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It's a major 'what if' for me about Connolly. How we could have been doing with his steel and determination against Kerry in the 97 semi...but he didn't do the work and had to be turfed out. I'd say he's a sorry man blew his chance of being part of our only Ulster SFC winning team in 28 years or whatever it was.

Shame but like alot of other very talented players, just didn't have the discipline. If he was playing under McElkennon though, he'd have been carried despite his excesses.

Did he? My apologies so, but he was defo no leader like he should have been v Kerry. Still, a huge servant to our county and one to be respected.

Fintan Cahill is another great shout. A bit of a shitehawker by times but as the poster above says he was shocking hard handled when his pace and strength was at full pitch. Some great years under McHugh to be sure.

Forde I thought was the best centre-back in Ulster by a country mile the year we lost to Tyrone in the final, 2001 was it, under Val Andrews. It was actually a great half back line, James Doonan was playing very well in there too, can't remember the third guy, was it Peter Reilly? However like most of the others in the class of 97, he slightly sullied his reputation since - not as much as some others, granted - with average form, barracking refs and persistent fouling. A very dedicated guy though, something to be cherished in the current dressing room.

Yeah it's hypocrisy alright but it still doesn't mean we started it off in that second test. The Aussies had a premeditated agenda of violence, everyone knew it, they announced it in the paper even, our lads were determined to fight back if it happened - cue Armageddon. Sheedy calling us conmen while sniggering up his shirt sleeves and spinning his risible approach to the game by pinning the blame on us, that's the real disgrace.

If the debate is about IR violence there's only one to blame...Aussies.

If it's about violence in our native codes and poor attempts to clean it up, the AFL game is way ahead of ours.

"It's a high, arcing ball into the box - an enterprising ball you might say - up goes Mulligan, a shock of blonde hair spearing the sky...he collects on his chest, where's the Kerry full-back? Oh defence in trouble here Mulligan pops it off to Canavan wheeling around the back, it's Peter Canavan (voice quickens) Peter Canavan bearing down...he sets his sights....OH-OH-OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH PEACHES AND CREAM, would you look at that, how do you like them apples Jack O'Connor!!!" - Ger Canning, All-Ireland final 2005.

Ah no wait, I just made that up there now.

Yeah thinking back the best of the lot was probably Damian Reilly. Did a decent job on Canavan in the 95 Ulster final when the wee man was killing fullbacks for fun at the time and of course set up Jayo for the goal in the 1997 decider that buried Derry.

A real warrior, bags of skill, loads of heart and determination. What I wouldn't give to have another like him...]

Carolan I always thought never realised his potential. Pyschologically he was suspect and lacked gumption. Too much of a gentleman on the field, although it wasn't unheard of for him to throw his weight around a bit in club football which always sickened me - he never had the same fight in a blue jersey IMO.

His attitude problems were never better illustrated than in 1997. The kick in the arse he got from being dropped made him play like a man possessed against Donegal but we started him against Derry and, with his place then assured again, he reverted to type and did very little in that game or against Kerry either. A typical free taker in that of he missed his first kick of the day, he'd have a 50% conversion rate thereafter.

He showed us what he could have been against Donegal when he was really up for it and had a point to prove, but in his normal mild-mannered comfort zone he was a very good free taker, occasional scorer from play and a valuable team member but that was it.

Scratching my Cavan head to be honest. Twasn't a particularly vintage time for the Breffni Blue footballers so it's kinda hard to guage how any of them would have done against the better teams of the era...

He picked up a significant thug element when he was in Australia in my humble opinion.

I remember being gutted when he went to Oz such was the reputation he had garnered for himself and the corresponding hopes we had for him being a top class partner for a then still-dangerous Dermot McCabe in midfield.

I watched him play underage for the Gaels and he was incredibly classy. Never had much pace and is even slower now  but seemed to have the intelligence for this not to matter - good positional sense and an ability to do things in a measured, methodical way - almost casual but not quite - were what set him apart. He had a good catch, physical strength and a nice accurate kick pass.

