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So you think Bono,Bruce or any Banker lies awake at night worried about the working man?

The stupid and Ill informed are the gobshites who think that singers actually believe the lyrics they write.Only last week Bono told Gay Byrne that U2 pursue tax efficiencies "just like any other business". Top marks for honesty,now he just needs to dispense with preaching bullshit and the hypocrisy.

Some of your posting and information is idiotic.

Springsteen and U2 are 100% completely dependent on talent and the choices of individuals for their success. They have no coercive means of making money. It is pure and clear in that respect. They are not the MTV or social media generation. They are not forced on anybody. You have difficulty accepting that and to make a stupid statement like 'Take deposits that people leave...of their own accord?' when referring to taxpayers in this country is ludicrous.

Secondly, yes people believe what these guys write or at least their general themes and influences.

Springsteen didn't release Born In the USA until he was 35 years of age thus becoming commercially successful. His life and wealth did not drastically change until this point. Before that he had written his hardest hitting songs that came from his upbringing in New Jersey and what shaped him, relationship with his father, etc. That said you probably never heard of Darkness on the Edge of Town or Nebraska

Are you suggesting that a man is shaped more in his second 30-35 years or first 35 years? I know which one I feel probably has more of an impact.

The fact that someone is rich and free from monetary pain does not exclude them from writing or singing about this when their whole body of work from 17 years of age is consistent with the same message they put out now.

[The Galway U-21's from 2011 physically don't look any different now than they did then. Many of them are still quite scrawny and physically were unprepared to face a top division 1 side in championship.]

Unfortunately the phrase boys against men would have to be in your mind having watched that game. Galway were physically bullied yesterday by a more seasoned mature team. Before the throw-in Johnny Duane extended his hand towards Alan Dillon for a handshake and Dillon launched a shoulder at him, knocking him to the ground. Not one of Duane's teammates came over to give Dillon even a mild dunt for his troubles and let's face it Alan Dillon isn't exactly a renowned hard man. It summed up the difference in mentality between the sides. Mayo were there for a battle. Galway for a game of football by the seaside.

Serious questions must be raised about Mulholland. Two games against Sligo and Mayo in consecutive years and 6 goals conceded (and it could have been more). You could have driven a bus through the centre of the Galway defence yesterday and not hit anyone. Strength and conditioning wise they were light years behind Mayo. Granted a Mayo side that is longer on the road and has 3 years of hard strength and conditioning work put in. The Galway U-21's from 2011 physically don't look any different now than they did then. Many of them are still quite scrawny and physically were unprepared to face a top division 1 side in championship. That said there is no way they should be losing a game that badly. I don't care if Mulholland had to put 14 men in defence for the first 20 minutes, just to settle them down, but it was criminal to leave a full-back line containing a 21, 22 and 21 year old so exposed. And it was the same against Sligo last year. As great as his underage record has been, Mulholland has to be judged now on his senior record and so far it has been appalling.

Congrats to Mayo. They did a very professional job. They'll certainly be there or thereabouts in August. All those Galway players can do now is store it in the memory banks for when the shoe will be on the other foot. Although that may still be a while off.

Hard to argue with any of that. The most concerned part being that the under 21s from 2 years ago don't seem to have pushed on physically at all at all. You would nearly take it for granted in this day and age that they are on strength and conditioning programmes but the questioned must be asked now are they? And if so they need reviewing fast.

I don't think Bradshaw should be given the captains armband again after yesterday. It was stupid and deserved as they were wild swings and 2 minutes into the 2nd half. Coleman's was a bit harmless but stupid. Dillion made an awful meal of it though having barrelled into him with a high tackle just before it off the ball.

Serious questions now for Mulholland. No plan, no development and wild naivety. I won't go back on my earlier comments that the talent is not there. I stand by that. However I don't think any county should be getting a 17 point hiding in Championship anymore. As slack and all as the options may be I think he could have devised a strategy that kept us competitive for 50 minutes, kept the score low and retained some pride.

I hate the managerial merry go rounds that have gone on but only he truthfully knows what more he can offer. His comments last week about being true to Galway's tradition and not playing 'a modern game' now seem like getting the excuses in early rather than his dedicated philosophy. I  think that this notion or romantic ideal doing the rounds of an almost Barcelona-esque style of play in footballing terms is getting a bit ridiculous and is a cop out for poor performances. 'Oh we are true to our style and tradition so its ok to get the sh*te bet out of us really and lose to Antrim and Wexford on a yearly basis.'

