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The amount of turnovers we conceded in the 1st half of extra time was unreal and it cost us but it should never of got that far Coldrick is an absolute disgrace rode us from start to finish kept Monaghan in the game by himself the free at the end was a disgusting decision all you can ask for is fairness and Kildare didn't get that last night

If the ref was doing his job then Bolton would have got either a black or a yellow in the first half for his professional foul. Amazing leniency there. If it was a yellow and not a black (which is what I think it should have been) then Kildare would have been down to 14 in the 2nd half when he did get his black

If you want to talk soft frees look at one of the ones that Kildare got near then end on the cusack stand side. They missed it but that's hardly the refs fault.

Overall the better team one but I doubt that the dubs are losing sleep

Oh will you stop Kildare had the game won and Coldrick rescued it for Monaghan with a joke of a decision. He gave soft after soft free in the 1st half to keep Monghan in it also and Mc Manus spent spent more time diving on the ground than on his feet.

Listen - it was a foul. Soft or not. However the one against Wylie wasn't as there was absolutely no contact. You got your gift and then missed it. Get over it.

It was never a foul FFS!

We'll just have to agree to differ then. IMO over the course of the game Kildare got more than their fair share of decisions, they should have been down to 14 early in the 2nd half and in the end the better team won

The amount of turnovers we conceded in the 1st half of extra time was unreal and it cost us but it should never of got that far Coldrick is an absolute disgrace rode us from start to finish kept Monaghan in the game by himself the free at the end was a disgusting decision all you can ask for is fairness and Kildare didn't get that last night

If the ref was doing his job then Bolton would have got either a black or a yellow in the first half for his professional foul. Amazing leniency there. If it was a yellow and not a black (which is what I think it should have been) then Kildare would have been down to 14 in the 2nd half when he did get his black

If you want to talk soft frees look at one of the ones that Kildare got near then end on the cusack stand side. They missed it but that's hardly the refs fault.

Overall the better team one but I doubt that the dubs are losing sleep

Oh will you stop Kildare had the game won and Coldrick rescued it for Monaghan with a joke of a decision. He gave soft after soft free in the 1st half to keep Monghan in it also and Mc Manus spent spent more time diving on the ground than on his feet.

Listen - it was a foul. Soft or not. However the one against Wylie wasn't as there was absolutely no contact. You got your gift and then missed it. Get over it.

The amount of turnovers we conceded in the 1st half of extra time was unreal and it cost us but it should never of got that far Coldrick is an absolute disgrace rode us from start to finish kept Monaghan in the game by himself the free at the end was a disgusting decision all you can ask for is fairness and Kildare didn't get that last night

If the ref was doing his job then Bolton would have got either a black or a yellow in the first half for his professional foul. Amazing leniency there. If it was a yellow and not a black (which is what I think it should have been) then Kildare would have been down to 14 in the 2nd half when he did get his black

If you want to talk soft frees look at one of the ones that Kildare got near then end on the cusack stand side. They missed it but that's hardly the refs fault.

Overall the better team one but I doubt that the dubs are losing sleep

Judging from what i was hearing last night the Monaghan fans are certain the ref was the only reason Donegal won. Am i  missing something? I thought Monaghan were lucky not to get a few reds 

Wouldn't go that far but the ref was v poor. Missed a straight forward penalty decision (although yet again we have to question why the umpire couldn't help him out). The incident on the hill side touchline was completely down to the ref. Mone nearly had his head taken off but got no free. 5 minutes before he shipped another heavy tackle at the same spot and got nothing. This is the kind of stuff that drives players mad and i think it was Monaghan 11 who decided to take retribution. Having said that the Donegal fellow done a Robben on it - a yellow was right - never a red. D Hughes was pulled, dragged, pushed and shoved all day before eventually very late on the ref gave a yellow for it.

None of these changed the result. You can't let Donegal get ahead as they'll just park all the buses. Yesterday they always seemed to be 3 points up and abe to play their horrible system. i wouldn't be talking about the dubs yet though. Dublin will beat Kildare/Monaghan but will Donegal beat armagh ( no offence meath). Won't be a cakewalk for them

[Looking at the Dubs at the end it appeared to be just another medal for them safe in the knowledge there will be many more to follow.]

Congrats to the Dubs. Totally destroyed us in the first half. Full forward line was sublime but from a Ros perspective we allowed them far too much space. But from the get go Dubs were very accurate in kick passing and score taking. Barely put a pass astray in the entire first half. Awesome stuff and made it look so easy but part of that has to be Ros' fault as well. I'm relieved we put up a better show in the 2nd half. I was expecting the Dubs to continue their machine like display and annihilate us by a record margin. An AI would have been massive for the county. Looking at the Dubs at the end it appeared to be just another medal for them safe in the knowledge there will be many more to follow. Credit to them for getting their house in order the last few years. For Ros, at least we know we have a handful of players who are top-level. The task now is to keep making more and try and build up the senior side which in reality it is all about.

Have to disagree with you there. Yes McCaffrey, Mannion ect have AI in their back pocket. Most of these lads had to suffer the loss of an AI Minor Final a couple of years ago to Tipp. Its most of the lads first AI, so I'm sure it does mean a lot to them. No guarantee most of these will make the senior team.

Dublin's talent is frightening. Last sunday their starting forwards were Flynn, Andrews, Connolly, A Brogan, OGara and B Brogan. They had Hudson, McManamon, Cullen and Reddin on the bench (among others). Rock and Kilkenny will come back from injury. Then add at least 3 from today (Costello, Manion and McHugh). Has their ever been a forward squad that strong. Any of those would be starting for any other county.

