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Who are the two hidden guys?  Can any of you computer wizards smoke em out?

A terrible result yesterday but this was somewhat compensated due to a chance meeting with a bunch of Albanians who it turned out are mad as feck Down fans. 
These guys were great craic, drank like fish and were surprisingly very knowledgeable about the Down team. its players and line out (wee James should watch out for his job).  Knew diddly squat about Mayo though. 
They only discovered GAA a few years ago since coming to Belfast and apparently adopted Down as their team because the red and black that matches the colours of their national flag. 
Although only a couple of them could speak english we had a great day with them and on the way home they were very complimentary about their first visit to croker.

Now that Down are out they will be throwing their full support behind Mayo.

Thanks Albania for at least one positive memory of an otherwise dismal day.  Some pics on this link. 

https://picasaweb.google.com/107323884327618491000/ParadorStuff

http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=173772
Picked this up fromthe other board.
Good to see the game's popularlty spreading to suprising countries that probably have few if any Irish residents.

[Whoever is at it please have some respect for yourselves and, more importantly, your county and knock it on the head forever.]

Does any other Down Heads feel, like I do, let down by those who booed every Cork free kick?
I found it sickening and it made me quite ashamed to be associated with the same county.  I should not be made to feel that way. 

I don't know where they get it from but I know they were not brought up they way I was. 
Perhaps it was willfull youth but that's no excuse.  Perhaps they are aping the a worn out the 1990s soccer-type thing that even soccer has since cast off. 

Our beloved GAA should have no place for it. Whoever is at it please have some respect for yourselves and, more importantly, your county and knock it on the head forever. 

I do not visit the Hogan Stand Borad but if anyone who does and who agrees with me please feel free to copy this message over there. 

Will be away for the semis.  Anyone familiar with the Toulouse region and suggest where I might catch the matches?

Just noticed this post from a Mr T Fearon on facebook on "the championship page".

^{I'll  also answer Tommy's question. Down are a mediocre team,and a mediocre  team was all that was required to beat Kerry (missing half their team  and lacking in hunger) on Saturday. On the other hand if Down beat  Kildare then I will revise that opinion, but they will not do that by  continuing to emulate Mickey Harte's tactics, which failed Tyrone last  Saturday as well.}

Jeysus, so glad to see Tony is still alive.  Mods please let him back in esp now that he has got someone to support in Aug (McGeeney). 
After all its clear he has beaten ye and has found a ban workaround anyway. All in favour speak now.

My gut says and my semi final money will be on the first ever All Leinster final with Kildare shading it narrowly. 

Reckon its worth €30 anyway.  What would be the odds?

Does losing at Provincial final stage comdem you to failure?  Today's stats, and previous years' suggest so.

6 days is not enough to get over the suffer of a Final defeat.  Its nothing to do with fitness, etc.  Its just player/squad psychology.  Gutted 6 days earlier and expected to lift yourself to beat teams that have grown used to winning is proving too much. 

This rule needs looking at.

I know Red Cards are a recent introduction but I think you will know what I mean.  The question is, who holds the All Ireland record for the most sending offs in a single game?

I though I held the record with an an U16 team I managed about 13 years ago, a good bunch of lads really but they lost the plot when receiving a good old fashioned lesson by a much better Kilcoo team.  Locally, they gained almost hero status and became know as the Kilcoo-Five.

However, reading today's papers the Kilcoo-Five have been put into dim shade by the St Enda's-Seven that were sent off last weekend in Omagh. 

Wonder if anyone out there can report a higher number. Perhaps we can come up with a County by County record list? 

Still reckon the Kilcoo-Five will take the Co Down record.

Tremendous Cork performance today. 

They have now easily brushed aside two Ulster teams but can the go on and win it?

I am a distant Cork fan but fear that they played their AI Final today.  I fear a repeat of 2007 when they failed to turn up.

But anyway, they were fab today.

Anybody see Paddy's bit in the Irish News today about a letter he received from three founding members of Bellaghy GAC.  Is he just stirring things or does he have a point?

Can anyone post the article.

Just watched Celeb Banistoir on RTE, a I would add it was a really good entertaining watch.

Couldn't help but be impressed by Derek Davis, a cook from Hollywood, and how he has taken to the managemnet game.  He's a natural and instead of managing the lowly Co Down team Glassdurmman he should be offered the County job.

His halftime speak about his conterpoint's halftime team talk "she's in there telling them there's a severe lack of testosterone in this room" was inspired.

What a Man -  looking forward to the final and move over Ross and Co?

All this talk about ticket prices (and I havn't got one yet despite hours of slogging for my Club) makes me wonder how must I might have to pay on the black market?  What is the highest price anyone has seen quoted for one of the prized pieces of paper? 

I have heard £200 for a seated ticket, £600 for a box seat.  Where will it all end?
I hope for a draw so I will get a ticket for the replay when all the corporate boys lose interest.

I know a lot of Arma boys will be making their way home tails between their legs but they need to ask themselves these questions.

8, 9 or maybe even 10 Ulster titles but shit all AIs to show for it.  Similar to Derry in the 90s.  The questions have to be:

·   Was this just another ordinary team of under achievers or was there an AI in them?

·   Can Arma ever recover respectability within football circles having been convincingly whipped by a hurling County at such a vital stage in the competition?

Earlier my Arma mate was seeking to trade 2 AI final hurling tickets for 2 football final tickets.  Confidence or just silly cockiness?

["Ciarraí - All Ireland Football Champions - 06 & 07 (+ 33 other times that won't fecking fit in here)"]

Quote from Kerry Mic "Ciarraí - All Ireland Football Champions - 06 & 07 (+ 33 other times that won't fecking fit in here)"

Love that catch phrase.  Would also love to know how many of the 35 were won having only 1, 2 or max 3 difficult games?  I suspect the tally would be less than 10.  Would be a different story if Ciarrí had to battle their way out of Ulster or Leinster each year .

Ps Mike: 
How much for a donkey up to the Gap these days?  Hired a donkey there in 91 (ps: that was before puke football was introduced and also the year when Kerry managed a single point in the whole 2nd half of the AIF semi  - do you remember who scored it, yes Mr Puke himself?). Sorry, I digress, anyway 1/2 way to the Gap I made the mistake of allowing the beast to turn.  Nothing I could do would prevent it from making its own way back to its master where he duly told me "well you shouldn't have allowed him to turn.  Well trained, cute hoor donkeys you have down there.

Lads,
Serious & heated debate in Parador Hotel tonight over what game should be shown 2moro.  The choice is between the Hurling (Cork & Waterford) or Footie (Meath & Dublin). Both being shown one RTE at the same time, only one RTE signal available. 
Some strong feelings vented.  Thankfully no blows struck but when I left the matter was unresolved. 

Jeysus, this argument is becoming more interesting than the matches themselves, I will go down there 2moro just to see that outcome alone never mind the matches.

It does begs the question, wonder what you think your would be the majoriyty verdict in your Locals if there was only one choice between two prospectively excellent matches, the hurling or football?  (Leave County prejudices to one side for the moment please)