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Believe it or not, as Tipperary and Kilkenny battle for league honours down in Nowlan Park, Westmeath and Antrim will be kicking off the Championship in Mullingar at the same time. Not sure why, or what the urgency is. Must be a bit down-heartening for the players to be honest.

Should be a tight game really, Westmeath always have hurlers, and Antrim will be confident having hurled competitively at 1B level this year. Antrim should have enough you'd think, but I have a sneaky suspicion that Westmeath may take them.

30th April 1945, in Berlin, Austria's most infamous sons and one of the most despicable characters in the history of mankind shuffled off this mortal coil by shooting himself, or did he? I've never understood why he instructed his henchmen to burn the bodies of himself and Eva Braun afterwards but I suppose he didn't want photos ending up in the Western, or worse Soviet, newspapers. The burning allowed the conspiracy theories to flourish, with Argentina and Brazil being popularly cited destinations. One thing is for sure though, he disappeared from the war from this day and it really signalled the end of the "Thousand Year Reich".

His rise to power is an amazing study in happenstance, opportunism and coincidence. From a lazy but somewhat talented artist living in an appartment in Vienna, refused by the Viennese art acadamy (how would it have turned out if he had been accepted?!), living as a bum for a while, eating and sleeping in men's shelters. Moving to Berlin, finding his gift of oratory and a topic which he could rant about (Communists and Jews). The depression and 'austerity' of the post WWI treaty followed by the worldwide crash of the late 20s gave him a platform, and he finagled his way into power with his firebrand preaching and his ability to hone in on what people blamed and feared. Give Germany back it's pride and it's power. Get rid of the Communists, remove power from the Jews. Music to the ears of the downtrodden Germans at the time.

The War is of course well documented, but it's scary to think that if Hitler had not made some daft decisions, or let his hatred of the Soviets blind him, he could well have established a huge Nazi Empire throughout most of western Europe and a good bit of Africa. Britain put up heroic resistance, and of course the Americans gave extra impetous which turned the tide on the Western Front, but if Hitler hadn't been occupied by his disastrous second front with Stalin it would have been very difficult for the Allies to breach a reinforced western wall of defences.

Anyway, as it transpired, the war ended in Europe on May 8th 1945 with Germany's surrender, but to all intents and purposes it ended today, 30th April 1945.

David Franks announced his retirement yesterday. A very good corner back, and I think the last link to the defeated All Ireland team of 2000. I think Wolverine (Ger Oakley) was the last link to the All Ireland winners of 1998.

Franks hurled with Ballyskenagh in Offaly before transferring over to Carrickshock in Kilkenny. He was a great servant to Offaly over the years, and my favourite memory of him is bursting up the field and scoring a fantastic point against Waterford in Semple Stadium.

Just saw this today, it looks great. It's basically an archive of material from the war of independence, with witness statements, pictures etc. Type in a place name or surname and search, and have a read of the witness statements. I just read a narrative from a man from Roscommon who acted as a lieutenant in the Ferbane Company of the IRB. It's gas to see accounts of actions in places so familiar to you.

http://photogallery.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/

Lads, sorry about starting a new thread about this, but it's something that's bugged me for a long time, and I was reminded of it when hearing about St. James' being the proposed site of the new Childrens hospital.

Anyway, if I'm heading to the city centre, or Croker, on a day trip with the car, I tend to park in the Red Cow and get the Luas in as I find it handy. On the way in, every station is announced in Irish and in English, An Bo Dearg - The Red Cow, Cloigín Gorm - Blue Bell, etc etc. Then it comes to James' hospital and it is called Oispideal San Seamus. I'f I was asked what the Irish for Saint James is, I would have said Naomh Seamus. San is the spanish for Saint, as in San Francisco, San Diego etc.

So can our fluent Irish speakers tell me what's the story, as it bugs the shit out of me!

Does anybody here read this site? http://waterfordwhispersnews.com They have very funny spoof stories with a Waterford slant, a bit like the Onion. The funniest bit though, at times, is the comments section. For example, there's a story there from yesterday titled

'Phil Hogan : Waterford 'Town' Council to be Out-sourced to India'

some of the comments are :

Catherine Curran
this has to be a joke like everything else those bunch of thickos have done up to this if this true so much in for the job market in our OWN COUNTRY!

Regina O'Brien
is this as piss take or real?

Another story was : "Bank Shuts Down Bridge Access as Waterford City Goes Into Recievership"

Comments:
Gerard Grace
fook the phil hogan p***k WATERFORD is a city n that p***k wont take it , as regards the banks taking homes from people well if they took mine id burn it down.

Geraldine Marks Rinaldo
what the f**k is this all about?

