Messages

I appreciate you're only doing what you think is best and I probably jumped the gun a bit with the Ballintubber conspiracy for what its worth. Most of us want the same thing, just have different ideas of how to get there . . .

'for what its worth'. Doesn't seem to be worth much, seeing as you go on to repeat your accusation in the next sentence that Ballintubber only came up with this proposal so that the club would be in with the 'big boys'.

What are you on about? I'm simply saying that he has a different list of ideas than what I think is needed. Hence different ideas of how to get there. I better be careful the next time I drive thru Ballintubber

Ok, it will give teams a chance to play the top teams but that facility was already in place. Come in the top 2 in Division 2 and you were promoted to the big boys. We shouldn't make it too easy to get into the top division either.

Teams will only be getting into their stride when the league will be over under this proposal so while they may try to bust a gut, it won't fit into the natural approach to their season which is to be playing their best football from May to August.

Agreed, you don't have to defend the proposal but your club has submitted it and you seem to know a lot about it so its only right that you respond to criticisms. I don't agree with it and the biggest problem I have is that it will go through not because clubs see it as the best way forward, but because of self interest they will vote for because it will bring their club up rather than down.

I know that's whats going to happen with my club.

I appreciate you're only doing what you think is best and I probably jumped the gun a bit with the Ballintubber conspiracy for what its worth. Most of us want the same thing, just have different ideas of how to get there . . .

OK Abbeysider maybe my conspiracy theory is harsh. Fair play for being one of the clubs who came in with a proposal. Personally if I was to back a proposal it would be the one Kevin O'Toole outlined. Now flaws can be found with this too.
I think the major problem with your club's proposal is simply that it doesn't do anything that couldn't have been re done in the current scheme. It would be as easy to use the current system, start early, play the divisional competitions in the summer and be finished earlier this year. Lets remember last year was exceptional in the sense that the U21 run held back a couple of rounds as did the run to the AI final.
You make the point about relegation sorting this out. I'd argue that the team coming up could often be as weak as that promoted and still struggle. The closer you have teams grouped together, the more competitive leagues will be. I can envisage a lot of hammerings in this format . . .

The proposals as they stand are ridiculous. The only reason they will go through is because the majority of clubs will think they will 'benifit' from them, that is that most clubs will be promoted or, at worst, stay in the same division.

Why the need for 20 teams in Division 1? Is it to get Ballintubber into Division 1? (after all it's a Ballintubber proposal). Why the need for this change besides, after all it is only two less games essentially, and none for those who get to league finals.

The more teams in a division the more the capacity for a mis match. At least this year you had a possibility of the bottom teams coming close to the top. Can you imagine Kilmeena coming within an asses roar of Ballina? Me neither.

The thought of all league games being over by May is shameful. That's not solving anything. I don't care what fancy ribbons you try to put on it but the O'Mara Cup and the Kelly Cup will never be taken seriously.

One of the major objections to the initial task force proposal (and they were right to throw it out because of lack of relegation/promotion) was that players will be lost to soccer. Do you really think a guy playing both sports is going to have to think twice about choosing between an important soccer league game or a Kelly Cup game where half the players will be hungover?

I'm very worried that something like this will go through because of the self interest of clubs but, God above, this is no improvement.

Q 10
Prior to 2006 Laois and Mayo only met once before in the All-Ireland Senior football championship. At hwat stage of the championship was the game. Also name the year and the score?
The game was the 1936 All-Ireland final and Mayo won 4-11 to 0-5.

