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Anyone know much about greyhound racing and in particular what big races would be televised on RTE during the year and what dates would they be on? Do Sky/Setanta show any of the big big races? Cheers.

Any help would be greatly appreciated here folks. Moved into our new house almost 2 years ago and did a lot of work on it and left some for now including the main bedroom and ensuite. Noticed over the time a bit of a pong in the ensuite which had all the sanitary ware installed but no tiling etc done. We assumed it was caused by not flushing to toilet or the ensuite not being used or something but its got kinda bad now. We're about to start tiling it and obviously now the potential issue has to be addressed. I am having trouble contacting the builder (probably no surprise there) but the home is covered by Homebond if its something they did badly wrong. My worry is if I get a plumber in to look at it without their say so that they might wash their hands of it.

What should I do? I really don't have a clue on these sort of things. Wife is mad to get this sorted and I do not like hassle, especially from her!

Sunday brings us to Carrick where the locals will have the smell of blood in their nostrils. After a fighting display but a third defeat against Fermanagh their slim survival hopes demand victory on Sunday. For our part the bad start will be largely forgotten about if we can rack up a second successive win. I hear McNamara is unavailable so we'll be no wiser as to the plans for him for the year until a bit later in the year. Johnny Mac is almost certain to need an op and the London game in the championship is probably the target for him. I've heard no word on Egan but we could do with his power.

Interestingly for those Antrim hurling supporters who couldn't be accomodated last weeked - the throw in time is switched to 3pm to facilitate the St. Patricks Day parade in Carrick.

Made it to a wet, windy and cold Markievicz Park today and witnessed a crucial win for our boys. We started the brighter and registered 3 points in a row at the start into the wind. Limerick got going then and partially aided by a strong breeze took the lead. Sligo kept battling and interestingly McNamara and Maguire were switched. Into injury time in the first half Sligo trailed by a point when disaster struck. A high ball into the square was misjudged by Fizzy and it went into the net. At the time it felt like it would be a killer blow. To our lads credit they kept battling and prompted by the outstanding Maguire at centre back took the game to the visitors. They levelled matters only to fall behind again but a great score by Quinner off his left boot was followed by the winner by Jonny Davey. A badly needed win and much to be optimistic about. I thought we played some good, constructive football at times - of a style sometimes different to our usual mode. There may be more strings to our bow come summer.

For me the centre back issue was solved today. It creates a problem at full back (which might be solved by Naughton) but Maguire was so good that he needs to be stationed at 6 permanently. I wouldn't have been as vehemently anti McNamara at 6 as some but I was very disappointed with him yesterday. He is probably worth a place on the team but I'd say it should be in the forwards. Good to see Quinner making a tit out of the idiots who were quick to scapegoat him after the Wexford game. He put in a great 70 minutes work and again he will improve. Beirne was a bit of a mixed bag. He seems keen enough and did some good things but took some really bad options at times when in possession. Assuming that can be coached out of him he has potential. And we have very few options there anyway. Harrison and Donovan good, up to usual high standard. Kivlehan did ok. Jonny Davey had a good game. Thought half forwards struggled at times but O'Hara came into the game at telling times in the second half. Cawley looked classy at times, particularly in the second half. Curran's game was a bit of a mixed bag. Gallagher seemed to be injured going off and was doing fairly well. David Kelly had a fine game and looks to be developing. Breheny - some good, some bad but will always pick up a few scores. Sweeney did well too.

So next game against Leitrim who have struggled badly to date. They will be frothing from the mouth for this one but if we win it they're nearly down and we're nearly safe.

For any of our Windy City based readers there's an event coming up next week which may be of interest to you. Coolera Dramatic Society drama group a performing JB Keane's "Sive" in the Irish American Heritage Centre on Wednesday and Thursday. One of the actors is multi talented Sligo midfielder Kieran Quinn and he is bringing the Connacht SFC Cup - the Nestor Cup - with him. It promises to be a great week for the 30 or so folks from Sligo heading over and all who go to the show. If anyone wants any further details just post on this thread or pm me.

I know Sligo are ihn the final by virtue of a one point win over Donegal and the fact that a couple of counties on our side of the draw pulled out but I've no idea when the final is due to be played or how the other half is progressing. Can anyone shed any light on this?