Geoff Ismay · Hinckley College
I knew it!!!!
Juelz Three-angels Nanna
not good

Gerard Grace
I wonder why this was not on R T E news this evening eh?


There's some other stuff there that's funny as well. There's a news ticker, and at the moment the rotation is:

TV Master-chef Admits 'Its all a load of bollocks'
Catholic Church Welcomes Savile Media Attention
Vatican: Popes Butler to be Burned at The Stake
98% of Teens who loiter around supermarkets end up working in one, finds study

Hi Lads,

We're implementing a new Coaching model within the club to help all coaches understand their roles, and the specifics of what we are trying to achieve in each grade from 6 year olds up to 40 year olds. Obviously it's a large enough undertaking, and requires co-ordination between levels, an oversight committee, coaching for our coaches, a structure (We are following the OTú model as the baseline, but tweaking it heavily for our own purposes).

Anyway, that's all background, and there's a good few people doing various bits at the moment to prepare a draft. For my sins, as the 'Football' man, I've been asked to draft a list of the specific skills of Gaelic Football. (We will then group these into age appropriate activities etc). It is not tactical or drills I'm talking about, but essentially the various technical proficiencies and skills that a player would need to use in a typical game. Obviously I've my own ideas, and I've come up with the list below, but is there any I'm missing? Remember it's skills or technical elements, not tactical. (e.g. I was going to include the Diagonal Foot Pass, but that's more a tactical variation of the Punt Pass).

What think ye?

The Skills of Football
1.   The Crouch Lift
2.   The 'flick' lift
3.   The high catch
4.   The body catch
5.   The low catch
6.   The Reach catch
7.   The bounce
8.   The Solo
9.   The Side Step
10.   The Dummy Solo
11.   Evasion/Roll Off
12.   The Fist Pass
13.   The Hand Pass
14.   The Punt Kick – Straight Ahead Kick
15.   The Hook Kick – Kicking around the corner
16.   The Low Kick Pass
17.   The Chest High Kick Pass
18.   The Diagonal Kick Pass
19.   The Punch Break
20.   The Tap Break
21.   The Scoring Free from Hands
22.   The Scoring Free from the Ground
23.   The Fist Pass Score
24.   The Penalty Kick
25.   The Side to Side Charge
26.   Delaying the ball carrier
27.   Dispossessing the Ball Carrier
28.   The Near Hand Tackle
29.   The Blockdown
30.   Positioning and Winning the Break

Lads, thinking of heading up to Croker tomorrow with the wife and young lad for the hurling final. Unusual for me to be heading to a big game 'on spec' as I'd normally have things arranged in advance, but this is kind of a last minute thing. Anyhow, does anybody know if the ticket office is still near Gills corner, or can I buy tickets at the ground? I normally have my tickets well in advance, so apologies if this is a stupid question.

Anyone heading to this? I can't wait for it (pedants can piss off ) I'm also heading up on the Friday to Parnell Park to see the two high school games on that evening. There's a tailgate open to the public in Temple Bar on Saturday morning, with the 'Marching Band of the Fighting Irish' making an appearance.

Anyone else heading up? Should be a great weekend I hope.

Hi Lads, obscure topic I know, but I have a request. Heading off to Portugal on holidays on the 16th, and we want to bring the old PS2 to keep the young lad happy during the peak heat of the day. I was looking for PS2 games around Limerick but can't find any. Gamestop don't stock them down here, etc.

Anyone have any ideas where I could pick up a couple, pretty cheap? Would Amazon.com get them to me in time?  There's an XBox in the house so I don't want to spend a pile of money on old games that won't be used when we come back from portugal.

Cheers

Lads, up for an overnight stay in Dublin, despite myself, and was wondering if there are any senior matches on in Dublin or Kildare this evening?

Sorry if there is another thread on this, but Tipp minors had another great win tonight down in Tralee. Tipp 2-9, Kerry 0-8. Clare hockeyed Waterford as well.

Hi Lads,

Just wondering if anyone has ingenious solutions for a small problem I have. Every session in the field with the U6s, I make sure we re-iterate the proper grip, ready position, lock position etc before we start into the little drills and games for them.

The problem I have is that I only get them once, maybe twice a week, and I have over 20 kids, which means I have 3-4 'helpers' with me. The issue is that the helpers don't necessarily see when a lad is reversing his grip, as some of them are wont to do.

Now, I have a couple of tricks I'm going to use, but I was wondering if anyone else had any good ones.

1 - A Newport (club) wrist band on the 'hurley' hand. This serves two purposes. Reminds the child that the wristband hand should be on top, and also, and just as important for me, indicates to the mentors if the child is reversing his grip.

