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[Sligo IT +3 @evens]

Just saw some of ye predicted a win for Davitts in the inter-final...surprised none of my county men corrected ye there. Miltown are a seriously strong team. Were senior themselves for a few years over the last 10. Would have had about 7 of the Mid Kerry team that lost the county final to Crokes last year.
Anyway, in the spirit of forward thinking instead of backwards...I think Sligo IT +3 @evens isn;t a bad bet today in the Sigerson..they were impressive in the last round (albeit against a weakish Tralee IT team) and scored 1-18..have a few I/C players in key positions and could run UCC very close.

Anybody take this on apart from me? Came through, just about.

Really looking forward to the Crokes v Cross game. It could and probably will be of a better standard than many inter county games. Real contrast in styles between the 2 teams aswell, although both can mix it up a bit too. I was impressed with Cross in the Ballinderry game in particular..didn't panic even when the comeback was mounted and still kicked on to win the game. I think they will try to slow Crokes down on the ball and get the ball to Jamie Clarke first and foremost themselves. I don't know who Cross will put on Gooch (along with covering in front of him I'm guessing) but neither of the Crokes corner backs are top class, so Clarke could cause some difficulty for them if a lot of ball is going in.
Bookies have Cross 4/7 basis and I may have to back Crokes for sheer potential value as it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if they kncoked in a few goals which proved match-winners. Overall though, all things considered, I think Cross will possibly come through by 1-3 points.

I don't think Cross will alter their tactics because of gooch. They will go man to man in defense whilst trying to limit the ball going into him. James morgan is an exceptional talent and will hopefully start on gooch. Does the gooch spend much time in the half forwards for his club?

They can vary it and bring him out yeah...O'Leary and Doolin are natural corner-forwards aswell, so they don't mind that...and whatever about County level, but O'Leary is a potential match winner at this level. Gooch has a great understanding with him. Its all very well saying you'll stick with man to man and limit the ball coming in, but if Gooch is left 1 on 1, it means trouble so i would expect there to be a Cross man outside him at least 75% of the time he makes his first turn, if you know what i mean.

Just saw some of ye predicted a win for Davitts in the inter-final...surprised none of my county men corrected ye there. Miltown are a seriously strong team. Were senior themselves for a few years over the last 10. Would have had about 7 of the Mid Kerry team that lost the county final to Crokes last year.
Anyway, in the spirit of forward thinking instead of backwards...I think Sligo IT +3 @evens isn;t a bad bet today in the Sigerson..they were impressive in the last round (albeit against a weakish Tralee IT team) and scored 1-18..have a few I/C players in key positions and could run UCC very close.

Really looking forward to the Crokes v Cross game. It could and probably will be of a better standard than many inter county games. Real contrast in styles between the 2 teams aswell, although both can mix it up a bit too. I was impressed with Cross in the Ballinderry game in particular..didn't panic even when the comeback was mounted and still kicked on to win the game. I think they will try to slow Crokes down on the ball and get the ball to Jamie Clarke first and foremost themselves. I don't know who Cross will put on Gooch (along with covering in front of him I'm guessing) but neither of the Crokes corner backs are top class, so Clarke could cause some difficulty for them if a lot of ball is going in.
Bookies have Cross 4/7 basis and I may have to back Crokes for sheer potential value as it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if they kncoked in a few goals which proved match-winners. Overall though, all things considered, I think Cross will possibly come through by 1-3 points.

If they could get those lads integrated back into the squad early it could only be a good thing for the county team.

I suspect Cross will not want to make things worse for Kerry by depriving them of their key player any longer. 

Very good. That game will be fascinating. Big contrast in styles, but qulaity footballers on both sides.

On Armagh, I'm sure most fans are sensible enough, but one good performance in February doesn't mean a whole lot so I would urge caution. On the positive side though, players looked well in tune with each other and the Cross players will obviously boost the team when they return. By the way, what height is that Kingham fella...looks huge togged out anyway.

Comhghairdeachas muintir An Fhairce!

Players are casting about for someone to blame when things aren't going their way instead of finding it within themselves to up their level. That shit costs you in tight games and on big occasions.

I think a lot of players could learn from Mal Mackin. He's always put in an honest effort, but for many years it didn't quite work out for him. He stuck at it and has upped his game and is now an important part of the Armagh team. He certainly did the needful on Saturday last, long may he continue..

A player I once said I didn't rate... he has improved no end to be fair. His kicking especially. He was one of the main reasons Armagh won Sat night.

I couldn't say it was 'much better',Colm O' Rourke was definitely better than Ciaran Whelan, but then he would have to be! What I found amazing was that they made no mention of Jim Mc Guinness' interview on TG4 while Kevin Cassidy stood within earshot, surely this was just about the biggest talking point in the GAA weekend, but we had to depend on a sports report on the news to find outabout it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was a seriously awkward moment..McGuiness practically walked away for a finish. Didn't see Seó Spóirt dé h-Aoine, but apparently Cassidy said he's retired and thats it finished? Strange to say that after McGuiness seemingly left the door open for reconciliation, no?

