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In a statelet that is so dependent on state jobs, I believe you cannot say that someone is not a nationalist simply because they work for a state run body and depend on that body for their livelihood.

The biggest problem in midfield for me was the fact that Down (any time this year I have seen them) cannot seem to win breaking ball. Whether the man breaking it is simply not good enough to direct the breaking ball to a red jersey, or the opposition are simply better at it, it is rare to see a breaking ball in midfield being picked up by a Down man. It wasn't helped on Sunday by the fact that the kickouts regularly went to men that were outnumbered. I remember one occasion specifically in the second half were Murphy and McKernan were 2 on 1 with loads of room but Kane opted to kick out to Maginn (I think) on the left wing who was outnumbered about 3 to 1.

Going by the last GE, all of them are wrong.

I did
I'll hold my hands up I was wrong
The real reports normally come out after a defeat
How wrong was I

I had heard similar though so maybe take both the reports before and after the match with a pinch of salt.

Just for the Down lads.

Last time ye played us in the AIQs in Newry ye got to the All Ireland final.

Just saying, like.

It must be your turn this year then.

Are county players not sticking out in club games because they're not as good as what went before? Or are they not obvious for the same reason that lots of flare players do not shine as much as previous in intercounty matches, due to packed defences, elaborate systems and a more collaborative effort? And has the fitness of the average club player risen to be close to the standard of the county players?

Noticed that too

Did anyone else think Turkeys black card was wrong? He got the ball but his arm followed through and it looked a possible black, but wasn't

Did turn the game...he's a great player who although hasn't the best feet and isn't the best fielder but he has some heart, battles and puts in serious hits and is physically strong enough to turn ball over...most other Down men weren't

On TV it definitely looked like a black card, but from my position on the terraces behind the goal I thought that he dispossessed the man and then the momentum carried him through and took him out. He didn't wrap his arms around him and drag him to ground and I thought it was pretty harsh - but again, watching it on the Sunday Game last night, the TV camera angles with the addition of slow motion made it look like a definite black.

To be fair I think the players didn't give up as badly as some are saying. With 72 minutes on the clock, Down were still taking quick frees and trying to get the ball up the pitch. In fact, one of McManus' two points from play came after Gearard McGovern ran virtually the length of the pitch to attack and couldn't get back on time to stop him around the 67th minute.

Galway, Down, Armagh  and Meath are all in the same boat.

I vote that we throw Down out of the boat.

There's a whale that resembles Joe Brolly waiting to try and overturn the boat and gobble up anything in an orange jersey.

The Wobbler, Jim wasn't sacked, he walked

He was all but sacked after it was clear that the executive weren't supporting a vote in his favour.

I think the criticism of the management is a bit harsh. They made some decisions that from the stands look crazy, but Burns was the only one that stood up to the plate when no other man in or out of the county would take the job - he knew exactly what was coming but did it anyway for the good of the county. There is a reason behind the decision making - I can't understand bringing on Brown either but apparently he's been flying in training - the management team don't just pick a random decision out of thin air and run with it to try and p*ss off everyone on the terraces.

It is irritating for people who have number of goals bets on, in this second half they will probably be through on goal 10 times and fist it over the bar which would drive you insane.

I highly doubt inter county footballers will give a hoot about mugs giving their money to the millionaire bookie

You've probably just classified half of inter county footballers as mugs.

I'm slightly surprised Shay McArdle isn't starting, I wasn't at the Monaghan game in the league but listening to it on the radio he seemed to be causing the Monaghan defence some problems. He mustn't have shaken off his injury fully.

Decent enough team and we can only hope for the best on Sunday.

Sure will there not just be a new Duke of Edinburgh?

QEII probably won't marry again and her offspring's missus might not get such a title.

Oh that's what the title was for. I thought it was random, like the two younger ones getting Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Sure will there not just be a new Duke of Edinburgh?