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It doesn't for me, because I start from a fundamentally different viewpoint as you and JD. The real crime for me is the lack of preparation at underage. The way we treat our best footballers and hurlers who we hope one day will represent us at Senior level. It seemed obvious to me that Down were more athletic in every sense of the word. The sort of athleticism that is nurtured over many years

Agree with this . If anybody has watched our warm ups this year the lack of athleticism is painfully evident . This has all been created from a lack of imagination, creativity and preparation of our underage teams for the past decade .

Just talking about the margin of defeats, I thought the Dublin defeat was the worst in my memory but the Down game surpassed that.

When were we last beaten, if ever, by that much in a championship game?

Not sure about championship but I believe this result was our biggest defeat ever .


Kerry Vs Laois in Tralee on December 3rd, 1978

Kerry 6-11; Laois 0-0.

I don't think 2 wins against Fermanagh and Limerick can mask the deficiencies of the past two years . Yes we have lost some key personnel but don't understand the above comment of where we have "made real progress " ?
Regardless of TC outcome I can't see Sheehan been involved next year .


Today could go either way . It could be over by half time or we could be knocking on the door with 10 minutes to go . We have added competition to the panel which obviously helps but just don't know if grit and determination will be enough today .
Best of luck to the lads . I hope they get the support they deserve and do themselves justice.

Ballyfin look very impressive.

Hope it goes well for him and he can balance the workload. Not an easy task in the context of him managing a League of Ireland Football Club as well.

Surely he's not going to continue to work with Cobh?

Staying with Cobh until end of season apparently .

Playing Paddy O'Sullivan in his proper position has been the one biggest factor in turning it around to some extent.

Absolutely.
Hope the team gets the support it deserves Sunday .

Left Limerick on Saturday with a nice feeling of satisfaction. Two wins and momentum has been built . The return of a fit Colm Murphy has been a big bonus and made forward selection a little more competitive. The changing of the goalkeeper position has also helped .
Sunday will be a completely different challenge in Dublin . The space will suit our forwards and if they click at all you would think we can put up a nice score .
However you would have to be worried about our defence and the power and pace of the Down midfield and forwards running at us .

3pm Saturday . Stand alone fixture . Live on GAAGO

The lads played with a lot of fight and determination yesterday like they've doing all year . Last weekend against London been the exception. Thought our tackling was better yesterday and in fairness to Lillis  he was on it from the start . Fermanagh folk genuinely expected to win yesterday . Maybe it translated into there players .

Timmons will be a huge loss if he's not available next week . He's the real leader of that team .
Whatever happens Billy won't be around next year  . As someone said the problems lay elsewhere.
Limerick wouldn't be the worst draw.

Ballyfin beat Heath by 2pts and Park beat Courtwood by points this morning .

Have we a Michael Duigan to take the chair?

Well clearly we do not .

Division 1 winners round :
Joseph's 0:13
Port 1-10

Portlaoise 0:11
Ballyroan 1:11


Relegation:

Stradbally 1:11
Graigue 0:9

Killeshin 1:17
O'Dempseys 3:8

Thanks Billy

What was so impressive about that Tipperary All-ireland winning minor team was the calibre of the Dublin side that they defeated in the final. That Dublin minor team comprised of players such as Robbie McDaid, Lowndes, Small, McCaffrey, Costello, Kilkenny, Mannion, Davy Byrne and Niall Scully who have been all key figures for Dublin over the last decade. Power was the manger of that team as well and worked on development squads prior to this bringing these players along.

Laois could do with someone of his ilk coming in and working to get the underage structures right and bring players through to senior. I cannot see any stand out internal candidates to take on the Laois senior job- perhaps Kinsella but while his record is good its not exceptional either. If Billy can pull a result at the weekend and put in a decent showing in a Tailteann Cup quarter final I wouldn't be surprised if he was to get one more year in the job. The argument could be made that he has had to deal with a high turnover or players and that he has blooded several new players and it will take another year to see the benefits of this bear fruit.

Lol . Sheehans ship sailed a while ago . In fairness for a man working for next to nothing he gave it his  all . He's just not an inter country manager .

we will bate firmanagh
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Love your optimism. Will head up and support the lads but it feels different the past two years . Away games with Laois used to be always filled with hope .
In my opinion Sean O'Flynn should be in centre field with Damo Larkin .

Saw Portlaoise and Annanough last Tuesday and even though  Portlaoise won by a couple of points Annanough are motoring well and will be a threat . I fancy Barrowhouse though and think they'll take stopping this year .
They are  actually playing each other this Thursday I believe in Vicarstown  . Will be a good indicator .