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teams spend too much time lifting weights,aqua running, ice baths, running up mountains, doing pilates, in fact everything except kicking a ball. there is a reason why golfers spend hours on the range, thats why they generally hit the target. there is also a reason why gaelic is at a low ebb in terms of skill. because half the Gaa players should be in Beijing rather than croke park as they spend f*** all time using the ball in training.

In fairness Indiana that isn't correct most teams spend an awful lot of their training with the ball, the problem is that it is now very difficult to create decent scoring opportunities with packed defences the order of the day. In saying that some of the shooting this weekend was truely woeful but this goes back to a point I made after the International Rules games, we actually aren't particularily good at football. The Aussies came and kicked scores, foot passed and supported team mates far better than we did, why is that? Well obviously they are professionals but our IC teams are putting a lot of time into their game but it doesn't appear to be paying off in a meaningful way. Hopefully coaches will also now consider more positive tactics as a way to win matches, this idea that you are a tactical genius if you get 13 men behind the ball and a niave fool if you don't needs to change.

I genuinely hope Dublin win this years AI, they play an attacking, fast, open brand of football and hopefully a win for them would lead to a sea change in attitude to the game. If not Dublin then Galway who's footkicking game is a breath of fresh air, we badly need football teams to rise to the top once again.  

why don't you educate yourselves on the facts of the situation before you come on here as a fountain of knowledge. The dublin managment have kiboshed the 16th because it leaves them 4 weeks wiithout a game and gives their likely opponents a 2 week gap. Thats a perfectly reasonable assumption from a preparation pt of view and one that Dublin fans are happy with. Dublin aren't dictating anything and have known since tuesday it would be likely to be a stand alone game
Cork have been allowed dictate matters. Offaly  fans were asked to be in semple stadium against waterford to watch their hurlers and 90 mins later to be in tullamore to watch their footballers on the same day. No-one gave a shite about them, because they are a small county So this argument that Cork should be allowed dictate fixtures because of distance is bullshit. Cork are the worst travelling Gaa fans in the country in my view. If you put both games on Washington Street half of them still wouldn't turn up. It happens to other counties all the time and they don't whinge about it. This is Frank Murphy's agenda and another indciation that if you've got the right friends in the Gaa you can get anything changed. Its a farce that all 4 provincial winners won't get to play in Croke park to suit one county.
99% of Cork hurling fans don't go to watch their footballers, that is a statistical fact and one that won;t change by having both games in croke park. just wait till throw in time sunday week in the football match and see how many cork fans are their. F*** all would be my guess.

You are well off the mark with that post Indiana, Cork have a great travelling support for their hurlers and the bulk of their football support have a serious distance to travel to Dublin so it isn't a great surprise that they aren't flocking to support an underachieving team. And it isn't a statistical fact that 99% of the Cork hurling support don't support the footballers it isn't any kind of a fact, what it is is a gross exaggeration and is actually wrong. And two years ago Cork footballers had to play Saturday in CP and the hurlers on Sunday which was extremely tough and expensive on their supporters so the GAA don't pander to the bigger counties. Cork are only trying to accomodate their supporters and IMO both Cork and Dublin should be accomodated. If Cork footballers double up with their hurlers on Sunday you could have one stand alone QF (for the Dubs) and one double header on Aud 9th and 16th and everyone is happy. This shouldn't be a drama if the GAA orgainised these games well in advance but that is asking too much apparently.

Ticket woe looms for Dubs fans
Later date not a runner so it's a double-header


Bleak outlook: Dublin fans could be facing a severe shortage of tickets for the All-Ireland quarter-final

By Frank Roche


Friday August 01 2008

DUBLIN footballers don't want their All-Ireland SFC quarter-final moved back a week to August 16 - but it means that countless thousands of Sky Blue fans will be left ticketless when the Leinster champions return to Croke Park tomorrow week.

Contrary to strong official vibes earlier this week, Dublin's next game on August 9 will not be a stand-alone fixture. Instead, another football quarter- final will be added to the bill.

Croke Park fixture-makers were forced into a U-turn following strong protests from Galway and Armagh after it emerged that the Connacht and Ulster champions could be forced to play their quarter-final ties at provincial venues because of a congested Croke Park programme.

It's understood that the CCCC offered an alternative stand-alone date on Saturday, August 16. But this left Dublin in a classic Catch-22 bind: the team's entire training programme in recent weeks had been calibrated towards peaking on August 9, so to play a week later could have affected Dublin's performance while benefitting their vast army of fans.

Dublin chairman Gerry Harrington confirmed that he discussed the issue with manager Paul Caffrey at training last night, but August 16 was a non-runner.

Harrington is still holding out hope that the CCCC will relent and make August 9 a stand-alone date - but there isn't a chance of this happening.

"We don't want to play it the following weekend - we want to play it on the ninth," he told the Evening Herald.

"If it means we have to play it as a double-header, so be it, but at the moment we are still fighting for a stand-alone fixture."

The Dublin chief explained that training drilles are geared for tomorrow week, adding: "To change that now would not be feasible."

However, while August 9 is best for the team, it spells a very bleak scenario for Dublin fans. County board chief executive John Costello has already written to clubs yesterday, indicating that Dublin will receive a "maximum of 15,000 tickets to be divided between players, sponsors, Parnell Park ticket scheme members and clubs."

Harrington admitted: "It's going to be very difficult with the ticket situation.

