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Bad result for Tipp.
We were in Division 2 not so long ago and were competitive against teams like Donegal

Looking in from the outside, it appears that John Evans was a great asset.
Would Tipp people agree?

http://www.destinationnewry.com/sports/gaa/news-Down-v-Tyrone---live-streaming-commentary

Cheers.

How are these guys allowed to show this when Setanta are also showing it?

Afaik, they are not 'showing' it. Live commentary only.

All divisions are competitive, but none more so than D3.
I would pick Monaghan to go up and Wicklow to go down. But any of the others could go either way

I am assuming here that pangurban left his computer/mobile device unattended and that his 'friends' have decided to post for him

Mayo 2-16
Donegal 1-16

MOTM. Kevin McLaughlin

[but Keegan looks to have run out of time.]

Here's the link to the report on Lee Keegan's injury that I mentioned in my last post:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/donegal-fans-hit-by-60000-ticket-tax-3233312.html
O
The bit about Lee is near the end.

"Meanwhile, Lee Keegan (pictured) is unlikely to make the Mayo team as he continues to recover from the broken finger that ended his All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin.

Mayo won't finalise their team until later in the week, but Keegan looks to have run out of time. Chris Barrett and Richie Feeney are vying for the vacant position."

Am I the only one that is worried about this.

3 of our top players spring and summer were Andy, Boyle and Keegan. Yeah we have a good panel but this is diluting things a lot. Meanwhile Donegal are in rude good health and probably in a position to pick their preferred 15. We may be starting without 3 automatic choices if fit. f**k it anyway.

No, in my case i hoping that it only a rumour with Keegan, and Boyle can do the impact sub thingy! Don't want to think about it until rthe team is named!

I am too worried by this report. Keegan and McLoughlan have been outstanding, a loss  of either would not be good.
However, I do not have time for gossip. Keep the faith.  Soon it will be  done

Monaghan, with a new manager, are value.  They would beat many of the teams listed above them there.

Interesting insights from Jim McGuinness in today's Irish Times from an interview with Keith Duggan

Successive wins over Kerry and Cork has led to quick revisionism and a rush of compliments that are as exaggerated as the original criticism. McGuinness was largely unbothered by the criticism and he hasn't paid much heed to the praise either. Instead, he just concentrates on improving himself as a coach and his analysis of Mayo's semi-final win over Dublin offers a glimpse into how he sees and reads the game.

"Mayo moved the ball very early into the full-forward line. They seemed to play on the shoulder of the full backs. They delivered a lot of ball in over the top of the full backs into the corners. It was a different thing for Dublin. Rory O'Carroll and Michael Fitzsimons and these boys would normally play on the front foot: they deny the ball.

"But the quality of the ball in over the top meant they were caught a few times. Mayo were very big and strong around the middle of the park. They've good kickers. Even when the game was tight, they didn't go lateral: they continued to look for that 40-yard pass, so they are coached to be positive.

"And you'd have to give James Horan a lot of credit as well: he took Dublin on. He took them on in the kick outs. The full backs took the Dublin forwards on. It was three versus three a lot of the time. He showed faith in his men to do that job and they didn't shirk that responsibility.

"There were one or two goal chances for Dublin but for 70 minutes, they eyeballed them and got over the line. For me, in an apprehensive way, I was watching in the first half and I was thinking: Jesus, these boys are unplayable. Because there was a period there and it didn't matter if it was Donegal or Cork or Dublin or Kerry: Mayo were unplayable in the way they moved the ball early and direct and the accuracy of their shooting from outside the scoring range.

"So I was glad to see a drop off for a period because if that was over 70 minutes I think it would have been one of the greatest ever performances in Croke Park, being honest with you."

But by then, optimism in Donegal was tilting towards outright delirium.

The nonsense row about the homecoming parade illustrated just how feverish the expectation had become. People were talking about the All-Ireland final as if it was a formality: they had begun to absorb and believe the line that Donegal were 'unbeatable'. McGuinness knows that this loose talk is out there but he believes it is irrelevant.

"You can't control that. People in Donegal are on a high and you can't control that. You can't control that everyone thinks we are going to win the All-Ireland and Mayo hasn't a chance. The same in Mayo: you can't control that everyone there thinks Mayo will win and Donegal hasn't a chance. That is the job of a supporter, almost.

"For us, it is a different job. I don't know what James Horan is thinking at this moment in time and I'm hoping he doesn't know what I'm thinking. I don't believe our fellas will be apprehensive. Their focus is on tasks and goals.

"I think where you would get nervous would be if, as a player, you removed yourself from that and you put yourself in a situation where you are thinking: 'This is an All-Ireland final! I've never played in an All-Ireland before. I would love an All-Ireland medal! Jesus, the homecoming's going to be great if we can win it! Can you imagine Donegal Town? And I've got me cousin coming from America and it is going to be great to see him after the game!' . . . these are all things that mean nothing. Nothing!

