Messages

He's rubbish and always has been. Nothing player, too slow and rubbish defensively.

Are you Eamonn Dunphy?
Its just thats the type of shite he spouts as well

So what "equality" do nationalists not have at the minute ? Curious and not trolling

Just my opinion but I feel that the DUP and a large cohort of UUP supporters don't regard my Irish identity as equal to their British and don't regard my desire/aspiration for a United Ireland as equal to theirs to remain a part of the UK, my flag doesn't fly over any public building and I live my life almost totally framed in a "Northern Ireland" context because that's the official position.

Remember, you cannot legislate to change someone's opinion.

Northern Ireland is where you live like it or not. Why do you expect the flag of a foreign country to be given the same status as the flag of the UK.
Do the Ukraine government fly the Russian flag because a certain percentage of Ukrainians are of Russian extraction?
Your attraction to another country can be solved by going to live there. Otherwise continue where you are until a majority there believe that they would be better off in a united Ireland. Thats the G.F.A. position Gerry and the boys accepted

Mr. Deeds, that's what you get when you stick to provincial championships, unless the Munster teams improve.  Not much you can do without scrapping the provincials.

The Trap, how do you mean it's bad for club with county players?

Ha ha Derry, there may be dead rubber games granted. But could you not try to make your argument balanced by saying "might be" instead of implying they're a certainty?
Munster champions get a second chance but will still encounter more difficult games en route to the final. Can you also accept this?
Clubs of the six teams not making the semi-finals will also get their players back earlier.

From the Bunker is in WUM territory so I won't encourage him/her.

I'm not on a wind up! I'm disgusted with the Super 8! It creates more problems than it solves. I hate the thought that the stronger teams now get a third chance. The advantages that were available to the stronger teams have become bigger advantages. Dublin come out of this smelling of roses! Their big squad, home games and professional set-up will suit the rapid fire nature of the games.  Kerry/Tyrone/Mayo/Donegal will hold their own. Counties like Monaghan who are punching above their weight would be stretched!

But hey, Zulu who is bored out his mind with the Leinster Championship needs a bit stimulation on his doorstep! So lets create a longer version of what we already have over a shorter space of time.

Just for clarity, I'm not a Dub or living in Dublin but I am, like most everybody else, board out of my mind with the championship. The league is brilliant thankfully and gives everybody something meaningful.

FoB unless you can suggest something better and that will pass congress then I don't understand where you're coming from at all.

I agree with you. I find the league a lot more enjoyable. Players are fitter now than years ago and there are a lot more  competitive games. What good is Dublin v Wicklow or Kerry v Waterford in the championship? We have to wait all summer for a decent game usually a semi final. Even the Qfs are thrown up mismatches

Ha im guessing all that housing in  north belfast being blocked is just one of those things and not dodds and mccausland desperately trying to keep the numbers right in their constituency. Is it any bloody wonder they both shat bricks over the new proposed boundaries. Years of their mischevious hard work undone by some civil servant and a crayon.

And that's why housing etc must be kept away from the politicians.
Of course Gerry Kelly was quick enough to try the sectarian headcount as well

If you think some imagined lack of "equality" is the most important isdue facing the Six Counties then you deserve what you get. You will have equal space on the canoe going down the swanee as the glorified county council does f all

I get where you are coming from, but I disagree. Who do you decide then which members of society are less equal to others? I can't agree to society that is based on that.

Remember, it wasn't too long ago that Nationalists / Republicans / Catholics were the less equal members of our society...

We remember it well. But where do you see the lack of equality now?
There are no complaints about access to housing, employment, social services, education. If anything the Loyalist working class seem to have been left behind in the likes of education and access to third level especially.
The DUP shot down the Language Act but in all honesty is that a major issue or a manufactured issue? I acceptfully of course that the DUP would prefer if Nationalists never crossed the door of Stormont but Im sure a good few SInn Fein supporters would like to see the Unionist crowd on the boat to the UK

Early days, but Cody has an uphill struggle to squeeze success out of the current crop.
The last couple of All Irelands he won were helped by the chasing pack being in various states of disorganisation.
Tipp and Waterford definitely have their houses in better order now and Clare might get back up near the summit this year.

Like all great teams the cats had a psychological hold over teams that hadn't won in a while, especially in the last 10 minutes. Cody had his own version of Fergie time. But it's very hard to keep the show going when a really great team runs out of time . 11 all Irelands is outrageous.

Cody is a large part of the success laden years Kilkenny had but he was also fortunate to have players like JJ Delaney, Henry Shefflin, Tommy Walsh, Eoin Larkin, Noel Hickey, Richie Power, Eddie Brennan etc. The first three named are, in my opinion, among the best hurlers we will ever see play the game.

So yes Brian Cody is a genius but he was helped enormously by a true golden era of talent in the KK ranks. They don't have that depth of talent now so it will be interesting to see how they fare in the next 3-5 years.

You gotta remember that these lads were going through underage setups when the Kilkenny seniors were no big shakes and there seems to be a ferocious hunger that drove them on to be the hurlers they turned out to be.

You don't see that hunger in the new crop, no hardy leaders to take the battle to the opposition when things are tough.

The Fennellys will make a bit of a difference, but there's a lot of questions to be asked of the replacements and it remains to be seen if they're up for it come summer time.

All the same its been great to see such a team and individuals in their pomp.

