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Scotstown v Trillick has been confirmed for Brewster Park at 2:30.

Newry confirmed for Kilcoo/Cross

That rules out the double header, so I suppose Trillick will face Scotstown in Brewster Park. 

Having watched the highlights of the Kilcoo game last night on TG4 you would have to say that they looked impressive, albeit against a poor Kingscourt outfit.

When are the venues for the semi-finals likely to be announced?  I notice on the Ulster GAA website that they have the Scotstown v Trillick game down as being in Trillick but that I presume is a typo.

A double header in Armagh would make the most sense from my point of view.

[I haven't been following Slaughtneil's progress but do they have many dual players?]

Yeah I'd have to agree with that. Clontibret had a decent run last year with a couple of good scalps, but in reality we got a good rub of the green in a couple of games and were on borrowed time. Our extreme reliance on McManus came back to haunt us against Slaughtneil when they blotted him out. Our best chance of an Ulster was in the mid to late 00's when we had a better team but were unlucky to come up against great Cross and Galls teams.

Scotstown are well primed for this Ulster campaign I feel. Two years ago it was this team's first experience of it and they only lost out to the eventual winners by a point like you say. I haven't been following Slaughtneil's progress but do they have many dual players? Surely that will be a big factor regarding fatigue. Scotstown don't have that problem, didn't exert themselves in the final and had a relatively easy route to the final while many of the other contenders played replay after replay just to reach the semis.

I would also be interested to know the extent of the overlap between their football and hurling squads.

The big disadvantage for Scotstown coming into this game is the lack of tough matches that they will have experienced.  They coasted through the Monaghan Championship and it will be a big step up in intensity for them on November 1st.

Absolute disgrace what is going on in Ebay at the moment.

B*****ds

Anyone who buys a ticket from Ebay should send the seat number to Croke Park after the match.

Should n't be too hard to track down where it came from!

It isn't too hard to find out who some of the people who are selling them are and where some tickets originated.  I checked e-bay on Friday and easily found one of the sellers of 2 tickets to be a Alan Campbell, who studies at the University of Limerick, from Clonmel and plays his club football with Moyle Rovers.  Another 2 tickets for sale by 2 different sellers have the name Larry McCarthy printed on them. 

Please tell me that someone in Croke Park checks these things out.  I think i'll e-mail them anyway to bring it to their attention.  Also, I remember a few years ago there was a part of the All-Ireland Final programme where you could fill in your seat number etc. if you had bought a ticket from a tout or a touting website, is this being continued?   

Challenge match tonight in Parnell - Dublin 4-14 Monaghan 1-15

Monaghan team

Mark Keogh
Kieran Duffy
Darren Hughes
Colin Walsh
Vinny Corey,
Dessie Mone,
Eoin Duffy;
Eoin Lennon,
Neil McAdam;
Dick Clerkin,
Dan McKenna,
Mark Downey;
Bernard O'Brien,
Paul Finlay,
Conor McManus.

Subs: C McGuinness for McManus (h-t), S Gollogly for O'Brien (h-t), B McKenna for Downey (45), K Galligan for Mone (50), J Turley for Clerkin, M McNally for Walshe (both 50), K Hughes for McAdam (64), C Hanratty for McKenna (65).

Championship team will start with 12 of them for certain. Corner forward position will be between McGuiness, O'Brien and possibly Dan McKenna may even line out there. Though McKenna could well hold the centre forward slot. Left half back is a toss up between one of Galligan, McNally, Eoin Duffy.

K. Hughes for McAdam - was that K.Hughes, scotstown or blayney?

Kieran Hughes - Scotstown
Ciarán Hughes - Castleblayney

Has anyone heard anything about your season ticket gaining you access to Croke Park for the League finals?  I know in previous years it did but you always got an e-mail informing you of it.  Since I received no e-mail this year I presumed the practice had been discontinued.  However I was having a look at the Croke Park Facebook page and noticed this message:

Is it true that season ticket holders from any county can get into the league final for free on Sunday?

Once you have paid for your season ticket and bring it along to the game. When you get here you need to go to gate C1 on the Cusack Side where you will get an entry ticket. Hope this information helps and enjoy the game.

Did anyone outside of those from participating counties get an e-mail?  I'd be guessing not seeing as it hasn't been posted here.  I was going to head along to the games on Sunday anyway, it's a bit of a pain though as if the post from Croke Park is accurate you'll only be able to get a ticket on your own, not much use if you're going with friends, i'll manage though you can't beat a free ticket.

Yet again we let 2 points slip. Could quite easily be sitting pretty with 6 points now after the Armagh and Dublin results. I thought the defence was very good throughout but unfortuately the forwads had an off day.  McManus just had one of those days.  No score against 14 men in the last ten mins prob sums it up.  And Japs free that dropped short is normally a gimme by his high standards.

Hope Darren Hughes isn't too badly injured though it looked bad at the time.  Will be a huge loss as he had another great performance today

I completely agree with all of that, we simply squandered too many scoreable chances.  Darren Hughes is suffering from whiplash, that shouldn't have him out for too long but will the Down game come too soon for him?

How would a Sunday game have cut down on costs over a Saturday night game for Monaghan?

Hotels i suppose.