I see that Bud has deleted his account and has left us. It got me thinking - with the way things have gone round here is it worth hanging round when we're losing posters like Bud and being inundated with morons?

I have enjoyed this board over the years but its beginning to be a total joke. Am thinking of moving on myself.

What do ye think?

Lets kick this one off. After watching Galway and ourselves in the semi I think we need to beef up the FF line considerably. Having a couple of target men inside could bear fruit. Kelly had a good game last year too so I'd hold on to him. CHB needs changing too. I'd consider McNamara for an inside forward role instead.

Anyway, my XV to end the famine is:

Greene, Harrison, Maguire, Donovan, McGovern, Doohan, J. Davey, Quinn, O'Hara, Curran, Breheny, McPartland, Kelly, S. Davey, Sweeney/McNamara.

The fact that Sweeney works so well when introduced from the bench might actually mitigate against him getting a starting slot in my eyes. Doohan at CHB will doubtless raise a few eyebrows but I think it could be the final piece in the jigsaw.

Tricky draw for beaten Div 3 finalists Sligo. Armagh will be tough with Div 2 hurling behind them and Tyrone are no push overs either. Elsewhere you'd expect Longford and Donegal to emerge from 3B, Roscommon and ? from 3C and Louth and ? from 3D. Can't go to see our lads as I've a club game on at the same time but it will be interesting to see how they fare.



All Ireland Nicky Rackard Cup Hurling Championship

-- 23.06.07 (Sat) --

All Ireland Nicky Rackard Cup Hurling Championship

Group 3A - Round 1
Markievicz Park 3.00 Sligeach v Ard Mhacha
Referee: Tony Carroll, Uíbh Fhailí
Tír Eoghain bye

Group 3B - Round 1
Ballinamore 7.00 Liatroim v Longfort
Referee: Eoin O'Shaughnessy, Gaillimh
Dún na nGall bye

Group 3C - Round 1
Athleague 3.00 Ros Comáin v Fear Manach
Referee: Martin Mulholland, Doire
Muineachán bye

Group 3D - Round 1
Pairc na hÉireann 6.00 Warwickshire v An Lú
Referee: HP McCusker, An Dún
An Cabhán bye

-- 30.06.07 (Sat)  --

All Ireland Nicky Rackard Cup Hurling Championship

Group 3A - Round 2
Crossmaglen 7.00 Ard Mhacha v Tír Eoghain
Referee: Fergus Devereux, Cill Dara
Sligeach bye

Group 3B - Round 2
Pearse Park 3.00 Longfort v Dún na nGall
Referee: Brendan Sweeney, An Cabhán
Liatroim bye

Group 3C - Round 2
Lisnaskea 7.00 Fear Manach v Muineachán
Referee: Tony Carroll, Uíbh Fhailí
Ros Comáin bye

Group 3D - Round 2
Dundalk 7.00 An Lú v An Cabhán
Referee: Martin Mulholland, Doire
Warwickshire bye

-- 07.07.07 (Sat) Round 3 --

All Ireland Nicky Rackard Cup Hurling Championship 2007

Round 3 - Group 3A
Omagh 3.00 Tír Eoghain v Sligeach
Ard Mhacha bye

Round 3 - Group 3B
Ballyshannon 3.00 Dún na nGall v Liatroim
Longfort bye

Round 3 - Group 3C
Clones 3.00 Muineachán v Ros Comáin
Fear Manach bye

Round 3 - Group 3D
Kingspan Breffni Pk 3.00 An Cabhán v Warwickshire
An Lú bye

-- 14.07.07 (Sat) --
Quarter-Finals

-- 21.07.07 (Sat) --
Semi-Finals

-- 12.08.07 --
Final

Leitrim hosting this year with the assistance of Sligo and Roscommon. Our club are hosting St Lomans, Westmeath boys and St. Peters, Armagh girls. Anyone heading over our direction?

Well folks she's creeping up on us big time (three weeks yesterday). Huge worries about the pitch in NY. It seems the game is going to be played on astroturf which is hardly acceptable. Gaelic Park supposedly resembles a quarry at the moment. Our county board should be vigilant but regardless if its played in a dust bowl or not we have to take care of business.

