Messages

The LeagueDiv 1 has all the strong teams playing each other.
The so called Super8s will have top teams playing each other.
Why is one bad and the other good??

Not necessarily. And Top 4 are far ahead of next four in terms of panel depth. Big advantage for games over 3 weekends

The GAA are sloppy and pathetic when it comes to drawing up the NFL fixtures. There is little attempt to freshen the sequence of games - counties play each other in the same round almost year in year out...the only allowance they seem to make is the promoted and relegated counties..

If the GAA lads at HQ had their heads screwed on right they would make the NFL more important because it the best format they have and give me the same "sloppy" fixtures before a round robin in July that will only make the strong stronger and weak weaker.

Fully agree - it is a great competition, played at the wrong time of the year.

Nice to have Antrim at home...

London away is great trip I went with the hurlers a few years back was great banter.

Carlow is good one to have away because its so close.

Limerick is nice one to have at home as I think they will be our main threat.

wicklow away could be sticky.

Waterford at home should be 2 points in the bag

Leitrim at home would have been nicer but we can't have it all

So Laois and Limerick to go up?

The GAA are sloppy and pathetic when it comes to drawing up the NFL fixtures. There is little attempt to freshen the sequence of games - counties play each other in the same round almost year in year out...the only allowance they seem to make is the promoted and relegated counties..

RTE Cartographer.

[you have to wonder where it is all going to end]

O'Rourke hit the nail on the head. Duffy and O'Feargail have taken the association down a slippery slope and shown no leadership in preserving the ethos of the Gaa. Grassroots club people feel alienated and despite their empty soundbites about clubs being the lifeblood, all the big decisions appear to be gauged on commercial revenue and promoting the 'product'. We are all treated as mere consumers and you have to wonder where it is all going to end.

In tiers?

County Board meetings are strange places. Its too easy make an unsubstantiated statement about players / management and walk away after destroying reputations. It shouldn't be allowed happen like that.

A couple of things strike me in these situations

The first criticism that is usually heard after a loss is .... they weren't fit. Usually based on little evidence, usually an opinion not a fact. To make a determination on fitness one would need to see fitness test results and training data.

Players on teams coached by Creedon seem to rate him highly. I am not equating like him with rating him. They rate him.

Many of the panel have been competing on the inter county scene for quite a long time now and perhaps that extra couple of percent in performance levels needed to be competitive isn't there any longer.

The panel is not as strong as in previous years and it is a time of transition.

Expectations of supporters are unrealistic.

No reason to not support the players or management next year; anyone playing for the county deserves respect and not these deplorable headlines.

I know one top inter county footballer, in another county, who quit because of the vile abuse he suffered by anonymous posters on forums. Comments should never be abusive or personal of players or managers.

It isn't all about the manager. All partners in a county - the County Executive, clubs, players, supporters are culpable for the environment around playing for a county. It can be toxic or supportive.

Leadership from the top is crucial in setting a county on the right trajectory.

It would be great to see a Laois man take the reins; the only way to improve coaching in the county is to give opportunities to local coaches / managers.

Cork, Laois, Longford, Westmeath, Wicklow, Louth, Fermanagh, Donegal.......

Offaly, Derry

Only got round to watching the Carlow - Monaghan match today. Some effort by Carlow who were frightfully unlucky not to be able to hold on just a few minutes more.  The Monaghan goal was borderline square ball as well.

Carlow did excellent for 3/4 of the game. but frightfully unlucky not to hold on? you have to be joking..
They weren't unlucky not to hold on in the last 1/4, they camped a ruck of players in front of their goal. Once Monaghan drew level it was just a matter of picking the scores off as more space opened up at the back.  The Drew Wiley inspired point put them ahead, the goal followed soon after and it was totally legit, not even close to being borderline. With both moves  the Monaghan players had more space to pick their scores and executed them with aplomb.

Hardly so. Only Carlow coughed up two balls after they scored their goal and a man was shouldered out over the sideline, Monaghan would have been gone. Fair play to them they maximised these turnovers to get the scores and see out the game. But if Carlow had scored a point after their goal well it could have been a different result. Great physical tussle that will stand to Monaghan - far better than another facile win like down in Wexford.

In fairness I think you are right I overstated it about them being unlucky Monaghan were easily the better team and deserved the win. I do think the goal was square ball though and until that point Carlow were still in the game.

Great draw for Monaghan. They should coast into the Quarter Final where their physicality will be too much for the Lily Whites who never cope with that type of game.
Tipp to take Armagh!

Carlow gave Westmeath one hell of a fright and unlucky not to get the second point. Going to be a tough division.

Cavan to burst through the back door Saturday v Carlow and get back on track!
What about changes in the team to freshen it up?

Couldn't fathom some of Cavan decisions.
Thought they were very slow to make changes. Argue did very well when he came on but it was far too late. Why wasn't he on the pitch earlier? Likewise how has Johnston gone to not even getting a minute of the pitch?
Was Giveny hurt - I hope it wasn't a tactical substitution or Hyland has lost the plot...
McVeety looked to pull up before being taken off. Injured?
Galliigan was poor on his short kick outs - even though Tyrone gave them up!! Couldn't believe how poor some of them were.
Mackey worked hard all through and 1-3 was a goof contribution. Clarke scored a cracking point with the outside of the boot but it was a one off and had two wides.
McKiernan 0-7, 3 from play yet looked sluggish.

Tyrone though were unreal and no one could live with them today.

Carlow game coming at the right time to get back on track.

Looking at Justin McNulty and Paul McGraynor in Cavan last night - they both could still make that Armagh team! In greta shape the pair of them.

What is going with the officials in the last few games?
First we had  a point added tot he wrong side causing a replay in the Christy Ring Final.
Then we had a 7th sub in Portlaoise causing another replay.
Last night Rory Kavanagh was substituted and replaced by Christy Toye. It was clearly announced over the tannoy; Christy was held back fro 30 secs or so before coming on by Maurice Deegan yet Kavanagh was on the Donegal goal line as a lineal was being kicked goal wards and he contested the dropping ball......

Add into that the conning of the referee by Donegal feigning head injuries when they went ahead close to the finish. Nothing done about it and they were allowed to disrupt Monaghan's momentum.
McQuillan and his umpires should have dealt with it. Then again the umpires failed to take action on the carry on with Vinny Corey and Michael Murphy......