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[@cmckeever6 Ciaran, can you honestly answer why you deliberately target Sean Cav in every melee? Seeing as your such a lovely fella and all.]

Our county board must be growing balls, the county treasurer is having a go at Ciaran McKeever om twitter. Or is it just the Moy in him?

www.twitter.com/@MacEoghain

In tweets and replies

@cmckeever6 Ciaran, can you honestly answer why you deliberately target Sean Cav in every melee? Seeing as your such a lovely fella and all.

Ah, is our wee Sean getting picked on by big bad Ciaran?

busting to know if he got a reply...

Has mckeever learned to type?

This picture taken a split second doesn't prove anything either, except perhaps that we cannot be 100% certain that O'Sullivan is the target of Gormley's celebration.
A single photographic image is often unreliable in evidence.

100%

I'd hate to get a picture of me after getting a tackle on saturday night

The picture says less about his character and more about yours

More at Tyrone v Armagh than at entire irish league programme.

I'll bet you £100 the Irish League had more ticket sellers though.

Ronan McNamee – Achadh Uí Aráin
Aidan McCrory – Aireagal Chiaráin
Peter Harte – Aireagal Chiaráin
Mark Donnelly – An Charraig Mhór
Niall McKenna – An Domhnach Mór
Cathal McCarron – An Droim Mhór
Colm Cavanagh – An Mhaigh
Sean Cavanagh – An Mhaigh
Justin McMahon – An Omaigh
Barry Tierney – An Omaigh
Kyle Coney – Ard Bó
Shay McGuigan – Ard Bó
Dwayne Quinn – Cluain Eo
PJ Lavery – Cluain Eo
Mickey O'Neill – Cluain Eo
Tiernan McCann – Coill an Chlochair
Padraig McNulty – Dún Geanainn
Patrick Quinn – Dún Geanainn
Cathal McShane – E R Uí Néill
Niall Morgan – Éadan na dTorc
Darren McCurry – Éadan na dTorc
Ryan McKenna – Eaglais
Emmett McKenna – Eaglais
Peter Hughes – Eiscreach
Plunkett Kane – Oileán a'Ghuail
Rory Brennan – Trí Leac

Any thoughts on the strength of this Tyrone team>?

[McDonald]

+1

Though I'd say had the Derry team of the 90s had a back door route available this might be a different conversation.

The fact is, Armagh had a sprinking of top players in Marsden, McConville, McDonald, McGeeney....but their real threat was in their new defensive strategy and, shall we say "robustness" of their approach to the game which made them as successful as they were. It was a clever approach to make up for the lack of top quality players by developing physically imposing team with a set of tactics that got them results.
The downside for them was that outside of Ulster this wasn't as effective. Wide open pitches like Croke park left them a little more exposed and made it more difficult for them to impose their game on the opposition. No-one in Ulster at that point had really come to terms with the blanket which also goes some way towards understanding why they were successful in Ulster but not as successful on the national front.

In short, McNulty talking sh*te.

In short you're talking sh1te........as per recently opened thread you are talking dung about "the wide open spaces" of CP and the fact that you can't spell the name of one of the greatest forwards of our game in modern times says it all really. Also, that Armagh team had an excellent record in CP is also overlooked in your brilliant theory.  The other big hole in your argument is that it was Ulster teams that put that Armagh team out of the AI in the years 03-05, Tyrone in 2003 and in 2005 and Fermanagh in 2004.

I've been known to talk sh1te from time to time....but criticism of spelling mistakes? Come on....
Did Armagh not win more Ulster titles than Tyrone during the 00's?
Between the years of 2000 - 2010 Armagh won 6 Ulsters (also won in 99), whereas Tyrone won 5.
Tyrone won 3 AI titles and Armagh won 1.

So please explain, if I'm so far off the mark, why Armagh did so well in Ulster but failed to translate that to the national stage?
My opinion is that their gameplan and the tighter pitches alongside a sprinkling of top players was enough for them in Ulster but not at AI level.
Whereas Tyrone (and God knows I'm no fan of Tyrone), performed at both provincial and AI level. So, either they just had better players OR their style of play was more successful on the wide open expanse of CP OR a combination of both.

I'm happy to consider other reasons, but  you haven't presented anything to consider.