"But if you hadn't got the other things to drive you and focus you, they could come into your thinking. But for us, the only thing our boys are focusing on is what we are coaching and working on and for that reason I have good faith that they will stick to the tried and tested. We have done that for two years and I don't see us changing for the final. I'm hoping!"

And he laughs.

See, this is new territory for McGuinness too. He has this saying: Every day is a school day.

You're a gas man western exile. I'm sure herself was standing there watching making sure you wrote overall advantage even.

Can you call it Farrandeelin?
Last year, at the Galway Races, I was telling everyone who would listen (even the Kerry team doctor!) that Mayo would beat Cork in the quarter final at the weekend.   
The year before likewise I was convinced that Down would beat Kerry.
This year I am unconvinced by either team yet. I have a feeling that this game will be the making of one of them.  Win well and go into the semi final with the confidence and momentum coming at the right time.

Now that both teams have been named, I will make an attempt at the matchups...

Mayo full forward line is named as Varley, Moran, Doherty, but could end up as O'Connor, Moran, Conroy if rumours have any substance. Andy Moran is without doubt the quality forward and will ask serious questions of the Down defense. Although there are few who have positive things to say about the Down defense as a unit, there can be no blame put on the back three which have performed well in most games, but were left exposed and helpless in second half against Donegal, and were outstanding in their last game. O'Hagan, Gordon, Garvey, are arguably three of best full back line that Down have.
Advantage Down.

The Down half back line is the least stable with a different line up each game.  Niall McParland had a good league campaign before he broke his hand.  He is only recently back training and is making his first championship start. Kevin McKernan seems to have lost his touch this season and has been very loose in the games he has played so far.  These two will be up against Alan Dillon, who has been the most consistent performer for Mayo for a number of years, and Cillian O'Connor the reigning Young Footballer of the Year, or Jason Doherty who was last years goal poacher.
Advantage Mayo

Kevin McLoughlin v Benny McArdle.  I am looking forward to this one. As I posted on another thread Kevin McLoughlin is key to what Mayo do well. He wins breaking ball, can score long range points, is back defending, and creates scoring chances by running from deep. Benny McArdle is one of the most versatile of the Down footballers. He has successfully stepped in at full back when it was needed, he reads the game well at half back, and he can can break forward to score when the opportunity is on. The winning of this battle could go a long way towards the winning of the game.
Advantage Even.

In midfield Barry Moran has won consecutive MOTM awards but he will not find the going so easy up against Kalum King. And Ambrose Rodgers should be too much for Danny Geraghty.
Advantage Down
However, if Aidan O'Sé starts that would be a different matter. Then Advantage Even.

The Mayo wing half backs of  Lee Keegan and Colm Boyle are hard and fair tacklers, and their job will be to stop the two primary ball winners for Down, Aidan Carr and Conor Maginn.  If Danny Hughes had been fit enough to start, then I might have    said advantage Down, but since that is not the case,
Advantage Mayo.

Donal Vaughan v. Mark Poland will be another key battle that could contribute to the winning or losing of the game.  Vaughan can play hard and fair too, and is good on the ball, but Poland has proved he can take the big hits despite not being a big man, and is in great form playing some good football. I suspect that he is the sort of player that James Horan would love to have on his panel.
Advantage Even.

If given any supply of ball, the Down full forward line can be dangerous. If the teams were to line out as per the program it would leave a mismatch in regards both height and speed if Ger Cafferkey were to mark Conor Laverty.  In league games past, both Keith Higgins and Ger Cafferkey have done reasonably good jobs in keeping Benny Coulter quiet. This time I suspect that Cafferkey will take Coulter thus leaving Kevin Keane and Keith Higgins to pick up Laverty and Eoin McCartan.
Advantage Even

Goalkeepers
Advantage Mayo

The Dubs will get a chance to finish their pints. This one will go to extra time 
 

I've written a tactical preview of this here for anyone interested http://action81.com/blog/?p=6054

Also, I think that your last line 'Croke Park may not be a stage the Connacht champions are comfortable with' is slightly closer to pub talk than facts. Sure, Mayo have lost a couple of All-Ireland finals in the qualifier era, but they have won more games at Croke Park than they have lost over the same period. And they have certainly won more there than Down have. I see no reason why Mayo would be 'uncomfortable' playing there.

update...  the photo did the trick, as all my attendances have now been corrected   

Hopefully ye Down people won't check for attendances after Saturday!

not sure if I can make this historic encounter now 
but if I do, I will be sure to give you a shout Farrandeelin 

Their recording of correct attendance is appalling.  I have begun taking a photograph of the ticket being scanned at the turnstile and then emailing it to them each time they dispute my attendance.

There needs to be a 'horses for courses' selection at half back. Kevin McLaughlin will start for Mayo at right half forward and he is key to their 'A' game and therefore needs to stoped. He wins breaking ball, drops back to defend, and most importantly generates scoring opportunities by running from deep. Perhaps the best man to mind him would be Conor Garvey?