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Why do we think it will be Cargins year? Legitimate answers please.

Ok, so took a drive to the county final on Sunday, arrived a casual hour early!!!
Got a prime car space in the first field opposite! Good banter from officials of Ahoghill club ( well done, and thank you btw).

Nice cup of tea and a bitta banter with the lassies behind the counter!

Had the pick of the place, ' where will we stand?'

Half way line, on the bank/hill/slump whatever it is!

Couldn't hear the tannoy, muffled at best ( where I was - although wind played a part in that)

Pitch was in superb condition, great surface! Access to pitch for teams was less than ideal, but did suffice!

As the time approached, I glanced over my shoulder and looked up at the road, a tailback as far as the eye could see!

As the ball wAs thrown in , we jostled for position on the 'bank' to get the best view of the action, heads bobbing up and down like apples in a barrel!

Now WINGNUT this is absolutely no slight on Ahoghill - the banter I had with the welcoming Gaels was great, the tea magic!  But to host a county final with that sort of crowd is beyond the facilities on offer! A great club, a great venue - but not at that standard!

It probably should have been in Ballycastle - based on facilities all in!

What in heavens name are we gonna do in the future?

And btw CB, I expected a little more from you guys, or did I?

There's talk of this Galls team coming to an end, the truth is, when Kelly, MCGourty, GAllagher, STewart etc retire, it will probably happen! Until then we should all just suck it up!

Think u may be getting thins a bit back to front deary me...............cargin have the greater fire power in my possibly biased opinion and the pressure may well be on what looked a suspect gall's rear guard................can ur defence cope with O'Boyle, magill, c close, tomas mc cann, etc..............the cargin defence with crozier certainly fully fit, m kane back, scullion, kobo and the impressive j Laverty raring to go will give ur forward dept a headache unless they can find radical improvement on creggan game...........as for mid field the mc cans are a match for anybody................if cargin do bring their A game is then ...........................well............u decide.

Right, ok then 

Key battles on Sunday???

If Galls forwards are allowed to play, and if the decide to play well, it could be curtains!

Cargin will have to focus alot of energy in their backline.

I think they have certainly enough up front to win this if Galls are anything but 100%.

Midfield will be very interesting depending who plays  , will Anto Healy come in, Veronica, other Kelly, dont forget McGreevey's young legs and energy were a factor last year in half back!  An awful lot to consider for Galls!  Kieran McGourty back in county final will be a plus also!

If Crozier is not 100% fit it could be a worry.  O'Boyle will command as always.

Galls forward selection is another problem - some boys could be benched for this one!

For Cargin its 'exactly what it says on the tin' - Galls have greater options, but is the hunger still there?

Cargin will be bouncing!

Interesting to see if the report on Tuesday is right, talking about st.galls having 'had' a great team!

Looking forward to it, see you all up there at 5pm according to paper!

I didn't question the ability of Ahoghill! Get it right!!!

Ok, I look forward to complimenting the CB decision to choose Ahoghill, after the final!

There's a first - volunteers in the gaa giving up their time!

And here, stop being a wing nut, calm down

Seriously WN?

Deary me...

'as well'

Would never disrespect fellow gaels CB!  Ahoghill do a sterling job, and there ground is a fine facility. 

Its just not ideal, nor the best location or facility for a county final. IMO

Leaving aside your obvious dislike of ahoghill as a venue,which as your opinion is fair enough, some of the points you make are laughable and id say disrespectful too.
You couldnt see the pitch last year?? Why didnt you move somewhere where you could see the whole pitch. Theres plenty of vantage points around the grounds which allow this privilege and any of the stewards would have pointed you in the right direction.

The parking was a joke? In what way? On sunday past all cars were cleared from the pitch and field within 15mins of the full time whistle. For a crowd that size, thats not bad

What does the other venues you mentioned have over ahoghill that make them more of an ideal location and facility? Dont get me wrong, theyre all good venues which would have done a great job in hosting the match. I just dont understand why you have had such a dummy spit with ahoghill being chosen.

Deary Deary Me...

There were no cars on pitches last year? they were parked all the way up the road, both sides! (if they have cars on pitch now, then a welcomed progress indeed).

I couldnt move from my location because the place was mobbed, completely around the pitch, hanging over the fences, standing on fences, hills, anywhere they could grab an angle!  No gael should have to pay in to grapple for a look!

I dont have any personal issue with Ahoghill, hence my post!  Interesting reaction from the other posters on your input though! Think they might have a point.

But hey, you arent the first gael to react as if you own the club!

How is it disrespectful, did i offend someone?

Yes, didn't mention Cargin for obvious reasons, but cracking venue!  Never anything outside of Cargin matches fixed there, wonder why that is...

'as well'

Would never disrespect fellow gaels CB!  Ahoghill do a sterling job, and there ground is a fine facility. 

Its just not ideal, nor the best location or facility for a county final. IMO

Presumably you're happy with the venue CB? Wont have far to travel!

Well its a tad closer for a start!  Would encourage more fair weather supporters to attend! And certainly a disadvantage for the same reasons for Galls (support may not be encouraged to travel).
Forgetting about the county finals for a minute - are we seriously saying Ahoghill is the premier ground in the county?
Creggan is a better venue!
Lamhs is a better venue!
Glenavy is a better venue!
Ballycastle, Dunloy are betters venues!!! Ok its a matter of opinion, but i cant see the logic in this venue at all!

You're barking up the wrong tree CB.  Of course Burkey will be out.
As for the other 2, think we may have to wait and see!  But these are certainly unfair on Cargin, who would have wanted to beat Galls full compliment.
I would say the advantage is with Cargin, especially now that its in Ahoghill again.

It beggars belief that we arrange fixture for same as Derry, given how many usually attend our county final.

I couldn't see the whole pitch last year, parking was a joke!  Glenavy, Lamhs parking 'spot on'.

Me thinks country bumpkin is spinning one!!!
Galls are fine, no walk outs, no injuries - in fact about 4/5 from the 2010 AI winning team chomping to get in...

If we are talking about the best venues then Ballycastle would get the shout (but thats not going to happen)

One year in country/one year in city!  Thats the way it should work depending on teams invoved! And by the looks of Casement we could be doing that for many many years to come!!!

I think this saturday will tell the story of how the championship is to shape up!  Lets be honest, its all about if, and how Galls can dismantle Creggan!  Everyone will be in a much better place on Saturday night to really comment about how much longer 'the present' and 'the future' will last, never mind the final!

Aidan Kelly (St John's)

good man for the job. Well done Aidan

Lets hope so is right - if making a prediction however I would say both games will be over as a context with at least 10mins left on the watch.

Would have to agree!  If ARMOY can somehow grind at Rossa, they could get close - but i cant see it happening!

If Galls are within 5 at half time, then the changing room will be an interesting one.  However, its about staying within 5 points!  Dall will have learned from a few years ago, that Galls can turn up and play! But they will be ready this time!

I think a few admirers would love to see Galls do the double