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I would say Rossa and St Johns will get out of their groups.

The group with St Galls and St Brigids in it is definitely interesting. I wouldn't guarantee St Brigids get out and then Cargin would need to be on top of their game too but would expect them to come out.

I wouldn't rule LD out either though on current league form Aghagallon would go through but it is only the league. Then Portglenone would be favourites but no given either.

3 of the 4 groups I would say you could tell who will be 4th but 2nd / 3rd tight. In the TNN group - they could maybe give Glenravel or Rossa a rattle on their day. Interesting enough draw all in all I think.

Be surprised if Rossa and St John's didnt clear the group.

Bit of jeopardy for a couple of big teams, venue might be important (1 home, 1 away, 1 neutral).

While Antrim are still in camp going to be a challenge for sides with more than one or two county men to get fully set. For  6 of the teams with championship ambition there'll be no easing into it, as close to knock out in every game as has been.

Entertains game, Armagh had the gas for extra time and fair play to both teams in the conditions.

Is there anyone in Armagh hasn't been mentioned in the speech?

Is the Aghagallon upward trajectory back on track?

[suspiciously quiet here.]

It is suspiciously quiet here.
Armagh 1-24 Monaghan 3-16

Everybody digesting the message from the Armagh county board asking their fans not to wreck the place.

Will the match be at Cargin?

So the DUP spent £92k in an attempt to block dual-language signage in Portadown AND then halted £90k for the Place-Names Project.

They will go to some lengths to oppose the Irish language.

SF really need to 'man up'.

Man up? These are pretty obvious attempts to escalate a culture war ahead of an election, all shortly before some Dup lad or lassie is pictured with a hurl because they are really all about reconciliation message to Alliance voters.

the right approach is to find a political way to implement and puncture the hardliners balloon and let them scream into the void.

Wonderful people who need nor want recognition

That article though should be read out by the Speaker at Stormont, Ceann Comhairle in the Dail and by the President on prime time tv.

Fair play to Cahir.

Antrim v Tipp in round 2

That's a winnable game and hopefully a great opportunity to fight over which of the players contributed the most to the win.

As good a place as any.


https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/keven-bell-trust-founders-to-take-step-back-after-13-years-and-2500-loved-ones-returned-home-VE2GDTMGZJB7PD76LV7JJI6JPE/

Good people who turned a tragedy into help for people.

The freedom of the nation to them.

It has been running for 10 years. It has raised something like £3 million

To be fair, it probably couldn't have been launched at a worse time for the County. Nothing but negativity around the place.

It's the right idea, in the absence of an embedded county culture though perhaps more focus in the first year of the county supporting schools/club progress via funds.

A lot of positive reaction to the news on the schools officers at Mary's and Ballymen.

[but I'd never have found it without Christy.]

Just on the covers thing, Christy does sometimes alter the lyrics or add a verse of his own but said he'll check with the writer where possible to make sure they're ok with it.

Most of my favourites have already been mentioned but here's a few others-

Lingo politico, written by a man from the Aran Islands about Irish politicians, hilarious and true to life.

Does this train stop on Merseyside - written by Ian Prowse I think of the band Amsterdam, it's a history of Liverpool, beautiful and apparently John Peel's favourite song. I think Amsterdam's version is better but I'd never have found it without Christy.
"Can't conceive what those children done
Guess there's a meanness in the soul of man
Yorkshire policemen chat with folded arms
While people try to save their fellow fans"

The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll -
A Bob Dylan song based on a true story about there being no justice for a poor black murder victim killed by a rich white man. Great version on YouTube with Declan Sinnott. Much better than Dylan's version, even before I found out Dylan had written a Zionist song portraying Israel as the innocent victims(The Neighbourhood Bully) and couldn't stand listening to him anymore.

Also love Burning Times, Weekend in Amsterdam, The Well Below the Valley and the The Time has Come video from Martin McGuiness's funeral always moves me.

Most of all though, I just love Christy for always being on the right side of history when it wasn't always easy - Stardust, The Hunger Strikers, The Birmingham Six, Fighting racism against immigrants and travellers, Palestine etc.

The 3-part episode of the Free State podcast with Brolly and Dion Fanning are a great look back through his career.

Spot on re Merseyside.

In Hattie Carroll he is at his very (borderline preacher) best.

Its been long overdue to be done and it needs it asap as Dunsilly is a hateful place to go watch a game. i dont understand why they take senior semi finals to that place.

That being said i dont think the uptake on those tickets will be as high as was expected. People arent interested in supporting the county and with all thats going on its hard to disagree with them. How can you sell these tickets to people when they see the cash just wasted in their eyes.

I know some clubs have refused to sell the tickets and to be honest i can see their point of view. Its hard enough to fund raise for your own club to survive each year without giving to the county as well.

For example clubs need to cover insurance for players

• GAA player injury fund £8k
• Camogie insurance £7k
• public liability insurance £?k depends on facilities

Then you have player injuries costs and operations. The insurance only covers up to £5k for the GAA and most operations don't even come close to covering this so clubs are operating on a lost each time it happens.

But here, help Antrim GAA improve their lot whilst the clubs struggle to cover costs.

Struck me as limited buy in from clubs and no real plan get the buy in - the Dunsilly video is a bit vague, I'd have expected some graphics knocked up at a minimum.

What's the target for sales - presuming 2000-3000 tickets, that's a lot.


I also think a lot of clubs have it financially tight as it is, for those in better shape they have their own expansion plans to fund.

It's good the county board are trying and hopefully it gets there (full disclosure someone in my house has bought one) however as per EOC comment elsewhere, a chunk of the money needs to go on improving coaching first - make it about the county raising money to support clubs and a lot more positivity.

It's a Rory beggan world and the rest of us are just living in it. Willpower and composure from Monaghan, Derry have let thst one away.

SA U-14 Hurling fixtures/table available on County website. You have to search. Maybe it's just me but I'm not overly impressed either with the Antrim website this year🫢

It's got some weird segmentation thing going on. There have been some improvements as well.

Didn't know that..

The Wikipedia page on how far back it goes as a song is worth a look.


Minds Locked Shut
Welcome to the Cabaret
smoke and strong Whiskey

Always liked north and south as well and So Do I.

A lot his best work is at least part of not wholly written by Wally Page. What I like about Moore is he doesn't hide the supporting cast and puts them front and centre.