Messages

Yes a lot of the things that the IRA etc did were horrible but in retaliation to generations of similar and worse from the apartheid type regime from the loyalist/unionist estaishment!
It seemingly took this dreadful like for like retaliation to finally bring down that totalitarian unionist/loyalist junta and win equality for all people's - esp the Catholic Irish working classes!

It is still tragic that Gordon Gallagher had to die for this to happen.

Yes it was. Also tragic regarding the thousands of others that were killed during the war of the 'troubles' and tragic regarding those killed, persecuted (and eventually driven to retaliate )  over the generations prior to the civil right movement.
If unionists/loyalists hadn't been hell bent on denial of equality and insisted on maintaining the status quo by terror and brutality - the whole lot could have been avoided!

Does everything have to be tied back to the unionists? I mean what did you just add there apart from "if it wasn't for the unionists".

only when the 'blame' is thrown out repeatedly in threads such as this - if there is blame to be attributed then there is a wider picture.
yes terrible that this young lad was killed, but is he any different to any other kids from whatever side of the divide , or women or even men.

yes terrible waste of life - but the use of this poor kids memory to 'point score' is the usual carry on.
If people are going to start throwing stones, then a bit of reality and context may make them realise they are standing in a glass house !

[Enda Gormley]

How is Derry's injury situation looking after the three week break?

Haven't heard anything for certain. I'd imagine McBride will be back but outside of that I dont know.
Derry have had two really bad games so far and have been particularly poor in the middle 3rd.
Hopefully the break will have allowed them to get some of the players returning from long term injury a bit more fitness and with the return of Enda Gormley to the panel we're bound to be in better shape than we were prior to the Tyrone game.
I'd go into this game hopeful as opposed to expectant.

I thought it was a bit daft calling for the return to action by Fergal Doc and Kevin McGuck - but yer really stretching it here.
Maybe Wee Johnny could come back for his specialised game winning scores from wing half back ...
Tohills knee problems could preclude him from taking frees off the deck...


think you meant Enda Muldoon !! 

Of course I know the answer. That's why I brought it up. We hear managers can't be paid because it's against the rules, but we have to pay refs or we wouldn't have any, even though that's against the rules too. It just points up both the stupidity of the rules and the hypocrisy of attitudes to them.

not condoning it - but our nation is one that thrives on begrudgery and ignoring rules etc

cronyism, nepotsm and the nod and wink culture is prevalent from the politicians, commercial organisations, right down to amateur organisations

dont think you can fight it- not right but there is no alternative. thats what we have become!

the rules may have to be changed to accomodate the tax mans requirements - but as a result I see the refs game costs increasing so they dont lose out. The GAA or more so our clubs - will be the ones to lose out.

[How come there's not a peep from anybody about referees getting paid? Does the rule on amateurism not apply to them?]

How come there's not a peep from anybody about referees getting paid? Does the rule on amateurism not apply to them?

Just to be clear, I don't have a problem with paying officials, except that it's against the rules. But there seem to be glaring inconsistencies in interpretation, application and even commentary on this rule.
[/quote
you know the answer
sure no one would do it if they didnt get paid. We would be without refs and games wouldnt be played. While we would get players to take free intercounty slots, there would be no backup plan for refs.
At a time when we are putting more and more fixtures on than ever, we need refs and paying them is the only way to entice them into the role. Payment a necesary evil so we dont say a thing about it.

I believe Wexford pay refs €50 per game- though this may be incorrect!

simple as this- if refs are going to lose out by paying half this money towards tax- a lot of them if not most of them will stop reffing.
where will we be then !
A lot of counties struggle to get refs as it is !

If the revenue are going to take a cut, then I would suspect and expect that refs will require the game fees to be increased to cover this.
eg the match fees will possibly go up to €65-70 or so euros per game so that the remuneration after tax would equate to €40.

this is most likely what we will HAVE to do !

The GAA and the clubs are going to be the ones to lose out here.
Maybe now is the time to lobby for the 'sports grant' tax break thing - so that our refs and managers can avail of some tax break...

I'd stick with that, Bateson is too good of a player not to have in midfield, can run at pace all day. Three man full forward line all day long, O Boyle for his athleticism and Bradley and Kielt as scoring threats.
Eight / nine men defending is sufficient if they know what they are supposed to do. Pacy half forwards for your quick out ball (all good ball winners) and all capable of scoring.

fair enough about Bateson for Mf.
However you will never convince me that a three man FF line is the way to go. If you'd played there (apart from being a 38 year old last playing days type job corner forward selection and not getting nosebleeds when you get into the last 35 yards of he pitch) youd possibly understand why more space for the two attackers and more space for defenders to look after is a huge advantage to the forwards and given the right men who can score and take on their men - you will destroy a FB line IF you get enough decent supply into them. It might be the best tactic to use in Hurling but imo not in football!
Anyhow we can debate this next time I see you !

