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[I also think Sligo, Mayo, Ross and Galway contested the league semis that year too.]

Ross Matt

Great post.  I'll never forget  2001 when the 2 Connacht teams won the club all-irelands- Crossmolina in the fuball and Athenry in the hurling.    What a day.

Yeah Seafoid forgot about the club AIs. Also in '01 Galway were AI champions, Mayo were league champions and Ross were Connacht champions. I also think Sligo, Mayo, Ross and Galway contested the league semis that year too.

Yeah, that's right. Although, foot and mouth had a part to play in that I think. The northern teams couldn't come down to fulfill some fixtures. It was still some achievement though, having all four semi finalists from one province, never mind from the province always derided as by far the weakest.

Actually you're correct Tubberman. Foot and Mouth had an effect on the league that year.

And u21 final i believe

[The only game I ever saw them bottle was in '96 v Meath day 1.]

Sligoian, two things.

In my lifetime I have only ever seen mayo bottle one game, unlucky with val dalys goal in Tuam in '89 when there wasn't a Galway man left only the 15 on the pitch, same in '01 against the Ross. The only game I ever saw them bottle was in '96 v Meath day 1. You might point to 97 but we lost to the best footballer of the decade giving the display of his life.
In '04 & '06, IMO, we lost to the best team of the last 20 yrs, since their fathers played in the 80s there's been no team like that Kerry team that reached 6 AIFs in a row, we didnt bottle it we simply lost to a better team and no talk if tactics will ever change that.
Can Sligo say the same thing about the Connacht final '10?

Secondly it's good for Connacht football to have teams in the latter stages of the championship, would Galway have made the breakthrough in '98 if mayo hadn't been to the final 2 yrs running? I don't think so because the Sligo lads or the rossie lads will say well we can beat Mayo, no problem, let us at them, and sure if mayo can beat cork/Kerry/Dublin well f**k it what's to stop us?

It was the same with club football in Mayo, castlebar got to the final in 93, the following yr k'more won Connacht, all of a sudden it wasn't a big deal, ballina look at us and say well we can do that too, cross think sure we're better than those pair, it all leads on.

A fine post Ross Matt, and I'll be in early to shout for the primrose and blue in the minors as I was in '06

Bit harsh there, more like paniced then bottled. Bounce of a ball (literally) cost that AI, not many teams have lost it like that.

You would feel sorry for the stepdad alright. Still no contact with Jaycee as off yet bearing in mind her step sister is his daughter. You would wonder if Jaycee's mum still believes he could have done more to prevent the abduction. Looks like she got $1 million for each year she was in captivity from the state of california for their screw ups. Absolutely no amount could compensate for their actions through the saga.
Anyone remember a case in Ireland (not ian bailey) where the cops followed this guy everyday believing he killed his wife. Turns out they got the real killer but only after years of harrasing the husband.

Spot on highorlow, Kerry are well used of dishing it out when the pressure is on. Billy Morgan was spot on when he said there were as dirty as any team on the go. Unlucky for us is that there are few of our lads with the mean streak in them to knee lads in the back or take them out with sly digs or shoulders. We tried to man up 15 years ago and it arguablly cost us the AI, we haven't had a repeat since.

Good piece that, with Casey. I remember him recounting before that in the midst of the All-Ireland hype in 1996 with all sorts of press corps arriving in Charlestown, into his shop arrives a crew from feckin' Eurosport! How could that not affect you? Casey has been hard done by by history. He was something else in 1996 but then injury kicked in.

Casey was... Feck it I remember him beating Sligo virtually single handed at U21 and Mayo went on to AI final that year as far as I can remember. He was midfield and just brilliant energy. Full forward in 96 but wouldn t be his best position. But nobody put a glove on him and he was just gone for the finals. John played Trevor ff as well. And similar enough players, both better taking the game on. An awful loss. Anybody that disses John Casey is best ignored.

Casey started at wing back against sligo and moved to midfield when mayo were losing, he made a big impact and the game eneded in a draw. Mayo won replay easily. He started midfield in the U21 final replay against kerry. If memory serves me well, one of the RTE pundits said he was the only mayo player worth mentioning after the final which drew the rath of many mayo people as they believed he was poor that day.
As for having a poor AI final in 1996, all he got all day was high ball kicked in on top of him, nothing in front of him to dash out for. This poor play made an all star of darren fay. Unfortuantely for John, his hitting the ground in the replay fracas didn't cast him in a great light with some folk

Things must be looking up for Mayo - Liam Hayes has forecast a 'relatively easy win for Roscommon' (last night's 'Off The Ball' on Newstalk). Not only that, but Mayo's record over the last 25 years makes them a 'failed entity' according to Liameen. In fact, he doesn't see any evidence as to why Mayo should be considered one of the big two in Connaught!!!

