Messages

You'd wonder could they not start at 8 and show an hours highlights first, instead of eating into the live time with highlights which is what usually happens.

I think each broadcaster is only allowed show 3 hours coverage on the Thursday and Friday. Whether they choose to show live or highlights is up to themsevles, but they can't go over the 3 hours.

Meanwhile, morning mist has delayed the start by half an hour...

I think they only allow the back nine to be covered? Is that right? used to be the case anyway. There's live video on http://www.masters.org from 10.45 EST, which is 3.45 I think.

They allowed some coverage of the front 9, for the first time, in either 06 or 07. Not sure if it was a one-off or permanent.

Coverage of Amen Corner is also on BBCi (i.e. press the red button) from 3.45pm, which is a nice bonus for those of us who have that facility.
Full coverage does start one hour earlier (i.e. 8pm) on that website.

Can anyone tell me who has live coverage of it. I know BBC have interactive of AMEN corner but Setanta look like they only have it from 9.00 this evening same as BBC, surely not?

that's nothing to do with Setanta or the BBC, its all to do with the old fogies in Augusta. For gawd knows what reason, they only allow live TV coverage (in the US as well as everywhere else) from 1600 to 1900 (Eastern Standard Time) on Thursday and Friday. So Irish time, thats 9pm until midnight. Live coverage starts at  8.30pm Irish time on Saturday and 7.30pm on Sunday.

Now that I look at these statements, they look quite libellous.

They certainly appear libellous. Which is odd given Mr. Kenoy's occupational background.

Its not libelous if its true.

I can't back Goosen this year, furyk neither (he has a horrible masters record and he's in terrible form to boot).  I'd also stay away from Ogilvy and Couples - in fact I might back those 4 to miss the cut (if I can do that), it happens every year, some lads are really talked up by everyone and then they flop - this year it's Goosen, Ogilvy and Couples, none of them had been playing well this year until their last 2/3 tournaments either.
Tiger will obviously be hard to stop, but he's not backable, Mickelson at 11/1 might be worth a punt, Sabbatini is a good priced outsider at 100 odd.  Harrington has the game for this and has been eyeing it up all season - it's the one that every golfer really wants to win, because even though it's not the biggest or strongest field, it undoubtedly the most prestigous event (no matter what the brits might tell you about 'The Open').

How the hell can you say Ogilvy has not been playing well this year?

He won the biggest tournament of the year so far (WGC in Doral) a few weeks back and led from start to finish. Then last week he was around 5th and a stat came up half way through his fourth round that he'd had 53 putts from 7 feet or closer over the 4 days. And he'd nailed all 53. That's Masters winning form, and at 20s+ he's good value.

Though I do agree that every year someone is talked up and flops. But IMO Ogilvy, Goose and Harrington all represent decent value bets.

A longshot that hasnt been mentioned is Bernhard Langer - he was 200/1 when I checked Paddy Power yesterday. He's won twice on the Seniors Tour this year (won by 8 or 10 shots two weeks ago), and his shot making is as good as its ever been. Of course the seniors play over 3 days and on shorter courses, but a few quid each way might give you a run for your money.

Congress is being streamed live on Saturday on rte.ie, from 1000 to 1630 (according to the Irish Times today).

I'd imagine it'd be pretty boring in the main, though interesting to some no doubt. But perhaps any debate on the grants might turn a bit fiery.

I wonder if there is a timetable of events?

Souness made a decent enough point about Wenger acting a little bit strangely recently but Dunphy's clips and comments were just comical. In fairness he didnt make Wenger do the funny Cleese walk, but I'm not sure what Dunphy's point was, if he had one. I think overall it was a big over-reaction by Brady, albeit understandable given he would have been feeling pretty sick at the result.

the GAA at county board, provinicial and national level do not give one fiddlers about the so called ordinary grassroots GAA member. Although the GAA is made up primarily of ordinary, hardworking volunteers, this ethos is no longer recognised, valued or respected at county board, provincial or national level. Ordinary club members are there to do the shite work, breed and nurture new talent to be sacrficed by clubs as soon as they are of any use to the county teams so their talent can be utilised by the higher echelons of the GAA.

It's sadly as simple as this.

Woe is you.

I would have thought that a significant number of "grassroots" give up their time to their club because they enjoy it.  How that changes through players getting a few quid extra is beyond me - though I firmly believe the green-eyed monster is somewhere involved, and of course the general begrudgery that goes against those arrogant hoors who play intercounty.

"The Schemes may be a very good idea, and they may be a very bad one," the decision read.

Get off the fence. If it could be very bad, then why go for it?

What are ya talking about FFS???

Its irrelevant to the DRA whether its good or bad - thats up to the GAA - and rightly so. The DRA were just ruling on whether it infringed the rulebook.


I'm a bit confused over the reports of votes in various counties. Its been reported that each of Dublin, Donegal, Armagh and Longford all voted no. But in Dublin's case it is clear that it was no to an anti-grants motion, whereas Shamrock Shore seems to be indicating that in Longford's case it was no to a pro-grants motion??

What a match!

While Liverpool were poor in the opening half hour (must have been half a dozen passes sent over the sideline), they were very good for the remaining hour, and were dominating when it was 2-1. Great run by Walcott for the equaliser but I knew there was still plenty of time for Liverpool to get back. I thought Liverpool were the better team on the night and deserved the win. We certainly owed Arsenal one (at least).

While Alonso was dire in the first half, I thought he was the major controlling influence in the second. Demanded the ball, played with urgency and was very positive.

Babel is so much more of an influence when he's a sub rather than a starter. His pace and power has much more impact against tiring legs. He should be a great player in the future, but for this season he should always be supersub.

I don't like seeing Carra at right back. He did alright, but I think I'd prefer either Finnan or Arbeloa.

I hope Collie Moran won't really line-up in the half forwards. Half-back or else the bench IMO. Otherwise no complaints with the team, a fair few lads getting a fair crack at it this year.

Over the last five years or so there seems to have been a steadily increasing intolerance of physicality in the game.

Exacerbated by the ever-growing tendency for players to throw themselves to the ground when they feel contact...

[definitely]

If Derry beat Donegal, then Derry will definitely be in the final, no matter how Galway v Kerry goes.

However, if Donegal and Kerry both win, then Kerry and Galway could still both progress. Donegal would need to win by 7 points to ensure progression, but a lower margin could still get them through depending on how much Kerry beat Galway by.

If both games end level, then Galway and Derry will contest the final.

Louth exile, very honest assesment of the game from you. Well done. For my view go to hoganstand. . The sligo sunshines on this board dont deserve my view and probabaly dont want it. But with none of yee there ahhh.

Ah jaysus. You can't stop giving your reports just because some of your compadres don't agree with you (well you can of course, but you shouldnt!). There's more than Sligo people that have a gander.

I have to say that the two counties that I enjoy reading threads about most are (excluding the Dubs of course) Sligo and Meath.

[Cavan and Armagh]

If Armagh lose their 2 final games against Dublin and Cork and Cavan win their final game against Roscommon then Cavan and Armagh will have to play-off to determine who joins Roscommon in division 3.

Remember points difference is not being used in division 2 due to the Cork situation

Incorrect.

If Cavan and Armagh finish level, points difference will be used as neither team were affected by the Cork situation. They will each have played 7 games. Therefore, Cavan would be about 100/1 to avoid relegation, in my book.

Its only if Meath, Dublin or Cork finish level with other teams that a playoff will be required.