Messages

Derry by 8
Dublin by 12
Armagh by 3
Kerry by 2

I would agree that the league and championship format in Down is good. However I would say that if the championship went back to a straight knockout format it could potentially open it up a bit more and give other clubs a better chance of winning it. Anyone is beatable in a one off game especially in the earlier stages. I realise that the revenue the multiple games bring in and giving lads extra games will make this unlikely to happen anytime soon. Would anyone agree?

I agree with the multiple games for players but I think the gates have went down over the years apart from Kilcoo ones. Maybe it's because there were games spread out over other grounds back then and they looked fuller but there seemed to be more people there.

Do you know that the gates are down or is that just opinion? No doubt the gates were down 2020 and possibly 2021 but that would have been down to Covid restrictions in the first instance and covid apprehension in year 2.
But not all counties use straight knock out. I think Donegal and Derry use groups initially though open to correction on that

I said it looks like there less people there, simply an observation - has anyone attendance numbers? Smaller grounds maybe give the feel of more people there.

Stop keepers coming up to take frees and 45s kills about 2 mins at a time.

Or teach forwards how to kick the ball again

I would agree that the league and championship format in Down is good. However I would say that if the championship went back to a straight knockout format it could potentially open it up a bit more and give other clubs a better chance of winning it. Anyone is beatable in a one off game especially in the earlier stages. I realise that the revenue the multiple games bring in and giving lads extra games will make this unlikely to happen anytime soon. Would anyone agree?

I agree with the multiple games for players but I think the gates have went down over the years apart from Kilcoo ones. Maybe it's because there were games spread out over other grounds back then and they looked fuller but there seemed to be more people there.

[McCole should hold onto it but even if he does, he'll get swallowed up and at the very least give up a free for overcarrying if he's not turned over.]

On Patton, I would say it's a shared blame between him and the outfield players. We had gotten out of jail and maybe he shouldn't hit it short, but one of the key things that you want in a keeper is to stay calm even in those situations. So don't just lump it long because you want rid, you look at your options and pick the best one. However when you look back at it, it was definitely the wrong option. McCole is coming toward goal and I think it's EBG who is moving wide on that side. Ward and OMFF are both moving away from goal. So really it's just McCole in the central area with 3 Armagh forwards converging on him. McCole should hold onto it but even if he does, he'll get swallowed up and at the very least give up a free for overcarrying if he's not turned over.

But at the end of the day, both OMFF and McCole should have held onto the ball. They both spilled it. And if there are options out the field you know Patton is capable and would want to take them. So I'd say it's a team failure, but without a doubt Patton takes on most of the blame. Armagh were definitely in the ascendency at the point though, They'd gotten the previous 5 points I think it was.

The one in the Ulster final I thought was another bad decision. But I think people criticising him so harshly forget how he's saved us so much this year as well. He made an unbelievable save against Cavan and to be honest if that goes in I don't know if we come back. He also made some big saves against Armagh the first day out and another against Derry.

It's a kick you see a lot but I've always thought it's more high risk than people think. The receiving player can't see the danger behind him and if you do lose it the ball is heading towards the goals. If you do get swallowed up you can't go back to the keeper either any more.

I am just in from a walk and I have heard that the county board is selling Newcastle. This is a sad day for Down GAA. For years Newcastle was a cauldron for teams traveling for county games. I see no reason why we could have redeveloped this iconic stadium for county games.
The atmosphere was always electric and it was a terrific venue for county finals.
I do not think this should be happening and it is a sad day for Down Gaels.

Do the county board own all of the ground including the back pitches or just the main pitch and surrounding area? Do they still own the infamous site in Bryansford or was it sold at a lost?

Westmeath by 3
Cavan by 6

Salbutamol FC

Must be different Salbutamol than I get...

Any Spanish blood doctors about the place?

Do you give it 20 blasts at once?

Shit no, Is that what I've been doing so wrong all these years....

Aye, get yourself registered and back out at it

Salbutamol FC

Must be different Salbutamol than I get...

Any Spanish blood doctors about the place?

Do you give it 20 blasts at once?

[Bikers]

Bikers
Cheese & Onion Pringles
Down South Tayto
Steak McCoy's

Had a bag recently, maybe its age or they've changed their flavour slightly but I was slightly disappointed.

North / South, Golden Wonder and King cheese n onion, all lovely.

We're on the Monster Claw, Hoody Doodys from Lidl these days, decent enough! 

