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I remember at the time it sent chills through the whole  nationalist community. Just listening to Talkback and Trevor Birney talking about and how attacking someone like Sean Brown was a deliberate ploy as he was decent and could not be associated with any paramilitary organisation. It was purely to put fear and Terror through a whole community by striking at its centre.

We had just won the AI and had beaten Bellaghy in the Ulster final before Christmas 1996. There was a crew of us living in Belfast and we had close relationships on and off the field with a lot of the Bellaghy lads. It struck hard. I remember travelling home at the time and we regularly changed out pick up spots etc. Going to matches in Lurgan and that was always a concern as well. How the f**k was that normal? 

Unfortunately we normalised it at the time and adopted

My dad handed me the book The Shankill butchers when it came out

Made me read it before I headed out that weekend, needless to say that put the willies up me for that period of heading out! 

Absolutely horrible book. Really tough. I read the book called committee. Really opened my eyes as a teenager growing up.

Only policeman you trust is a dead one.

Haven't read the Shankill butchers but did read the committee.
Certain well know  car dealerships at the fore.
If I remember right they have the oath taken by orange order members in the back cover too.

McPhilemy later had to retract on any involvement by those two and it cost him a few quid too from recollection. It was very messy as Trimble also took them to court too I believe. Must be 30 years ago!

I think Sean got a few himself

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/mar/31/northernireland.sarahhall

I dont think Mickey Harte will be too upset that Derry are out of the Ulster. They have the medals from the last 2 years in their pockets. Its all about SAM for them now. They get a nice 4 week break to get themselves ready. I would not be writing them off at all.

Starting to see some stronger language from Micheal Martin now. Its a shame it took all those deaths before Irish mainstream politicians stood up and were counted. Maybe the justified abuse he got about his trip to Israel had an effect on him, who knows...

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/micheal-martin-says-israel-tried-to-undermine-unrwa-as-independent-report-finds-country-provided-no-evidence-of-hamas-links/a1681110605.html

Also now clear (if anyone was stupid enough to believe Israel in the 1st place) that the UNRWA/Hamas link was a total lie and the resulting actions from some western countries have resulted in speeding up the threat of famine. Shame on those countries.

Haven't watched this but will give it a go later, can only imagine what the family are going through reliving this over again and again.

Would love to know how many agents there were used over the years

In this case there were 25 suspects, many of whom were state agents. That's a quote from the coroner. The British are taking legal action against the same coroner for revealing that detail.

Stuff like this should be on the leaving cert. A very dirty war was run in the North against Nationalists and its about time people in the south especially were educated on that fact.

Another example of Tyrone being refereed differently again. How can one be a yellow card and the other black?

Did you see the whole incident or just what we seen on the telly?

To be fair the BBC could not find why there was 1 black and 1 yellow appeared bizzarre, a big call that impacted on the game. Do you know why?

I only seen what the telly showed, as did most? My thinking is the the Tyrone man pulled him to the ground and what we seen was the grabbing each about on TV

Someon said the cavan player threw rurari away then paudie went over to him and that started it. Not sure if thats correct though.

Hampsie was at lynch the whole match, I don't think I've ever seen Paddy in a wrestling match before at a match. There was another blatant black card at the end of full time which was a very poor miss by the ref but I'm not sure would it have carried in extra time?

Tyrone and Donegal an interesting one, Donegal will surely not allow the Canavans and McCurry freedom of the park like Cavan did. And Donegal have better forwards than Cavan. Full credit to Cavan for dragging themselves back into that.

Can't see Tyrone getting near Donegal especially given extra time today.

Donegal will be shown to be not that great. They got 3 goals from a smart tactical move on kick outs. I don't think that will happen. I think Armagh would beat them should they meet in the final

Haven't seen anyone suggest we're "great". Why would they?

Ulster title is wide open.

Personally, I've no idea what to expect next week beyond the fact that I expect us to give Tyrone a good rattle, unlike the facile stroll we allowed them last year.

If you read the post I was responding to you'll get it.

Tyrone and Donegal an interesting one, Donegal will surely not allow the Canavans and McCurry freedom of the park like Cavan did. And Donegal have better forwards than Cavan. Full credit to Cavan for dragging themselves back into that.

Can't see Tyrone getting near Donegal especially given extra time today.

Donegal will be shown to be not that great. They got 3 goals from a smart tactical move on kick outs. I don't think that will happen. I think Armagh would beat them should they meet in the final

Well just home and haven't watched anything back on TV yet. I thought in extra time we had a free or two we should've got but didn't but the overcarrying by o rourke was correct call. Wasn't his fault though as he was isolated and got no help. From a Cavan perspective we have to look at how we set up in 1st half, playing that cagey shite that Tyrone love. Gave them an 8 point lead and then started to play. We need to go for it from the start. A proud effort from the lads that just came up short

Very disappointed that Coldrick on I think 3 occasions did not follow the rules and ask "injured" Tyrone players to go to the line. No excuse for that.

Crazy that Tyrone are expected to play donegal in 7 days.

Still unbeaten at home. Extra time doesn't count

Fair play to the Sindo, still fighting the good fight and calling out Gerry Adams for his heinous crimes

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/gerry-adams-stole-shrubs-from-hillsborough-castle-to-plant-at-home/a87346658.html

Not sure if there's a Munster championship thread.

But alot to like about this Cork side.

They might be well bet yet considering how brave they are.


But serious potential in this side.

Yes they are decent, we only bet them by 1 point.

One bad mistake punished. Real shame for Sligo who were the better team by all accounts

It's odd isn't it?

Every single last person involved in sport knows that protracted knockout competitions are a steaming pile of dung until the element of jeopardy arrives.

And yet all around Ireland, all around the world, we keep introducing and extending these formats.

Other sports can at least use professionalism and a need for paying spectators as their excuse.

We cannot.

Well considering 85% approx of money generated filters down to the clubs, we all win?

Where's that figure coming from?

HQ is clearly contributing to player injury insurance. And it pays for the IT infrastructure (Foireann).

But I did a 5 year stretch as a treasurer until recently. And i don't actually recall a direct benefit coming from HQ during that time.

Was I filling in the wrong forms?

Jarlath Burns interview the other day he said 83cent/penny of every pound/euro the gaa make goes back to clubs. No idea if thats accurate or where the money is seen!

I would say that's a steaming pile of dung. I don't remember our club getting anything from GAA so maybe Jarlath can elaborate. Even on grants its all from government

Omens are okay... Tyrone won 2001 All Ireland minor final in Breffini Park beating Dublin in a replay... Joe McMahon was playing and on backroom team now so knows the ground well... h'up
https://m.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/terrific-tyrone-make-no-mistake/26069581.html

That doesn't count.