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Antrim / Re: Antrim Football Thread
« on: February 18, 2019, 07:44:53 PM »
In other years U-16 SW winners played off against SA winners in an all county final ITG.
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GAA Discussion / Re: Good article detailing Dublin's unfair funding advantage
« on: February 18, 2019, 06:54:05 PM »
I disagree with financial doping as is clearly the case here. I say rent Croke Park to the Dubs every time they use it, just so they remain mindful that it's not owned by them but by the association.
And by the way James Mc Carthy is currently my favourite player, and the other two not far away. Those three are up there with the best players the game has seen and are a joy to behold in full flight.
And by the way James Mc Carthy is currently my favourite player, and the other two not far away. Those three are up there with the best players the game has seen and are a joy to behold in full flight.
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General discussion / Re: The IRISH RUGBY thread
« on: February 16, 2019, 08:14:52 PM »
Cheers lads. Didn't know that.
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General discussion / Re: The IRISH RUGBY thread
« on: February 16, 2019, 10:12:01 AM »
Cooney definitely top class and If he'd been to the Leinster Academy they would raving about him. I'd say in international terms he would be level with Joey and both a notch behind Sexton who is world class, but needs to show that class in the autumn of 2019. The other two both massive squad additions as the likelihood is the position will be rotated between the 3 of them. Could Cooney go to 15 after Rob Kearney is finished? I'd say he could play anywhere.
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General discussion / Re: The IRISH RUGBY thread
« on: February 15, 2019, 10:57:45 PM »
Cooney must be in the mix somewhere too
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GAA Discussion / Re: Good article detailing Dublin's unfair funding advantage
« on: February 15, 2019, 09:59:35 AM »
Not often those cute hoors miss a trick! I spoke with an avid Dub fan yesterday and put some of the points on here to him, and he was of the opinion that Dublin came to the association with a plan to develop gaelic games in the capital (x years ago) and that plan was considered on its merit at the time, and was endorsed. He was of the opinion that if other counties had put a plan in, it too would have been given a fair hearing. Apparently that's his "inside track" on the matter.
A, it sounds too simplistic....we asked therefore we got! But if that was the case then tbf you can't hold it against the Dubs for the superb way they implemented and saw the plan through, and still are.
There might be something in it. I know of county boards who submitted funding requests that were turned down for one reason or another (maybe the plan or the people behind it lacked credibility) but in our case (Antrim) a good solid professional plan was adopted eventually.
Could it be a simple case that each funding application is considered on its own merits??
A, it sounds too simplistic....we asked therefore we got! But if that was the case then tbf you can't hold it against the Dubs for the superb way they implemented and saw the plan through, and still are.
There might be something in it. I know of county boards who submitted funding requests that were turned down for one reason or another (maybe the plan or the people behind it lacked credibility) but in our case (Antrim) a good solid professional plan was adopted eventually.
Could it be a simple case that each funding application is considered on its own merits??
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GAA Discussion / Re: Good article detailing Dublin's unfair funding advantage
« on: February 14, 2019, 09:58:16 AM »
Won't be long until Mc Kenna opens up on the racket that is mileage expenses. Could a county actually spend €580k on "mileage expenses" in one year??? The detail of which would be fascinating.
Meanwhile the silence is deafening from officialdom. Could that be because some of them are the biggest benefactors!
What's the rate? 65pence a mile yes/no???
Meanwhile the silence is deafening from officialdom. Could that be because some of them are the biggest benefactors!
What's the rate? 65pence a mile yes/no???
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GAA Discussion / Re: Good article detailing Dublin's unfair funding advantage
« on: February 14, 2019, 09:39:22 AM »
Looking at this subjectively, I think one solution may be to devide Dublin into two. North and South. I know this has been mooted previously, some even say devide into four, but there's a strong case to be made for it on economical grounds too....given this seems to be a driving influence!
It's well known that Dubliners are very sensitive to their North /South roots so this rivalry could open up even more passion for games within the capital. North could play Parnell Park and South at Abbotsown. Croke Park could return to the organisation.
On the basis there's now 34 counties (London included) a motion should be forwarded that in interests of financial parity that all annual revenue allocated for development is distributed equally between 34 participating counties. Yes both Dublins would still attract major sponsorship etc but there would be a much more level playing field for all.
It's well known that Dubliners are very sensitive to their North /South roots so this rivalry could open up even more passion for games within the capital. North could play Parnell Park and South at Abbotsown. Croke Park could return to the organisation.
On the basis there's now 34 counties (London included) a motion should be forwarded that in interests of financial parity that all annual revenue allocated for development is distributed equally between 34 participating counties. Yes both Dublins would still attract major sponsorship etc but there would be a much more level playing field for all.
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GAA Discussion / Re: Good article detailing Dublin's unfair funding advantage
« on: February 14, 2019, 08:18:46 AM »
Compelling reading alright. Looks like Mc Kenna has done his homework so will be interesting to see if anyone disputes those stats. There's certainly a major disparity at play and sooner or later the rest of the counties will rise up and say enough is enough!
I don't blame Dublin at all. It's the 31 plus other counties who go to congress each year and ignore the hippo in the room. If they stood strong on the issue of equality, the deck would soon unfold. Having said that, Ryan was in Belfast recently at the launch of "Gaelfast", a schools coaching initiative worth £1.5m to Antrim over the next 5 years, to assist with the promotion of gaelic games in Belfast, another large urban area still relatively untapped. So for that reason alone we are grateful, but Mc Kenna s compelling case for parity still deserves to be answered.