On my way back from the 2000 All Ireland semi final after Armagh had lost to Kerry I stopped in a pub on the way home and met a prominent gaa referee. I complained how I thought Kerry had deliberately taken Cathal O'Rourke out of the game at the start. He told me that it was always harder for Northern teams to get decisions when they played in the south. On saturday a Kerry player knees an Armagh player and yet on television the majority of the discussion is on the Armagh player making a meal of it. It is also said that Armagh were the more cinical team. No mention that they had travelled six hours to play on a heavy pitch and that the majority of these cinical fouls occurred in the last ten minutes as they tired. No mention that some of the cards handed out were very soft - Forker in the first half for example. No mention that some Kerry players for their own greater good need to concentrate on football rather than mouthing to the referee.
I also thought that the discussion on the junior final was unneccessary and in many ways disrespected the winners.

First off, anyone with 2 eyes and a brain who saw the Kerry v Armagh game will admit O'Sé deserved to see red...never mind what some idiot TV punters say.
Anyone honest person analysing the game would also say that Armagh WERE pretty cynical but at no stage was there any reckless/dangerous tackles that I saw...it was mainly tactical fouling, and while it may not be pretty, it is effective especially when defending a lead...its not biased to point this out. There is certainly no evidence of a persecution complex to draw from Saturday nights game anyway.

Why did Kerry Boo Armagh onto the field, and boo at the end of the match?

Are armagh teams not allowed to go to Tralee and win. Bad sportsmanship

Eh? I was there and I don't remember Armagh being boo'd onto the field....the booing at half-time/full-time was for the ref probably..but those trying to blame the ref for that defeat are deluding themselves.

Donaghy needs to be dropped until he shuts his trap..its doing nothing but damage to him AND the team..he was even captain Sat night for feck sake and it was worse he got. He's playing gash aswell.

Well done to Orchard heads on last nights result....well deserved, better team from the word go. A lot of negatives to be discussed on our side...Donaghy - proving he's not captaincy material once again. Moaning non-stop. Playing shite aswell. Tomás - losing the rag...again, gone for 2 months now probably. Idiotic. Seán Sullivan - end of the road. Etc. Positives, eh..Declan looked ok when he came on..Brian McGuire looked very good again..thats about it.

Lastly, have to comment on the referee unfortunately. Made at least 10 ridiculous calls in my view, for both teams. He has been shocking any time I've seen him and is not up to the standard required in my view.

I really hope Derrytresk get hammered out the gate this weekend.

Derrytresk have embarrassed the organisation and brought great shame t it

Much as I dislike Tyrone, I have to stick up for them here, Dromid whinging like bitches drew the full attention of the media on this, a fight which they started. Derrytresks subs embarrassed their club and were dealt with appropriately but the club were scapegoated. As a member of a small club used to holding up the league, i hope they win and with style.

Whinging like bitches? Both sides have been guilty of that if one has. Did i not see a Derrytresk man in the paper yesterday spouting the béal bocht about how "our lads are only small and had to stand up to the big bullys from Dromid". Equally as stupid and false was the Dromid manager claiming he'd never set foot in a GAA field again unless Derrytresk were kicked out.

Neither side has emerged from this with credit..I just wish they'd all shut up and try to behave themselves a bit better in the future.

[F Mo dropped]

Hopefully the unmerciful hiding that we thought Cork might deliver wont be delivered this weekend.  As regarding the Armagh team, the team that finished v Cork should be near enough our starting team, I'd really like to see Dyas drop back to 7 and F Mo dropped, I think he is a bit of a liability.  I'd be very suprised if Kingham gets the nod again, but with our options fairly limited and the performance of Mal Mackin v Cork I'd imagine he might get a chance at 14, if he doesn't take it I reckon he'll not feature again.  Because of the need for physicality we might see something like:

Geoghan
Mallon, donaghy, McKenna
Duffy, McKeever, Dyas
Vernon, Lavery
A Duffy, Mackin, MOR/Forker
Campbell, Kingham, C Rafferty.

Ah jaysus, coming down to Tralee and you want to drop you're only player with Kerry heritage?

Seriously though, we will field pretty much the same team, maybe Seán Sullivan will get the high road, not sure. Looking forward to it now...usually good hard games between us.

Connolly was able to win high balls coming into him in the 2nd half so I don't know why they don't just play him as an orthodox FF.
If O'Gara starts the next game its a sure sign Gilroy isn't too bothered about the league.

He won 1 high ball...that I can recall. Overall he was poor I thought...I still think he is flakey mentally, although very talented. What was the story with those left-footed frees? Who does he think he is..Maurice Fitz? 

I couldn't care less about that to be honest.
The problem we have now is commentators that try to be 'characters' with pointless anecdotes and folksy mucksavagery.
Give me someone like Darragh Maloney, who just says what's happening on the pitch, over that tired stereotype any day of the week.

This.
Moloney, despite not being a GAA man at all, is the best RTE commentator right now. No bullsh*t or ramblings a la Morrissey/Canning.