Messages

Certainly seems one of the most anticipated games in a few years that i can remember. A lot of neutral interest. Bit suprised by the numbers going for tyrone also ( probably more endorsement of Mickey Harte than anything) and by the bookies with Tyrone at 7/4 which is tempting.

Should be a cracker !   

Haven't seen a single press pundit tipping Donegal. Presumably a combination of doubts about Donegal's hunger and the fitness/sharpness of Lacey and McHugh, Tyrone's league form and perceived superior squad.

Irish Times this weekend, Seán Moran et al, tipping Donegal

[might see western exile at it perhaps?]

Down injuries doing their utmost to help Derry win this?
While a good side and talented, Down's experience will stand to them having done reasonably well this past few years (certainly better than us).
Never wish ill on any player but I wont be crying if Down dont have young O'Hare - imo he is a cracking forward - and a few others.

Derry still finding their style and system. Getting there but a full Down team might have been too much.

Could be close. Too biased to see past a Derry win irrespective of any proper analytical thinking !

Hope to get to this, might see western exile at it perhaps?

Indeed you will!   And since we 'staters have the Monday off, we might just make a day of it!

Although the Down injury list is long, the work related injury to Conor Garvey reminds us that there are more important things than football. We all wish him a speedy and full recovery.

What are the roadworks like on the N17 these days? Is there some sewage works going on? We'll have to leave earlier in the morning if that's the case.

I was up and down the N17 at that weekend and there were no roadworks or other traffic problems (at least not between Milltown and Galway City).
The real traffic problem on the day with be crossing the city.

I see that Shay McCartan is now a free agent, after being "released" from Burnley association football club.  Does anyone know of his intentions?  Any chance he is going  to stay around home for awhile?

[We need a Miracle]

...
We are more or less relegated after today's results as our score diff -19 while Mayo are +2 and Donegal are even. We need a Miracle.

Yes, Down need to overcome a -19 points difference and hope that other results go their way.
So, a possible  "miracle" scenario is that we need ALL 3 of the following to happen in the next round:

1) Down beat Kildare by 10+ points  at Páirc Esler
2)  Dublin beat Donegal by 10+  at Ballybofey
3)  Tyrone beat Kerry by any score at Omagh

An alternate to 2) above that would also work, would be Cork beat Mayo by 12+  at  Páirc Uí Chaoimh  (provided of course that Down beat Kildare by 10+ and Tyrone beat Kerry)

Under 21 Ulster semi-final on 3rd April
Down v. (holders) Cavan

Down won the second half but it was not enough to turn over the 7 point deficient at half time.
Although Kerry deserved to be in front at half time, the margin could have been less.  Donal O'Hare pushed 3 free kicks wide early on. But the most worrying/annoying thing was that 3 of Kerry's scores come directly from winning ball from Down's own kick out.
The Down half back line was missing in the first quarter and Carr and Mallan were eventually replaced by O'Hagan and Damian Turley. If the lads were not well, as Mourne Rover is reporting, perhaps it was foolish to let them start the game. Some or all of these reasons are why the game was lost in the first half.

Lar, we know you meant Maurice Fitzgerald v. Dublin 12 years ago.
Praise indeed, to young Donal O'Hare who is improving now in his second season

Aristo didn't get many to bite at his bait   

Wet morning in Co. Down. I hope it clears by this evening.
I am looking forward to this one.

James Mc Cartan names his side to play Mayo in the Allianz league game Saturday night in Pairc Esler

Brendan McVeigh
Daniel McCartan
Brendan McArdle
Ryan Boyle
Ryan Mallon
Aidan Carr
Keith Quinn
Kalum King
Kevin McKernan
Conor Laverty
Mark Poland
Paul McComiskey
Donal O'Hare
Connaire Harrison
Benny Coulter

The three best teams are Tyrone, Dublin and Mayo (no particular order)
Imho.
Kildare are top only because they have not yet played these three.

The conversation seems to have gone a bit North Mayo. In that thought....
Let's not forget that Newry is same latitude as Killalla and Bellmullet.
Enjoy your trip east. 

Lads, so far we have Rossfan saying Roscommon will go down, a few Sligo lads saying Sligo are going down, a couple if Meath bucks claiming they will go down, while most of the rest of us expect Wicklow to go down. Who's the poorest out of those 4 that actually will go down?

It's all about the remaining fixtures

Meath - Roscommon (A), Sligo (H), Antrim (A), Fermanagh (H)
Sligo - Cavan (H), Meath (A), Fermanagh (A), Wicklow (H)
Roscommon - Meath (H), Antrim (A), Monaghan (H), Cavan (A)

TBH i think we have the toughest fixtures our form is poor & are missing a number of players. Who do you think will go down?

Don't know. Looking at the fixtures, Sligo seem to have the most difficult of the three. I think Roscommon will stay up anyway.

Agreed

on what evidence do you say mayo FF line is a problem . they are not my cup of tea as players as they never seem to score an easy point but they are getting the Job done. 16 points was a fine total to have run up the last day and the Problem was we let in far too much, yes of course a better full back would have got us over the line against Donegal no more than the finals against kerry , Mayo were brutally exposed at full back. and  as i said the really worrying thing is horan does not see a problem.
I think may are nearly there and things in general are very much in a good posotion in most places even i think the full back situation can be fixed maybe with more coaching for caff or shane mchale i believe is read to do a job we just need to get right combinationat midfield and with the 3 boy coming back in the forwards thoings are looking good.

I cannot agree that there is a fullback problem and that Cafferkey needs to be 'coached'.
I do agree that there are defensive issues that did not exist last year, but these are team collective and not the problem of the fullback.
For example, Brogans goal happened because Barry Moran did not tackle Flynn so Cafferkey had no choice but leave his man. Defense is a team effort, and Mayo did it well last year.

There is an interesting bit of trivia in the rugby section of this weekends Irish Times about Craig Gilroy who will start on the wing for Ireland today. Apparently he played Gaelic football at midfield for St. Paul's during his teenage years.