Messages

The punishment handed down to Thomas Freeman is a disgrace. Compared to the punishment given to Mullan and Doherty, it is a travesty of justice.

I think in the end it came down to the fact that both Doherty and Mullan were provoked before their actions and this was proven using video evidence by former All-Ireland winning footballer and well respected RTE Sunday Game analyst Joe Brolly. In Freeman's case it seemed that his headbutt on Kevin McGuckin was in no way provoked and therefore any appeal for a reduction in suspension was rejected.

Having said all that Freeman is a class act of a player and his loss will be a huge one especially considering how poor the monaghan full forward line were against armagh. Plus it doesn't seem that there is any strength in depth there at all, we know about Hanratty's limitations and ur fella Meegan looked way off the pace. Suppose you couldn't rule out Corey being fired in up front at number 14. From a Derry point of view I think it will take moments of brilliance again from individuals such as Eoin Bradley and Kielt if we are to get over the line in this one.

This 3pm throw in time for saturday will keep the crowds well down. Very early in the day, on a day a lot of folk work.
And all for showing on tv, even though there is 2 more games on afterwards!!
i predict a lot less attendance than last saturdays game.
we'll be lucky to have 5-6,000 at the game.

I can already hear the RTE pundits coming out with stuff like 'the supporters are voting with their feet' and that fans are 'fed up with the ulster slogging match' when they realise that saturday's attendance will be down on previous games when in reality the time and day of the fixture are the main factors. I myself could struggle to make the game because of the time alone.

The sort of thing Tommy Lyons or Bernard Flynn would let out of them.

[Hoganstand]

Maybe I missed it among the 50 odd pages on this game but did anyone else spot a Derry fan throwing a slap at Darren Hughes. Thought I saw something happen when watch it live but there were no replays on RTE, but people on Hoganstand have seen it. He was retrieving a sideline ball when it happened.

That paragon of truth and virtue?

Pushing and shoving. No punches thrown by either Hughes or any fans.

56min in. Hughes pushes spectator who throws a weak punch that doesn't connect. Hughes needs to be punished for that. You can't have fans being put in danger at games. I know no one was hurn in this instance however what if the guy had tripped when pushed and cracked his head off the ground.

Yeah you would think that there will be some action taken with Darren Hughes. As minimal as the incident may have been you can't have players interfering with the supporters!

[(Bonus)]

07 Mar 19:30 Tyrone v Galway    Galway +1.5  Galway
08 Mar 14:30 Mayo v Westmeath     Westmeath +4.5  Westmeath
08 Mar 14:30 Derry v Kerry    Derry +1.5  Derry (Bonus)
08 Mar 14:30 Donegal v Dublin     Dublin +0.5  Donegal
07 Mar 19:30 Meath v Laois     Laois +1.5 Laois
08 Mar 14:30 Armagh v Monaghan     Monaghan +0.5  Monaghan
08 Mar 14:30 Kildare v Wexford     Wexford +4.5  Wexford
08 Mar 14:30 Cork v Fermanagh     Fermanagh +4.5 Fermanagh
07 Mar 19:30 Down v Cavan     Cavan +4.5 Cavan
08 Mar 14:30 Offaly v Louth     Offaly +2.5 Louth
08 Mar 14:30 Limerick v Tipperary     Tipperary +5.5  Tipperary
08 Mar 14:30 Roscommon v Longford     Longford +3.5  Roscommon
08 Mar 14:30 Kilkenny v Wicklow     Kilkenny +22.5 Wicklow
08 Mar 14:30 Clare v Waterford     Waterford +2.5 Clare
08 Mar 14:30 London v Sligo     London +10.5    London
08 Mar 14:30 Leitrim v Antrim     Leitrim +0.5   Leitrim

[Leitrim]

08 Feb 14:30 Leitrim v Carlow     Carlow +4.5 Leitrim

[BONUS]

14th Feb 2009
14:30  Donegal v Mayo     Mayo +1.5  Donegal
14:30  Limerick v Roscommon     Roscommon +0.5 Limerick
19:30  Armagh v Laois     Laois +3.5  Laois
19:30  Meath v Fermanagh     Fermanagh +2.5 Fermanagh
19:30  Down v Louth     Louth +2.5   Down
19:30  Antrim v Clare     Clare+4.5 Antrim
   