Sure Monaghan would have to stay in a hotel anyway (and they did) if the game was on a Sunday.  They are hardly going to travel down over 200 miles on a Sunday morning to play a match at 2:30.   

[Monaghan Co Board looked for a SUnday game as it cut down on the Costs.]

The big  problem with Sunday games in Cork is that it is a very big day on the local scene. All club games are going on as well. The under 21 Champsionship in football is going also as well as hundre of league games in both Hurling and Football at all levels. Last year the majority of games were played on Sat nite under lights in Pairc ui Rinn and they crowds were much bigger as there would not be as much going on.
Monaghan Co Board looked for a SUnday game as it cut down on the Costs. Down are coming on the Saturday night. T here has been a suggestion to move these games to Clonakilty in the heart of West Cork. Do not know how you feel about that?

How would a Sunday game have cut down on costs over a Saturday night game for Monaghan?

[we had half the crowd 2 years ago down there]

Pairc Uí Chaoimh!! Better take note!! I'd have assumed it was in Uí Rinn again..

Yeah, the ruggers is gonna kill what would have been a small crowd for it anyway.. Sure if I recall right, we had half the crowd 2 years ago down there. 

Jaysus I'm not too hopeful about it.. Unless Lennon is back in and moving, midfield will be dodgy again. While I think Galligan, Hughes (7), Turley and Downey are very composed and skillful on the ball, I don't think they will be as good break winners, unlike say, Freeman and Jinxy who would have been there in the past,  I'd be fearful that Cork could steam roll us around the middle.. Actually think Tommy's introduction did more harm than good.. (Not that I wouldn't have taken him on at the time).. The bit of argy seemed to rise the Armagh defenders, and being a bit rusty himself, left us worse off upfront.. Hopefully he`ll be flying on Sunday.

Still, as you say plenty of positives .It's good to be talking about new players for a change!

Roll on Friday!!

We had at least 2/3's of the crowd there that night and by the sounds of things we might just out number them again down there.  I hate to sound too pessimistic about it but I can't see us getting anything from this one.  Sure we'll go down for a look anyway!

Looking forward to seeing the Athletics Grounds next week - the photos looked impressive since they put the cladding on that building. Although it might make the roofed terrace on the other side look even more crap.

I went over to see the Armagh v Dublin game last week, it's a tidy wee ground.  The covered terrace might not look the best but there was not a lot they could have done with the restricted space available to them. 

It is astonishing how few grounds actually have more than one covered seated or terraced stand! Croke Park (obviously), the Athletic Grounds, Parnell Park, Nowlan Park, Semple Stadium Stadium, Pairc Uí Rinn, Dr. Hyde Park (shouldn't really be included as the terraced stand only covers the back 2 rows i'd say).  Is that it?  Pretty pathetic really. 

It looks like a poor return for whatever money was invested. The stand looks like a shed - something that would have been built in the 80s.

It's an absolute disgrace that this stand ever got the go ahead.  It's a monstrosity and looks completely out of proportion with the rest of the stadium.  Why did they not build a smaller stand and bring the rest of the stadium up to a decent standard? 

For all future developments of county grounds around the country the new Athletic Grounds should be held up as an example of what should be done:  a compact ground of 20,000 capacity with a well finished all seated stand of around 6,000 capacity and a covered terrace opposite.   

[Interesting that Darren Hughes was sub-keeper and not McBennett - what's the story there? Is McBennett injured? Also, is Hughes not fit enough to play outfield? I think he'd be wasted in goals.]

Great result for Monaghan today, although Galway weren't up to much. On paper, this was probably our 'easiest' game of the league so it was important to get the two points. Also nice to have the good scoring difference.

Fair play to McEneaney and the new played - it was a severely depleated squad, but they did the business today. It's very early days, but we could have been on the end of a severe beating today and there's reason to be optimistic. Even when the regulars return, there'll now be some proper competition for places.

I thought McAdam had a decent game in midfield and had a few good clean catches. He has come on a lot on the last few years. Dick had a good game as well - a few dodgy enough decisions but he got through a serious amount of ball and shot two lovely points. Doogan and Turley looked good as well and McGuinness looked promising up front.

Having McManus back made a big difference and him and Finlay were ever reliable for the scores. McManus was left isolated towards the end as Finlay strayed outfield and that probably cost us a few more points in the final quarter of the game, but I suppose the emphasis turned to defence.

The #1 shirt looks like it could be staying with Keogh for a while. After two penalty saves in the McKenna Cup, he made a great save in the first half today and was also alert to any balls coming in, including high balls. A very positive addition. Interesting that Darren Hughes was sub-keeper and not McBennett - what's the story there? Is McBennett injured? Also, is Hughes not fit enough to play outfield? I think he'd be wasted in goals.

Another point - the pitch in Clones was in great shape, especially given the amount of rain there had been over the last 24 hours; it looks like it might finally have been sorted out.

McBennett must have been injured, he was on the field during the warm up but i don't think he took part.  Hughes only got back from travelling on thursday so he wouldn't have been fit enough for today.

[Shock resullt of the day]

Shock resullt of the day fair play to Mc the knife fair play!

19 scores!!

Considering the state Galway football is in, is it really that much of a shock?

Considering Monaghan started with only 5 of last year's regulars and 8 players who never started a NFL game before, i would say yes it was.