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Lots of reason for the scheduling. Footballing and non footballing. As hard as it may be to fathom for some. The 'top brass' aren't out to get us or put us down.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that  the top brass are out to get us. But they have made a foolish error in their scheduling of this fixture.

The kerry v Derry game will be shown all over the world with barely 30,000 at it, if even that. Games in an empty Croke Park lack atmosphere and for an all ireland semi final that is not what you want to be showcasing.

Meath and Down would have brought a sizeable crowd to Croke Park for their final game of the season, both counties are reasonably close to Dublin, particularly
Meath and would have added considerably to the crowd for Derry and Kerry. I'd imagine the majority would have stayed on for the second game, if only to see Clifford up close, particularly if you had kids with you because he is the most box office player in Gaelic games at present.

Anyway the most important thing is we get the win, and qualify for the Sam Maguire round robin series next season. We were very impressive v Laois and Cavan, and the fact Meath beat Down already this year should avoid any complacency setting in after such a landslide victory.

You are completely missing my point. There are other things to take into consideration when fixing games with such expected crowds. Non football or sport related things. Perhaps they were forced into this scheduling scenario. There's more to life (and Dublin) than the gaa!

Lots of reason for the scheduling. Footballing and non footballing. As hard as it may be to fathom for some. The 'top brass' aren't out to get us or put us down.

Tickets have went pretty quick there, got 4 together but already limited tickets left. Wonder will there be more released during the week?

I'd say they're all gone. County board should be distributing between the clubs. I'm in Dublin and I got mine yesterday through the club here.

Clubs had a link to share with members this morning, before the 10am general sale went live.

Only those who requested as such.

The number of opinions and formats here shows exactly how hard it would be to a. Please everyone and b. Get the best suitable format i.e not many and not too few games. The number of teams in JFC doesn't lend itself to traditional formats unless you are looking straight knockout. Even then someone is going to have to play prelim etc. Our fixtures, structures and formats are generally pretty good in comparison to other counties. Let's not use this as another stick to beat CCC.

Straight knockout with a preliminary round was done for many years without any problems.

That may be your opinion and no issue with that. But there has to be some reason they have veered away from that format this year. It would suggest it was not without problems or complaints.

The number of opinions and formats here shows exactly how hard it would be to a. Please everyone and b. Get the best suitable format i.e not many and not too few games. The number of teams in JFC doesn't lend itself to traditional formats unless you are looking straight knockout. Even then someone is going to have to play prelim etc. Our fixtures, structures and formats are generally pretty good in comparison to other counties. Let's not use this as another stick to beat CCC.

When are the first rounds of the championships this year? Thanks

Usually early August

Usually late August

Feel sorry for Ox. Was never the same after the cruciate injury at the end of his first season. He had been arguably our best player for long periods before that. Didn't seem to recover or else didn't fit the style that was then being implemented. Keita a complete conundrum. Unsure how a professional player can be injured so much.

Men v boys out there. Look at armagh subs compared to ours.. they brought on established men, with some left on bench, whereas we brought on minors.

This is bullshit. This Down team is in a much better place than it was 12 months ago and will only improve. Whether you want to believe it or not. A poor day at the office, but 4 goals did flatter them.

Ah wise up with the legal action. Bunch of wet wipes.

What's illegal about it? Nada. Move on

I'd sincerely hope your username is just a coincidence.

I'd say he'll take the numerous medals he won as a defender alright 

How about the clubs in question put an end to it?

The assistant referee elbowed Andy Robertson in the face. The pictures clearly show it. The 'alleged' rhetoric spouted by Sky etc is of course following PC policy. But it shouldn't cloud the fact that it is a strike by the official.

By the same token Robertson did put his hand on the official's back which he shouldn't have. I think the intent/force/nature of hand on back v elbow to face has a stark contrast. Put it the other way round, if a referee or assistant referee for some reason out their hand on a player, and the player elbowed him back, there would be uproar.

All this bravado of 'he deserved it' is something you would hear in the playground. You simply cannot do it. I'd expect some sort of repercussion for Robertson, but something a lot more severe for the official. Out of order.

Hearing pitches have been a problem with pre-season and a lot of games called off due to the inclement weather. GAA clubs need to be pushing the councils for all weather facilities

All weather pitches - I'm not sure the LGFA would agree here.. at their recent O'Connor cup weekend played on all weather pitches there were 3 ACL injuries. Reports are now showing a correlation between these pitches and the injury.
The question I ask is - why are clubs so over protective of their pitches? In literally 3 weeks the leagues start and all games will go ahead if the pitches are cut up or not - just let them train. Take the groups in smaller numbers on the pitch and move them around the pitch not staying in one place. I always admire the likes of Clonduff/Mayobridge/Glen who train away. If the pitch cuts up - so be it we will straighten it out when the weather gets better..

Not practical if your surface is consistently saturated at times like this, and you only have one pitch. The pitch is in bits before the season evens starts. 2 of the clubs you mention have 3 pitches.

Lurgan and Newry are two similar size towns. Newry probably bigger and unlike Lurgan is probably 95% Catholic.  But where are the Gaelic footballers?
Yesterday Armagh had
Conor Turbitt
Tiernan Kelly
Barry McCambridge
Stefan Campbell &
Andrew Murnin.  All Lurgan Men.
Down have nobody from Newry and have been under represented in Newry for decades.  Surely this is a big failure by the Co Board.

What's that got to do with the Co. Board? Seriously. Nothing to do with the clubs, coaching & individual player attitudes? Ridiculous.

My point is that the councils build pitches for junior soccer. But because they GAA always have looked after themselves the councils don't push as money towards us.

The Lgfa is getting bigger every year and this is putting huge pressure on club grounds . We need to demand more access to GAA pitches from our councillers.

This is a really strange argument/perspective/issue/observation. The council has pitches for junior soccer because they have nowhere to play the sport if they don't have some sort of provision from the Council. GAA clubs have at least one pitch of the their own each. Yes we can always do with more facilities but to be looking towards the council for this is strange. Is it not an aim/goal/challenge for any GAA club to grown their own 'home', facilities etc? To add to wobblers point, the pitches for soccer around NMD Council area are extremely limited. You only have to look at how many games are called off November - Feb every year for proof of that.