BTW I wish lads would stop picking Fergal Doc, Kev McGuck etc - these lads have retred and due to inj etc and over the past couple of seasons were not as good as their previous brilliant best.
Sure we could name Tohill on the team there as well if we are to continue on in the same vein !!
leave them boys retired and alone. they owe Derry nothing!

[EG was a Unionist rather than a Loyalist.]

Always had the impression that EG was a Unionist rather than a Loyalist.
I think quite alot of people on here would consider EG an effective communicator (even if most of us disagree with his message). His banter with one of the Roscommon lads can be quite enjoyable.

theres no difference!

hardly effective if he isnt consistent in what he himself thinks he writes - for example his flip flopping over the death of Pat finnucane!

[all]

No surprise that you don't see any difference (when it suits you) between 'recklessly' leaving bombs about and shooting directly AT people in a crowd ( not even considering that they knew these were 'innocents' - as admitted in saville enquiry).

I have never defended the Paras at Bloody Sunday. Rather if it were feasible, I would like to see them stand trial, in the knowledge that at least some, possibly all, of those who fired the shots committed Murder.

So having got that cleared up, are you still trying to claim that Premeditation and/or deliberate targeting of identified subjects, is a prerequisite for Murder? For if you are, then I'd guess that all of the Paras at Bloody Sunday could claim a "legitimate" defence.

But as they were taigs they prob 'deserved it'...

No, I have never stated or implied that those killed at Bloody Sunday "deserved" their fate, whether for being Taigs [sic], or for any other reason.

... as you indicated similar towards pat finnucane.....

And No, I did not indicate that for Finucane, either.

There is a difference between saying Finucane deserved to be murdered (which I did not) and saying that once it had happened, one was unsympathetic towards him (which I did).

Tbh, if you're not capable of discerning the difference in two fairly simple concepts, then you might as well revert to your usual tactic of "Pressing the Skitter Key":

even you as a blind loyalist can see there is a huge difference in these instances!!
you just dont wan to admit this!

you prob should re-read what you write then if this is what you'think ' you have incicated.at best your 'powers' of communication are poor as the message you are sending out isnt what you obv 'believe'it is - thats at best.
at worst - what is the most likely scenario- (and what people have called you upon in weeks past) you are sectarian forked tongued hoor !

think yer skitter button was developed for yerself! you need it!

apologies if a topic on this has been previously started -  couldnt see one...

any info or tips etc on euro disney?

tips on whats good, what should you see, whats a rip off, where to eat, what to avoid etc etc would be welcomed.
kids going range from 12 - 4
thanks

superb.
some have hurling skills way better than plenty of us !
fair play to them !

the 'are we a country' delusion strikes again !!!

that FB line would be a 'glenshane inthe snow' type scenario for opponents alright !
you forgot to pick the other half of Dungiven though!

I have thought of sticking Lynch in MF - at least for now- too.If Kielt plays it should be hf line and put someone who can play 3rd MF in the corner.Would swap bateson and mccamley also.

Members from sinn fein should be made march on this parade.

all such parades in 'contentious areas' should have an equal (if possible) amount of participants from both sides of the 'community'.

[glad the media didnt blow this one all out of proportion.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkJnS5-HSlY
From 3.15

thanks for that.
ok kildare #17 was Johnny Doyle - so he was already on.
Monaghan had #17 & #18 - not sure if they were already on as subs.
at 3.42 a lad looking like a sub ran in - he obv looked like he was just going to pick up someones gloves that had fallen down.
this excerpt (thanks for sharing it) cuts out from the pitch at 3.43 when there is prob a bit more.
certainly I believe there was a lot more on tg4 on sunday.
still think even this clip shows there was at least one sub on- and I dont believe he was on his own and only copper fastens my view of this last sun.
This incident was feck all though- no real slaps - just like derrytreask v dromid imo.
glad the media didnt blow this one all out of proportion.

Me too! As long as it's just games involving Tyrone that's Ok by me

sure you got more slaps hitting you outside slaughtneil disco !

Very, very unlikely to be the Red Ultras.

Far more likely to be the Aberdeen Soccer Casuals, who are, to a man, utter ringpieces, and seem to loathe the rest of the Aberdeen support for not being like them.  I'm very sorry that that happened to your pals, I was friends with a lot of irish people at Uni, and thankfully your firends' experience was very rare.  Aberdonians, by and large, are welcoming.  Football hooligans, by and large, are repellent violent pricks.  Luckily, they seem to be a dying breed.

Celtic wouldn't be "derailed", European money and the diaspora would see to that, but it might result in a slightly more competetive league.

I didnt realise there was another group to rival the ultras !

Actually think the league is getting more competitive anyhow. Can be a lot more enjoyable watching some spl games and their out and out atack and honesty in comparison to some of the epl borefests.
Dundee utd used to be great to watch imo.