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General discussion / Re: N Ireland 1-1 Rep of Ireland, USA 94 World Cup Qualifier - 25 years on...

« on: November 16, 2018, 02:13:47 PM »

There were supporters of both teams in the Bot in 1993 and the atmosphere was fairly tense. Words were exchanged after the goals, and events could quite easily have gone down hill. It is just as well that, unlike last night, the Republic still had some decent players in those days.

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General discussion / Re: The Super(ish) Leeds United Thread

« on: November 11, 2018, 09:22:57 PM »

This season is clearly going to be a white knuckle ride for Leeds and yesterday was by some distance the worst performance to date. While West Brom are a decent side, Leeds made it very easy for them by repeatedly giving the ball away in key areas. Bielsa has stayed strongly loyal to his main players but the two NI internationals, Peacock- Farrell and Dallas, are likely to be heading for a spell on the bench.  Alioski has also been ineffective so, with back to back home games coming up after the international break against struggling opposition in Bristol City and Reading, a couple of changes could get us up and running again.

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Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football

« on: November 08, 2018, 11:44:52 AM »

Downjim, I probably should not bother, and no doubt you are correct to point out that Mayobridge lost a league game to an unheralded D4 side back in the early 1980s. However, some of us can recall that, during exactly the same period, Burren lost a championship match to Teconnaught, who were rank outsiders at the time and have spent the last few seasons in would you believe D4. Hard work can pay off regardless of a club's grading.

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Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football

« on: October 22, 2018, 11:30:55 PM »

Pearse Og was the pick of the McCrickards but certainly not the best forward on display at Newry.

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Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football

« on: October 21, 2018, 08:22:44 PM »

The intermediate final in Newry today was a belter, with Bredagh going 12 up early in the second half and looking like they would cruise it before Liatriom came roaring back and got within a point before Bredagh broke away to get a point deep in injury time to win 3-13 to 1-17.  Liatriom also hit the underside of the crossbar through Pearse Og McCrickard late on, and only a brilliant save shortly afterwards from Odhran Devlin prevented a Liam Doyle goal. Both sides missed a stack of other chances and there were rows all over the field as it reached a climax. P J Davidson had a stormer for Liatriom but the star of the show was dual player Donal Hughes who got 1-9 for Bredagh and must surely get a chance to show what he can do in a red and black football jersey. Conor Francis who is already in the  squad was also outstanding, with Eoin Costello, a former Down defender, not far behind him. There was talk afterwards that Doyler may finally be retiring 20 years after his last intermediate final. If he had been fit in 2010, there is no doubt that we would have been all Ireland champions.

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General discussion / Re: The Super(ish) Leeds United Thread

« on: October 21, 2018, 12:40:20 AM »

Rufus was clearly correct to point out in advance that Leeds are on a poor run and we cannot complain about today's result. Leeds were extremely fortunate to be level at HT and, while we improved considerably in the second half, we need to start picking up a couple of wins urgently. The back to back home games coming up against Ipswich and Forest are starting to look crucial.

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General discussion / Re: The Super(ish) Leeds United Thread

« on: October 19, 2018, 09:39:15 PM »

Leeds are apparently due to take 7,000 fans to Blackburn, the biggest away support in the division so far this season. However,  it is a 12 noon kick off and a bus and train strike has been called, so it could be bedlam on the way. Bielsa has a few big calls to make but is always decisive. Alioski could switch to left back with Berardi on the other side if Jansson is available in the middle. Hernandez and Dallas are the probable wide midfielders and there must be a chance that Roberts will be retained up front with Roofe kept on the bench.

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Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football

« on: October 14, 2018, 09:54:03 PM »

Two decent games in Newry today with Ballyholland minors the stars of the show. They are solid at the back with a serious midfield and McGovern and Grant were outstanding up front.

Burren just edged the senior final, probably through hunger across the pitch with Donal O'Hare bringing a touch of class to their attack and deservedly getting the MoM. His second goal, at the end of the best move of the day, was a particularly clinical piece of finishing and good enough to win any championship.

The Branagans are still a force of nature, and, with no USC to consider this Autumn, it would be a huge pity if the likes of Dabs and Genie went through their careers without finding out once and for all if they are county standard. They may not be the biggest, but they would bring pace, heart and total commitment to any squad. It was a pity to see Laverty, the best club player we have produced in the last 20 years, struggling, but Kilcoo
will be a threat again when they are able to field their strongest side, although the Johnstons showed very little discipine when they were most needed in the closing stages.

