Messages

Tullamore Titanics have confirmed they will go again.

Right, who's back on board for another year?

Just let me know and I will sort promotion/relegation etc.

Any new players who want to get involved, just let me know and I will try my best to accommodate.

Red Hand Helmets in

Coolera Bears in.

Unreal experience being at those two Alpe d'Huez stages. Driving form Lyon to where we were staying was nuts on Thursday evening. Took us over 5 hours. Infrastructure (gondolas, greenways etc) is simply incredible. Atmosphere amazing.

Completed the climb of Alpe d'Huez on Saturday morning ourselves (myself and 3 griends). Unbelievable experience especially towards the top where the crowds are already assembling for the stage finish. Honestly was not sure I'd make it until a few kms from the finish but a great feeling to get there.

TG4 not too bad.

I'd be happy to see Norway send them home. Don't need England in it to make it interesting ffs.

100%

https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/pogacar-shatters-col-du-tourmalet-record-with-astonishing-attack/

The thing is, everyonenn else is breaking them as well.

Pogacar set a KOM on the Tourmalet of over two mins. That sounds insane. Except Vingegaard also broke the old record by 90 odd seconds. I think everyone down to Seixas was inside the old record.

Any idea who held the old record ? Was it Pinot by any chance?

Found it. Was Bardet in 2023

Is peak Pogacar that far ahead of a 31 year old Bardet in 2023. Probably. The tourmalet is rarely used as a stage finish so how it is ridden will affect the times plus Yates, Del Toro all pulling for Pogacar will make some difference to the time. If there is something else afoot then i hope it comes out. Vingegaard will keep battling. Wonder why he was masked up when interviewed pre stage. Hint of illness?

I read somewhere it was Pogacar who held the old record???

Something else.

Am heading over for the two Alpe d'Huez stages with a few mates. We were expecting the Tour to be decided on those days but Pogacar seems to have other ideas.

Anyone ever do the climb?

That was some achievement beating India 2-0 in a T20 series. We'd never beaten India in any form of cricket before this. These games would be easily the highest viewed sports fixtures in Ireland all year. A pity the Indian 15 year old prodigy didn't make his debut in Belfast.

Lads playing with the counties in Tailteann see a Croke Park semi final as a target and rightly so. It also energises supporters along with the TV coverage. If we are more worried about efficient use of grounds than the players.

I can tell you for a fact the interest it generated in a county like mine when we reached semi finals and performed well (which we sure as hell need possibly unlike some of the "blue bloods" who are looking down their noses at it).

We have grounds up and down the country that are for games. Opening them should be a balance sheet decision. We should be putting more games in Croke Park rather than the opposite.

I really have to say I detest this notion of "not wanting to be in" a second tier competition.

You only end up in the competition if you qualify for it as was said above. Meaning - you did not qualify for Sam Maguire. Therefore - your rightful place is in the Tailteann.

Yes there are inequalities with the provincial structure and it's not just the great Ulster championship. A team like Sligo could get in by beating Leitrim but could also have to beat 2 of Galway/Roscommon/Mayo. If you're in D3/D4 the championship is a wild card to get you qualified. The league is the bread and butter that usually gives you a fair reflection.

RTE are only interested in viewing figures so they can sell advertising. The GAA should not be dealing with them in my opinion bar the legally protected/mandated games like semi finals and finals each year. And the GAA should give those to TG4 who cover gaelic games so well all year round.

I think the draw is crucial for Kerry. I get the sense they'll be vulnerable in the next round but probably ok after that. The loser of Armagh/Derry is definitely the one to avoid for them.

I see "cash-strapped" Barcelona are forking out 70m for Anthony Gordon. Forgive me as I didn't watch any of Barcelona last season but surely Gordon plays in the same position as Rashford (or did I hear they played Rashford on the right?

Contesting paying 26m for Rashford but happy to pay 70m for Gordon (in my view an inferior player).

What am I missing?

It's gas what people see. For me there was absolutely nothing in the Clifford incident. Just the usual jostling. Arm goes up after the body contact and as far as I can see makes no contact and would be entirely accidental in any case.

The atmosphere seemed to be very spiteful between the teams. The Murphy incident in the league final which went unpunished seemed to have Kerry fixated on him (unusually for Kerry). Obviously Clifford gets the treatment up and down the country every week.

The benefit to your team of getting someone sent off - especially with these rules - is a problem.