Q13
One well known Armagh footballer has a website dedicated to him?
Francie Bellew

Q14
Mayo used two goalkeepers during their 2006 sfc campaign, name them?
David Clarke and John Healy

Q28
The stadium director at Croke Park is?
Peter McKenna

Q51
New Meath football selector Tommy Dowd now plays his football with which club?
Wolfe Tones

Q57
The winner of the 2006 MBNA Kick Fada was?
Fintan Ruddy

Q72
Who am I? I play with a club called Courtwood, my name has a poetic sound and I won an All Star award in 2003?
Fergal Byron

Q88
This former All Star led the Dublin attack as they swept to All-Ireland Masters Over 40s senior glory in 2006. And he was not even a Dub.
I presume they mean Kevin O'Brien (Wicklow) but, of course, Mayo beat Dublin by eight points in the final!

High King as honorable as your nomination is I'll have to withdraw. Don't worry if i hear anything I'll mention it here. Was talking to someone involved, that's how I got most of those names.
It'll be interesting to see who is tried out in what positions.
At full-back now there is two alternative options in Ger Cafferkey and Paddy Navin. Whether either can step up remains to be seen. Of course there is also Liam O'Malley but I get the feeling he could, and this is something I completely disagreed with a year ago, be Mayo's next centre-half back.
Tom Cunniffe is an option there but like Cafferkey might need more time. Brendan Prendergast has been excellent there for Tourmak' but pace could be a problem on dry ground. Trevor Howley possibly but think he will be better in the corner.
I think Harte will be a wing-forward for Mayo, probably at Billy Joe's expense with McGarrity alongside Moran probably but either Barry Kelly or Seamus O'Shea could make the step up too. Think DB will just be used off the bench.
Full-forward, think Trevor is due another go.

At the minute, and an awful lot can change, I think this could shape up to be the Mayo team for the start of the league

David Clarke
Trevor Howley  Paddy Navin   James Nallen
Keith Higgins   Liam O'Malley  Peadar Gardiner
  Ronan McGarrity   Barry Moran
Pat Harte  Ger Brady   Alan Dillon
Conor Mortimer  Trevor Mortimer  Kevin O'Neill

I think McD may be rested for a while in the league but that eventually he will be looked at as an orthodox number 11, and not drifting from 15. The same goes for Heaney. Think Keith Higgins best suited to wing back, Nallen may be given a run at corner back but could be on the bench come championship while Aidan Higgins may just miss out

Barney, you've left out Michael Conroy from the 2006 panel. Enda Devenney is back in and Seamus O'Shea, Chris Barrett and Aidan Campbell from the Under 21's. Also heard Sean Ryder's and Brendan Prendergast's names mentioned but cannot be certain on them.

The panel at the minute looks like this so I think

Goalkeepers
David Clarke
Kenneth O'Malley

Defenders
Keith Higgins
Dermot Geraghty
David Heaney
Ger Cafferkey
Aidan Higgins
James Nallen
Peadar Gardiner
Trevor Howley
Chris Barrett
Sean Ryder
Gary Mullins
Pat Navin
Liam O'Malley
Brendan Prendergast
Enda Devenney

Midfielders
Ronan McGarrity
David Brady
Pat Harte
Barry Moran
Seamus O'Shea
Barry Kelly

Forwards
Billy Padden
Ger Brady
Alan Dillon
Conor Mortimer
Kevin O'Neill
Ciaran McDonald
Michael Conroy
Aidan Kilcoyne
Trevor Mortimer
Barry Regan
Austin O'Malley
Mark Ronaldson
Andy Moran
Aidan Campbell
Mickey Mullins
Marty McNicholas

That's 39 of a supposed 40. Does anyone know anyone else involved. Interesting squad, don't think there's too many not involved that are hard done by. Quite a few lads brought on from the U21's

Stephen Healy from Charlestown, Kevin Beirne, Claremorris and Tomas O'Grady from Burrishoole are Dempsey's three selectors. Could be wrong but think there may be one more guy. Martin McGrath is as trainer and Maurice Sheridan into work with forwards and free takers. Sounds like Ray has been busy, that's a decent backroom team. I'd give him every chance with it.
Agree with Farrandeelin on the Breaffy minor lads, there should have been at least three of them involved this year from what I saw.