident, especially as it comes after the high-profile cases of Kenny Larkin and Finian Newman, who suffered broken jaws in a challenge matches against Down and Cavan in 2003 and 2004 respectively.

Writing in his local newspaper column this week, former Westmeath and Ireland star Michael 'Spike' Fagan has called on the GAA to pursue the matter and ensure the culprit is brought to justice.

"In reality, it shouldn't make much difference whether it's a so-called challenge or a county final, the Cork player who struck should be identified and receive a suspension," Fagan said.

"How must Francis Boyle feel, especially since he ended up in hospital with broken teeth. And just because it was a challenge game, does the Cork player involved get away scot free?

"It must also be a nightmare situation for referees, who clearly have to apply one set of rules for challenge games and another for competitive matches."

Watching Darren Fay diving around the place yesterday, with eyes only for the ball got me thinking. Around the counties, who would be considered the bravest player? I'm not talking about being big or intimidating (or dirty), I mean the type of lad that goes in for the ball without holding back, even though he knows there's a good chance he'll come a cropper. Current or past players are all acceptable. Paddy Reynolds was another Meath player with no regard for his own safety. Watching the Meath-Kildare game on TG4 a couple of weeks ago he got rightly clobbered by Glen Ryan as he was going down to pick up a ball. Came back on again a few minutes later even though he was concussed! Hardy little b*ll*x.