Messages

[Croke Park is the maximum allowable playing surface size wise]

Croke Park is the maximum allowable playing surface size wise. While there might be others the same size, a lot of them for want of a better phrase, are built in a bog. Croke Park surface plays very fast so in that sense, Croke Park is as big and as fast as they come.

You could argue best time to meet Kerry with a fast turnaround 3 weeks on the hop and Tyrone with a 2 week rest. Or you could argue Kingdom only warming up for Croker. I'd be leaning to the latter.

A quick google will tell you that's not right!

I thought the talk last week was that Inniskeen was wider?

Max: 145 x 90m
Croke Park: 145 x 88m

[Croke Park is the maximum allowable playing surface size wise]

Croke Park is the maximum allowable playing surface size wise. While there might be others the same size, a lot of them for want of a better phrase, are built in a bog. Croke Park surface plays very fast so in that sense, Croke Park is as big and as fast as they come.

You could argue best time to meet Kerry with a fast turnaround 3 weeks on the hop and Tyrone with a 2 week rest. Or you could argue Kingdom only warming up for Croker. I'd be leaning to the latter.

A quick google will tell you that's not right!

I can't comment on the other pitches in owenbeg, but the stadium pitch is the same size as Croker.

Quick use of google maps:
Stadium Pitch - very close to croke park dimensions
Pitch closest to the stand - few metres narrower but similar length
Next pitch over - very close to celtic park dimension (these 2 pitches similar width, just one longer)

Tyrone's 2pt free must've been moved up close to 70yrds

Did Kerry leave some cute-hoorism behind in the Athletic Grounds on Sunday???

Armagh supporters, their team heavily tipped as all-ireland contenders, and a few of their supporters already trying to downplay what should be a facile victory over their neighbours languishing in the bottom half of Division 2.

Awful penalty call by the ref to award Monaghan a penalty. Gift of a goal to get them back in the game.

Following on Twitter, was it inside the small square or big one?

https://x.com/i/status/2034368717899923848

Looks a really harsh call

Post removed from X and the incident doesn't make the highlights posted this morning!!

Are they not allowed to show referee errors.

https://www.tonaghengineering.com/steel-buildings/

I don't mind the Derry model, .5 age groups at primary school to keep class groups together but it then jumps from u11.5 to u14.  This means a bad gaa birthday gets 2 years at u14 and a good gaa birthday gets 3 years.  However, I still think they need to keep an intermediate u12.5 age group to help some bridge the gap from u11.5 to u14.

The LFGA model in Derry stops the .5 age groups at u10.5 and then u12.  u12 isn't a competitive league but it's a step up from go-games - usually a proper ref (albeit probably from the home club) and can be 11-a-side or 13-a-side depending on the league entered.  This does mean some girls will only get 1 year at u12.

Local soccer is just year of birth so bridges 2 primary school classes and there really is no issues, boys and girls might gravitate to their peers but overall it's just one team.

[Is Tyrone u12.5 league football and no championship?]

Seen a thing on facebook/instagram outlining the underage structures across the country with the majority of counties (20) using even ages, 5 using odd ages & 7 using a mix.  Just wondering if its accurate.

Derry's structures are
U7.5 (p2&3), U9.5 (p4&5) & U11.5 (p6&7) for go-games
Then u14, u16 & u18

You have 3 years at u14 if you've a "good" birthday.

In Derry there was an u12.5 league last year, mostly clubs with bigger numbers, to give players just out of u11.5 competitive football - not sure if it will be scheduled for the 2026 year group.

I know of clubs exploring the option of going to the Inishowen u12 league but apparently the county board are starting to listen to the clubs re the u12 situation

Tyrone has u10.5, u12.5 then u14s, u16s, minor.
For those with a bad birthday coming out of u14s, they only get 1 year at u14s then straight into u16s.
Not great for development of your mid/lower tier players and contributes to a drop off in numbers imo.

