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A bit of a farce these starred fixtures now.  I suppose the Clonoe and Omagh game being the most obvious one that sticks out a mile in Division 1.  Would there ever be grounds for appeal in these circumstances?

On another note - I see Fermanagh CCC is at locker horns with Pete McGrath at the moment - Fermanagh County Team mgt called training tomorrow night when there was a full round of league fixtures plannned.  As I mentioned before I think HQ in Dublin need to waken up to the gap of differences between Club and County sooner rather than later and come to a sensible games structure for county competitions.

Why are games split over the Friday and Sunday?  Not sure,  but are this weekends fixtures starred? 

Heard the 2 Brennans and McGeary was called up. I know one of the Brennan lads were already there.  It would do no harm to have as many of the U21's there for training purposes, competeing and challenging for positions.  I wonder if Daniel McNulty got a call up?  Worth his place especially with his free kick accuracy. 

Whats the scenerio if the Tyrone and Donegal game is a draw?  Does the club championship go ahead only 1 week later than scheduled after the replay?

Can we pip this Donegal side in Ballybofey?  It is long overdue!

Omagh have Clonoe this weekend,  another massive 'battle' on their hands.  Cassidy will have noted the Ardbo strategy and I'm sure it will be another interesting tussle.  Every team will raise their game to the reigning County Champions,  its only natural.

Never tempt fate 'Keyboard Warrior'.  As fair a chance as any that Ardbo will defeat Dromore and likewise Omagh defeat Carrickmore to set up a quarter final pairing.  It will be interesting to see how things pan out.  There is many a twist and turn in a championship year.

While we are on championship matters, is the championship still rock solid happening at the end of this month?  Or is it up for debate?  I heard the CCC could be making a U turn this week?

The stage seems set for a championship quarter final between Omagh and Ardbo, it will be some showdown.  Take 2.  Box office stuff.   Premimum gate receipt for the county board. 

Whats the predictions on all the club games this weekend?

Lets hope the U21's can bring it home,  it will be a massive boost to the county ahead of the Donegal game.  Great to hear some of the U21's have joined the senior panel.

If the Club Championship is not played in May when is it practically possible to play the 1st round?  Despite what we might think about the Tyrone Senior team they have a decent chance of playing football into August.  Given that this would be the case,  what date is practically possible to play the 1st round in all honesty?. . . . . .  With regards to the league games,  in order for teams to stop 'throwing' points, as everyone on this board speaks about, at the end of the year,  league games must be played off irrespective of county player availability.  The purpose of the league is to give continuous, consistent football to a Club Senior and Reserve Team.  No point playing 45-60% of the games in the summer months and play the remaining large % in Oct, Nov and Dec when the life blood of the league has been sucked out of it.

If Senior Championship is not played in May for example then no reserve championship is played until a 1st round is completed.  Most likely late Sept or early Oct before reserve championship kicks off.  A fringe club player (just out of minor football) who trains from December 2014 for example wont play a reserve championship game until October 2015 most likely.  There is no development of players in that scenerio.  But most likely reserve football may not be important enough, but it is a citical link between youth football (U18's) for transition to senior football.  With no football the fringe player loses interest and drifts away.

I dont blame the CCC here,  its again a national problem that needs sorted as soon as possible before rural clubs begin to melt away with lack of partipication. 

I think games should have went ahead with a ruling that no U21 player was to play any part in the games.  Regular club football must continue, its critical for the development of players within clubs and eventually it develops the players to go through to county level.  Club Championship must and should go ahead as planned in May.  We can't continue to have the Tyrone Championship played over a couple of weekends between September and October.  It only degrades the competition and belittles the club player.  Is there club league games scheduled for next weekend or are they going to be called off as well for the recovery of the U21 players?  There has been alot of training done by the club player from most likely December to now (5 Months) with only 2 games played. Its a little unfair to say the least. 

