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It's a massive year for Mickey and Tyrone - it may possibly be make or break for him and he has every right to pick the players he wants. With a ridiculous winter training ban, the McKenna cup is the only prep he has for the league - I'm sure he won't want an unprepared team lining out in less than a month in front of 50,000 people at Croke Park?

Mickey Harte is 100% correct in picking the lads to play for Tyrone. I suspect these fellas would prefer to play for their county as it could lead to playing in the biggest games in the GAA calendar, so its nonsense to suggest that these players should be forced to play for their Universities. Although the Sigerson is a mighty competition it is not quite as important as those involved in it actually think it is. What is the average attendance at Sigerson Cup finals? Ive been to a few and it would be no more than a big McKenna cup game.

As for the point about Peter Harte being an established Tyrone player? In my opinion that just isnt true yet and he, as much as anyone, needs games in a Tyrone jersey. What i saw last year was an immensely talented player, who was struggling at times with the demands of inter county football. More games with experienced Tyrone players in the less pressurised environment of the McKenna cup will only help his progression.

[The Hague is easily accessible from Ireland at a very reasonable price from Dublin, Cork, Belfast with Ryanair, Aerlingus and Easyjet]

Just saw this on HS.  Is this aimed at teams in Europe or would teams here be interested?

Den Haag Invitational, March 3rd 2012
04 January 2012

The Hague GAA club would like to extend an invitation to all Men's and Ladies Gaelic football teams to their annual 11 a-side European Invitational Gaelic Football Tournament!

A Chara,
The Hague GAA club will be holding their annual invitational tournament on the 3rd March 2012, at their grounds, in The Hague, Netherlands. It is aimed at adult football teams (men and ladies) playing at the junior level, we also have hurling again this year.

There is no better opportunity to take a trip outside of Ireland, experience the delights of The Netherlands mixed in with a good day of football. Playing 11-a-side on rugby sized pitches; teams will battle it out in a series of group matches with the strongest teams contesting for the semi finals and finals.

Building on the success of previous tournaments, Den Haag GAA club have established this event into a premier invitational tournament for visiting Gaelic clubs. Enjoy a full day of high quality football followed by a dinner and presentation ceremony and the best of Dutch night life.

The Hague is easily accessible from Ireland at a very reasonable price from Dublin, Cork, Belfast with Ryanair, Aerlingus and Easyjet. It is a 30min train ride from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport or one hour and a half from Eindhoven airport, we can arrange transport. Accommodation can also be arranged in the Hague city centre at excellent rates.

If your club is interested in attending next year, please contact me as soon as possible by email morrismatty@hotmail.com or +31614990874 and a Den Haag GAA club member will help you organise your travel and accommodation.

I look forward to hearing that you will join us on what is hoped to be a very successful day of football.

Is Mise Le Meas,

Matthew Morris
Chairman

Den Haag GAA Club, The Netherlands
www.denhaaggaa.com

I'd assume the highlighted bit would suggest that it is offered to Irish teams as well. I'd probably suggest that it would not be the highest standard so may be more of a bonding session for Irish teams that a serious competition to prepare for the coming season. Sounds like it will be a good weekend's craic though.

I'd consider myself a fairly mild mannered bloke! But my house got broken into a few months ago (and again quite recently) and I think I started a thread at the time that if I'd caught the little hoors in the act, I honestly would not be able to control what actions I might take! I'd say a few hefty kicks up the hole would be the least I would be dishing out given half a chance! So I draw similar parallels to this goalkeeper and I ask the lads on here, if they walked in and found someone robbing their house, what would they do? Make sure you nullified the threat or push them away until the police game? Just because the law is an ass doesn't mean you have to be!

That nut job could have had a knife or anything when he came running at that keeper - he did what he had to do to ensure his safety.

Aye, I understand that! I just thought it was a flippant attempt to have a dig when my first thought would have been very different! Truly tragic!

Great player! I'm convinced that we never saw the best of him as his footballing prowess was held back because the Kingdom needed a full back! It's such a shame that the County that brought us pure football took one of their greatest and restricted him to full back during a period when I believe he was untouchable! Unsurprisingly the great man never complained and is still regarded as one of the best of our generation when he should have been regarded as one of the greatest ever. Enjoy your retirement Seamus, definately one of the best!

Feck me that's tragic - such an absolutely brutal turn of events, the lad must have had demons in his head that we couldn't imagine! Hardly a time to have a dig at the Guards!

I wonder what John Terry will get now for his more blatant racism!

What about Walcott or Wilshere??

Don't agree with it. I don't like any sport at the Olympics where the Olympics isn't the pinnacle! Not just Soccer but Rugby 7s, Tennis, Basketball should all feck away off!!!

I agree with this! It's a pity they couldn't pick the GB Olympic football team from lads who play in amateur leagues or at least non league football. May have been a laborious process but they've know about it for long enough and it would be the pinnacle of their careers.

Are Ireland sending a team?

Dermy

I stand corrected! I was thinking he joined the following year

2

Am I being a bit blind here? John Devine and who?

Only 1 from 2003.

Tyrone's McKenna Cup Squad 2012
1 Dermot Carlin, 2 Aidan Cassidy, 3 Colm Cavanagh, 4 Conor Clarke,5 Kyle Coney, 6 John Devine, 7 Matthew Donnelly, 8 Ciaran Gervin, 9 Peter Harte, 10 Peter Hughes, 11 Jonathan Lafferty, 12 Damian McCaul, 13 Aidan McCrory, 14 Niall McKenna, 15 Justin McMahon, 16 Tommy McGuigan, 17 Ronan McNabb, 18 Stephen McNally, 19 Ronan McNamee, 20 Patrick McNiece, 21 Stephen McNulty, 22 Michael Murphy, 23 Ronan O'Neill, 24 Sean O'Neill, 25 Martin Penrose, 26 PJ Quinn

Downloaded the lite version with 3 drills on it and it looks reasonable enough - £14.99 for the full thing is a bit steep though.