2 - This is a remedial action for persistant offenders. I take a hurley and glue a small glove to the hurley (like a marigold washing up glove) where the hurl should be held in the hurley hand. Give that hurl to the persistant offender for a full session. This helps them to fight their bad habit impulse.

Any other ideas (simple preferably) that ye'd recommend?

laoisgaa tells me that Martin Slevin, of O'Dempsey's in Laois, has passed away today after a battle with leukemia. Martin marked me back in 1994 in the Leinster U21 Championship battle of Tullamore, but he never struck a foul belt that day, probably didn't need to marking me. I'm shocked to hear this as he was such a fit fella, he played for Laois seniors for a while as well, I think.

RIP Martin, and deepest sympathies to his family, including his young kids,  his clubmates and friends..

[because he did not feel he had enough time to devote to his business]

I think this is a bit of mischief making by the SportsNewsIRELAND staff. Why is it causing controversy? Are they saying that because he feels he can't give up 3-4 nights a week EVERY week to hurling that he shouldn't be able to head off for a few days break/junket? The lines in bold I found particulary out of place.

Lar Corbett's US trip causing controversy
SportsNewsIRELAND Staff, 24 February 2012
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Less than three weeks after quitting the Tipperary hurling panel because he did not feel he had enough time to devote to his business, Lar Corbett has signed up for a trip to New York next week to promote Matthew Macklin's latest world title fight.

Click for the latest betting on the Airtricity league of Ireland and claim your free 40e bet

According to Macklin's promoters; DiBella Entertainment, Corbett and his 2010 All-Ireland winning captain Eoin Kelly will be at the Trinity Boxing Club next Wednesday for Macklin's media workout ahead of his career defining Saint Patrick's Day clash with Sergio Martinez at Madison Square Garden.

Macklin, whose mother hails from Co. Tipperary and Kelly, played hurling together as youngsters, but it will surprise many in the Premier County that publican Corbett – having lain low since his shock retirement at the age of 30 at the start of this month – has signed up for a high profile recreational trip so soon after the storm.

A DiBella press release about the media work-out last night read: "Making a special appearance are Irish hurling stars Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett, who are travelling to New York to observe Matthew in training and hopefully to bring the 'luck of the Irish' with them across the pond."

Did anyone look at those O'Neills 'specials' they are running for Paddy's Day. Strange concept, but some of them look quite nice. Why you'd want to wear one though, if you were from Clare or the like, I don't really get. I really like the Offaly one.

http://www.oneills.com/categoriesList/249/st-patricks-day-products.aspx

Armagh


Tyrone


Roscommon



And the green Larries.

Yet again, there are rumblings about trouble in the camp in Offaly. We're turning into a laughing stock at this stage, if we weren't already there, and it's very frustrating. This latest appointment, of course, dragged on from July until November (lunacy) and we had Niall McNamee getting pissed off at it. We've also got a Rhode lobby looking for Stephen Darby to get the job, but whatever the reasons, it's ridiculous, and the County Board deserve most of the blame for shafting Paul O'Kelly back in 2003.

The players seem very quick to resort to 'it's all the managers' fault as well, when obviously they need to look at themselves too, but it's a real sickener to be looking in from the outside, when you know that if they got their act together they would be competitive. Organisation, preparation, commitment and a plan will take you a long way regardless of your raw material, and when you have some good raw material you can even start winning things. At the moment we don't know if we have raw material, but we don't seem to have any of the other 4 ingredients.

I can't even remember the Offaly Management since 2003, but I'll take a go

2003 - Paul O'Kelly (1 year)
2004 - Gerry Fahy (1 year)
2005 - Kevin Kilmurray (2 years)
2007 - Pat Roe (2 years)
2009 - Ritchie Connor (about 4 months)
2009 - Tom Cribben (2 years)
2011 - Gerry Cooney (Nov 11 onwards)

7 managers in 9 years. Has anyone else anything like that?

For the first time in a while, I got a chance to watch a couple of soccer matches there at the weekend, and a thought struck me. If you were going to set up a Premiership XV for a GAA charity match, who would you pick? Some players look like they'd be very handy GAA players with coaching, based on the style of game they play in soccer. Complete waste of time, but sure what harm.

My Premiership XV

Goalie - Shay Given. (Aston Villa) I was giving serious consideration to Reina here, with his accurate distribution, but Shay's experience in Donegal is bound to give him an advantage here.

Right Corner Back - Martin Kelly (Liverpool). I think Kelly'd be a no - nonsense, no frills corner back, good and strong. A bit of a Tom O'Sullivan in him I reckon.

Full Back - Richard Dunne (Aston Villa). If Francie Bellew played soccer, he'd be Richard Dunne. If Dunne played GAA he'd be Francie Bellew.

