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On the day, O Rourke wouldn't have done any worse

Thanks!

Colm O'R wouldn't have done any worse

Bring on Billy Flynn

The one-in-a-row might be on here 

Why does croke park not make hogan lower or upper available for juvenile tickets?
Some decent tickets avaialble in the hogan upper at the moment, but have to pay full price for kids if you want them

It keeps wee johnnie who wants to blow a trumpet, wave a flag and go to the shop/toilet every 12 minutes out of the road of the best seats thus improving the experience and viewing spectacle for those paying top dollar. Having said that I paid full price for 3 wee johnnies last year.

Ah , the old heated  balls on the radiator  worked a treat this morning

The 4 big  guns kept apart. Four inevitable victories 

Dublin by 8+
Kerry by 12+
Donegal by 6+
Galway by 2+

When you're reminded some on the Board haven't a clue. Was two pots with 2nd place teams against 3rd place teams... hence 'kept apart' 

Looking fwd to Austin's response

All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals
Donegal v Louth
Down v Galway
Dublin v Cork
Kerry v Cavan

4 walk overs...

We certainly will not walk all over Down the way we have been motoring this year.

Thank you for your support, Sir.

Only Down or Monaghan can finish on 6 points now across the 4 groups...but we'll take the draw tomorrow if we must 

Looking fwd to it too but disappointed not to be able to go this week.

DG is named and I think he'll start on the basis that he v nearly thought he could the last day.

Topping the group would be some achievement definitely!

Kerry v Meath - Meath by 3
Roscommon v Cork - cork by 3
Dublin v Derry - Dublin by 6
Galway v Armagh - Galway by 2
Louth v Clare - clare by 4
Monaghan v Down - Monaghan by 6
Donegal v Mayo - mayo  by 4
Tyrone v Cavan - draw

With both Cliffords, Geaney, DOC and Barry Dan out, that Meath prediction might be right and good value at 12/1

All injured?  That could be interesting, not just  for this weekend

A Kerryman I was talking to this morning said this week's Kerryman said DOC, Barry Dan, Geaney and Paudie won't play. He said the Kerryman (as a local paper) tends to be very reliable with injuries and stuff like that and that DC and O'Beaglaoich are also rumoured to be out. Said the talk is Barry Dan is gone for the year and it's very doubtful whether DOC will feature anytime soon. Could just be yerra but if all that lot are missing it could be a very different 26 named and could be a serious blow to Kerry's chances at Sam.

If all six are out Meath will fancy their chances of finishing top of the group, any team with injuries won't want three games in consecutive weeks which is what Kerry will likely get if they drop into 2nd place.


Possible starting 15 if all six are out?

Shane Ryan
Tom O'Sullivan Jason Foley  Dylan Casey
Gavin White Mike Breen Paul Murphy
Joe O'Connor Mark O'Shea
Micheal Burns Sean O'Shea Graham O'Sullivan
Killian Spillane  Dylan Geaney Tony Brosnan

Meath are missing players also. All the talk about kerry missing midfielders Meath are down 4 midfielders. Meath will be playing with their third or fourth choice midfield. Meath are missing Ronan Jones, Jack Flynn, Jack kinlough and Conor Gray missing all midfielders. Jones, Flynn,Kinlough are out for the rest of the year. Jack Flynn is Meath best midfielder, Ronan Jones is Meaths real leader around mid field area, only playet on team at his peak at 28. While kinlough who started ad third man midfielder in 8 games in a row the league and start of championship was excellent is also out. While Conor Gray who was outstanding in Tailtean cup winning campaign is coming back after three months in hospital pneumonia and injury after injury is only now able to take his place on bench. Meath will have three man midfield of veteran 34 year old Brian Menton who struggles to last 70 minutes and past his best. Adam O Neill will partner him who is defender basically a full back. Meath third man midfielder is 20 year old Conor Duke. No one mentioning Meath are missing best midfielders Flynn and Jones and another midfield starter on 40 kinlough. Not one mentioning in this media. Meath are down 4 midfielders and have to play defender at midfield.

Menton and Adam O'Neill was your midfield partnership against Dublin and absolutely dominated the Cluxton kick out.    Jack Flynn, Jack kinlough and Conor Gray didn't play in that match and Ronan Jones was introduced for the final 15 minutes.  Matthew Costello  out the bigger taking point and blow to Meath's chances.

