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Surely just leave defenders in defence forwards stay up front and midfielders can roam the pitch?

See that's roughly how I think things would pan out with the half court rule. Some teams would stick to counter attacking football, which is no bad thing in itself so long as they don't have elongated possession before pressing go, but even the most rigid defensive structure would need at least one totem full forward as the plan b / blind alley option. For if they don't have that, they're just going to keep giving the pressing team the ball back.

Mine, from a referee's perspective is easier to manage

How would it be?
How are you to know who is playing backs, midfield or forwards? Teams are making positional switches all the time, subs come in with 27 on the back and you have to keep track of who is making his way forward etc? That sounds very difficult.

His idea that once the ball goes over a certain line it is not allowed to go back over it is surely much easier managed?

I think Heaton Harris has rowed back a bit since his initial commitment but I'd be surprised if they didn't pony up.
That said, we're in the dark as regards the actual figures at play here. Perhaps, like the GAA, the British govt had a bottom line figure they weren't intending to budge on.

Regardless of funding, where are we on time?
When do we expect to see an appointed contractor?
Will it be ready for Euro 2028 (2027)? It must be very tight and is it likely to continue without any other delays?
What would no Euro 2028 mean for the stadium?

There is not a single thing wrong with that goal. He legally tackled the goalkeeper and the ball fell into the net.

Perfectly legal.
You cannot shoulder a goalkeeper in the square but all other legitimate tackling is allowed.

Teaching in NI needs root & branch reform. The nepotism and who you know hiring practices that go on in some places are a joke, probably unlawful too.

Not that I disagree with you but if that demands root & branch reform, the whole world would need ripped up and started again because it's absolutely everywhere.

But that's not true.

[A player will be blown up if he palmed the ball in open play]

Third goal looked like it was   thrown into the net

A fist only  rule needs bringing in. A player will be blown up if he palmed  the ball in open play , so why are  they allowed to palm the ball into the net?

What??

[their]

Going by news stories this week, English schools are broke as well with SEN  spending through the roof. Scotland the biggest spenders per pupil.

Funding in NI would need to increase by £500 per pupil for schools to balance their budgets.

The thing to remember is whether a school has a deficit or not  , it's not going to close anytime soon !

Wage cuts?

They'll be queuing up for that opportunity ...their about to get pay parity with UK ..so I'm sure it'll happen

For Christ's sake, Delgany. I appreciate you are trying to reveal the depths education has fallen to but please try to keep some standards.

Kilpatrick gets a red.
Clifford gets a yellow.

David Clifford so far having another mare against Dublin.

You're looking in the wrong place I think. Their backs are getting a hiding.

Good win. Bate 16 men truth be told.
Perhaps the plan is to contain for 35 mins then a full press for first 20 or so of 2nd half to blitz the opponent. Worked well.

No mention of the ref letting Canavan have 10 steps before the goal?

https://x.com/thesundaygame/status/1761457015342104580?s=46&t=phQ2HHkWD0UVsLqr_FKpag

How are defenders supposed to do anything when refs let players away with that?!

Can only assume you missed the bounce.

If the GAA are using this funding to build a venue primarily for concerts or indeed with any non-GAA events at the heart of it, then they are letting us members down.

FWIW, Euro 2028 sticks in my craw and entirely undermines the narrative that building this stadium will massively influence GAA in the local community and across Antrim.

No GAA stadium that costs over £100m is exclusively GAA. Sin é.

You are either misunderstanding or misrepresenting what I am saying.
I believe that GAA members deserve the balance to be hugely in favour of our games and events but I'm concerned that this is looking like a non-GAA stadium to enable us to host an Ulster final for the limited time in which one exists.

So I'm not saying that there shouldn't be concerts or other sports in it. Just that they shouldn't be the reason for building it.

If the GAA are using this funding to build a venue primarily for concerts or indeed with any non-GAA events at the heart of it, then they are letting us members down.

FWIW, Euro 2028 sticks in my craw and entirely undermines the narrative that building this stadium will massively influence GAA in the local community and across Antrim.

Very rare you get big crowds for antrim games. 3500 probably would be a big crowd. The biggest football crowds tend to be for other ulster teams as a load of ones from other counties live in Belfast. The hurling might attract a bit more but even at that 3500 still a stretch.

So that can't be changed? Antrim is a county that can be tapped if tried. And part of that is having somewhere you can bring new fans, or returning ones.

I like the thinking. With the grace of God Antrim will require a stadium of this size and this will look like superb forward planning.
Alternatively, though, the number crunching on this stadium as a sports venue is hanging its hat on two things. Euro 2028 and Ulster finals.

Will either exist in 2029?

I'm happy for you to point at one (unlikely) future scenario but you also have to seriously consider the future of the events that we are building this for.

[Money was found for the Soccer and Rugby, it will need to be found for the GAA ultimately.]

what big matches are going to be at casement apart from ulster finals.

All Antrim home games in all codes. They need a home.
Concerts are the obvious big money events.
The jobs generated by the build and also the running of it should boost the local economy.
Stadium tours maybe?
Ulster final - a welcome change from Clones.
It absolutely will get paid for - I still think Croke Park may include a little more. NI/UK government have to put up the rest.
Money was found for the Soccer and Rugby, it will need to be found for the GAA ultimately. The sport with arguably the largest fanbase in Ireland and with the greatest number of participants in any sport here should have a stadium to represent the importance of GAA in NI.
My only complaint is that it has taken so long and parking/transport is likely to be an issue. 

It was found for GAA too. Lots of it.

The GAA were not promised a stadium. Nor were soccer or rugby. They were promised a certain amount of money to redevelop a stadium of their choice. That promise has not been reneged. The idea that soccer and rugby got and we didn't is nonsense.
Soccer and rugby used their allocated funds wisely and delivered a stadium for their games. The GAA didn't and any anger or sense of injustice on that fact needs to be directed solely at the GAA.