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was off for a few weeks on paternity leave and logged into another site to learn of this yesterday.

Gobsmacked and shocked are the 2 words that come to mind. Having just had my first child 3 weeks ago I cannot express or imagine what the family will be going through with the 2 we-ans of ardmhachaabus

My deepest sorrow and condolences to his family and friends. Absolutely desperate news.

I think this thread speaks volumes about him and his popularity, as well as the quality of the GAA community in which he lived and we carry on in his tragic absence.

RIP Stephen

Ciaran McKeever, Ronan Clarke, Star Donaghy

this thread has just taken a very unusual turn.....

i have to laugh at the majority on this thread. a month ago it was "madness" to even have appointed McGeeney, then it was the team that was the problem, now his warm ups are crap.

He's guided an unfancied team, who everyone thought only had one scoring threat to the AI semis and I think they're the highest scorers in this years championship.

Any chance of somebody giving the fella some credit? He is long overdue it by some on this forum. Hes done a great job and they have as good a chance as any of lifting Sam now.

go to thegaastore.com

Our manager, Paidi McKeever has developed his own range of sportswear and gear. footballs etc too - as mentioned by someone above. The stuff is excellent quality and great value. The website will have his contact details he also does advertising in the Irish News etc

[However, their turnover count after the opposition secures possession from kick outs is off the charts and that is why they can afford to lose the "midfield battle"]

That Tyrone always lose midfield but win the match.

They maybe have 1 clean catch at midfield compared to 3 for the other team but when the ball breaks on the other 90% of kickouts they are very good at having a 1/2 forward or 1/2 back first to the ball.  If winning midfield means who comes out with the ball after the kickout most then they rarely lose midfield.

i'll disagree with that. Most statistics show that they lose both catching and break ball stakes in midfield. However, their turnover count after the opposition secures possession from kick outs is off the charts and that is why they can afford to lose the "midfield battle"

That's also why Mickey Harte fought tooth and nail to get the mark scrapped.

yup.

Tyrone have a great plan whereby if they win primary ball from kickouts (either clean caught or broken) its a bonus. They have huge confidence in the tackling ability of their midfield, HB's and HF's which leads to turnover after turnover in games. They then have mobile players in those positions to break at speed and effectively it takes the opposition midfield out of the game, apart from kick outs.

Fair play to them as well.

That Tyrone always lose midfield but win the match.

They maybe have 1 clean catch at midfield compared to 3 for the other team but when the ball breaks on the other 90% of kickouts they are very good at having a 1/2 forward or 1/2 back first to the ball.  If winning midfield means who comes out with the ball after the kickout most then they rarely lose midfield.

i'll disagree with that. Most statistics show that they lose both catching and break ball stakes in midfield. However, their turnover count after the opposition secures possession from kick outs is off the charts and that is why they can afford to lose the "midfield battle"

Down are the most successful Ulster County

I'd contend that they are.

Down are won 5 lost 0 in All-Ireland final terms.
Cavan are won 5 lost 5.

so Cavan have got to more All Ireland finals then.

i'm going to be pedantic here! Most of these arent myths, just daft sayings.

However it is a myth that Francie Bellew was a "dorty" player.

technically a bookie can refuse to pay out under any circumstances (in the north anyway) as it is classed as a "gentlemans agreement" rather than a contract. Obviously this doesnt happen as nobody would bet with you if you didnt pay them back!

It very much depends on who is added year on year and how good they are. Down relied solely on the 1999 AI minors for the last 10 years many of whom were forwards - No defence. Derry - AI minor champs 1989 Senior champs 1993 Trone AI Minor champs 1998 senior champs 2003. My point is it should not take 10 years ,you can concievably challenge in 4/5 years but it depends a lot on the quality of the other players both younger and older.

even 1/2 players added each year can make a big difference. R. Clarkes Co. minor team was nothing special nor stevie McDonnells and yet they were added to the squad at different times to a team that included sucessful minors (even if it was 8/ 10 years previous)

i will agree with you there. I was meant to type " by that logic we could be looking at 2019" rather than stating we would be waiting til 2019.

I would say we wont know for sure until perhaps 2012/13 who will make the grade and what way they will stand in all ireland terms rather than just producing decent inter county footballers, and would imagine it would be 2014 perhaps before these guys are experienced enough to bed in properly with the likes of the Clarkes, Vernon, Toner, Donaghy, Moriarty, Aaron etc. and challenge for Sam. I think this would have a great age profile of 7 or 8 28-31 yr olds and 7 or 8 20-24 yr olds in the team, which I think is ideal for a tilt at the title - (without discounting anyone else of a different age, just trying to highlight what I think the make up of the team could be)

We have the playesr.
They are not coached.

I agree completely. The likes of Vernon has obvious talent and with a bit of fine tuning and a proper team plan can make a greater contribution.

you think we have the players to win an AI next year?? HA!

I do as it happens

i dont think we have any chance for at least another 4 years.

however, if you are right (and I honestly hope you are) I'll be a very happy man indeed!

do you not mean we'll have to take two steps forward for every one step back? otherwise its the opposite of progress lol.

everything else is spot on. - not too many boys on the 02 team had any underage medals (not worth speaking of anyway), but recent Down teams have shown its no guarantee- we cant forget that either.

Enda McNulty - Ulster Minor
Justin McNulty-Ulster Minor
Andrew McCann- Ulster minor
Paul McGrane-Ulster Minor
John Toal-Ulster U21
Paddy McKeever-Ulster Minor and Ulster U21
John McEntee Ulster Minor and Ulster U21
Diarmuid Marsden-Ulster Minor
Steve McDonnell-Ulster U21

Subs who played
Tony McEntee Ulster Minor and Ulster U21
Barry O'Hagan-Ulster Minor

Thats a fair bit of under age pedigree??

i dont dispute that theres a few Ulster medals in that team, however you're missing the point of my argument - which is that minor success is a long term payout not something that (for the most part) reaps rewards in the following few years which is what some believe will happen, and also in the cases of Down and Derry in particular it is no guarantee of senior success at all.

most of these ULSTER medals came 10 years before the AI win, and there wasnt a single AI inter county medal between them (some had club medals).

Therefore we should be looking at last years minors to be successful AT ALL IRELAND STANDING in 2019, not 2011 which is what some people think.

well, we'll just have to agree to disagree. I think bringing minors in en masse is crazy, the entire history of successful GAA teams would appear to side with me.

There's nobody suggesting that we bring minors in en masse. I think all posters agree that ALL the minors mentioned get a go at some stage through the league at various times but not at the same time. That would be crazy. The forward line I listed earlier only had two of them, one on each line, hardly en masse.

some people on this site and others are actually suggesting that and seem to think AI minor medals give us a devine right to AI senior success, which is not the case IMO. I didnt mention you or your selection, and have already addressed this post earlier in the thread

We have the playesr.
They are not coached.

I agree completely. The likes of Vernon has obvious talent and with a bit of fine tuning and a proper team plan can make a greater contribution.

you think we have the players to win an AI next year?? HA!