Tyrone v Meath round 2 qualifiers 11th July 2015

[AZOffaly]

Meath played Tyrone early in the National league the year after the 1996 bloodshed. It was pre-christmas in those days if I remember correctly, so things were still a bit raw. Tyrone did the decent thing and applauded Meath onto the pitch with a guard of honour. A old bloke behind me, full of anger at this, roared - "Don't applaud them f**kers, you should be bating em with big sticks".

We need to find this man and get him in the changing room before the game in the 11th - this is war!!

That's more like it They respect that sort of stuff

[Hardy]

Meath played Tyrone early in the National league in Omagh shortly after the 1996 bloodshed. It was pre-christmas in those days if I remember correctly, so things were still a bit raw. Tyrone did the decent thing and applauded Meath onto the pitch with a guard of honour, however an old bloke behind me, full of anger at this, roared - "Don't applaud them f**kers, you should be bating em with big sticks".

We need to find this man and get him in the changing room before the game in the 11th - this is war!!

Was he wearing a pair of bottle-bottom glasses?

[BennyHarp]

Meath played Tyrone early in the National league in Omagh shortly after the 1996 bloodshed. It was pre-christmas in those days if I remember correctly, so things were still a bit raw. Tyrone did the decent thing and applauded Meath onto the pitch with a guard of honour, however an old bloke behind me, full of anger at this, roared - "Don't applaud them f**kers, you should be bating em with big sticks".

We need to find this man and get him in the changing room before the game in the 11th - this is war!!

Was he wearing a pair of bottle-bottom glasses?

If only he'd thought of it few months earlier!

[Teo Lurley]

The anti Northern feeling will become evident from those in the south for this game. They'll hide behind various things but the truth is that many down south can't take it when a Northern team (including Donegal) beats them. It's because of a media campaign that poisoned southerners minds into having a mistrust of northerners.
You see the mindset replicated when it comes to Gaelic Games. Tyrone win a few All Irelands and it's all puke football. Dublin and Kerry win All Irelands in a similar fashion but no word about puke football. When Meath were standing on players heads they were known as a tough, manly team. When any Northern team played physically they were dirty tramps.
Most in the south will want Meath to win this game, the only reason for this is their hatred of northerners. They can't admit to this but it's the truth. Let them hide behind all the excuses they want.
I hope Tyrone batter Meath.

That's an interesting post from a 'Laois' man. Wrong account?

I just have respect for my fellow Gaels, unlike many, including plenty in Laois and Biffoland.

[easytiger95]

Excluding any "gaels" that might reside in Dublin, of course.

Can we ban the use of the word gaels?

It's like listening to a Tea Party supporter in the US talk about "patriots".

[squire_in_navy_slacks]

Excluding any "gaels" that might reside in Dublin, of course.

Can we ban the use of the word gaels?

It's like listening to a Tea Party supporter in the US talk about "patriots".

Steady now have you heard Donald Trump speak about Mexicans recently 

[ONeill]

So, Bradley for McCurry or no changes?

[AZOffaly]

The anti Northern feeling will become evident from those in the south for this game. They'll hide behind various things but the truth is that many down south can't take it when a Northern team (including Donegal) beats them. It's because of a media campaign that poisoned southerners minds into having a mistrust of northerners.
You see the mindset replicated when it comes to Gaelic Games. Tyrone win a few All Irelands and it's all puke football. Dublin and Kerry win All Irelands in a similar fashion but no word about puke football. When Meath were standing on players heads they were known as a tough, manly team. When any Northern team played physically they were dirty tramps.
Most in the south will want Meath to win this game, the only reason for this is their hatred of northerners. They can't admit to this but it's the truth. Let them hide behind all the excuses they want.
I hope Tyrone batter Meath.

That's an interesting post from a 'Laois' man. Wrong account?

I just have respect for my fellow Gaels, unlike many, including plenty in Laois and Biffoland.

I don't agree there is a lack of respect for the lads up north. In fact I think they have earned huge respect due to the obstacles they had to overcome to even tog out (although Martin McHugh seems to think the troubles were a positive!). I think that respect is fairly widespread, and I know a lot of people celebrated with Tyrone and Armagh back in the noughties.

I think there are disagreements over certain aspects of the game between Ulster counties and the rest, but that's just detail. As far as I'm concerned we're all the one, and there's no difference to me between Sligo and Tyrone.