There was a big bag of Howdy Doody's cleaned up in a couple of days in our house last week. They're decent

[Scampi Fries]

Love the crisps, unfortunately. Personal favourites:

Walkers Max Cheese and Onion
Walkers Pickles Onion
Spirals
And is Scampi Fries cheating, they are hard to beat, suck the flavour off first then let it melt in your mouth

Worked in a bar years ago and there was an aul boy in it who was convinced he passed the breathalyser test on the way home from the pub because he had a bag of scampi fries before he went home.

Tayto Craft Beef and Peppercorn the nicest about for me.

And call me strange but Ready Salted McCoys and Ready Salted Hula Hoops I could go through a multipack of them in 10 minutes

Ready Salted?? Jesus what are you?

Ready salted are only eaten when there is nothing else

I'd be the same. But always finish by saying, "they were nice".

Ready salted get a bad rap.

Ready salted are class 👌

I always went ready salted as a kid, didn't like anything overly salty. Still enjoy them.

O'Donnell's salt & vinegar would be my favourite now (salted ones are nice too). Special mention for pickled onion monster munch, salt & vinegar spirals and southern tayto smokey bacon waffles

When people like myself, (who has played the game and watched the game for many years) stop watching live games (unless Sligo are involved), then there is a major problem with football.  I know there are many like myself now who would rather just watch the Sunday Game to see the highlights rather than suffer through an hour and a half of hand passing, back passing, loaded defenses, strategic kickouts etc.

Agree that this is due to stats, coaching and fear of losing - all of these things have been effective for teams but unfortunately at the total expense of the enjoyment factor.  Coaches won't change so the rules must before it's too late.

But there's just as many who don't want to see a return to hoofball, where the ball is bate from on side of the pitch to the other with little in between. Your not going to keep everyone happy. Football of the 80's and 90's are being viewed through very rosey specs in my opinion. Plus you had less games televised, so you didn't get your fill of it as easy.

I've mentioned before, did a juvenile game the other week, end to end stuff, not just hoofing the ball but 15 on 15 game, no defensive stuff, very entertaining..

Those who employ the defensive tactics are spoiling it, fear of losing or fear of losing by too much is the core of this, I'd no problems playing a sweeper against teams that were much stronger than us or against a stiff breeze, but you are limiting your scoring options, but they have tweak it and this counter attack with possession football will be very hard to change.

I just think you are over doing it. So there's a few defensive games. It's no big deal. As I've said there were crap games in all eras but we don't need to keep making changes. Your never going to get rid of all the bad games. Tactics will change, develop etc. and that's going to happen regardless of any changes.
I don't think it's possible to make a change that will solely have a positive impact, with no side effects that would actually cut out defensive play. Poorer teams in all sports try defensive play to control the impact of superior players. It's just a natural occurrence and always will be.

I think the problem is when you step down to intermediate and junior club matches defensive football can look like trying not to lose but no actual plan in how to win the game. You aren't going to get a 0-0 or sneak a 1-0 in football. Years ago teams may have got stuffed or the game was crap standard but it didn't feel as negative as it does now. I don't know what level of club games you watch but some of it is terrible to watch.

Roscommon by 4
Cork by 8
Mayo by 6
Armagh by 2

[Do Derry play hurling one week and football the next up 13s? I was told Dublin do that but that might be lies.]

The thing is Johnny there's more people with Itchy's view in Down that would let on. 'Leave that hurley to them boys down in Munster' would be common enough round us. Hurling is always fighting a losing battle it feels in football counties, just getting a game played seems like a big favour to you from the football lads. I really don't have a solution. Do Derry play hurling one week and football the next up 13s? I was told Dublin do that but that might be lies. The likes of Burren would never agree a football match every other week.

My lads play both codes and soccer during the winter. They've managed it this year but one will have to give at some point I'm sure. To be fair it is easier to work round the soccer because it's at a different time of the year mostly. I had one weekend where they had 3 games to play and it was the last weekend for the soccer matches.

I'm 99% sure Dublin have been doing football & hurling at alternate weekends at Go-Games ages now for several years, not sure about older age groups.

I'm not 100% sure what the actual format is for "blitz" games at Go-Games level in Tyrone, but I definitely know that in the schedule there are weekends that are exclusively for hurling. I think it runs on a three week cycle where football gets the first two weeks, then hurling the third.

For youth hurling U13 upwards, most hurling in Tyrone ATM is either via the Tain Óg leagues or competing in a neighboring county. Last year the county leagues didn't start until September and it looks likely it'll be the same this year.

Down do hurling 1st and 3rd Saturdays for 7s, 9s & 11s and the football at 7s & 9s go 2nd and 4th Saturdays. U11 football goes every Sunday morning though. It worked well last year but with all the tournaments starting again they just bull on whenever suits them.