The simple answer is.....I don't know.  On the spelling thing.....I don't normally pass remarks on these things but as I was reading your big theory on how Armagh could win Ulster titles against Ulster teams but couldn't win AI titles against non-Ulster teams (even though they were from Ulster) and telling us that Enda McNulty (a man that is employed by a very successful Irish rugby setup and Brian O'Driscoll swears by) was talking sh!te, I felt the need to start nitpicking!! 
There was a kick of the ball between Armagh and Tyrone in those years, both teams were as good as the other. Tyrone came out the right side of the real big games in 2003 and 2005 (it pains me to say it).  Managerial decisions didn't help, Joe Kernan changed the setup of the Armagh team in the 2003 final to counteract Tyrone's strengths and it backfired.  The withdrawal of Geezer in the 05 semi was a huge factor also.

+1

Armagh Could have had 4 in a row.Catastrophic refereeing decisions favouring Tyrone in 03 and 05 cost us dearly but the defeat to Fermanagh in 04 was simply inexcusable.

Now Tony....Tyrone in 03 (Marsden and Jordan....only incident of any real contention) maybe but in 05 Tyrone were, by far the best team in ireland and if anything were short changed in games v armagh!

its funny that I have always viewed the 05 run as Tyrone playing better football?
I think mcNulty has a point that Armagh "maybe should" have won more...certainly Kernan taking of McGeeney in 05 was an error which lead to Sean Cavanagh having a field day....so maybe if there had been more tactical awareness and astuteness from Big Joe...who knows...if your aunt had balls and all that....
Great to be chatting about Tyrone and their 3 all irelands....it might be a while before we're talking about the 4th

I would disagree. Never at any point in that 03 final did I feel that Tyrone were going to lose that match.

05 was different. No guarantees that Armagh would have won the final in 05 though. 05 really could have went either way in the semi but on 03 tyrone were just a better team.

Armagh Could have had 4 in a row.Catastrophic refereeing decisions favouring Tyrone in 03 and 05 cost us dearly but the defeat to Fermanagh in 04 was simply inexcusable.

Now Tony....Tyrone in 03 (Marsden and Jordan....only incident of any real contention) maybe but in 05 Tyrone were, by far the best team in ireland and if anything were short changed in games v armagh!

[Importantly 38k capacity will make more Ulster finals tickets available , and with economies of scale, probably cheaper tickets.]

Seems to be based on the predicted Ulster final attendance which in recent years has been anything between 28000-34000

Even throughout the recession years the attendance has been ~30k. The Croke park Ulster final was ?~60k.
Clones though a great venue in many ways, suffers from a poor infrastructure.
Casement is in Belfast, the country's second largest city , with nearby railway, and less than a mile from the motorway with easy access northwards to Antrim, Derry and Donegal, and South to the rest of the Ulster counties.
The proposed 38k stadium will have comparable or better amenities(shops,bars) than Croke or Aviva, and as in the case of modern stadiums , the attractiveness and uniqueness of the "state of the art" facility, will attract greater and more diverse support, not least from the local West Belfast area. This will potentially revitalise GAA support in our second city, in the way that new Croke park is packed with Dubs supporters , who are not traditional GAA supporters, but who have invigorated our summers over the last few years.
Casement is an iconic venue steeped in history, and it would be a tragedy if it is mothballed or worse still obliterated.
Importantly 38k capacity will make more Ulster finals tickets available , and with economies of scale, probably cheaper tickets.
For the reasons highlighted, I have no doubt that the 38k capacity will be a sellout, at least once every year. Therefore anything less than this capacity would be wholly inadequate for our provincial stadium.
These presumably are some of the reasons that the GAA is adamant that a 38k stadium in Belfast is a must for their optimal strategic development.
More importantly in my view , it would give West Belfast, the  break that it deserves after years of deprivation and underinvestment.
Absolutely , respect the genuine concerns of local residents, but tasteful appropriate development in this area is a must, not just for GAA supporters but for the whole community in Belfast !

How has that worked out over the last 10 years in Croke Park with increased capacity to 82k ?

