Messages

On point 2, I would make it compulsory everyone who receives a red card will not be eligible to play until they sit a rule test and get at least 80%.

I would make the standard referee test compulsory for every member registering via Foireann. With Referees having to get 80+%, Players should have to get 70%, normal members 60%. At the very least, it may force spectators to actually read the rule book in some sort of depth. I too have players querying the rules after games. Currently, the most common is the 4 step rule after an unclaimed mark.

Loughmacorys name will be on the O'Neill cup before Donaghmores.

I would agree. One of the best drilled teams in the county, with Meenagh's stamp still all over them (is he still involved now that he has the full Derry gig?).

They play the same way as Derry and are extremely fit, hard hitting, hard working and organised. If you fall behind them, it's almost impossible to break down their system and regain control. Their keeper is also an important piece of the puzzle, adding scores as well as joining kick outs like Morgan et all do at county level.

Donaghmore have numbers and potential, and will be worth watching for the next few years, but a number of teams (Carrickmore, LMC & Errigal) are a few years ahead whilst still being young. Then you have the serial championship contenders like Fianna, Dromore, Trillick, Omagh, KC and the Clarkes and the Tyrone league/championship is as predictable as ever.

From what I have seen so far this year, along with last year, there has been a huge increase in the professionalism in the club game in Tyrone, and standards are higher than I ever remember. Some of the young players in the league are fantastic to watch (McElhom, Cassidy, McGarrity).

[Sat 8th Oct 22]

Sat 8th Oct 22

Clonoe v Donaghmore
Edendork 1:00 PM

Carrickmore v Loughmacrory
Pomeroy 3:45 PM

Sun 9th Oct 22

Omagh v Dromore
Loughmacrory 1:00 PM

Errigal Ciaran v Dungannon
Carrickmore 3:45 PM

Kileeshil must be one.

The double header planned for Killeeshil has been moved to Donaghmore now according to the Tyrone website. Brackaville v Fintona and Clogher v Eglish.

Donaghmore and the Clarkes played out a thriller tonight due to a postponed fixture. The crowd in Donaghmore made it feel like a championship fixture, with spectators from all over the county.

Surely the county board would look at that and think that they need to pick certain fixtures for stand alone events i.e. one senior fixture on a Sunday to allow for that increased crowd and championship feel e.g. Errigal v Carmen, Trillick v Dromore, Ardboe v Moortown, Fianna v Clonoe are just some examples.

Would work at all levels too. Edendork v Galbally showed on Thursday that staggered games lead to a greater occasion and atmosphere. The odd game on a Thursday/Sunday/Monday would shake up the players schedule but for the hosting clubs and the players, surely it merits some thought.

Every channel north, south and across the water is talking about the Protocol and how it needs to change for the "peace and prosperity of NI".

Some have pointed to the election of 54 pro-Protocol MLA's, but surely at this point it makes more sense to have a referendum and allow the people in the North to have a proper voice, not have everyone assume and speak on our behalf.

I would say it would far exceed 70% in favour, to put an end to this rubbish, and highlight even more how much of a roadblock the DUP are, even with a minority electorate.

It'd pass, but honestly don't think it's the sort of thing ordinary people should be voting on, we know all the lies that will be spouted. How many on here would honestly know the ins and outs of it?

I accept your point, and we know how much false information is spread. However, I don't think the question to the ordinary person should be "Should the Protocol be retained in it's current form" - as to your point, very few would have the information to answer properly.

Instead, I think a simple question of "Does the NI Protocol, in it's current form, have a material adverse impact on your day-to-day life either personally or professionally - yes/no"

I live in a rural area, I work in Belfast and deal with a large number of people who span many different professional sectors, and I would say the positive:negative ratio is about 5:1 in my experience.

Surely if a large majority stated that the Protocol had no material impact, the UK Government will be challenged when using NI as pawns to create a trade war.

In my view, the Protocol is working, and the figures back that up. It shows that the harder the Brexit, the worse-off you are. The UKG wants rid of the Protocol as it is absolute comparable proof that they have shot themselves, and the British people, in the foot.

Every channel north, south and across the water is talking about the Protocol and how it needs to change for the "peace and prosperity of NI".

Some have pointed to the election of 54 pro-Protocol MLA's, but surely at this point it makes more sense to have a referendum and allow the people in the North to have a proper voice, not have everyone assume and speak on our behalf.

I would say it would far exceed 70% in favour, to put an end to this rubbish, and highlight even more how much of a roadblock the DUP are, even with a minority electorate.

