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Quinn and Devlin have loads of potential and they're good young  players, I'm not writing them off in future, but our FB line of Quinn, Teague and Devlin hasn't a patch on our last AI winning FB lines of Hampsey, McNamee and McKernan. When you look back at it they were a fantastic trio of defenders.

That wasn't the full back line yesterday, Teague was half back. Also, I don't think Quinn is young to be calling one for the future. Had a good game yesterday.

Surely to be in with a chance we need to be starting with closer to our strongest team - so Mattie Donnelly and Peter Harte starting. Half forward line was a major issue against Armagh and them two would immediately improve it. Then you can have potential impact players like McElholm, O'Donnell, Ruairi, Oguz coming on as the tiredness creeps in. I think Hampsey has to come into the full back line probably at the expense of Devlin, and a fit Mark Bradley also has to start.
Morgan, Hamspey, Teague, Quinn, McKernan, Brennan, McGeary, Kennedy, Kilpatrick, Daly/Donaghy, Mattie, Peter Harte, McCurry, Bradley, D Canavan.

I'd probably start Devlin ahead of Bradley and rejig the team (Teague could possibly go out to half back line or Devlin). Going to need a lot of running power around the middle sector. The last day we struggled badly to win ball when played both Canavans and McCurry. Could see Clark coming back in for Quinn in the full back line.

Also by playing Devlin it would mean Mattie and Harte could share being one of the 3 up to save energy.

If you could get a competitive Leinster again then all the more reason to keep the provincials.

But the current season does not work. If keeping the provincials and playing them post league they have to have more importance. Personally liked the system around covid time when provincial winners went straight to quarter finals. Runners up joined teams from division 1/2 in 2 rounds of back door games to make the quarter finals.

That would increase the value of the provincials and the leagues. Currently every competition is being devalued with a drawn out load of meaningless games.

In the likes of Armagh the county men hardly play any league games at all. If anything this totally devalues it. In Tyrone the leagues are taken much more seriously than other counties and are much better for it.

If the county board where more concerned about the county team they'd play away without the county men who currently have a tough all year schedule.

Next year the starred games are increased which should allow for slightly earlier start. I personally think things are well run in Tyrone.

Personally think it's a great time. Late enough for anyone doing a half days work or children activities in morning etc. And home at reasonable
time if want a few drinks after. And no work to worry about next day.

Gaa fans seem to complain about everything. Every other sport has fixtures at that time and attract good crowds.

Some people looking for 2 pointers to be from play only and not from frees.
Wouldn't that lead to an awful lot of fouls between the Arc and 45 or beyond?
As an aside - Should frees for fouls on the ball e g touching on ground, 2 hops etc be only 1 pointers while fouls on the man remain 2??

I thought this initially but I now think if keeping 2 points it should only be from play (much more skill involved). Free's round the arc will be converted by most decent free takers in good conditions and teams won't want to deliberately give up a free/point by fouling. And there is also the option for a quick tap and go which reduces the incentive to foul as well. Too many soft free's resulting in two points will happen if the rule stays as is and it's too great a reward.

I know the final this year wasn't a classic, but it is being seriously blown out of proportion.

Looking back throughout the last 10 years you could argue it wasn't as bad as the below finals.

2021 - Tyrone/Mayo. Mayo put up a fight for 35 mins. Second half Mayo fold and Tyrone win. Damp squib to finish

2020- Dublin/Mayo. Dublin score quickest ever goal in an AI Final and that is all she rote. COVID season. Underwhelming

2018- Tyrone/Dublin. Foregone conclusion before a ball was kicked. Bright start for Tyrone casts a little doubt, although Niall Morgan brain fart puts a halt to proceedings after around 15 mins. Waste of time

2015 - Dublin/Kerry. Labeled as a blockbuster. Revenge surly on Kerry's mind after Dublin nipping them a few years prior. Very poor spectacle played in poor conditions. Highlighted by the fact Dublin Corner Back Philly McMahon outscored arguably Kerry's main scoring threat by 1 point to 0. Doesn't live long in the memory

2014- Kerry/Donegal. Probably the worst of the lot. Everything about this game was dead. Decided by a goalkeeping error. A real snooze fest.

Would agree with a number of the finals including Tyrone Dublin but very harsh including Tyrone Mayo on that list. Fairly high scoring with some great scores and few goals thrown in. Was a contest for most of the game. Tyrone's second goal came after an hour to put them 5 up and was only then you felt Tyrone had it. Even then it was back to 3 points with 5 mins to go,

I think it's much too simplistic to look at one game like that in isolation. Two years ago was McStay's first year in charge and there was optimism around the new set up. Mayo were unbeaten in the league and coming off the back of hammering Kerry at home. This time around things have gone downhill under McStay and they were coming off a hammering to Galway. The weather was also worse.

Overall the crowds have been decent for the league despite a complete lack of promotion. In the past the gaa would have been delighted with 13/14,000 for Donegal Armagh and a sold out Tralee for Kerry Dublin.

I think there's a bit of over estimating going on as to how many will miss out if it's in Corrigan park. There was 7000 at Armagh Fermanagh last year.

I know it's the first round of games, but I don't think there's any huge benefit to the new rules.
Still the same pattern of play, massed defence possession football with no risk taking.
The forced long kickout is just asking for break ball tactics, of the like we had in the 00s that resulted in teams adopting the hamdpass up the field tactic rather than risk losing possession.

I didn't see anyone really take advantage of the 3 players in a half at all times.

So far it feels like change for the sake of it.

I don't know how you can say the rules aren't any benefit after one round of games in poor conditions in January. I can't see how they aren't going to improve things (bigger issue is how well they can be implemented at club level). Leaving 3 up will undoubtedly lead to more space in attacks leading to less recycling of the ball and will also lead to faster counter attacks as teams get used to them. I do like that the kickouts have to go further though there is an issue with so many players around the contest as everyone is staying outside of the arc.

Ten of that team started the Roscommon championship match last year and another two came off the bench that day. The Canavan's and Hampsey started against Roscommon and are all unavailable due to injury. Not sure if Michael O'Neill is as well. Gray in midfield started the first round in Ulster, possibly got injured after that.

Expected a few more changes if anything. Though there is a strong bench and good to see the likes of Brennan and Bradley in the 26. Thought McElholm would have started but he could be carrying a knock too. 

Errigal actually dropped a free short to get it back to 2 points with a few minutes left. You wonder if Darragh Canavan had been fit to come back on in those last ten mins could that have given them enough energy to get over the line.

Not with concussion.

It wouldn't be worth the risk. Only a game of football at the end of the day.

I wasn't saying that he should have come back on.

Errigal actually dropped a free short to get it back to 2 points with a few minutes left. You wonder if Darragh Canavan had been fit to come back on in those last ten mins could that have given them enough energy to get over the line.

Had a look there and tested getting an adult and child.
It seems a right disaster job.

It's really not. If you use the map choose a section in Cusack. Choose a seat and adult and then choose seat beside it and juvenile. Children's tickets have never been available for Hogan (unless it's only stand open). Good value though that they're available for 60% of the seats in the ground for most matches.

This post is a bit confusing - it makes it sound like there is no children tickets available. There is nothing to stop you going on and buying 2 adults and 4 children (€5 each) in the Cusack stand. I assume the issue is that you want to sit in the Hogan Stand? It's designated seating so if you already have tickets for it then you won't be able to get more beside you anyway.