If the sales pitch is based on a 38,000 capacity as a must , there aren't too many games attracting that kind of crowd...Ulster final and thats it...so one game a year then?
I cannot see people randomly turning up and deciding to take in an Antrim game, just because its on - for that to happen the product would need to chance beyond recognition....as a neutral I would go and see ANY club championship game at junior, inter or senior...football or hurling, because the standard would be reasonable at the very least....no such guarantee unfortunately with ANY DIV 4 team.

So will they have to use the venue for different events...? Renting it out for concerts will see the artists and promotors get wealthy and not the county or province?
Corporate hospitality has been sown up by other venues....would be interesting to see what % of the overall revenue for Ravenhill that accounts for - Ulster rugby will have a much better pedigree and tradition for corporate hospitality and event management than Antrim GAA....

there is much at stake here...outside of the needs of MORA and the GAA...It would be class to see a vibrant stadium in the west, no question....hope that everyone involved can get there OWN shit together...and that for once the GAA will admit that they have played a roll in this fiasco, and move on quickly

[NO MENTION OF THE FACT THAT THE ULSTER COUNCIL WOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT - ULSTER COUNCIL HAVE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MESS...none more so than the one-man walking bill board that is RYAN FEENEY]

NO MENTION OF THE FACT THAT THE ULSTER COUNCIL WOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT - ULSTER COUNCIL HAVE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MESS...none more so than the one-man walking bill board that is RYAN FEENEY

The GAA wanted planning approval, it is ridiculous to suggest that they should know better than the prfessional planners and their department as to what was required to meet the planning law.

Thats NOT what i have suggested. I stand by my assertion that the ULSTER GAA should share in this abject failure, and Brolly in his piece ignores that fact.

ANOTHER PERSONAL ATTACK JOE...GOOD MAN...BUT WHY IS IT IGNORANT TO SUGGEST A SMALLER CAPACITY WHEN IT IS NUMINGLY OBVIOUS THAT THE ONE PRESENTED WAS TOO BIG?

It is ignorant to suggest that a capacity that is not fit for the purpose is a reasonable solution.
The stadium as presented doesn't offer enough entry/exit points from a health and safety perspective. the location has always been a mess even on good days and with crowds in their 15,000s....I have been to games with modest attendances there and the cars are parked up the M1? What the f**k is that about?

THE HANDFUL OF RESIDENTS ARE HUMANS JOE...MAYBE EVEN GAA FANS TOO...YET YOU STILL CHOSE TO BE SO CONTEMPTUOUS OF THEIR BASIC RIGHTS

It can hardly have escaped the notice of these residents in the last 61 years that they have chosen to live beside a stadium designed to be used for Ulster finals. The upgrade is simply the modern standard required for such games.

It is a bit like the NIMBYs living along the A5, "it doesn't need to be dual carriageway, a single carriageway will do", "the existing road is good enough","we don't need an autobahn in Tyrone".


Not sure what a NIMBY is but have always felt that people are entitled to have their view heard...easy for cultchies, of which i am one, to say "sure thon stadium is grand and f**k the residents" when I don't actually live there.
The GAA has a fine pedigree in railroading the less-advantaged (or those who don't work in PR, for example...) and MORA is the most recent example

[SO, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BALL_LAPPING HERE THEN JOE?]

Unfortunately for the Department of Planning, Mr Justice Horner QC knows a painted rose when he sees one. He is a man of absolute integrity. A sportsman and a sportsfan. He was a fine rugby player in his day. SO, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BALL_LAPPING HERE THEN JOE?He understands the great importance of a new Casement Park. None of those matters are relevant. The Department took shortcuts and unfortunately for us, it is the Gaels of Ulster that are paying the price. There was no proper traffic impact assessment and no proper environmental impact assessment. Therefore the Department's decision is unlawful. End of.
NO MENTION OF THE FACT THAT THE ULSTER COUNCIL WOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT - ULSTER COUNCIL HAVE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MESS...none more so than the one-man walking bill board that is RYAN FEENEY

It is important to note that, as the judge put it himself, his judgement has "nothing to do with the merits of the new stadium". He records that the evidence that the new stadium would sell out for certain matches and events was "convincing". He notes the potential of the stadium to "contribute to the regeneration of the greater Belfast area and the Andersonstown Road in particular". He makes it clear that there is no criticism of the GAA's approach. WELL, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOME CRITICISM JOE - the bullied and battered away at the locals like that did in CORK, DUBLIN...