[Proposed Ranking based on 2020 League and Provincials for 2020 All-Ireland stages]

My proposal for what it's worth. Means every game means something as even a simple move for London from bottom of Div 4 to second last would have resulted in a first round tie with Cavan, and not Kerry. A ranking/seeding system that promotes winning the other tournaments, and ends in straight knockout championship for Sam. I used 2020 as we did not run normal leagues in 2021.

Proposed Ranking based on 2020 League and Provincials for 2020 All-Ireland stages

1   Div 1 winner   Kerry
2   Ulster Champ   Cavan (Provincials will rotate in rankings each year)
3   Munster Champ   Tipperaray
4   Connacht Champ   Mayo
5   Leinster Champ   Dublin
6   Div 2 Winner   Roscommon
7   Div 3 Winner   Cork
8   Div 4 Winner   Limerick
9   Ulster 2nd   Donegal
Munster 2nd   Cork rank skipped as duplicate (everyone below moves up)
10   Conn 2nd   Galway
11   Lein 2nd   Meath
Div 1 2nd   Dublin rank skipped as duplicate (everyone below moves up)
12   Div 2 2nd   Armagh
13   Div 3 2nd   Down
14   Div 4 2nd   Wicklow
Rest based on league standings   
15   Tyrone
16   Monaghan
17   Kildare
18   Westmeath
19   Laois
20   Clare
21   Fermanagh
22   Derry
23   Longford
24   Offaly
25   Leitrim
26   Louth
27   Antrim
28   Wexford
29   Carlow
30   Sligo
31   Waterford
32   London

Straight knockout from here based on rankings: (this would leave 5 rounds of straight knockout after Provincials, which was the same number of games played under the super 8's, except all games mean something)

Round 1
1v32 = A   Kerry v London
2v31 = B   Cavan v Waterford
3v30 = C   Tipperary v Sligo
4v29 = D   Mayo v Carlow
5v28 = E   Dublin v Wexford
6v27 = F   Roscommon v Antrim
7v26 = G   Cork v Louth
8v25 = H   Limerick v Leitrim
9v24 = I   Donegal v Offaly
10v23 = J   Galway v Longford
11v22 = K   Meath v Derry
12v21 = L   Armagh v Fermanagh
13v20 = M   Down v Clare
14v19 = N   Wicklow v Laois
15v18 = O   Tyrone v Westmeath
16v17 = P   Monaghan v Kildare

Projected rd 2
A v P   Kerry v Monaghan
B v O   Cavan v Tyrone
C v N   Tipp v Laois
D v M   Mayo v Down
E v L   Dub v Armagh
F v K   Ros v Derry
G v J   Cork v Galway
H v I   Limerick v Donegal

Projected QF

Kerry v Tyrone
Mayo v Tipp
Dub v Ros
Gal v Donegal

Projected SF

Tyrone v Mayo
Dub v Donegal

Projected Final

Tyrone v Dublin

[Dromore]

Senior Championship Predictions:

Ardboe v Dromore (Preliminary Round Game One)

Derrylaughan v Moy (Preliminary Round Game Two)

Clonoe v Errigal Ciaran

Derrylaughan/Moy v Loughmacrory

Edendork v Coalisland

Omagh v Carrickmore

Dungannon v Ardboe/Dromore

Pomeroy v Eglish

Killyclogher v Donaghmore

Trillick v Galbally

When are these played?

https://www.facebook.com/ulsterheraldnews/photos/a.160220464015811/4349792748391874/

[Dromore]

Senior Championship Predictions:

Ardboe v Dromore (Preliminary Round Game One)

Derrylaughan v Moy (Preliminary Round Game Two)

Clonoe v Errigal Ciaran

Derrylaughan/Moy v Loughmacrory

Edendork v Coalisland

Omagh v Carrickmore

Dungannon v Ardboe/Dromore

Pomeroy v Eglish

Killyclogher v Donaghmore

Trillick v Galbally

Need a bit of advice. Just cancelled Sky and waiting for another month to cancel BT sports.

Have Apple TV in one room and a Fire TV Cube in the other. Also have Express VPN on my laptop but not on my router (looking at a TP link router to sort that soon)

Just need to know, is it possible to get a sort of "multi-room" IPTV sub and would it work on an the two devices above if I get my VPN sorted through my router?

It is becoming clear that Club football cannot co-exist with inter-county football in counties that regularly make the QF stage (especially through the back door).