While the Ulster title is wide open this year, Burren would still need to improve sharply if they are to go on a run. They relied heavily on the four long range frees from Murdoch to keep them in the contest at half time, and they would be outsiders if they get Scotstown in the quarters, but they won't be worrying too much about that tonight.

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General discussion / Re: The Super(ish) Leeds United Thread

« on: October 01, 2018, 04:27:31 PM »

Apparently every Leeds game on a Tuesday night for the rest of the season is available via the red button. We also have more games on the normal Sky Sports channels than any other side in our division, and quite a few in the premiership as well, proving again the scale of the club if Bielsa  can keep us going in the right direction.

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Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football

« on: September 30, 2018, 12:27:50 AM »

Champion1981 is right to suggest that the Down champions have at best an outside chance in the USC but completely wrong about the referee. All the marginal calls went to Kilcoo and everyone in our section of the stand thought the two calls over foul passes were ludicrous. In the first one, the excellent CPN full back, Murdoch, made a fist pass which was blocked and then caught the rebound. The result was a  converted free in front of the posts. In the second, the CPN corner forward made what looked like a clear fisted pass for an easy score only for a free out to be awarded. There is no dispute over the two red cards, which were obviously correct, but Kilcoo rode their luck all night. While another Down title is possible, both Johnstons and the rest of their forwards will have to improve significantly if they are to progress any further.

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Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football

« on: September 29, 2018, 10:31:28 PM »

Leftmidfield is right as the Point could and probably should have won that game. An absolutely stunning goal from Davidson put them two up, at a stage when they were in control all over the pitch and looking like pulling off the upset of the decade in our championship. However, straight from the kick-up, Ryan Boyle, who was playing an influential role but already on a yellow, produced a crazy high tackle and was gone. Then D'Arcy saved a PD penalty at the other end and the Point defenders were still celebrating when Doherty put in the rebound. Kilcoo also benefitted from a series of generous calls from the referee, including the awarding of two crucial frees after wrongly ruling that CPN players had fouled the ball during passes. Burren will definitely have a big chance in the final on tonight's form. The watching Paddy Tally will not have seen too much to get him excited, although he would surely have noted the way in which Donal Hughes was hitting points from all angles during Bredagh's IFC win.

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General discussion / Re: The Super(ish) Leeds United Thread

« on: September 28, 2018, 11:18:24 PM »

Leeds would probably have taken a draw coming into the game this evening but should have won it pulling up on the night. Wednesday scored a wonder goal out of the blue and Leeds dominated otherwise. While it was a good statement after the Birmingham setback, and proved that the kind of collapse seen at this stage last season is highly unlikely, it was definitely two points dropped. However, we are back on track.

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General discussion / Re: The Super(ish) Leeds United Thread

« on: September 23, 2018, 09:38:04 PM »

Yesterday was the first genuinely poor performance of the season from Leeds, but a point could easily have been rescued had it not been for two pretty dreadful errors from the young keeper, Peacock-Farrell. He inexplicably managed to dive the wrong way for the first goal, and he appeared to be unsighted when the second trickled over the line. There must be a fair chance that Bielsa will bring in Blackman, who has been kept on the bench so far, for what will be a massive test in the derby away to Wednesday on Friday night. Leeds are probably surprised to be top of the league at this stage but it is a cut-throat division with only two points separating the top six.

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General discussion / Re: The Super(ish) Leeds United Thread

« on: September 19, 2018, 12:01:16 PM »

It is correct that Leeds were top after seven games last year, with five wins and two draws, but they then went on a shocking run of seven defeats in nine games, and eventually finished among the also-rans. The previous season was far more disappointing, as they looked certain for the play-offs with five games left but then completely collapsed to end up seventh. It is inevitable that the club will hit a bad run at some stage this year, but the evidence is that Bielsa has put together a squad and a system which is more resilient that anything we have seen since relegation from the Premiership in 2004. While there are a mere 38 matches to go, the prospects at this stage are more than decent.

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General discussion / Re: The Super(ish) Leeds United Thread

« on: September 18, 2018, 11:06:48 PM »

It was an outstanding performance, although there is a long way to go and we are probably better to avoid allowing expectations to get out of control at such an early stage in the season. However, the way Bielsa has adjusted to losing both our main strikers and our most creative midfielder, and brought in young replacements without any drop in standards so far, was hugely impressive.  There may still be a doubt about the overall strength of our squad but the manager has done an amazing job to date.