Well the season is ratcheted up a notch this weekend with a few things to be decided for the all blacks this weekend. First up are the minors at 1pm on Saturday against Roscommon in the Connacht league. This squad is progressing along nicely and a lot of lads are getting a good crack of the whip. A win here would keep us alive in the competition but the preformance and potential are the key things. The minors also play a challenge on Sunday before the senior game so a lot of lads with championship ambitions have a chance to lay down a marker.

Next up are the U-21's ar 2.30pm on Saturday. I don't know a lot about this side but from the names being mentioned I know that we have some good players and I'd expect a good performance. The Rossies will no doubt be including several of their All-Ireland winning minors from last year but hopefully we'll be able to give them a good rattle and advance. We lost to them 3 years ago at minor due to a good last 10 minutes for them lead by their captain but there are alot of changes from Sligo's dubious selection that day.

Sunday then sees the must win senior tie against Antrim at 3.30pm in the Park. Hopefully tension doesn't set in and the lads can perform to the levels of recent weeks while being a little more clinical. A win is essential and every point is going to count. The Tipp v. Wicklow game has a huge bearing on everything for us. I still can't work out what result I want in it. If Tipp win I'd expect them to beat Antrim the week after and then even if we win our two games we could still end up fecked. If Wicklow win its probably best as it leaves our destiny in our own hands. A draw keeps it all up in the air but maybe favours Tipp. It's going to be tight.

Not to forget our gallent hurlers who face Donegal on Sunday in Tourlestrane. A win or draw would guarantee a playoff spot which is very notable as it would have been achieved without several of our better players, who have taken a rest from the league, including Paul Seevers.

After two tough struggles with the so called lesser lights of the football world one of the big name teams rolls into town this weekend. Meath aren't setting the world alight but this one will capture the imagination of Sligo gales and I'd expect a good crowd. We are tough to beat at home and two points would be a huge boost for us. Looking forward to it. I'm unsure as to whether O'Hara is suspended or not - does the repeat double yellow suspension carry a minimum 1 game stipulation?

A good win for the men in black in difficult circumstances. One wonders whether we should bother playing O'Hara at all in the league - it seems that these new refs want to make a name for themselves by sending the great man to the line. A ridiculous double yellow again yesterday - neither were justified in my book. Injuries to Martyn and McNamara in the first half added to Sligo's problems. Anyway, I suppose it gave the chance for others to step up to the plate and it was a few unlikely lads that impressed. Kenny Sweeney at FF and Barry Kivlehan at wing back were excellent firing 7 points from play between them. With some average to below par performances from some of the older hands it was these young guys who saw us through and great credit to them. Others who impressed were Harrison, Gallagher and Breheny with Egan, Martyn and Kelly having many good moments too. Greene has developed into a top class goalkeeper and his kickouts were good yesterday - looks like he has put a bit of work into this area.

So as you can see its really a lot of the new lads that are doing the biz at present. Some of the more established guys need to get the finger out but doubtless they will. O'Hara is probably out for the Meath game but this will be offset somewhat by the return of Kieran Quinn. Hard to know how Martyn and McNamara will be - 50/50 perhaps. A win against the royals would put us in a good position. This league is going to be a slog with every point earned the hard way. Waterford battled like hell yesterday with a big, fit team and we did well to beat them.

Finally on the ref Robert O'Donnell. I have a little sympathy because obviously referees have explicit instructions to destroy gaelic football by issuing yellow cards for every foul. However, this lad took the biscuit. He rode us in the first half, changed his tune for 20 minutes of the second half (obviously got told at HT he fucked up on the O'Hara thing) and then turned again for the closing stages. It really is frustrating to watch these guys. Something needs to be done about it.

After last years debacle our lads will surely be up for it but this will be a difficult tie no doubts. Some of our returning players have performed with varying degrees of success in the FBD while some have not returned yet at all. My gut feeling is that we are ahead of where we were 12 months ago but what about Tipp? Home advantage will be a big help. Any sort of a win would be good. Anything less and we're staring at Division 4 in 2008 and all that entails.

Excellent article here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1983434,00.html .

Should be interesting viewing.

Any of you know how to contact the folks at GAA.ie? I've a problem with username/password for our website (finally getting round to getting someone to look at it) but emails do not seem to reach these guys. Any advice?