"The court rejects any suggestion, whether express or implied, of any improper behaviour on the part of ..the GAA". And he sets out in depressing terms, the state of Casement as it stands. "Today, it sits low slung and grey, marked with four columns of floodlights which tower over the ground and the surrounding area. Dejected, decrepit and dilapidated, its glory days long gone."

The residents' barrister David Scoffield was a prudent choice. He wrote the book on judicial review, which is always helpful. Indeed, in the course of his judgement, Mr Justice Horner refers to passages from that book. So although the residents original complaints were mostly ..."mostly"...NEED TO ELABORATE ON THIS JOE...LOOKS LIKE AN ATTEMPT YET AGAIN TO DEFLECT FROM THE FACT THAT THE VIEWS OF MORA WERE NOT FULLY LISTENED TO groundless (and ended up being rejected) Mr Scoffield was never going to miss the nail and hit the wall. As Mr Justice Horner put it " No possible point or permutation of a point has been overlooked by counsel for the residents. I hope I do justice to the variety and ingenuity of his multifaceted arguments." His main submissions were precise and in essence unarguable. The law, don't you know, will set us free, and if it doesn't, the brilliant Mr Scoffield will.

The upshot is that the decision to grant the planning permission has been quashed. But it is a temporary victory for the residents. The suggestion by some, including Paddy Cunningham this week, that a 25,000 stadium is sufficient, is base...ANOTHER PERSONAL ATTACK JOE...GOOD MAN...BUT WHY IS IT IGNORANT TO SUGGEST A SMALLER CAPACITY WHEN IT IS NUMINGLY OBVIOUS THAT THE ONE PRESENTED WAS TOO BIG?

The home of Antrim and Ulster GAA, driving our projects into the future. Vital projects like a coaching task force for Belfast schools and Greater Belfast. Funded by a vibrant conference centre and stadium. WHAT THE f**k DO YOU KNOW ABOUT CORPORATE HOSPITALITY SALES JOE?

An iconic place, designed by the architects of the world famous Velodrome, built for the London Olympics, acting as a financial driver for our ideals. It is a classic no brainer.

So, where are we? Well, here is the bottom line. The handful of residents have won a temporary victory. THE HANDFUL OF RESIDENTS ARE HUMANS JOE...MAYBE EVEN GAA FANS TOO...YET YOU STILL CHOSE TO BE SO CONTEMPTUOUS OF THEIR BASIC RIGHTS A new planning application will be submitted in the New Year. This time it will be bomb proof, following to the letter the judgement of His Lordship.

The Department will do things properly this time. WILL THE GAA DO THE RIGHT THING THIS TIME TOO? MAYBE SHAKE THE CASEMENT TEAM UP A BIT - the less me-feiners the better, eh JOE? Planning will be granted. We will have the stadium that we so badly need in this run down city. Just in time for the influx of commerce that will come hot on the heels of the reduction in corporation tax.'

Do Ulster Council not run this competition? If not, why not?

Same as the Paul mCGriir Tournament but i have heard that both tournaments may well be under pressure due to an ulster council report on player burn out?

Glen are exceptionally modest set of lads as is their management team...no sense of entitlement there at all and they all work hard to get to where they're at...serious approach to what they do, should be envied and copied rather than slagged of

Benny Hurl of Ardboe will be a great edition to the top table, Mc Connell should have taken his chance against the Blonde liar as he got rote off in the vote against Hurl

Did Eugene lose the coaching role? Is that the 3rd incumbent in the last 6 months?


What's Roisin to Philip? Someone said mother, but I don't think it is.

Defo not mother...not sure if even related but Philips father was originally an eglish man

Where does Dungannon come into this?

Dungannon is the centre of Ulster, if you use a population weighted basis.
I once did a logistics analysis which showed that the optimum place for the depot to be located to serve Ulster (All ireland company with other depots) was at the end of the M1.

that would make sense...until you get to O'Neill park, or rather try and get out of it!

The new committee was appointed tonight. I have a bad feeling with Roisin Jordan as Chairperson. What are your thoughts?

the lady is only in through the door and you have a "bad feeling" - what the f**k?