Left Corner Back - Thomas Vermalen (Arsenal). I get the feeling Vermalen would be ideally suited to manning the corner, but wouldn't be averse to bringing the ball out if he got a chance. Joe Higgins from Laois.

Right Wing Back - Ji Sung Park (Manchester United). Solid defensively, with a big engine and can also need watching when he attacks. Tomás O'Sé.

Centre Back - Martin Skrtel (Liverpool). Skrtel even looks like he plays centre back for one of them dirty Northern Teams. Maybe even Tyrone

Left Wing Back - Patrice Evra (Manchester United). Can be dodgy defensively, but would support the attacks brilliantly. A kind of a poor mans Philly Jordan.

Midfield - Steven Gerrard (Liverpool). The Sean Cavanagh of this team. Loves attacking, with a great burst forward and an eye for a score, but not too keen on the defensive aspects of the play, hence..

Midfield - Micah Richards (Manchester City). The midfield rock. Tall, strong and athletic, Richards would be the primary ball winner out there, and the engine of the team.

Right Wing Forward - Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool). A no brainer. The soccer equivalent of a cross between Paul Galvin and Brian Dooher. Huge workrate, although sometimes not as well regarded in the technique department. Still chips in with vital scores. I'd love to coach Kuyt in GAA.

Centre Forward - Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) I was going to put Paul Scholes in here, on his playmaking ability, but the man is 36 years of age. I went for someone who probably could do a more dynamic job picking up breaks and setting up attacks, as well as having a good eye for a score himself. Declan O'Sullivan rather than Brian McGuigan essentially.

Left wing Forward - Tim Cahill (Everton). Another who I'd think would be a decent half forward. Not as good a workrate up and down the field, but with a knack of joining in to attacks at just the right time to pick off a score. He'd be the Oisin McConville of the side when Oisin was in his 20s.

Right Corner Forward - Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham Hotspur). The languid corner forward. Coasting around, looking for breaks, but when he picks one up it's a score. Switch off marking him and it's goodnight luke. Like Maurice Fitz, but not as good, naturally.

Full Forward - Robin van Persie (Arsenal). Paddy Bradley. A good size lad, very mobile and lethal in front of goals. He'd be the free taker as well.

Left Corner Forward - Chicarito Hernandez (Manchester United). The Gooch. Quick, mobile, fast turn, and a great finisher. He'd torment a corner back.

Subs.

Goalie - Reina (Liverpool)

Backs - Matt Dawson (Tottenham), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Nemaja Vidic (Manchester United) Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Rafael (Manchester United)

Midfield - Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City),

Forwards - Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Paul Scholes (Manchester United), Brian McBride (Fulham). Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Dean Sturridge (Chelsea)

Don't know if this was already mentioned, but fair play to the Dubs for this initiative. It's a great idea I think.

http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/1601121700-dublin-spring-series-3-events-6-games-3-music-acts/

[44 Love Actually 2003 Multiple times on Sky Movies. First time Sky Movies Christmas 19/12 @ 20:00]

OK, to get us going I'll start with those films who came in at tied 44th place. These movies all received 1 first place vote, for 5 points, and nothing else. In no particular Order, your tied 44th place movies are ....

44   Love Actually   2003   Multiple times on Sky Movies. First time Sky Movies Christmas 19/12 @ 20:00
44   The Breakfast Club   1985 Not On
44   Cool Hand Luke   1967 Sky Movies Classics 21/12 @ 01:35
44   Doctor Strangelove   1964 Not On
44   Koyaanisqatsi   1982 MGM 20/12 @ 10:20
44   Hunger   2008 Not On
44   Raging Bull   1980 Sky Movies Drama 20/12 @ 23:40
44   Apocalypse Now   1979 Not On
44   Betty Blue   1986 Not On
44   Taken   2008 Not On
44   Terminator II   1991 ITV2 27/12 @ 21:00
44   Kings   2007 Not On
44   Carlito's Way   1993 Not On
44   Heat   1995 Not On
44   2001 A Space Odyssey   1968 Not On
44   The French Connection   1971 Film 4 29/12 @ 23:20  & RTE 1 01/01 @ 02:15
44   Jean de Florrette   1986 Not On
44   Life is Beautiful   1997 Not On
44   Roadhouse   1989 Not On
44   The Wickerman   1973 Sky Movies Sci Fi 22/12 @ 07:40
44   Jurassic Park   1993 Not On
44   Dead Man's Shoes   2004 Film 4 +1 17/12 @ 00:20
44   Drive   2011 Not On
44   An Officer and a Gentleman   1982 Film4 30/12 @ 21:00
44   The Sting   1973 Not On