Messages

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c784732yy5yo

A grand plan to connect Belfast City Airport by rail to the city centre.

A handy 20 years work at least there for the civil servants.

I took the train from my house to the City Airport at the start of the year, its a 20 mins walk from the platform (where it currently sits) to the entrance, footbridge and path to the airport in place!

Would much prefer train system to Aldergrove, higher volume of people using it

Totally agree. A train to Aldergrove would make much more sense.

I'm sure it wasnt you but I do snigger at people who walk along the Sydenham Bypass to the airport instead of walking along the designated path behind the fence.

Here's the pedestrian walkway dipshits

Inside of the fence / outside of the fence. Does it really matter?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c784732yy5yo

A grand plan to connect Belfast City Airport by rail to the city centre.

A handy 20 years work at least there for the civil servants.

Noticed the new Antrim manager there on Saturday at the game. He will have liked some of what he saw though in all likelihood the players he would want are likely not to be available for him. Likes of Seann and Nigel Elliot, Decky Smith and Keelan Molloy. Ronan Boyle had a decent game for St Brigids.

Thought Reuben Carleton had a good game also, putting aside his missed two point frees.

One of the stand out things from the Championship so far is that our established county players don't stand out. There are no real elite players in the county.

Whoever plays Cargin in the semifinal is in with a sniff now, that was far too easy and has done them no favours.

Well done, gave it everything. Ogbene and Johnston made them panic, and Manning was excellent.

Portglenone, Cargin and Dunsilly are our best venues for games especially this time of the year. Car parking and surface

100%

Dunsilly is good for location, parking, pitch and viewing but facilities are not ideal especially for women and children, portaloos at pitchside aren't ideal.

Portglenone a good venue however the traffic heading back out the gortgole road is a nightmare if theres a big crowd.

The traffic gets out of Toome fairly sharp due to the proximity of a dual carriageway. The pitch itself is in the best order its ever been in too. It might be construed as bias but from a viewing perspective its the best outside of Corrigan for football.

Dunloy also excellent but unfortunately not central for traditional championship games with the big ball.

Need clubs who can muster a good squad of volunteers too to run the day smoothly.  It's another factor.

Aghagallon made short work of St Paul's then - I thought it would have been more tricky given their struggles this season and the venue.  But again highlighting how little can be taken from league form.

They looked organised and motivated.  Not sure where Plugin goes from here.

[I believe the chances of a UI in my lifetime will increase dramatically.]

Pub Bore , you really are living up to your name.
This pathetic click-bait attempt has obviously worked for me, so maybe I'm as bad!
I haven't always voted SDLP but Claire Hanna is the best politician in the six counties and is living the values that will bring about a UI quicker than any other representative. She is courageous and principled, and if she decides to stand, I believe the chances of a UI in my lifetime will increase dramatically.

LOL!!!

If you think Claire Hanna, the leader or a policial minnow of a party and who's party abstains from the executive but who does not abstain from sitting in a meaningless role in London, wields that sort of influence over the constitutional future of this nation, I've a bridge to Scotland to sell you!!

The constitutional change required to achieve a UI is in the hands of the middle ground, not the extremes of NI society and the likes of Claire has more appeal in that sphere than Michelle O'Neill.

Not a fan either way of Hanna or the SDLP, but that's the reality.

I'd say Michelle appeals to an awful lot of middle ground voters in fairness to her.

Look forward to hearing your long list of meaningful achievements from Stormont.

It would be funny if St Brigid's won it considering the amount of begrudgers they have on here.

though you lose the money from the extra group games, which no doubt has a bearing on the thinking.

I wonder though would straight knockout attract bigger crowds per game and there mightn't be much in it revenue wise.
Nevertheless, deciding the right format should be based on what is best for football in the county, not revenue streams.

Whether it's revenue streams or not, what's best for the county in terms of players getting exposure to more championship level games is straight knockout?

I doubt the league will ever produce a level of competitiveness to 'bring' players to a level

Yip, just my opinion, but group games are 'championship' in name only.  If you're looking to raise the bar, only knockout games really up the ante.

though you lose the money from the extra group games, which no doubt has a bearing on the thinking.

I wonder though would straight knockout attract bigger crowds per game and there mightn't be much in it revenue wise.
Nevertheless, deciding the right format should be based on what is best for football in the county, not revenue streams.

That will be the absolute pits for the Aussies.  They love to win and hate to lose, and that one was a sickener.
The Compromise Rules was a load of bollix when you think back on it.

[Our club sides arent far away in ulster,]

Our club sides arent far away in ulster, just unlikely to win. Our county side is in difficulties though and unless we transfer in a load of blow ins from around ulster that is unlikely to change in the near future.
Its the only formula that has workedn in Antrim as past 20 years .


We're Div 4 in football and B grade comp

Div 3 in lgfa and C grade comp

Div 1b (may as well say 2nd div) in hurling and B grade comp

Camogs are in the B Grade championship.

Arguable our club sides are performing at a much higher level than the county as a whole.

Cargin against Errigal was a huge reality check. They were literally brushed aside.
Last nights league final, albeit it was a league game, but the pace of the game was woeful.
I think our club sides are miles off it.
And yes, Tyrone Championship model for me, no interest unless it's knockout football.

Somehow Ballymena got themselves within the kick of a ball. Pretty low key, well reffed.

[My animosity for Kerry stems from their ability to be continually showered with lavish praise as the saviours of football while simultaneously going unnoticed as one of the dirtiest and nastiest teams going, I've spoken to Armagh county footballers of numerous eras and it is always the same – Kerry are hallions on the pitch.]

I wont know who I want to win this match until it throws in, I've a long held dislike for Kerry but Donegal have certainly been pushing my buttons in recent times.  My animosity for Kerry stems from their ability to be continually showered with lavish praise as the saviours of football while simultaneously going unnoticed as one of the dirtiest and nastiest teams going, I've spoken to Armagh county footballers of numerous eras and it is always the same – Kerry are  hallions on the pitch. Donegal are no softies tho and no doubt there will be players leaving the field after 'accidental' collisions.

 

As for the game itself, the match ups will be fascinating, both teams have plenty to worry about.  If I was Jack O'Connor I'd be as concerned about Michael Langan and Ciaran Moore as much as Murphy or Gallen, Langan has been the best Donegal player all year IMO and surely in for a shout for POTY if Donegal win (and they don't fall over themselves to give it to Murphy), hopefully himself and Joe O'Connor wont directly cancel each other out and both get to express themselves. You'd have to think that McGuinness will have a plan for DC that will be effectively executed, if that's the case it will be up to the Donegal footballers to prove they are good enough up front, Gallen could either shoot the lights out or be anonymous depending on his headspace, Murphy has had a good year but can be ropey looking at times too and is liable to get himself restricted by a yellow card or worse.  Donegal had a pretty handy run to the AIF post Ulster Final, plenty of time to recuperate and reenergise, Kerry have had the harder battles.  As I type this I think Donegal have more threats than Kerry tbh, but I think I'd give a tentative vote to Kerry to win, they're not going to let Donegal do what they want to do.

They didn't win 38 All Irelands being nice guys. But they've generally always been a good watch and try to kick the bloody thing. Less interested in 'systems' than most, and they've produced some fabulous footballers over the years. Donegal under McGuinness are very good, but Kerry's forwards have more in them if they click.