Tír Eoghain vs Cill Dara NFL 2008

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

In fairness, the AI Champs should always have top billing for the NFL opener.

Looking forward big time to this run out tomorrow night for our lads, specifically the new lads, though there are one or two of the not so new who've something to prove anew. Doubtless the Geezer will have the Lilywhites fired up like they've rarely been fired up before for a 'mere' League game, he has an eternal score to settle on that particular front, thankfully 

Bring it on, Tír Eoghain abú!

[Tyrone Dreamer]

The likes of Mulgrew, Justy McMahon, PJ Quinn, Colm Cavanagh and Tommy McGuigan have now had a year or 2 to settle into the squad at senior level. Hopefully during this league some of these guys can step up to the next level and become key players and we no longer rely so much on the 03/05 players. Even the likes of Stevie O'Neill, Phily Jordan and Brian McGuigan took a year or 2 to become established on the team.

[orangeman]

Any odds or predictions for Saturday night ? Is there any pre match entertainment ?

[ONeill]

MATCH                              
TYRONE    2/7
KILDARE    7/2         
DRAW    8/1         
     
                   
HANDICAP BETTING                  
TYRONE -4    6/5         
KILDARE +4    10/11         
TIE    15/2         
                   
                                               
DOUBLE RESULT
TYR TYR    4/7
TYR DRAW    22/1
TYR KIL    7/1
DRAW TYR    11/1
DRAW DRAW    33/1
DRAW KIL    28/1
KIL TYR    7/2
KIL DRAW    25/1
KIL KIL    13/2
 
WINNING MARGINS    TYRONE    KILDARE
1-3 PTS                   11/4    11/2
4-6 PTS                   5/2    9/1
7-9 PTS                   7/2    25/1
10-12 PTS                  15/2    66/1
13-15 PTS                  12/1    100/1
16PTS +                   14/1    150/1

[orangeman]

2/7 - are they really that big of favourites ?

[Zapatista]

 

Hub hitting the ground running is unlikely. Takes him a while to get up to speed and we have now been waiting over 4 years for him to get there.

  I know, it was wishful thinking on my part but if he doesn't i think he needs to be put out to pasture
  and maybe take Donnelly and Holmes with him, just how many chances should some of these lads get
  Hughes will most likely never perform to the required level again imo and the other two are fantastic club footballers
  but that's about it.
  Harsh maybe but a team carrying  passengers don't win Championships IMO.

"Mickey Harte's daughter Michaela predicted Tyrone's 2003 All-Ireland success as far back as 1997." Passenger.

[rrhf]

Time for Mulligan to take the coveted 14 jersey alright.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

When you consider that its a fairly decent 15 out tonight, the squad is pretty strong when you look at the team that could be picked from the rest of the players in squad:
P McConnell
R McMenamin
C McCarron
M McGee
D McCaul
C Gourley
Justy McMahon
Joe McMahon
C Holmes
B Dooher
B McGuigan
M Penrose
N Gormley
S Cavanagh
O Mulligan

Are biggest problems still remain - injuries and the loss of a top forward at 14 without O'Neill.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

I see the u21 tyrone game in trillick today is off due to snow on the pitch, any snow about Omagh? It gives rain today so you'd imagine the game tonight will stil be on.

[feetofflames]

"Mc Geeney provides the X Factor on Saturday nights in Kildare"
On a snowy Saturday afternoon in early February a lily white team coach with Mc Geeney standing defiantly at the front will cross the border into Newry and South Armagh and make its way up to the Armagh City hotel for a light lunch.  The lads are playing cards in the back, but he cant hear their chat.  His minds in a different place, he can see the orange flags flanking the road, supporters straining their necks to see Armaghs newest and flashiest resident... so fcukin long ago yet so vivid a memory.  Dermot Early pipes up, "can we stop at the Carrickdale for a piss."  Mc Geeney tells him to step back and hold it, theres no way hes pulling in here, some things are better left as they are.  Probably half full of Armagh men at this time, talking about Cavan and division 2 football. 
Earley curses the new man but trudges back to his seat and lifts his cards again.  Mc Geeney stands firm and surveys the scene as they pass the familiar landmark hotel, he recognises a few faces, some who stop and stare before they realise, and turn away before they offend.  His jaw tightens defiantly as he recalls the Armagh men running inside the dressing room in 2003 as he studies Canavan, fuelling the passion for another couple of years.
The coach continues onto The Armagh city hotel and again Mc Geeney feels a stranger.  He gave this hotel its biggest crowd but now he feels like hes the only Armagh man here.  You'd have to be beside him to see that iced tear in his eye and for a moment he feels helpless as he recalls Canavan putting that last free over in 2005. 
A tap on the back from Grimley takes him back to his senses as Earley jumps off the still moving bus desperate for some light relief....
Later that evening...
.....So why did he take the job.  He stands in front of the camera and talks clichés about a new era for Kildare football.  Deep down he knows that if there's an opening in the market for a new superpower in the GAA, its probably in Leinster where an unloved and impotent Dubs set up has achieved all they can, and a next best Meath are final fodder at best.  "Collecting the point was important but the performance pleased me the most" Bullshit – Mc Geeney needs crowds and big wins, it drives him on, it makes him great.
It's a long way back to Newbridge, McGeeney tells the bus driver to head South, he only knows the direct route.  There's loads of potential shortcuts through Armagh but Mc Geeney never took shortcuts.  Theres potential for a Leinster title in Kildare in 2008 and Mc Geeney will deliver it but its going to be a long hard road to success.  Mc Geeney knows little else.

[never kickt a ball]

I see the u21 tyrone game in trillick today is off due to snow on the pitch, any snow about Omagh? It gives rain today so you'd imagine the game tonight will stil be on.

Can't see any reason why the game will not be on tonight.

[feetofflames]

Will Kildare have to change their strip?  Will we see the umpires?  Wactch out for that Lily white bus?  Its fcukin cold already.  Imagine that icy sperrin breeze whistling around the ears.  Thered better be no drawn out entertainment at the match.

[Star Spangler]

It's live on Q101.

Can you get Q101 on the net?

[never kickt a ball]

It's live on Q101.

Can you get Q101 on the net?

http://www.mediauk.com/content/player.muk?id=431
Try this Star

[Tyrones own]

   Great stuff NKAB,