When the great  Michael Meehan was down injured in the 2nd half
A Galway 'supporter ' sitting behind me said,and I quote "thank f**k
and I hope he never wears the Galway jersey again"......now what is
a pig like that adding to the Galway cause?

Don't think there is anyway of understanding that mindset I am afraid. You get all sorts!

[I think what he meant to say is that in terms of conditioning, discipline etc. they are not doing what is required at this level and to be honest I think that's a fair point.]

Also just wanted to address a comment I heard last night when I watched back the live coverage of the game. Joe Brolly when asked about Meehan and Armstrong said something along the lines of 'all flash and no substance' and then proceeded to say 'football does not seem to be the number one priority'

It was the most infuriating and disrespectful comment to make based on pure ignorance. Michael Meehan should not be playing football. He has no cartilage in his ankle. He does not do any running for his fitness because he cant. He can only use a bike and aqua jog. According to the Times yesterday and talking to fellas around about me at the match he is on painkillers to play and will be this week to cope with the pain from the exertion yesterday. He initially got injured over 3 years ago and has spent that time coming back over and over just to play football for Galway. If that's not number 1 priority I don't know what is.

I know less about Armstrong but the man is injured alot too and some fella on the telly should not make a flippant comment like that and not be pulled up on it. We saw the relief and deserved celebration from Andy Moran yesterday and he has been out for 10 months and all the hard work paid off.  Meehan has been the vast bulk of the past 3 years doing the exact same and comments like that must be hard to take.

Disgraceful stuff.

Didn't think he had singled anyone in particular out but more judged them as a team having "all flash and no substance".

His actual comment was that "Galway are clearly not serious about their football." Now he got pulled for it which is right enough as on its own that's a ridiculous comment.

I think what he meant to say is that in terms of conditioning, discipline etc. they are not doing what is required at this level and to be honest I think that's a fair point.

That's what I took from it too.

The not taking football serious comment was half time and after the game. Watched it back there again now on sky player. The comments about Armstrong and Meehan were made before the game. The teams were in the parade and Lyster mentioned Armstrong and Meehan and that was his response.

Also just wanted to address a comment I heard last night when I watched back the live coverage of the game. Joe Brolly when asked about Meehan and Armstrong said something along the lines of 'all flash and no substance' and then proceeded to say 'football does not seem to be the number one priority'

It was the most infuriating and disrespectful comment to make based on pure ignorance. Michael Meehan should not be playing football. He has no cartilage in his ankle. He does not do any running for his fitness because he cant. He can only use a bike and aqua jog. According to the Times yesterday and talking to fellas around about me at the match he is on painkillers to play and will be this week to cope with the pain from the exertion yesterday. He initially got injured over 3 years ago and has spent that time coming back over and over just to play football for Galway. If that's not number 1 priority I don't know what is.

I know less about Armstrong but the man is injured alot too and some fella on the telly should not make a flippant comment like that and not be pulled up on it. We saw the relief and deserved celebration from Andy Moran yesterday and he has been out for 10 months and all the hard work paid off.  Meehan has been the vast bulk of the past 3 years doing the exact same and comments like that must be hard to take.

Disgraceful stuff.

Congrats to Mayo - we all knew they were a better and more seasoned team but to get beat that much is very depressing.

I am sick and tired of people in our own county and pundits who watch us twice a year wondering 'what's wrong in Galway, are the structures not right' bla bla bla. Simple fact: they are not good enough. Again the footballers are not of the standard required to compete with the top tier. There is no mystery. Anyone that goes to Galway club games knows this and secondly they know under 21 and senior championship are worlds upon worlds apart and their expectations for another couple of years or so are very very low.

Couple of things on the game. Mayo's setup, professionalism in warm up, discipline compared to Galway's was on a different level also. Galway's body language and warm up was like a club intermediate team.

Same in terms of physicality. Apart from a couple of Galway lads the Mayo fellas are streets ahead physically and the conditioning of the 'smaller' lads was even a shock. In fairness the Mayo team have been longer on the road and it does take time.