15th Feb 2009
14:30  Derry v Westmeath     Westmeath +3.5 Derry
14:30  Tyrone v Kerry    Kerry +1.5  Tyrone
14:30  Galway v Dublin     Dublin +0.5 Galway BONUS
14:30  Kildare v Cork     Kildare +2.5 Cork
14:30  Monaghan v Wexford     Wexford +3.5   Monaghan
14:30  Cavan v Tipperary     Tipperary +6.5 Cavan
14:30  Carlow v London     London +14.5     London
14:30  Sligo v Leitrim     Leitrim +2.5 Leitrim
14:30  Waterford v Kilkenny     Kilkenny +22.5 Kilkenny
14:30  Offaly v Longford      Offaly +1.5 Offaly

[Dublin]

31st Jan
19:30  Dublin v Tyrone    (Dublin +1.5) Dublin

1st Feb 2009
13:00  London v Leitrim     (London +14.5) London
14:30  Mayo v Derry     (Derry +1.5) Derry
14:30  Westmeath v Galway     (Westmeath + 2.5) Galway
14:30  Kerry v Donegal    (Donegal +3.5) Kerry
14:30  Wexford v Armagh     (Wexford + 1.5) Wexford
14:30  Fermanagh v Monaghan     (fermanagh +0.5)  Monaghan (Bonus)
14:30  Cork v Meath     (Meath +2.5)   Cork
14:30  Laois v Kildare     (Kildare +2.5) Kildare
14:30  Roscommon v Offaly     (Offaly +1.5) Roscommon
14:30  Longford v Cavan     (Longford +1.5) Cavan (Bonus)
14:30  Louth v Limerick     (Limerick +3.5) Limerick
14:30  Tipperary v Down    (Tipperary +5.5) Down
14:30  Sligo v Kilkenny     (Kilkenny +20.5) Sligo
14:30  Carlow v Clare     (Clare +0.5) Carlow
14:30  Antrim v Wicklow     (Wicklow +1.5) Antrim

Yeah moran's trial policy of each player getting a full game, being on the bench for a game then not being involved seems to be the best policy especially with 40 players to look at and it will help any potential nfl players to shine through. getting promotion from div 4 has to be a serious target for leitrim. having london away first should help as it will enable the squad to gain a more settled feel before the more challenging games later in the league.

Out of interest how are mickey moran and john morrison getting on in leitrim?

I know its early days and they have lost their opening 2 fbd games but are there positive signs?

An interesting weekend of Ulster Club games ahead

Clonoe v St Eunans at Coalisland - One might have thought that Clonoe's tough tackling, space reducing tactics would be well suited to the ulster club 'slog' but the circumstances they find themselves in arising from the dromore match along with little recovery time plays into st eunan's hands who employ a free-flowing attacking approach. 2 solid midefield pairings on show but with Conal Dunne, Rory Kavanagh and Devenney up front for st eunans the attacking edge is with the letterkenny boys.                                

Ballinderry v Latton at Ballinascreen - It would be a major surprise to see anything apart from a Ballinderry win here. They would appear to have too much ability all over the park for a Latton team who will rely heavily on free taking for a large proportion of their scores. Ballinderry will have class players to come off the bench if required to confirm a comfortable victory.

St Galls v Cavan Gaels at Casement Park - Hard to see Cavan Gaels overcoming St Galls who will have big aspirations of going all the way this year. St Galls have a winning mentality in the ulster club, something which is badly missing with Cavan Gaels.

so just for the record...going for wins for St Eunan's, Ballinderry and St Galls!

Looking at the draw at this early stage it would seem that an Ulster Final appearance is the very least Donegal should expect this year. They couldn't have hand picked the draw any better tbh. A dedicated system of play combined with the talent available in the county should make Donegal a serious force to be reckoned with. Too often they are the makers of their own downall though. It will be very interesting to see if the new management team can follow through and make the changes necessary to enable Donegal to be real contenders again....the potential is there!