Even when we were a standalone fixture, the ticket situation is very difficult.

"There will be an awful lot of supporters disappointed, but we can do nothing about that."

- Frank Roche

Dublin have apparently refused the option of playing on the 16th because their training is geared towards an August 9th game. How the GAA have f**ked this up is byond me, is there no forward planning at the highest level, why wasn't a Saturday set aside for a potential Dublin QF and all counties notified of this. So for example at the start of the year all county secretaries would be notified that in the event of Dublin making the QF and your county playing them, the game will go ahead as a stand alone fixture on August 16th 2008.

I'd accept that those situations are farcical, but I refered to those in my first post. A county should only allow the colleges in their championship if their clubs can compete and some restrictions should be applied to players so only primary degree students can play.

I wouldn't accept they are a bunch of superstars Indiana though with the increase of scholarships that has probably changed a bit. I was involved with my college in the county championship and most years we were well beaten but one year all the players committed to playing and they won the county championship and I think it drove the clubs on and helped increase standards within the county. I can see some of the arguments aginst they're inclusion but I think they can be a positive influence also.

I think you're right. At this stage it's gone beyond the point of no return I think, because to move Ken back out the field would require at least 4 switches I'd say. (Prendergast in full back, Kearney in the Corner, Ken to Centre Back, Browne to the wing, Sullivan or Bull off).

That would be a major reshuffle before a semi final.

I think it's a mistake to put Ken McGrath in there, but sure the proof of the pudding will be in the eating now.

Waterford won't win the AI with Ken at full back, they may not anyway but to have any chance they must bring Ken back out.

Wtaerford I still think unless they unearth some fine 23 and 24 year olds are screwed until these teenagers become men.

Last year Stephen Molumphy and Aidan Kearney - I'll set the absence of the latter for the whole year against any of the temps who came on for Wexford yesterday - emerged into the senior ranks. Unless you saw them coming, in which case you would have some insight into underage hurling in Waterford, then you're not in a position to say that Waterford have nothing coming through.

There are plenty of young hurlers in Waterford and they will be a force for many years to come of that, have no doubt, likewise Cork will have no problem replacing the likes of the 'rock' and Sean og. I don't see Leinster getting a whole lot more competitive any time soon I'm afraid.

Point taken, I have limited knowledge of Waterford underage and perhaps I have been led by the pundits and their view that there is a lack of quality coming through in Waterford. Honestly I hope that Waterford do have talent coming through

I think it is a good thing myself but it is obviously up to each county to decide if their clubs are capable of competing against their colleges. I would however have some restrictions on player eligibility as some players were playing for years with different colleges.

[all]

Thanks a million lads. Another thread hijacked to give us all the untold pleasure of spectating at another Tyrone-Armagh bitching festival.

I think it's time to set up another forum exclusively for Armagh-Tyrone spleen. That might stop them taking over everyone's threads.

Read the first page and a half of this thread, I then skipped to the end hoping folks had got back on topic, not a chance. Diving, feigning injury, holding the face when no or minimal contact to the head occured, 'winning' frees by dragging down tacklers etc. are blights on our game and are practiced by all counties yet lads seem more interested in bitching about one incident a few years ago. Is it any wonder this type of cheating goes on unchecked when we aren't mature enough to acknowledge the cheating of our own counties.

Fair point, I forgot these games would be played on a Saturday, however that brings me to anothet point, why are these games so poorly attended? Waterford V Antrim (hurling) attracted 6,000 and Dublin V Cork got 12,000 so why do Ulster counties not get behind the qualifiers to the same degree? I'm not having a go here but the hurling games were foregone conclusions yet they got much bigger crowds than the more competitive football games.

Games definetely at neutral venues. OurNailLoney, I thought you were from Armagh?!

Monaghan V Armagh - guaranteed sellout.

Don't remember this fixture selling out Clones before and we've played Monaghan 4 times in the championship this decade. So would be fairly sure it wouldn't fill Clones for a qualifier.

Really, I'm sure you are right about the previous meetings but with the momentum Monaghan have built and the fact that Armagh always bring a big crowd it would surely be close to a sellout, no?

I don't buy into the whole 'fixing' thing but if the GAA did I think they'd do this;

Kerry V Tyrone - In Tyrone, a definate sellout.

Mayo V Down - would be a cracking game with a guaranteed big crowd.

Wexford V Kildare - would give both sets of fans plenty of hope of a win.

Monaghan V Armagh - guaranteed sellout.

I'd love to see these games and just for the hell of it I think Kerry, Mayo, Wexford and Armagh would win them.

Limerick 0-11 Kildare 1- 11

Laois 1 -14 Down 2 -13



Approx 5min left in both games.

[Tyrone need to operate with two forwards to act as sweepers - to counteract Glennon and Dolan]

Enough already,

Westmeath are a second-tier team as shown against Dublin - canidates foe a quick return to Div 1B next season.

Tyrone will win next week IF they do the following:-
Rock at CHB;
McGee in the stand where he cannot foul and give away easy frees;
Dooher to up his work-rate - disappointment so far this season;
Cav at MF - his best position;
Justin McMahan at FB to mark Glennon - needed for his speed;
Tyrone need to operate with two forwards to act as sweepers - to counteract Glennon and DolanMy initial thoughts so far.......

2 forwards as sweepers!!! Jesus with WM getting 12 lads behind the ball as well there might be no scores in the game, might be just as easy to toss a coin  to decide the winner.