Then he got a litany of injuries in Oz and since he's come back only seems to want to spoil and niggle. I think the Aussie hard man culture got to him and now he seems to go looking for fights/intimidation. It's a shame because he's still young enough to make an impact with his strength and if he could channel the aggression more legitimately he could be good for us. I saw him kick about three or four massive points for the Gaels against Castlerahan all from play in this year's SFC and thought to myself what a shame it is he never seems able to do that for the county.

As for the U21s, keep the faith anglocelt39! It's hard to be positive but it's too easy to be negative and fear the worst all the time. This mindset hasn't helped the players in recent years either. We all have to start believing in ourselves at some point or else throw the hat at it to hell and give up. I think we have every bit as good a footballer at this age group for 2007 as any other Ulster county, fact. Down couldn't believe they beat that minor team a few years ago (told our lads as much leaving the field) and that was the toughest game they got all year (apart from the loss to Armagh which was basically a blip against a vastly inferior side).
As on that day, and lamentably, too too many days in the last five years, our county underage sides have been beaten for the lack of something fundamental between their two ears and not necessarily something lacking in their boots.

Our U21 team for next year has an outstanding chance in Ulster if they can deal with Down I think, although alot of other teams will be strong as well I'd say, Fermanagh's Enniskillen college always do quite well in McRory for instance. U21 is where I'm really pinning my hopes for 2007.

It's absolutely vital that this U21 team is prepared to the absolute highest standard to make sure the near misses and moral victories of previous years don't perpetuate themselves for eternity - we might never have as talented a collection of U21s in the county again. Combine Keogan's minors with last year's U18 outfit, add in a few lads who always blossom after minor and it could be an oustanding team. I just hope bad management, bad preparation or just sheer bad luck doesn't put paid to our chances, it could either set up the seniors for years or alternatively, set them back an age.

Canavan in Ulster based on players I've seen, but Maurice Fitz by a long long way in the national stakes. Privileged to have been around in the same era as Maurice so I can always say I saw him play. Legend, pure class.

The Brussels rumour was the one I heard anyway. But sure maybe it just went out of production. But the nasty bureaucrats story is much more poignant so I'm sticking with that one.

But found their professionally conditioned opponents were more than physically able for them this time around and quickly thought better of it. Hardy bastards those Aussies alright.

Heard nothing abiut challenge matches cavancola, alls I know is that there's a panel of about 40 in training on the weights with Keogan when he's not off hunting in Fermanagh.

cavan4ever, that's how the legend goes...apparently Brussels was aghast when it was appointed supreme guardian of the small intestines of our fair nation, and probed a bottle of our fine beverage to see how it stacked up in the health and safety stakes. It turned out to have more Es than a rave in Amsterdam and if taken in sufficient quantity, most likely produced the same effect.

Sad was its passing. I was weaned on that stuff. Mothers of hyperactive Cavan children heaved a sigh of relief when it disappeared from the shelves and little Johnny was belatedly and reluctantly peeled off the sitting room chandelier in something approaching a mood of calm. Sigh, different era, great times...

Cavan Cola, there's a blast from the past!! Those of a certain vintage will remember it's bottled stout-like consistency and blackness, pleasing moustache left on the lips after a swig, and also the near-scrape they could have had with chronic ill-health if the EU hadn't banned it for having too much sugar and God knows what else in it.

At least that's what I heard had happened anyway. Anyone else remember it?

So this 'recruitment drive' basically amounts to a bit of a launch at Croke Park and a few posters for the new officer to hand out?

Why don't they concentrate on tackling the real impediment to people becoming referees like the abuse mentioned above, the failure to back them up in committee rooms (Gerry Kinneavy), lack of protection from spectators and so on? Opportunity missed perhaps?

Donnellan in 1998 and Joyce in 2001 are two of the all-time great marquee All-Ireland performances, up there with Mo Fitz in 1997. I'll never forget them.

It's a mark of how demanding and draining our games are that two guys like this, hovering around the 30 mark, have long since passed their best because the cumulative effect of injuries or lost hunger.