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[But a draw was a fair result in a roller coaster game that entertained everyone there, including the Laoises/Westmeaths that hung on (Jazes, their game was shockingly bad and, had it gone to extra time, there could have been a riot)]

Dems the breaks Main Street - cuda, shuda etc.

But a draw was a fair result in a roller coaster game that entertained everyone there, including the Laoises/Westmeaths that hung on (Jazes, their game was shockingly bad and, had it gone to extra time, there could have been a riot)

Never got in contact with Dinny to buy him that cup of tea. There was great craic with myself and the brother with 5 Kildare lads who were hilarious with the quips. I can see how frustrated some Lilly supporters are so Dinny, you are not alone.

So, all in all, 10/10 for sheer entertainment. Some great scores, lively banter, thrills and spills.

Must say, as a nod to the Offaly boys, Tullamore is a wonderful venue now, having being a kip before.

Here's to next Sun

Ain't that the truth. I was leaving the Longford game numerous times as it looked done but they kept rising from the dead. Was more interested in seeing Longford sneak a winner than us scraping an undeserved draw. Super game, had everything. Great game management from Longford at the end of normal time to run down the clock, keep the ball and in the last 10 seconds create an incursion inside the 45 and get a shot off knowing that Kildare wouldn't have time to get back up the field if it went over. And of course it dramatically came back off the post. Some sore bodies today I'd say, the hits in extra time could be felt in the stand.

Things not looking good for Waterford. Offaly have been a long way off past glories for at least this decade. Antrim game a big test for them. Should have enough for Kerry. (Although bar 89 the buggers usually beat Antrim by a bit but hopefully not this year)

I'd say Offaly and Antrim at similar level, was listening to the games on the radio yesterday and the co commentator was an Offaly man, he was fuming

Going on yesterday I'd be surprised if Offaly get near Antrim either. Their touch was shocking, rallied a bit after half time but the Westmeath goals killed it. Westmeath should have won that game by 20+ points, really good performance in the first half but had a few needless wides. Weren't at the same pitch in the second half but did enough to kill the game. Killian Doyle was on fire throughout and Aonghus Clarke and Jogger were in complete command at the back, really strong spine to the team. Good work rate from Mitchell up top too. A full performance like that first half, next weekend against Kerry, should set us up for a nice battle with Laois and Antrim to make the final.

Iarmhí Abú

[Especially the footballer]

New tipp one out as well. New sponsor too. He's from Portroe as well.

Those are great poses by the lads. Especially the footballer.
Pure culchie! (and hopefully it's obvious that I don't mean than insultingly 🙃)

Pure Dub. How are you supposed to know opposition players when you struggle to pick out your own. 

Great result after a decent performance Saturday, nice to have another trophy for the cabinet, we'll have to invest in another one at this rate. We were very slow out of the blocks, didn't score until the 17th minute and some of our balls inside were very poorly executed. We managed the black cards very well though and upped our work rate for them 20 minutes. When we got back to 15 for the last 15 minutes we were operating at a higher level and our work rate got us home. Passed up a host of chances as well though so loads to work on still. Nice touch with the t-shirts at the end and good speech from the Bear to reference Lee Wallace. We've it all to do now to beat Laois for the third time now in 7 weeks so all thoughts turned towards that now. They missed a host of frees and chances as well so expect to see improved performances from both teams in O'Connor Park.

An Iarmhí Abú

Congrats to Westmeath. Not a bad team ye have assembled there. Play good football.

That's generous from a Longford man 

Some very good footballers, particularly in the forwards. Sam Duncan has made a big step up to midfield this year, which in turn has released Ger Egan into the forwards. He's thriving up there and was the top scorer in all the league divisions. Keeping Heslin off the frees too. We prefer to play open football but have got 13 behind the ball when playing the likes of Carlow and Down. Pity the squad isn't that bit stronger, having the likes of Holloway, Sharry and the Connellans would make a difference.

Great result after a decent performance Saturday, nice to have another trophy for the cabinet, we'll have to invest in another one at this rate. We were very slow out of the blocks, didn't score until the 17th minute and some of our balls inside were very poorly executed. We managed the black cards very well though and upped our work rate for them 20 minutes. When we got back to 15 for the last 15 minutes we were operating at a higher level and our work rate got us home. Passed up a host of chances as well though so loads to work on still. Nice touch with the t-shirts at the end and good speech from the Bear to reference Lee Wallace. We've it all to do now to beat Laois for the third time now in 7 weeks so all thoughts turned towards that now. They missed a host of frees and chances as well so expect to see improved performances from both teams in O'Connor Park.

An Iarmhí Abú

An individual involved with Carlow is said to have done something disgusting after their clash against Leix today.

I see they were up to other antics in the Down game too. No smoke without fire.

[Westmeath well worth their win today. We only had about 5 minutes of control. The rest was Westmeath and should have won by more.]

Delighted Offaly survived and Carlow didn't. Shame that Sligo were doomed and I hope to see them bounce back. They played nice football v us in Longford.

I hope never to see Carlow again. Their brand of football makes you want to cry.

Westmeath well worth their win today. We only had about 5 minutes of control. The rest was Westmeath and should have won by more.

Well done Laois and fair play to Louth. Having seen them the first day I thought they were for the kn**ker's yard.

Fair summation SS, we were all over the place on kickouts, which gave ye a foothold in the match. We must have lost most of our own in the first half and the few we did retain we invariably lost possession through poor transition into your half. Couldn't believe we didn't push up on your kickouts in the second half and let ye out so easy. Kickouts has been the one area we've really improved on this year, well until yesterday. We passed up an easy opportunity to kill the game early in the second half too before ye broke down the field to equalise, we don't like to make it easy for ourselves.

