Messages

Photo by this guy...

https://www.facebook.com/john.mcilwaine.142

John "Curly" McIlwaine is probably the best GAA photographer around, never misses a game, and a really genuine nice guy. He has given me several photos of games I was involved in.

Was at this game last night too, really impressed with McAliskey, but I thought Shay McGuigan showed up really well too. He covered some ground and you can tell he's been in the weights room over the winter. Mickey O'Neill had a great game in goals, young McCann in midfield has a bright future too. Tyrone look to have lots of competition in lots of positions now.
Can't understand why Armagh started Clarke in left half back, as soon as they went behind he was shifted into the ful forward line. In fairness he was poor the whole game, even missed easy frees as did Tony Kernan. The only Armagh players who can hold their heads high after that game were their 2 midfielders tbh, and even there Tyrone more than held their own.

Anyone able to post the full draw for all the competitions?

Anyone able to post the full draw for all competitions?

Haven't really had a chance to debate this, but I'm more than fed up with how the 'clubs' change this every time, leagues one year championship the next, two up in the league or two down, round robin championships, playoffs in the leagues, group stages championships ffs!!! I reckon I could go on but it really is daft, never going to please anyone but thats the way it is......

As for changing it this year cause it upset the gate money in the glens, well that just speaks volumes. While it may have been a 'lopsided' draw in the snobs view it was a massive chance for clubs like ourselves, Sarsfields, Gales Cloughmills all actually thought they had a chance to reach a county final, for some that would have been their first time... We achieved that and while we didn't cover ourselves in glory, we (played no worse that the losers of the final the year before btw) got that monkey off our backs.

To continually change it offers nothing in my view.... getting your own house in order seems to be the main chat from the 'establishment' and looking after their own, well after this years Ulster championship final I'd say some teams in Antrim would really need to sort out their own house before telling the minnows to do so.

+1

What was the team/subs??

was thinking of getting her dad a bottle for Christmas - best place in Belfast anyone??

The vineyard on the ormeau road has a decent selection

thanks, i'll give there a lash

Tried the vineyard, apart from the traffic to get there it was well worth the trip. The guy who owns it practically knew the names of the guys in the distillery he knew that much about the drinks he was selling, brilliant. Got a bottle of Teeling single grain and a bottle of Midleton very rare. Hope they're worth the price

1.   Ballycran
2.   Ruairi Og
3.   Loughgiel
4.   Ballycastle
5.   Dunloy
6.   Portaferry
7.   St Johns
8.   Ballygalget

9.   St Galls
10.   Sarsfields
11.   Rossa
12.   Clooney Gaels
13.   Carey Faughs
14.   Glenariff
15.   Clockmills
16.   St Pauls

17.   Gort na Mona
18.   Cushendun
19.   Tir Na nOg
20.   Bredagh
21.   Armoy
22.   Creggan
23.   Lamh Dhearg
24.   St Enda's
25.   Rasharkin
26.   Shane O'Neills
27.   St Teresa's
28.   Na Magha
29.   St Agnes'
30.   Glenravel
31.   O'Donnells
32.   Davitts
33.   Ballymena
34.   Belfast Shamrocks
35.   Larne
36.   Ballyvarley

How the leagues would look going on how they finished this year. The only reason for this 'restructure' = to suit our county teams!

So can someone post how the leagues WILL look next year?

And using an example of final standing what would happen at the end of next season?

Got to say the constant tinkering is a bit outrageous at this stage regardless of which option we come and go to.

The spice of life.  Such narrow mindedness.

If we keep doing the same things, with the same people, with the same teams, you most likely will get the same results.   I thought some of you fellas, like Jim McClean (Dunloy) would have put your names forward, nah!  The cop out is the easy option me thinks.  Same old story, point fingers, blame someone else, someone else will do it.  So, you lunatics want the eegits in the asylum to act on your impulses and meaningless rants? Not a great mandate on your part if you don't act on it, where it counts or matters.  The status quo, remains with the exception of JMcC.  Well, at least a good North Antrim Hurling man stepping up to the plate. that a positive.

Just thought I would drop in to see how things are and get a perspective of progress and maybe be enlightened?  (That was a rhetorical question of course).

Bloody marvellous 

What's all this about Jim McClean?

was thinking of getting her dad a bottle for Christmas - best place in Belfast anyone??