I don't blame Dublin at all. It's the 31 plus other counties who go to congress each year and ignore the hippo in the room. If they stood strong on the issue of equality, the deck would soon unfold. Having said that, Ryan was in Belfast recently at the launch of "Gaelfast", a schools coaching initiative worth £1.5m to Antrim over the next 5 years, to assist with the promotion of gaelic games in Belfast, another large urban area still relatively untapped. So for that reason alone we are grateful, but Mc Kenna s compelling case for parity still deserves to be answered.
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Antrim / Re: Antrim Football Thread
« on: February 13, 2019, 07:01:14 PM »
If Portglenone Aghagallon and St Endas are going to fulfil the potrntial people talk of, well it's time to see tangible evidence of that in 2019. St Brigids possibly in the same boat, they made many admirers in the Creggan tournament and will be desperate not to yo yo down again. The three above first mentioned should each have a target of a top four finish, anything less would be seen as a poor year for them.
Confident that PG1 will indeed make the top four. Then again I'm the eternal optimist lol!
Confident that PG1 will indeed make the top four. Then again I'm the eternal optimist lol!
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GAA Discussion / Re: John Morrison RIP
« on: February 12, 2019, 07:00:33 PM »
John was part of a triumphiate that included Philip Kerr and Terence Mc Williams who were knocking out coaching manuals to those fledgling coaches across Ulster and beyond in the early to mid nineties. One I recall was "games for better team play" and it was a mile ahead of its time.
He invited me to a Derry training session he was taking along with Mickey Moran around 2004, and again, that session was like nothing else I had seen.
A true gentleman, RIP Big Man.
He invited me to a Derry training session he was taking along with Mickey Moran around 2004, and again, that session was like nothing else I had seen.
A true gentleman, RIP Big Man.
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Antrim / Re: Antrim Football Thread
« on: February 12, 2019, 08:44:30 AM »
The really annoying thing was that even allowing for the diabolical referee, we had more than enough chances to put the game out of Sligos reach. A victory would have opened up the league table, and on the grounds that Derry should beat Leitrim, it would mean that we were back in the promotion hunt...especially with London beating Wexford!
We were as good as any of the 3 teams we have played...but both Derry and Leitrim have 6 points, and Antrim have zero!
We were as good as any of the 3 teams we have played...but both Derry and Leitrim have 6 points, and Antrim have zero!
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Antrim / Re: Antrim Football Thread
« on: February 11, 2019, 10:42:31 AM »
The few who travelled to support Antrim footballers were put through the entire gamut of emotions yesterday.
Pride at such a gutsy on the front foot effort from the first whistle. Disappointment at not being composed enough to take four or five fairly easy chances that would have given us a proper lead with the wind, especially when we were totally dominating the game.
Anger at the wee useless, completdly out of his depth Sligo referee who played to the home crowd giving Leitrim many soft frees to bring them back into it. He signalled for a superb Ryan Murray point, Neither umpire objected, keeper went to kick the ball out....next thing the wee git got into a conversation on his head set with the LINESMAN, who said it was wide. That's with 5 mins to go with the game in the melting pot. Ryan contested the decision too vigorously for his liking and got a red card. Our best player removed for the final die dog last few minutes.
Declan Lynch was superb throughout, but he contested a debatable foul with the ref who brought the ball forward TWENTY yards, right into the scoring zone. Another point he scored for them.
For the first time ever I met a referee coming off the pitch and called him out for what he was. He got every barrel I had and I can definitely say that if that kind of inept inconsistent refereeing performance was against a team with a large passionate support, he would have needed the guards to get him off the pitch.
A really frustrating day but plenty of positives about the fight and spirit in the squad.
Pride at such a gutsy on the front foot effort from the first whistle. Disappointment at not being composed enough to take four or five fairly easy chances that would have given us a proper lead with the wind, especially when we were totally dominating the game.
Anger at the wee useless, completdly out of his depth Sligo referee who played to the home crowd giving Leitrim many soft frees to bring them back into it. He signalled for a superb Ryan Murray point, Neither umpire objected, keeper went to kick the ball out....next thing the wee git got into a conversation on his head set with the LINESMAN, who said it was wide. That's with 5 mins to go with the game in the melting pot. Ryan contested the decision too vigorously for his liking and got a red card. Our best player removed for the final die dog last few minutes.
Declan Lynch was superb throughout, but he contested a debatable foul with the ref who brought the ball forward TWENTY yards, right into the scoring zone. Another point he scored for them.
For the first time ever I met a referee coming off the pitch and called him out for what he was. He got every barrel I had and I can definitely say that if that kind of inept inconsistent refereeing performance was against a team with a large passionate support, he would have needed the guards to get him off the pitch.
A really frustrating day but plenty of positives about the fight and spirit in the squad.
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Antrim / Re: ANTRIM HURLING
« on: February 09, 2019, 10:59:26 AM »
Best of luck today JJ...Up the Dall!
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General discussion / Re: The Late Late show
« on: February 09, 2019, 08:50:12 AM »
Sid that's a ridiculous comment to make. Is that really what Sunday Mass used to be like. The thousands of good decent hard working priests who don't think like that at all should be hugely offended by your attempt to label the vast majority of good priests with the relatively small number of offenders.
I'm not an apologist for the Catholic Church, far from it, I take the view they are bang out of order on a range of issues, but I couldn't let your lazy analysis pass without letting you know it's cheap and particularly nasty.
I'm not an apologist for the Catholic Church, far from it, I take the view they are bang out of order on a range of issues, but I couldn't let your lazy analysis pass without letting you know it's cheap and particularly nasty.