To be honest fella's both sides have a strong argument here.  Every year there is always going to be a gripe with when club games should be halted and club games go ahead.  This year its U21's, next year it could be minors, the following year it could be our seniors stopping club football.  I think Dublin HQ need to show more leadership immediately.  This is not confined to Tyrone, its a national problem. There needs to be stringent rules and legislation passed regarding these issues.  The GAA needs to align itself more as an organisation and make citrical decisions regarding player welfare and games promotion.  Club football can not be halted at a whim!  The show for the life blood of the GAA (Club Football) must have a set stage to play it's games, their leagues and their Championships on a fair and even basis. County Teams also should be given their times,  but what it does seem like at the minute is a tipping of the scales toward County Football.  The length of the GAA County Calender is way too long - it begins in January and finishes in September if the AI Final is not a draw which takes it into October! This is completely ridiculous.  The National league that began on January 31st is still not completed some 13 weeks later, and remember there is only 7 games to play.  That is complete madness.  Head Quarters needs to change if games at grass roots are to develop.  I'm sorry but our Tyrone CCC is not the issue or the blame, the source of the rot must be tackled at the top from HQ on Jones Road, Dublin.  As one would say 'The Fish Rots from the Head'. 

The starred fixtures will be somewhat of a farce this year given the number of players walking from the Tyrone panel.  Omagh cant be happy.  I would assume Clonoe, Eglish and Ardboe will be in a better position now and the teams playing them in starred fixtures will be putting up a protest of some sort.

Is Round 7 a Starred fixture???  I'm not sure of which games are starred???

Its extremely hard to get a real balance in this fixture chaos.  You see both points of view.  Club football cant stop for county games and vice versa.  What is the real solution?  I sincerely believe it doesnt lie with the CCC but with headquarters in Dublin.  County football must be contained to a 5/6 month span! All Ireland series, minor, senior, U21 etc must be wrapped up by July.  All county footballers free to clubs from July onwards.  Its the only way this can be sorted.

Sad that these lads have left.  It takes 30 plus players to build a team of 15. During the 2000's club players it was recognised by many of our great players it took every last player to push the starting 15 to the edge, to go one better,  to get that 1% extra out of the team, and every man on that panel was cherished.  Yes, Joe MacMahon coming back might have caused a lot of ill feeling amongest squad players but unfortunately and regretably its part and parcel of football.  2008 seen Stephen O'Neill return for an All Ireland Final, never to be at training all year, never to play 1 minute of championship football.  Ciaran Gourley started and finished every championship game that year and then found himself dropped for that All Ireland Final and not to play as much as 1 second that day.  Brian McGuigan returned from Australia on a Thursday and came on as a substitute that Sunday against Cavan (I think) in 2005 Ulster Championship. These are just some examples.  All players mentioned who have left the panel this year are extremely talented individuals with immense football ability,  they all have many attributes and would make any County set up but it's terrible to see them leave.  I sincerely hope that club managers who have no vested interest in Tyrone Football are not persuading players to leave the county set up.  But,  as pointed out on this forum that could be the case,  I wonder if Damien Cassidy or Martin McKinless had a chat with the said players about staying with the county? I seriously doubt it.  Someone also mentioned Peter Donnelly on this thread and how being on the bench for Tyrone had a negative effect on his football ability.  I would assume if he was asked himself personally, he would say that it was one of the best experiences of his footballing career and without doubt has contributed immensely to Coalisland winning a County Title and more importantly the experiences he gained during his involvement with Tyrone for 10 plus years have added to his working life in terms of his top notch coaching skills and ability and in some way has added to Tyrone's U21 achievement on Wednesday night past.  His efforts with Tyrone are not unnoticed during the 2000's,  it was him who pushed Kevin Hughes, Enda McGinley, Sean Cavanagh, Colly Holmes etc to be the best they could be, and that as a county we should be eternally grateful for.

As far as I know,  S McGuigan was only called into the Tyrone set up at the beginning of the 2014 year (I think).  At best he is only with the county senior set up for 15/16 Months max,  I certainly dont think he has been there as years.  I do agree that being part of the Tyrone set up or any county set up will contribute to a players development both mentally and physically and as noted,  a County player should only miss 4 or 5 starred club games at best during any given year.  Having a club player on the county set up automatically gives the club a boost in my opinion and naturally creates a leader/leaders on the pitch for club teams.

Great win for the U21's last night, super game.  Its great to get the win so close to the 1st round of the senior championship.  It just might be the first little edge needed. 

Some great league games to be had at the weekend.  Alot of teams will be wanting to be put down a marker for the year to come.  Eglish at home to Coalisland,  Carrickmore at home to Killyclogher,  Ardboe at home to Errigal and Dromore might have a steer a tricky away game to the Moy.  Set to be a good weekend of football.  Any predictions for the weekend ahead.  Is all teams have full pick of personnel? No injuries or missing players?  Starred games will be a little distorted now with all the new leavers from the county panel.