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Despite (or maybe because of) my aberration on the Ulster Club thread, an unnamed poster has asked me to write an article for the magazine that he edits.  The article will appear in the end of year annual and will decide on the Ulster GAA man (or woman) of the year.  Among the many problems is one fairly serious one. I haven't a clue who to pick and the deadline is Wednesday. Otherwise I will probably get a detention.

Any ideas? Any that I do use will be fully credited in the article, probably. You can buy the annual if you require proof.

Was reading today's Irish News effort by 'wry' columnist Newton Emerson. In it, he tells us that Amnesty International have contacted him and asked if he is prepared to be the guinea pig in a Taser gun test.  In last week's column he argued that the figures given by Amnesty were wrong and the guns were perfectly safe.  Hence the request from Amnesty.

Now to the point of my post.  I have email Amnesty and offered my services as the gunman in said test. Any of you who may have had the same idea will unfortunately be behind me in the queue.

How did Coventry do today?

In roughly two minutes, after almost eight consecutive weeks of hard work, I shall be commencing a well-earned week off.

Anyone else find them in this enviable position?

Not sure how I will pass the time though. Any ideas?

I think it is worth considering splitting Kerry into two separate 'county' teams - either North / South or East / West.  I'm not sure of the footballing geography of Kerry, but I'm sure an equitable divide could be agreed.  Both teams could still play in the traditional Kerry jersey.

There are many, many advantages to this, both for Kerry as a whole and the AI championship in general. Firstly, it would give Kerry twice as many chances to reach the All-Ireland final; Munster would no longer be regarded as a soft touch, as it would no longer on its own have the fewest number of competing (or competitive) teams; look at some of the individual possible match-ups (Marc O'Se on the Gooch, Tomas on Declan O'Sullivan etc.); Declan Quill could finally start a championship match; 31 ¹/₂ counties could hate Pat Spillane; there could be all-Kerry All-Ireland finals and there would be all-Kerry Munster finals.  The list of advantages goes on and on.

The only possible downside would be a clash of colours when the two Kerry teams meet.

Any thoughts?

Never tried this before, but I seem to have raised some heckles on the Derry - Antrim thread.

Can't be arsed finding the original thread. 



From today's Irish News.

Mickey Harte has branded the Ulster Council's decision to strip Tyrone of this year's McKenna Cup title as "below pathetic''.

The provincial body made the ruling at a meeting on Tuesday night. The Red Hands had fallen foul of the Council when they fielded two college players in the McKenna Cup final against Donegal.

Both Cathal McCarron (St Mary's) and Damien McCaul (UUJ) had been registered with their respective universities, but they were in Tyrone's starting line-up on February 17. Playing the students was a breach of the Ulster Council's rules for the McKenna Cup.

However, in a surprise move, the Competitions Control Committee of the Ulster Council used a different ruling to punish Tyrone.

It's understood the disciplinary body found that Tyrone's team sheet didn't comply with Rule 2.5 (in Part Two of the Official Guide) which stipulates: "The first 15 names appearing on a list shall be taken as constituting the actual team...''

Having been satisfied that the first 15 names on Tyrone's teamsheet didn't correspond with the side that lined out against Donegal, the CCC imposed the penalty from Rule 114 (in Part One of the Official Guide).

Under Rule 114, the penalty for the "Failure to provide a list of players as specified in Rule'' is either "Forfeiture of game, without award to the opposing team, or a fine, depending on circumstances''.

In the end, the Ulster Council opted to strip Tyrone of their victory, thereby denying them this year's McKenna Cup title, which would have been their fourth on the trot.

Tyrone boss Mickey Harte has reacted angrily to the decision.

"I think it's a bit sad that this has happened following the contribution we have made to the McKenna Cup over the past five years.

"The breath of life which we breathed into the competition since 2003, and the energy and effort which we always attributed to it, if that's the thanks we get for it, then that's a bit sad," said Harte.

Harte was further annoyed at the method which the Ulster Council used to punish the O'Neill County for fielding players that had been registered with their universities.

"It's below pathetic. If that's the length you have to go to in order to score a point of some kind then this isn't the organisation that I thought I belonged to,'' he said.

Tyrone can now launch an appeal to the GAA's Central Appeals Committee and Harte is confident that his county board will mount an immediate challenge.

He said: "I would expect them to appeal this as far as it can be appealed. I believe they will be determined to do that as well.''