A solution is to follow the Mayo approach (where county players hardly play club) and flip the Tyrone league as it currently stands. 10 games to be played without county players and 5 with (which I suppose we could define as "starred games" seeing as the county men are actually playing). To make up for the loss of county players, the rounds with county players could play would count for double points (4pts for a win; 2 for a draw), therefore giving county players the chance to help their teams gain 20pts, whilst leaving their teammates to collect the rest whilst the county season continues.

This approach would allow football to continue all summer, and the CCC could clearly pick 5 weekends where County Players would be available e.g. rounds 1-3 and rounds 14-15. If Tyrone are elimated earlier that QF/SF, then all games become "starred" games going forward.

A proposal went around a year or two ago suggesting 11 games with and 11 without, but that required a total overhaul of how Tyrone leagues look and play i.e. reduction from 16 to 12 teams per league. The above would undoubtedly dilute the league's standing slightly, but something seriously needs done before the floor collapses and we ruin football for the 99% to cater for the 1%.

Championship draw on tonight, does anyone know if Tyrone gaa is going live???

No sign of it anywhere, twitter or online. Would be a pity - enjoyed the stream last year to be honest (when it actually started).

http://teamtalkmag.com/2019/02/championship-draw-streamed-live/

Back to league action this weekend...

Biggest tie has to be Galbally v Pomeroy - Local derby on the final day with the losing team falling automatically into Div 2. Should be a great battle. Galbally are much improved under their new management, have home advantage and won the Championship tie between the team, whereas Pomeroy have the four county men to try to lift them out of bother.

Edendork should win, given that I can't see Killyclogher fielding a strong team after last Sunday, with nothing to play for.

Aghyaran v Moy is another interesting tie - Everyone knows Aghyaran is a very difficult place to take points from.

An Aghyaran win, along with wins for Galbally and Edendork results in a four way tie on 11pts. As stated before, this can't go to score difference because of the Galbally v Ardboe game. So we could have a four-way playoff to see who plays in the play offs (I would imagine they would just have 2 games and the 2 losers would essentially face off in the Div 1 relegation playoff, with the winner going on to play the Div 2 played winner).

At the opposite end of the table, 3rd and 4th position are up for grabs. Ardboe have nothing to play for so I fully expect Dromore to win with ease to seal their semi final spot. That leave the final semi-final spot up for grabs between Donaghmore v Omagh.

Omagh played very well against a poor Ardboe team last day out, whilst Donaghmore pipped Dromore by 2pts. It should be a good game as both teams push to end the season on a positive note.

All in all, should be a great, and very interesting, final day of the league.

As with any rule change, I'll have to see these in practice before making a call. I do feel for referees because a few of these just add to their complicated job, but my initial thoughts are:

I like the forward mark. I always thought a high catch should be followed by an advantage so I was supportive of the mark in midfield and now this will hopefully work as well.

I am not a fan of the side line ball rule, as a few have pointed out before, it's not a major issue and can now hinder teams who win a sideline inside their own 21 but outside their own 13.

Agree that the cards system is over complicated. I'm assuming the tick is replaced by the first yellow now i.e. yellows become even more common.

The kickout will not have a major effect imo (at adult level), other than to force a team playing 13 men behind the ball to 'reset'. A good keeper with good wing half backs will still be able to utilise the space for NFL-like kickouts, which I think could be a good skill. A good quick number 5 or 7 could eat up that spare space and make it a spectacle, so I'm remaining positive about that one. I would suggest that any kickouts below Senior/Reserve should be hit from the 21.

Finally, I am not a fan of the hand pass rule. Yes, we see too many hand passes, but I don't like the idea of punishing a team for keeping the ball when it is the obvious thing to do (i.e. up by 2pts and facing a 15man blanket). I also agree that some of the best scores in recent times have come from powerful running and quick hands ripping open defences.

I would prefer to see attacking incentivised instead of punishing teams who don't stupidly go into a packed defence. This is why a "shot clock" wouldn't work. I would prefer to see something that really rewards teams for going forward. One idea I had (and was laughed at before of course) was to give a team who scores the kickout i.e. maintaining possession. Teams don't want to squander possession these days so if we take the negative out of scoring (losing possession), teams can get on a role and keep going and it is for the other team to get a turn over and get their wave of attacks. This change would also force teams to go and get possession instead of waiting for their next kick out.Probably a radical change, but I'd rather see that than punishing smarter teams.