[Pub Bore]

The anti Northern feeling will become evident from those in the south for this game. They'll hide behind various things but the truth is that many down south can't take it when a Northern team (including Donegal) beats them. It's because of a media campaign that poisoned southerners minds into having a mistrust of northerners.
You see the mindset replicated when it comes to Gaelic Games. Tyrone win a few All Irelands and it's all puke football. Dublin and Kerry win All Irelands in a similar fashion but no word about puke football. When Meath were standing on players heads they were known as a tough, manly team. When any Northern team played physically they were dirty tramps.
Most in the south will want Meath to win this game, the only reason for this is their hatred of northerners. They can't admit to this but it's the truth. Let them hide behind all the excuses they want.
I hope Tyrone batter Meath.

That's an interesting post from a 'Laois' man. Wrong account?

I just have respect for my fellow Gaels, unlike many, including plenty in Laois and Biffoland.

I don't agree there is a lack of respect for the lads up north. In fact I think they have earned huge respect due to the obstacles they had to overcome to even tog out (although Martin McHugh seems to think the troubles were a positive!). I think that respect is fairly widespread, and I know a lot of people celebrated with Tyrone and Armagh back in the noughties.

I think there are disagreements over certain aspects of the game between Ulster counties and the rest, but that's just detail. As far as I'm concerned we're all the one, and there's no difference to me between Sligo and Tyrone.

Sligo play nice, open attractive football...

[AZOffaly]

As a county I mean.

[omaghjoe]

So, Bradley for McCurry or no changes?

Eh? are we actually gonna discuss football on this thread?

[ONeill]

Sorry. Went a bit mad there in the sun.

[easytiger95]

i was just thinking this is not the Meath team I'd be sending up to Omagh. In that vein...

The Expendables 4 – The Gang's Back Together....

Meath CLG offices. Shadows lurk outside and in, the pitch black of a dark night of the soul. The only light comes from a desk lamp in the office of the Chairman, moths flit in and out of the blaze of fluorescence , illuminating a rotary phone sitting on the rich, manly, mahogany surface. Outside, wails and lamentations can be heard, the wind sighs "Westmeeeeeaaaadddd".
A hand appears, lifts the old receiver, and a dials 999.
"Hello...Sean? It's time."

A week later, an armoured bus wends its way through the lanes and byways of South Tyrone. Inside the caged windows, an animated figure can be seen bouncing to every pothole on the road.

Sean Boylan speaks. "Well lads, isn't it great, isn't football great altogether, yeah great, positivity, good lads, now will we have a drop of the auld dandelion tea, now lads, get us up for this, yeah? Good lads."

His enthusiasm is infectious. The bus is crowded with gnarled figures, scarred and ugly beyond belief. It looks like a Lord of the Rings extras reunion.

"C'mon now Liam, you have the first drop."

Liam Harnan looks up, angered that he has to stop worrying the raw leg of mutton he has between his jaws. He wipes the juices from his mouth and drinks deep. "AAAGHHH" – the roar is deep and primal, he doubles up as steam billows from his ears, a hump begins to bubble up on his back, horns protrude from his forehead – amazingly though, the effect is actually a bit more pleasant than what was there before.

"It's an improvement anyway" says Graham Geraghty, slugging out of the bottle, spilling some on his Michael Thomas autographed Arsenal jersey. "I coulda played in a World Cup, but I was too fit for the lads in Highbury, made them look bad. Trevor, get stuck in to that."

He throws Giles the bottle, but the centre forward uncharacteristically drops it. "You'd better get yourself together" Geraghty warns. Trevor nods, reaches under the seat and produces a pair of scissors. Slowly, solemnly he cuts his M+S geansai sleeves above the shoulders. A low hum of approval comes from the others.

Sean is bouncing now. "Colm, leave that and have a drink." Colm Coyle lays down the M60 machine gun he has been oiling and takes a gulp. "Tommy, your turn now." Tommy Dowd opens his mouth and a high pitched scream, like a tortured kettle emits. Everyone except Sean holds their ears. "Yes, Tommy we'll be there soon. Mick, have a sup there."

Mick Lyons says "............."

"Ah g'wan Mick, an auld drink before the game, it's all natural."

Mick Lyons says "............."