Fortunately Eugene McGee was on hand to talk some sense. Although he went for a Ros win too.

Ros may win, but I don't see it being 'relatively easy'...

Liam is a bit of a "failed entity" himself when it comes to match analysis. Mayo should feel honoured... Kerry are the other side he frequently targets.

yes, heard liam on the radio with liam mchale a few weeks back. Liam h was saying that football should be about having 15 lads on the pitch being big enough to stand up and see a game home and none of this crack of bringing on subs or needing a panel. this is the same hayes who castigated Micko on TV3 when his wicklow side went 5 or 6 games unchanged and without using a sub. I think he call him a stubborn old goat who has alienated half his panel. i know he is suffering from illness but by god he's full of the brown. Entertaining when he's talking about other teams though!

It's been reported that the infamous pictures of clarence and Bruce which appear on the born to run album were taken 36 years ago today. Cruel twist of faith or iconic moment in time showing the love and respect the guys had for each other

As mentioned, hard to know what lies ahead for the ESB. The BITUSA touring ESB didn't have Steve and then we lost Dani, so in terms of being irreplace-able, only the big man holds that mantra. Maybe Bruce can get the "other band" back together. They didn't stink the place out that badly really if you listen back to some of the shows. Maybe Clarences nephew will come on board like max's son, may as well keep it in the family

looks like Lebron James has already bought into the Liverpool LFC culture as well as the club.

I see Clarence "big man" Clemons suffered a stoke last night. No word on his condition yet. Probably the end of the ESB as we know it.

looking through some of the papers in the midst of the parliment outing of Giggsy, there seems to be rumors and reports of previous indiscretions of this type. Reminds me of the southpark epiosde when tiger woods and a few others celebs are been treated for there "sex addiction". When questioned as to the cure they all respond "don't get caught". I think at 37 or whatever age he is seems to be the natural cutoff point for footballers marriages anyway or at least that's what ray parlour reckons. I think this is just a battle of the PR machines to see who taked the moral high ground anyway. Wasn't impressed with Mrs thomas's home video either

I think the summer spending will be the factor that will most contribute to any pressure which may be applied coming into the new season. As mentioned, two or three new players for 50 - 60M and most will be content with a top 4 finish and a sustained title challenge as far as March. If the outlay exceeds 100M on big name players then there will be higher expectations. Wenger and the special one managed to win the title in their first full season so Kenny should certainly be eyeing an assault on the top prize as he know fully what to expect and endure over the course of a season. I would imagine the anfield faithful are probably renewing their season tickets after the announcement at great expense during tough times and this would be the factor which would most affect Kenny in that he wants to make them proud, happy and believe.

[staying as manager is some type of victory]

Just happen to flick on the game last night a few minutes before the incident occured, got me thinking about lennon and what type of persona he has or is trying to portray.
1. These is no doubt (IMO) his demeanour does bring some of the trouble down on himself
2. He is one selfish man if he's happy to put his family through this orderal for the sake of his celtic iconic status
3. He's not that good of a manager when a he can't break the stranglehold of a near bankrupt club in a 8 -10 th rate european league.
4. is he trying to make himself into some type of martyr ala ML King or Malcom X. lot of talk last night saying what a shame it would be if he walked away. What's he going to prove by staying ?

I have loads of sympathy for him and his family but all he need do walk away and enjoy some normality elsewhere

1. His demeanour? The only thing that brings this on him is being an Irish Catholic in charge of Celtic. O maybe you are referring to him cupping his ears? Oh, I suppose he deserves it then.
2. Aye, I'm sure thats exactly what he's thinking. So you're saying he should just resign because of the threats, thus giving up? I wouldn't blame him if he did, but fair play to him for lasting this long.
3. Noone is saying he's a great manager. It's his first year of being a manager, he's made mistakes. It's made out that he had a huge transfer kitty to spend - his biggest signing was less than £3million, a lot of the others less than £1million. Rangers brought in Jelavic for over £3million, and already had a stronger squad obviously. Celtic last year were a shambles.
4. Same point as number 2.

I have no problem with Lennon, of course he gets more abuse than anyone should get, but there seems to be some consensus that by him staying as manager is some type of victory. From a football point of view, If he wins a league with celtic, is he any better than strackan, his career might see him get a championship job at best on the back of it. There is some perception that he'll triumph for the greater good, the only thing that should matter is the good of your nearest and dearest, whats wrong with living in France with the sun on your back well away from the abuse. Scottish football needs bigots to generate interest in a duopoly, it's a long time since alex ferguson and the mcclean brothers provided entertainment and competition to the league, so for all the righteousness been displayed this morning by the troubled masses they must have their heads buried in the sand cos this aint nothing new

And then there's others who seem to think that just because he didn't give in he's a martyr or on a campaign. It could be that there's a middle of the road explanation. In that he just wants to get on with his job.