I personally think the even numbers the whole way up are a better fit.

Tyrone also just played 5 rounds of an U13 League as well. Good to see it back in the calendar.

Noticed this from clubs posting on facebook... is this to sort seedings/leagues for incoming u14?  Is Tyrone u12.5 league football and no championship?

It's played as Go-Games. Clubs grouped based on numbers, no scores officially kept etc.

I would've thought it was a push to keep the go-games format for first years (and will be second year by the time the season ends)... maybe this is why Tyrone have brought back the u13 league to bridge into competitive games.

I'm a big advocate of the go-games format but looking in, with primary school tournaments and the tournaments that clubs organise (and tell everyone to keep the photos off social media), that kids are mostly ready for competitive action after P7.

Seen a thing on facebook/instagram outlining the underage structures across the country with the majority of counties (20) using even ages, 5 using odd ages & 7 using a mix.  Just wondering if its accurate.

Derry's structures are
U7.5 (p2&3), U9.5 (p4&5) & U11.5 (p6&7) for go-games
Then u14, u16 & u18

You have 3 years at u14 if you've a "good" birthday.

In Derry there was an u12.5 league last year, mostly clubs with bigger numbers, to give players just out of u11.5 competitive football - not sure if it will be scheduled for the 2026 year group.

I know of clubs exploring the option of going to the Inishowen u12 league but apparently the county board are starting to listen to the clubs re the u12 situation

Tyrone has u10.5, u12.5 then u14s, u16s, minor.
For those with a bad birthday coming out of u14s, they only get 1 year at u14s then straight into u16s.
Not great for development of your mid/lower tier players and contributes to a drop off in numbers imo.

I personally think the even numbers the whole way up are a better fit.

Tyrone also just played 5 rounds of an U13 League as well. Good to see it back in the calendar.

Noticed this from clubs posting on facebook... is this to sort seedings/leagues for incoming u14?  Is Tyrone u12.5 league football and no championship?

Seen a thing on facebook/instagram outlining the underage structures across the country with the majority of counties (20) using even ages, 5 using odd ages & 7 using a mix.  Just wondering if its accurate.

Derry's structures are
U7.5 (p2&3), U9.5 (p4&5) & U11.5 (p6&7) for go-games
Then u14, u16 & u18

You have 3 years at u14 if you've a "good" birthday.

In Derry there was an u12.5 league last year, mostly clubs with bigger numbers, to give players just out of u11.5 competitive football - not sure if it will be scheduled for the 2026 year group.

Audioslave - Cochise

Appeal lodged by Slaughtneil

A very enjoyable minor semi final between Dungiven and Screen in front of a huge  crowd tonight, 1-12 to 1-11 to Dungiven at full time

Thought the ref kept screen in the game missing the most obvious black card by screens number 3 on harkin. And also missed a wreckless tackle on the same player moments earlier during a goal chance.

Dungiven made hard work of it with discipline issues and few missed goal chances.

Screen support had some complaints about a missed 2 pointer but it was 100% inside the arc.

Was at the game myself, I was actually amazed screen thought it was a 2pointer for even the player that kicked it didn't appeal for the 2 pointer.

Thought the ref was superb in letting the game flow but possibly missed a black for the screen 3.

If we are judging it on player reaction then the Ger Dillon free that was hesitantly signalled wide by one umpire as the other umpire went to grab the flag must have definitely been a 2-pointer.

It was 100% a black card to Screen's full back.

[hard to know how much continuity you can take from U17 to U20]

Eamon Young, James Sargent, Johnny McGuckian is some half forward line for this level. Donegal are dangerous but it could be the same as last year, where whoever wins when Tyrone and Derry meet will be thinking of an All Ireland.

Galway and Mayo probably need watched having been the minor final 3 years ago but hard to know how much continuity you can take from U17 to U20

There are only 11 of Derry's 2022 minor panel on the 2025 u20 panel (35 players).