Messages

I agree Muppet, this notion that 'southerners' or the 'southern press' don't give Tyrone the credit they deserve is bizzare IMO. I would safely say that all the Ulster All Ireland winning teams were universally popular winners, now Tyrone have since added a second and third so naturally neutrals would prefer a different winner but everybody that I know has given Tyrone and the other recent Ulster winners the credit they undoubtedly deserve. I find it funny that almost to a man Ulster folk dismiss Munster as a cake walk while making out Ulster to a complete minefield, when in fact neither is true. In the prediction thread some lads have gone for Down to win Ulster yet Tipperary beat Down only a few weeks ago so that must mean if Tipp would have a decent chance of winning Ulster if they were up there this year. While I agree some southern media pundits would be well served giving more credit to Ulster teams a number of Ulster scribes could do worse than give the rest of us a bit of credit too.

Well said. I've never heard any or read any of the 'southern meeejia' running down Tyrone's achievements or their footballing abililty since 2003. Some pundits and journalists may have questioned their style or their tactics on occasion but usually this isn't done without some justification. I think everyone is in agreement that they're a damn good team though.

Why Mr Heaney feels the need to run down the Munster Championship, I don't know. I certainly wouldn't describe Cork as "a good but limited side". They looked far from limited against Monaghan a few weeks ago and are genuine All-Ireland contenders. I personally think that if Kerry had been in either the Leinster, Ulster or Connacht Championships for the past century the honour roll wouldn't look all that different to the way it is now. Maybe that's just me being blinkered by the 'southern meejia' and their indulgence of Kerry though.  

I'm sure Mickey couldn't give a fiddlers what people think of his column but I just don't think it is appropriate for team managers to have such columns.

I remember Micko had one a few years ago in the Examiner but he just came out with the usual raméis and Kerry cute hoorism that you'd expect from him. Harte seems like more of a rent-a-quote on a whole range of topics from the International Rules to video evidence and I don't think it will do his popularity any good outside Tyrone. I certainly can't see it being well received by GAA hq.

Btw, I've never bought a copy of the Irish News in my life!

Two reasons.....
Money
Ego

True 

But I don't see how this is going to benefit either Tyrone or Harte himself in the long term. I don't think the column has reflected well on him and it could come back to bite him on the arse in the future.

I don't know why people who are involved closely with teams take up writing these newspaper columns.

They're hardly going to reveal any team 'secrets' or anything like that.

Having read a few of Harte's articles, he's just coming across as a right moaner as far as I'm concerned.

Anyone got any fancy for the Derby now after most of the trials have taken place?

I was most impressed by Fame And Glory at Leopardstown myself this weekend. I've heard though that Freemantle is Ballydoyle's great hope for Epsom this year even though he's only one an ordinary maiden at Tipp. Think he's running in the Dante at York on Thursday. Might take a price on him for the Derby before then.

I still think the 2000 Guineas was the best trial run so far and I'd expect both Sea The Stars and Gan Amhras to take the world of beating.

Flower of Scotland at Murrayfield before a big rugby international is amazing.

Better than that Phil Coulter dirge anyway.

You can usually tell by the name. Sean, Seamus, Eileen, Bernadette etc taig, Heather, Mervyn, Walter etc prod. If the christian name doesn't do it then the surname usually does

"Stephen Ferris" would not be a daily communicant or own rosary beads I would safely say

Eh.....Martin Ferris??

Him of IRA and Sinn Féin fame.

Good result to round off a great week for Kildare hurling.
The u21s won the Leinster-A Championship against Carlow on Wednesday night.
Nice to see some progress being made with the small ball in the county.