Great to see Heslin sharpen his edges and return to form, took some lovely points. Ger Egan was exceptional though, as he has been since the first game of the O'Byrne Cup. Being released from the shackles of midfield really suits his game. Boidu settling nicely into the corner back spot now and having Maguire back there beside him is a real assurance. Surprised at Smith going straight into the team but suppose we have to give him a chance, showed good energy. O'Toole is a great little poacher, brilliant awareness on the pitch.

As expected we need a result up in Drogheda, by all accounts Louth were very deserving winners up in Down so we have it all to do. Looking forward to the occasion though, if not the venue.

Like most, glad to see the back of Carlow from division 3 and not surprised to hear reports about the Carlow selector's antics. The worst display I ever witnessed on a sideline was from him 2 years ago in Cusack Park. He should have been put in the stands on numerous occasions, good riddance.

If Louth didn't have a venue last Sunday morning the game should have been switched to Westmeath if a neutral venue couldn't be quickly arranged. Not like the counties are the opposite ends of the country from each other either. HQ knew games would be in doubt that weekend so should have made contingency plans, particularly with the state of the pitch in Drogeda in mind. The referees's calls in the second half of division 3 matches could be very topical next week.

Remaining fixtures are:

Round 6 Offaly 14:00 Laois
Round 6 Longford 14:00 Sligo
Round 6 Louth 14:00 Westmeath
Round 6 Carlow 15:00 Down
Round 7 Sligo 14:00 Offaly
Round 7 Westmeath 14:00 Longford
Round 7 Down 14:00 Louth
Round 7 Laois 14:00 Carlow

Can see Laois making it to 10 points alright, 11 guarantees promotion so should Down win away to Carlow the next day they'll only need a draw against Louth the last day. Longford will beat Sligo and will be pushing us hard to get to 10 points the last day as well. Imperative we beat Louth away the next day, something we haven't managed to do in the league for a number of years. Some awful trips to Haggardstown there a few years ago.

Sligo are rebuilding, they were competitive enough until Westmeath started converting their goal chances to put daylight between the sides. Our decision making in the final third is letting us down but have to say that two of the goals were extremely well worked, which hopefully is a sign of work on the practice field coming to the fore. There's lots of evidence of work done on kickouts, we have a decent range of options now on that front. Not sure what exactly happened for the Sligo goal but we left the goal completely unprotected and were caught out.

Luke had his best league game so far, O'Toole was excellent up there too. Heslin still rusty but will only get better. Sam is now first choice midfielder and is full of action. Maguire has really tightened up the full back line and Boidu has raised his game too since he's come back. 8 points probably a fair reflection on the gap between the teams and sets us up nicely for a trip to Louth in 2 weeks. Win our last 2 games we'll be promoted, as simple as that.

Are Laois any good?

They're not bad, will be there or thereabouts.

Really good second half from Westmeath yesterday to turn around the flow of the match after Laois had the better of the first. We were much more direct after half time and we need to employ this approach when not playing one of the 15 behind the ball teams. Laois sending Kingston onto the edge of the square and bringing O'Carroll out to the 40 worked in our favour too. It was nice to see some old style man on man proper defending yesterday. Kevin Maguire played like a man who was never away, while Boidu and Wallace were to the fore too. Laois look to have a corner back every bit as good as Joe Higgins was in Gareth Dillon, looks a class act. If Paddy Holloway could be tempted back it would really tie up the backline.

Up the far end our final pass let us down in the first half, could have been in on goal a couple of times only for poor handling. Passed up an excellent chance at the back post in the second half too. Great to get the win though, puts us back in the promotion race, win our last 3 games and we're guaranteed to go up. 2 of them away so no easy task. Need to win away to a Sligo team fighting for their lives next Sunday.

Awful football on view in Newry on Saturday night, lovely little stadium though and the locals couldn't have been sounder. Westmeath have gone back to one of their old failings where they always look to take a solo before getting their heads up whereas Down's first inclination was to move the ball on. Was no surprise that a Tally team got 15 behind the ball but after playing Carlow a couple of times already we should be more proficient at playing against this system. The GAA trialled the wrong rule around the handpass, they should have trialled keeping at least 4 bodies inside the oppositions 65 at all times. The crowds are going to fall completely through the floor if this style of football becomes common place.

Westmeath have only themselves to blame though, they missed a penalty (was a great save in fairness) and spurned numerous goal and point chances. Strange league so far, we could easily be on 6 points as be on 0 points. 2 weeks to take stock now ahead of Laois.

Dublin should have their own 20000-30000 capacity ground to cater for their games. I think most Dublin gaels would prefer this. I hope the Donegal motion succeeds.

I really doubt it. Where are we looking at? Rathcoole? Crokers location is half the crowd.

And there is no money for stadia until Franks bag o shyte is cleaned up.

The Spawell, you already own the site. Dublin I think needs at least a 30k stadium, maybe 40k, it would be sold out for the home league and early leinster games as it would be an event to be at due to the atmosphere instead of a smaller crowd feeling lost in Croker.

Carlow are the new black death, horrible to play against. We didn't do ourselves any favours, gift wrapped them a goal in the first half and when they were there for the taking in the second half we made some awful decisions in front of goal where a little more composure and shot selection would have seen us comfortably over the finishing line. The Fish caught some fantastic balls out around the middle and needs to be released from the shackles of the full back line. The referee was consistently inconsistent, lost complete control of the match early on. Kieran Martin's first yellow wasn't even a relation of a free, never mind a card, woeful altogether. Hopefully get better officiating next Sat, looking forward to Newry under lights.