Costello is huge loss. Meaths best player and means Meath have just as many important players missing as kerry.

Still doesn't take away O Neill is defender and Meaths 5th or 6th choice midfielder, Menton is veteran who struggles to last 70 mins and Duke is 20 year old novice. Jack Flynn, Ronan Jones, Jack kinlough are guaranteed starters for Meath at midfield. Jones and Flynn are Meath best players in mid sector and in my view fully fit Conor Gray playing like he did before he got pneumonia is Meaths best all round midfielder. Meath get everyone fit, in coming years it will very strong area for Meath. Menton will retire but you have Jack Flynn 25, Ronan Jones 28, Jack Kinlough 20, Conor Duke 20, Conor Gray 21 all options in mid section. While Cian McBride and Daithi McGowan are midfield options on panel. Conor Nash whose Aussie rules contract is up at end 2026 says he want to play for Meath. He is hugely talented midfielder. Also Charlie Gallagher Meath minor and Michael Mcivor Meath u20 both 6ft 5 midfielders and exceptional at 2 pointers look like real potential future midfielders also. Throw in John Harkin, Cian Commins and brillant Rian Stafford from Meath U20s half forward line last year and this year teams. All 3 are 6ft 4 anf brillant at 2 pointers. Meath have had problems at midfield since 2010. But in the coming years Meath will have huge depth in this area with many 6ft 4 6ft 5 midfielders and half forwards who are excellent at 2 pointer. I would expect in next 2 years player like Adam O Neill would end up being 8th or 9th choice Meath midfielder. Adam is excellent young defender and will replace Seamus Lavin in defence but he is not midfielder. And it does look like Dublin have issues at midfield, and with no real midfield talent coming through. Meath v Dublin rivalry does hinge at midfield. In that once Mullins retired in 1985 McEntee Hayes came dominate. Than McDermott in 90s Dublin couldn't deal with him. Same way Meath couldn't deal with Brian Fenton in last 10 years. Fenton  retires Meath beat Dublin. Its linked.

Regards Meath beating kerry and Dublin in same championship year that would be an incredible achievement. Very few counties have beaten Dublin and kerry in same year in championship. Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Donegal,Derry, Down have never beaten Kerry and Dublin in same year in championship. As far as I can see Only 6 counties have beaten Dublin and kerry in championship in same year and they are Meath, Offaly, kildare, Cork, Tyrone and Armagh.

As far I can see only 4 teams in leinster in 140 years have beaten kerry and Dublin in same year. They are
Meath in 2001
Kildare in 1998
Offaly in 1982
Kildare in 1927

Only 4 teams outside leinster have beaten Dubs and kerry in same year they are
Tyrone 2008
Tyrone 2005
Armagh 2002
Cork 1989

Only 8 teams have beaten Kerry and Dublin in same years in championship in 140 years. 7 of the 8 teams won All Ireland the other kildare got to All Ireland final. If Meath were to beat kerry, they would be youngest team ever in history of gaa to beat kerry and Dublin in same year in championship. With 8 Meath players starting who will 20 21 22 23, average age of this Meath team is 23. A Meath team that wouldn't peak for another 3 or 4 years. If Meath were to beat kerry after beating Dublin it would be historic achievement.

You remind me of that lad Dustin Hoffman in rain man.

Donegal v Mayo Donegal by 7
Cavan v Tyrone Cavan by 1
Kerry v Meath Kerry by 4
Cork v Roscommon Cork by 8
Monaghan v Down Monaghan by 3
Louth v Clare Louth by 12
Armagh v Galway Galway by 5
Derry v Dublin Derry by 1

Very good article. Down have made progress despite what the begrudgers think. Laverty is the only man for the job. It's great to have someone there with a passion for the game and the  county and not another outsider there for the payback.
As someone said above, those that didn't commit this year have only opened the door for the likes of Crimmons, McGeogh and others to step up to the plate.
Competition for places is great to see.

Think and hope you mean pay cheque ! 

Well if that doesn't tell the rest of yiz that it's Down's year, I don't know what will!

Hamstring tear on Tuesday evening