I noticed in the All Ireland last year when Tipp began to turn the screw that Cody looked at the bench for a while and then turned away so much as to say"theres not much there to help me"
It would be a lot to expect a county to be turning out the likes of Shefflin Brennan Walsh Tyrell yeat in year out. The class player will hold his place for a number of years and this can discourage players on the extended panel or those outside the panel who cant see how to break through.
It happened in Kerry after 1986 and as a result Meath Cork and the Ulster boys got in there and were a match for Kerry

Be realistic. Biggest challenge comes when facility is built as it has to be sustainable.  Also you will get plenty of funding for capital work but nothing to cover running costs when completed. Don't go for a vanity project that ends up becoming a millstone around your neck build what meets your requirements

Absolutely no vanity projects.
Try and get as many of the parish community groups on board and listen to what they want.
Some small to medium sized meeting rooms which can be used for card games, committe mertings etc and that wont have high heating costs can be a great asset. A kitchen facility for medium sized group catering e.g. tea/coffee after meetings etc. would be useful.
Of course a stage area for local talent competitions, drama groups is good. The more use that the various community groups make of the facility the easier it will get the voluntary assistance to manage and maintain the facility

I built a calving shed on the sly a few months ago so I'm your man for any tips.
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I'll give your name to Trump when he starts building the Wall. That will keep you busy

We've removed replays outside of provincial and All Ireland finals and moved the championship forward to August so freeing up September. We have increased the number of high profile games at the business end of the championship, brought big games to provincial venues and helped to address the imbalances between the way Munster champions get to an All Ireland and the Ulster ones do. We have a championship that trundles on until maybe QF stage before we get any notable games and even then it's often SF stage. So we now have a better championship, less gaps between games, more time for clubs after championship. We also saw congress stick to their guns on U17 players which will also eventually help schedule club games.

As I said, as everyone who supports this says, this isn't the solution to our problems but it is part of a movement towards a better format that hopefully will address most of our problems.

Why dont we have any"notable" games before qf or sf? Because with the exception of the Ulster championship the provincial title is of no value. Dublin Kerry Cork Mayo know that they will in all likelihood be in the quarter finals either front door or back door and adjust their training plans accordingly.
As regards having the All Ireland finals in August its just waving the white flag and handing ovet September to the following June to rugby and soccer on television,newspapers etc

In two minds to vote or not.

We just seem to be always teetering on the edge of the abyss with neither side willing to give an inch and always appealing to the hardcore elements.

Themmuns are campaigning about Armageddon happening if Gerry gets in while SF are basing their campaign about the RHI scandal and not how they will change things/handle Brexit/look at health etc

Depressing stuff

SF are basing their campaign on equality, something Arlene has been steadfastly against, so I'm not sure you can tar both sides with the same brush.

They are basing their arguments on how bad the other side are.

Equality isnt an issue for me

No they arent .. Sf are basing their main arguments on the RHI scandal, previous scandals and equality ... the DUP are just scaremongering re historical insecurities...

Same ole thing again with the erroneous view that both sides are as bad as eachother .... I honestly cant see how you or anyone cannot see the difference .. If we are going to move forward, we have to live in the hear & now ... Would you not agree that the DUP are either grossly incompetent &/or corrupt in their dealings with RHI, Red Sky , Irisgate, Petergate, NAMA etc.....

I dont see how SF bringing that up (as do all the other parties including the UUP by the way) is remotely akin to the DUP simply dredging up supposed bogeymen and trying to scare the bejasus out of their electorate .. who unfortunately fall for the same ole dung every time 

Also, equality is the main issue for me ..

If you think some imagined lack of "equality" is the most important isdue facing the Six Counties then you deserve what you get. You will have equal space on the canoe going down the swanee as the glorified county council does f all

Europa League opened out a bit tonight with Spurs, Bilbao, Zenith and possibly Shaktar going to the wall. Still a good few long trips into Eastern Europe left that United could possibly do without.

Yeah but if you win it, you're in the CL. United should be able to win that now.

Is that CL place at the expense of whoever comes fourth in the Premiership or could you have five English teams in it?

Daithi Regan's son was playing on the u20 team last night

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/ireland-under-20s-impress-in-tight-victory-over-france-1.2988527

https://twitter.com/daithi_regan/status/835250086535888897

And how about Farage Fartass as the ultimate rugby player name?

Wasnt he in Clongowes with Cedric Twicenightly?

It's looking like this super 8 championship format will become reality with some counties that shouldn't be voting for it suddenly voting in favour of it. Honestly I have seen much better formats outlined on here by chaps at 2am in the morning probably filled with alcohol than the super 8 format. If you ask me it's all a little fishy how this motion will get passed.

Just check out who is buying the correct amount drink for the delegates before the vote

Apropos of nothing really, this reminds me of a time I went to a Limerick v Waterford eirtricity league game. There was a crowd of probably less than the number of players but there was woeful slagging from the Limerick fans to Jimmy Gough the waterford manager. I think he managed limerick previously.  Anyway one hefty lad was giving him some slagging,  not overly nasty but fairly cutting about his team and leaving Limerick. 

Gough turned around and said "Shut up you fat b**tard". The 'crowd' all went oooooooh but the fan never skipped a beat.

"I might be a fat b**tard, but I can lose weight. You'll always be an ugly b**tard."

That's like the one told about Cork His. A dog ran on to the pitch at Flower Lodge and the Hibs manager
ran to catch. Someone in the crowd shouted. "Leave the dog on and take off Donie Wallace"
It's a good  story whether true or not

Best ever soccer song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3b_lw7t2TE
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I agree
Sunshine on Leith by the Proclaimed.
No sunshine on the Gorgie rd today.

I have seen the Hearts play a number of times
Their support make the Gers look like angels. Scum