Spot on, but is the job worth all the misery to himself and his family. Is any job worth that. I head a few weeks back that his family are moved to a safe house when celtic play away games, madness

Just happen to flick on the game last night a few minutes before the incident occured, got me thinking about lennon and what type of persona he has or is trying to portray.
1. These is no doubt (IMO) his demeanour does bring some of the trouble down on himself
2. He is one selfish man if he's happy to put his family through this orderal for the sake of his celtic iconic status
3. He's not that good of a manager when a he can't break the stranglehold of a near bankrupt club in a 8 -10 th rate european league.
4. is he trying to make himself into some type of martyr ala ML King or Malcom X. lot of talk last night saying what a shame it would be if he walked away. What's he going to prove by staying ?

I have loads of sympathy for him and his family but all he need do walk away and enjoy some normality elsewhere

1. His demeanour? The only thing that brings this on him is being an Irish Catholic in charge of Celtic. O maybe you are referring to him cupping his ears? Oh, I suppose he deserves it then.
2. Aye, I'm sure thats exactly what he's thinking. So you're saying he should just resign because of the threats, thus giving up? I wouldn't blame him if he did, but fair play to him for lasting this long.
3. Noone is saying he's a great manager. It's his first year of being a manager, he's made mistakes. It's made out that he had a huge transfer kitty to spend - his biggest signing was less than £3million, a lot of the others less than £1million. Rangers brought in Jelavic for over £3million, and already had a stronger squad obviously. Celtic last year were a shambles.
4. Same point as number 2.

I have no problem with Lennon, of course he gets more abuse than anyone should get, but there seems to be some consensus that by him staying as manager is some type of victory. From a football point of view, If he wins a league with celtic, is he any better than strackan, his career might see him get a championship job at best on the back of it. There is some perception that he'll triumph for the greater good, the only thing that should matter is the good of your nearest and dearest, whats wrong with living in France with the sun on your back well away from the abuse. Scottish football needs bigots to generate interest in a duopoly, it's a long time since alex ferguson and the mcclean brothers provided entertainment and competition to the league, so for all the righteousness been displayed this morning by the troubled masses they must have their heads buried in the sand cos this aint nothing new

Just happen to flick on the game last night a few minutes before the incident occured, got me thinking about lennon and what type of persona he has or is trying to portray.
1. These is no doubt (IMO) his demeanour does bring some of the trouble down on himself
2. He is one selfish man if he's happy to put his family through this orderal for the sake of his celtic iconic status
3. He's not that good of a manager when a he can't break the stranglehold of a near bankrupt club in a 8 -10 th rate european league.
4. is he trying to make himself into some type of martyr ala ML King or Malcom X. lot of talk last night saying what a shame it would be if he walked away. What's he going to prove by staying ?

I have loads of sympathy for him and his family but all he need do walk away and enjoy some normality elsewhere

Your some p***k. Typical comments from someone who'd i would say knows f**k all about the situation or scottish football in general

So basically your blaming Lennon for all that happened last night, as per usual? his persona brings it on? what do you want him to do, get a new face??

as for point 3 there - Can you remember the complete mess that Celtic were in last year, Lennon has improved the club greatly this season. The very fact that band-wagon jumpers (like yourself probably) are taking an interest in Celtic again this season is probably proof of that

The media/SFA have whipped up an hysteria against lennon for the past year, they've to take some of the blame IMO, a good manager is going to be forced out of his job.

Can anyone tell me what exactly he has done to deserve all this? hold his ears? square up to Sally McCoist? Complain about a Celtic player being sent off earlier in the year? Are these incidents now deserving of living a life in fear

Boosabum says he should quit and let the hate-filled bigots have their way

Good man, i spent a few years living in scotland in the late 90's and made plenty of trips to parkhead, easter road, tynecastle, taanadice and other grounds to see matches with and without celtic, so i aint no bandwagon jumper, just someone who likes football. Plenty of scottish fans will tell you it's the irish influenece on matchdays that turns the atmosphere sour. After one visit to tynecastle in februray i got dogs abuse for wearing an green irish cap to protect form the wind and rain. i let the bigots win and did'nt bother to go back
Is Lennon on a one man campaign to stamp out the bigots by risking the torrent of abuse to his family. What's the ultimate prize, a chamionship win and celtic immortality, to be able to be mentioned in the same breath as win jansen and dr joe venglous