The mistakes for the Mayo goals were abysmal. Lot of talk about the pressure Mayo put on and was impressive but for 2-2 in the first half I felt the initial mistakes were totally unforced and were to do with casualness, attitude and lack of intensity.  To me they were not even a direct result of hard pressure although admittedly other scores were and Mayo are really improving in this area.

Galway - do not know where we go from here this year. Mayo - a fine side whose supporters will have deservedly enjoyed yesterday but as a team learned nothing, didn't get tested and if they don't get it against Roscommon or in a final will be wide open on QF day.

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Caltra in 2004.
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Probably is and will remain one of the most remarkable club All Ireland victory's in terms of achievement too!

Well done St. Brigid's.

Options as presents maybe to boost sales?? Not ideal for everyone that's for sure though.

Some talk that the Kings Hall gig is outdoor?? I presumed it was an indoor venue. Or is it both like the RDS??

Anyone know the likely capacity for the Belfast gig? Would like to get the Indoor one-always the best. No problem getting tickets for the others I reckon given the locations and being mid week and the over saturation in the past 4 years.

Am I right in saying this will be the 11th E Street Band gig in Ireland since December 2007?

Awaiting the furore over ticket prices

Scored 4 points from play in the semi', good going by any standards. Donnellan very good up to and in the LF, but injury thereafter killed a lot of his form. Unfortunately last Sunday he returned *somewhat* to his bad ways, i.e. poor use of possession.

Yet still our only forward that could win a ball. I cant understand why they keep moving him inside. He took Tommy Walsh for 3 balls in the first 15 minutes and then shunted inside again. I get the rotation thing when things are goin well but when they aren't you gotta play your ball winners out in the half forward line.

I thought he was our best player on Sunday until the 49th minute.

[and I think too much emphasis is placed on finals so hence my selections.]

1. Anthony Nash

2. Paul Murphy
3. JJ Delaney
4. Johnny Coen

5. David Collins
6. Brian Hogan
7  Kieran Joyce

8. Iarlaith Tannion
9. Kevin Moran

10. TJ. Reid
11. Henry Shefflin
12. Cyril Donnellan

13. David Burke
14. Joe Canning
15. John Mullane

HOTY: Henry Shefflin although I thought TJ Reid before nominations
TPOTY: Johnny Coen


Hard team to pick with the full back line probably the easiest selection although Fergal Moore and to a lesser extent Jackie Tyrell are unlucky.

I think Kieran Joyce has been fiercely underrated this year. His man taken off in 3 of the 4 games he has played if I am not mistaken? Very solid if not spectacular and Collins had a very consistent year too.

Tannian is a cert with Moran probably the most deserving.

Half forward line the second easiest to pick. Donnellan's red card will probably count against him but he was Galway's second best forward this year. Not there really as a scorer but chipped in nicely at times in that department and was Galway's best player in the final until the rush of blood to the head. I see Pa Bourke being selected in some areas and I am surprised as I certainly dont think he came close to these three as well as being taken off before half time in the Munster final.

Hardest line to pick. David Burke is very lucky he is nominated in here. Canning the only cert. If there had not been an All Ireland replay then Eoin Larkin and Richie Hogan would even have struggled to get nominated and I think too much emphasis is placed on finals so hence my selections.

YPOTY: No contest - Johhny Coen

Rightly or wrongly, a bit too much emphasis on the final(s) alright. By that token though, Damien Hayes would be a shoo-in. Draw and replay were his only moderate games all year.

I thought McDonnell for Cork done a job on him in the semi? It was the same template Cody used then in the drawn game.

I think Donnellan has been better and more influential than him all year to be honest.

1. Anthony Nash

2. Paul Murphy
3. JJ Delaney
4. Johnny Coen

5. David Collins
6. Brian Hogan
7  Kieran Joyce

8. Iarlaith Tannion
9. Kevin Moran

10. TJ. Reid
11. Henry Shefflin
12. Cyril Donnellan

13. David Burke
14. Joe Canning
15. John Mullane

HOTY: Henry Shefflin although I thought TJ Reid before nominations
TPOTY: Johnny Coen


Hard team to pick with the full back line probably the easiest selection although Fergal Moore and to a lesser extent Jackie Tyrell are unlucky.