The vineyard on the ormeau road has a decent selection

thanks, i'll give there a lash

was thinking of getting her dad a bottle for Christmas - best place in Belfast anyone??

What can you say about him that hasn't been said before.

When KK were winning handy, Tommy Walsh was leading.
When KK needed someone to dig them out or take the game by the scruff, Tommy was the leader.

His ability to catch standing behind a forward half a foot taller than him and come out with it was the quality that most of us will remember him for. Fearless.He broke a lot of hurls and a lot of hearts and won a lot of admirers along the way to a glittering career. I'd loved to have seen him take even a small part in KK's win this year but Cody doesn't do sentiment.

+1

now can he please take Lar Corbett out of his pocket

Went to Omagh yesterday, interesting game. Omagh missed 1-4 in the first half, Cross half as much. of the first 6 Omagh kickouts Cross won 5 of them, mainly due to additional palyers impeding and holding McMahon and Grugan in the middle. Cross were involved in far too much off the ball stuff, wanted to get in their opponents faces far too much. if they had concentrated on the ball they would have played Omagh off the pitch.
Met the ref in quinns after the game, his umpire said Kernan punched his marker in the gut and decerved to go. As far as the Clarke fould goes, i asked him, his words - he held the player and fell, free out.

Can't beat that for service. From the horse's mouth.

I didn't see what Kernan did but I've watched the Clarke incident back again a few times and I can't see Clarke pulling the player down. Did he say what he then booked him for ?.

I didnt see the Kernan incident either, nor did the ref as it happened behind his back, but the umpire caught the full incident. TBH Kernan was rally at it the whole match which was a pity as he was outstanding. I didnt ask what he booked him for.

Went to Omagh yesterday, interesting game. Omagh missed 1-4 in the first half, Cross half as much. of the first 6 Omagh kickouts Cross won 5 of them, mainly due to additional palyers impeding and holding McMahon and Grugan in the middle. Cross were involved in far too much off the ball stuff, wanted to get in their opponents faces far too much. if they had concentrated on the ball they would have played Omagh off the pitch.
Met the ref in quinns after the game, his umpire said Kernan punched his marker in the gut and decerved to go. As far as the Clarke fould goes, i asked him, his words - he held the player and fell, free out.

[been consistently impressed by Burke any time I've seen him - an excellent link man]

St. Vincent's held on tonight to beat Oliver Plunkett's by one point - 0-14 to 1-10

http://www.thescore.ie/st-vincents-st-oliver-plunketts-1749036-Oct2014/

Any magic moments from Diarmuid ?

One lovely point early on with his left but well held otherwise. Plunkett's get a lot of men behind the ball and early on it looked like Vincent's were going to struggle with their system as they went 0-3 to 0-0 down and were finding it difficult to get space. Gradually Vincent's took over though - I thought it was quite similar to how Kerry dealt with Donegal as they also kept men back and Bernard Brogan and Nesty Smith were too isolated up front - Brogan was often being double marked.

Vincent's were certainly the better team, won midfield (exemplified by Craig Dunleavy of Plunkett's being taken off - they would have been expecting him to have success in that area) and led by five or six but a softish goal with a few minutes left when a high ball into the square was touched in (not sure who got it) brought the gap back to two. Plunkett's could have got a draw but their one chance to equalise was put badly wide. The one point gap at the end flattered Plunkett's I think. They were slow to change their tactics when they needed to - you could see the frustration on Bernard Brogan's face shouting at players to push up as they badly needed scores. I thought Gavin Burke and Ruairi Trainor were best for Vincent's in the second half, but overall it was a real all round team performance. Trainor got some good scores and I've been consistently impressed by Burke any time I've seen him - an excellent link man, takes good options when in possession, comfortable with the ball and well able to take scores - he should certainly get his chance with Dublin. Vincent's should retain Leinster at least now and it will be fairly short odds that they'll end up meeting Crossmaglen in the All-Ireland final.

I played on the same juvenile team as his da, and he was some footballer too. Been keeping an eye on Gavin for a while, brilliant minor,  real potential for the senior county team

Bump

Thinking of heading there in April with the good lady, any tips (apart from those already posted)

http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1017/653000-garth-brooks/

Oh FFS, here we go again