"Right, ok Mick. Anyway lads, this is going to be some challenge, today, yeah, some challenge, football, it's great isn't it? So let's let it in long to Colm, Brian and Bernard, Gerry break whatever ball you can in midfield, take the frees quick off the ground, let's rip out their eyes and piss on their brains, and whatever else we do, enjoy yourselves. Right?" He rubs his hands together genially.

Colm O'Rourke breaks off from wrapping a lagging jacket around his knee. "Ah Sean, what was the last part?"

"Just enjoy yourselves, lads."

"No, the bit before that..."

On the back seat of the bus, still and grave, immense and foreboding, like a statue on Easter Island, sits Mick Lyons.

Mick Lyons says "............."



In Omagh, Mickey Harte and Sean Cavanagh are taking a turn around the side of the pitch, discussing tactics.
"Well Sean, no need for any last ditch rugby tackles today?"

"Not at all Mickey, we'll burn them off in the final 20, sure they had nothing left against Westmeath.....Sheeeit!"

The armoured bus has just pulled into the car park. Sean Boylan bounces off, followed by the clanking, armoured hordes of Mordor. "Howya lads!" he waves genially.

Mickey Harte chews his gum grimly. "We're gonna need a bigger blanket."




"You're very welcome back to RTE-E's coverage of the All Ireland Qualifiers two thousand fifteen-een, with me-ee, Brian Carthy. Controversy here in Omagh today as a considerably changed Meath team, have tested the very limits of manliness and hardy football here today against a shellshocked Tyrone side.

Right from the start Meath tested the referees patience, as Liam Harnan, having just downed a pint of Ivomec F proceeded to feast on the innards of Peter Harte, and which surely deserved a black card at least. Graham Geraghty has been a constant thorn in the side of the Tyrone defence, at one stage wrapping a Fine Gael poster around Sean Cavanagh before punching him in the face and then scoring a remarkable point off his left. Trevor Giles' radar is on today, as he has been taking the kickouts, scoring three of them, whilst Colm O'Rourke, despite sustaining a concussion after being sandwiched by Joe McMahon and an ice cream van, was told by the selectors that he is Bernard Brogan and has scored two stylish points from play.

The only reason Tyrone are still in this is because Meath are a man down, though interestingly, it was not as a result of the referee. Colm Coyle failed to return to the pitch after half time. I'm told he is out in the car park, tampering with the brakes of the Tyrone bus. It's building up to a pulsating championship finale here in He-ealy Park, with me Brian Carthy..."




Up in the stands, some can take it no more. Brian Dooher leaps up and cries "I still have my boots Mickey!" and dashes down the steps, before tripping over a strategically placed Meath fan's boot. He is last seen being attended to by the St. John's ambulance, a bandage several times bigger than his head being applied.

Squeaky bum time. Mick Lyons grabs the ball and heads out from defence – the teams are all square and Sean Cavanagh is desperate to keep Meath in their half. It is time for cynicism. He launches himself at Mick Lyons....
And slides down his body, like a bug splattered on a windshield.

Mick Lyons says "............." and handpasses to PJ Gillic, who launches a bomb into the atmosphere – it hits a seagull before hurtling back into the square, bouncing back up...and over the bar.

On the way to the dressing room, Mick Lyons wipes the battered remnants of Sean Cavanagh from his legs. Sean Boylan is talking to Marty Morrisey – "Great game Marty, manly, sporting, football, it's great isn't it...."




One last stop on a long, winding road back to the Royal county. At a well-appointed, detached house in the country, Sean Boylan rings a doorbell.

Peter Canavan opens the door. "Ah howya, Sean, ye did well today lads, fair dues to ye. I wasn't able to make it myself."

"Ah yeah, great Peter, it was a great performance. Anyway, just wanted to let someone say hello to you. Martin, come up here Martin...."

Martin O'Connell looms into the the doorway. "Sorry about this Pete."

In Tyrone no one can hear you scream.

On the back of the bus, Mick Lyons sits.

And Mick Lyons says "............."

[omaghjoe]

Wow easytiger you could take up Terry Prachett's mantle of fantasy jibberish.

As a constructive criticism I would say you have plenty of substance but lack coherence

[Teo Lurley]

Excluding any "gaels" that might reside in Dublin, of course.

Can we ban the use of the word gaels?

It's like listening to a Tea Party supporter in the US talk about "patriots".

What you talkin about? Where have I disrespected any Dublin Gaels?