I think Kieran Joyce has been fiercely underrated this year. His man taken off in 3 of the 4 games he has played if I am not mistaken? Very solid if not spectacular and Collins had a very consistent year too.

Tannian is a cert with Moran probably the most deserving.

Half forward line the second easiest to pick. Donnellan's red card will probably count against him but he was Galway's second best forward this year. Not there really as a scorer but chipped in nicely at times in that department and was Galway's best player in the final until the rush of blood to the head. I see Pa Bourke being selected in some areas and I am surprised as I certainly dont think he came close to these three as well as being taken off before half time in the Munster final.

Hardest line to pick. David Burke is very lucky he is nominated in here. Canning the only cert. If there had not been an All Ireland replay then Eoin Larkin and Richie Hogan would even have struggled to get nominated and I think too much emphasis is placed on finals so hence my selections.

YPOTY: No contest - Johhny Coen

You can nit pick through a whole game if you want. He should have blown the whistle and given a 21 yard free when TJ Reid was slapped in the head. Instead of a certain point for KK, Galway broke and got their second goal. Six of one, half a dozen...

You're right you can. Is that the way we should look at incidents then? Sure if they cancel each other out it's ok then? The old 'balance themselves out over the course of the season' argument?? How will refereeing standards ever improve if you take that view?

The awarding of that free was a crucial decision. It was blatantly wrong. I have said earlier as a Galway fan that I did not think we would have won the game had it stood.  However that is only an opinion I could be wrong. Arguably it indirectly contributed to the sending off. It's a point worth debating.

I understand your point about certain incidents and watched the TJ Reid incident there and it did look on tv like a slap on the head. Watching it live yesterday from the Davin Collins didnt make contact with Reid but Id see how that would be given from the angle the cameras picked it up. Reid was straight up again too which indicated no contact. That may have been the refs view too.

No, it's not, but you can't simply turn round with an attitude of "let's focus on our misfortune and ignore theirs". From a Galway point of view, the decision was crucial. Do you think Kilkenny conceding a second goal wasn't crucial to them?

It indirectly contributed to the sending off? Are you having a laugh? Donnellan was so incensed with the referee he decided to do a Benny and try and take JJ's head off?!

You're definitely kidding yourself if you think TJ wasn't slapped - Collins' flapped at him and it 100% made contact. I was sitting in the lower Hogan almost directly in line with it. It wasn't a flick of the wrist but a one-handed swing. Richie Hogan got sent-off (deservedly) for something similar earlier in the year against Limerick. It absolutely should have been a free.

He clearly swung the hurley across from looking at it here. I felt there was no contact yesterday and that TJ's reaction bore that out. If he got a blow to the head similar to the the strike Richie Hogan gave the Limerick player as you have suggested then you would imagine he would have been in a lot of distress?


No I am not having a laugh regarding Donnellan. He deserved a straight red no question. But are you realistically suggesting that frustration had no part to play?? And that the disallowed goal didn't contribute to this?? He was then pulled back chasing down a ball and lashed out wrongly. I think its a perfectly reasonable connection.

Put it this way had that goal stood I don't think Donnellan would have lashed out.

You can nit pick through a whole game if you want. He should have blown the whistle and given a 21 yard free when TJ Reid was slapped in the head. Instead of a certain point for KK, Galway broke and got their second goal. Six of one, half a dozen...

You're right you can. Is that the way we should look at incidents then? Sure if they cancel each other out it's ok then? The old 'balance themselves out over the course of the season' argument?? How will refereeing standards ever improve if you take that view?

The awarding of that free was a crucial decision. It was blatantly wrong. I have said earlier as a Galway fan that I did not think we would have won the game had it stood.  However that is only an opinion I could be wrong. Arguably it indirectly contributed to the sending off. It's a point worth debating.

I understand your point about certain incidents and watched the TJ Reid incident there and it did look on tv like a slap on the head. Watching it live yesterday from the Davin Collins didnt make contact with Reid but Id see how that would be given from the angle the cameras picked it up. Reid was straight up again too which indicated no contact. That may have been the refs view too.

McGrath audibly blew his whistle before the ball was struck. End of story.

Did we dispute that?

If you cared to read the posts more carefully you will see the fact that he blew the whistle at all is what we are taking issue with.