Bit of sympathy from the umpire ?- looked sq ball to me

The conveyor belt of Dublin talent keeps on coming. This McHugh lad is going to be star.Must have about 1-5 or 1-6 by now with points off both feet

[is the pressure on Celtic]

Tom English reckons the SPL is doing well without Rangers and Celtic have performed and have had to perform well to win games.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26761719

'There are those who will argue until the cows come home - or, more the point, when Rangers come back - that Celtic's title is devalued because they haven't had to beat much. The truth is that they have beaten improving teams and they have beaten them more impressively than they have before'.

What has been missing since the demise of Rangers, is the pressure on Celtic to win every SPL game and that every 3 points matters, in order to win the title.

So can they not take pressure?

Rangers will not be up to the standard for a long while yet, 7 more years possibly so 10 in a row is there for Celtic to take. But it defo is devalued for sure.

Be like Barca or Real being ousted out of the Spanish league be no pressure on the other team left to get the required points

Why the feck do you care what happens in the SPL, or the value of the titles?
Is there really nothing else happening in your life that holds your interest?

You will note that the Celtic points total has exceeded usual SPL title winning standards.
Celtic are still beating the other teams and beating them well.
And the standard of the other teams has risen, according to Tom English, based on his observations.
But what's missing, according to my casual observation of the odd game in the SPL, is that bit of extra compulsion, that Celtic had to win every game because if points were dropped then Rangers were there, to possibly take advantage, or not.
It's not that complicated, is it?
Since when would a guy like you be interested in a 90% value SPL title?

I'll post on any thread here when I see fit, as you can also, I see that Rangers are the most successfull Scottish team in terms of Championships, with Rangers not being in the league it's devalued, full stop

Haven't you heard ? That club went bust or to be technical about it were liquidated. That club has 54 titles although many of them stink to high heaven with the amount of cheating that went on. The latest incarnation, i.e. sevco have a grand total of 0 championships to their name. Rangers may be historically the most successful but they sure as hell aren't the most successful active club

Is the match on Setanta? It will have been a full week since they last covered an Armagh game.

Its on setanta 1 (Dublin KK Hurling is on Setanta Ireland). Full game will be on later that night on Setanta Ireland as well if you can't get Setanta 1

What age were you?
Who was playing, what year  ?
Who did you go with ?
Do you remember anything about it ?

11
Scotstown Nemo Rangers 1979 AI club final
Family
St Patricks day, snow and sadly losing

Luckily Duffy only has a short drive to Dundalk this evening to rejoin the circus. The man is a clown and should not be allowed to referee an U6 game.

Didn't see the game, but agree 100%.

Is he really that bad ?

He was as bad today as ever. I don't think Ballinderry got one free all day that wasn't very hard earned. I think the best team won but I wouldn't be 100% sure either such was Duffy's ineptitude.

Great result for Monaghan to get 2 All Stars. Two great players who deserve the recognition.

Agreed. Walshe was never in doubt in my opinion but was pleasantly surprised to see McManus included.

A quick stroll around Dublin city centre revealed 2. I can't say I was looking out for them but when I did see one I kept an eye on it. The first was an older man walking in a hurry past the Shelbourne and the other was a man on a Dublin rental bike. Its 2 more than you'd have seen 10 years ago but they are still as rare as hens teeth in my experience anyway

Was in clones today. Scotstown were unlucky enough. A few strange decisions. Gilligan scored a free which myself and a few around me felt was wide. There was also a ball given as a line ball that was no way over the line. Another dodgy sludden decision. That said it was a decent enough contest. Scotstown struggled around the middle which prob cost them most and taking Corrigan off was very strange as he was winning most of the ball that came his way.

Was there myself. Honestly think that Scotstown must be kicking themselves. 4 points up with 15 mins left and they just seemed to panic. Ballinderry showed all their experience and just did enough to grind it out. I wouldn't be blaming the ref too much either although you're spot on about the line ball - it was never out. I'd like to see D Hughes dissallowed goal again - was the ball out beforehand ? Also his shot against the bar - if that goes in then its game over. Scotstown are a young team and a few of them didn't rise to it in the same way as the county final. If they can retain Monaghan then they'll really build from today and kick on next year.

Thought scotstown were impressive today and they could well be one to watch in ulster this year. Good spread of forwards (which was clontibrets downfall - they only had McManus)

McManus is a class act though. He moves so smoothly and kicks very well off both feet. I hope he gets his All Star this year. Scotstown were far better as a team though, and they had some nice forwards as you say. Who was that #15? He looked fairly tidy and efficient, with a stylish left foot as well.

Conor McCarthy was the no 15.  He was the corner forward on the Monaghan minor team who showed up strongly against Mayo in the AI.  He is a very talented lad and is a real star in the making.

While McManus probably should get an all-star I doubt he will. They would have needed to get to the AI semi at least (with him performing well on the day)

McCarthy was the standout Monaghan performer on a minor team that didn't do themselves justice on the day against mayo - scored a cracking goal and a few lovely points. I think he has only just started playing senior as well. A bright future ahead of him.

Didn't see the game yesterday but was impressed with McCarthy playing with Monaghan Minors. Do you reckon he will be drafted into the Senior Panel next year or has he another year Minor?

Don't think he's a minor next year and I suppose the old "if you're good enough you're old enough" rule applies. A full forward line of himself, hughes and McManus next year would be as good as anything else in Ulster