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Home heating oil prices has gone out of control. Looks like I'll have to invest in a few hot water bottles and hope this current surge blows over

See what happens first - you run out of oil or US/Israel run out of missiles 

The handpass has been an issue for a long time now and just seems to be ignored.

I said it a bit tongue in cheek a while back but the back pass to the keeper is becoming a bit of an issue for me. Teams won't press up now at the moment, because the better teams can work the ball out via the keeper even on a good press. So teams are inclined to accept this now and fall back into the defensive structure.

Teams who want to build from the back will find it more difficult to do without that option and gives the other team more incentive to try to win the ball higher up the pitch.

Maybe playing devils advocate a bit here, but looking in at the games the players seem to be enjoying actually getting a regular run of games instead of the slogging training.

I think it could be organised better but there is definitely something in increasing the number of games to training ratio.

It definitely is moving toward a more league based championship type combo.

Starmer said the US couldn't use  British airfields to launch  attacks in Iran , then said they could  do  but  only for  "defensive strikes".

How does that work then?

It's legal language to make sure the UK stays within the Internationally agreed guidelines for this type of situation.

I'd say they were scrambling around behind the scenes frantically when the first request came hence the delay.

We definitely have more physical players in the county who have the skill to play at that level.

Overlooked or not interested call it what you want. But playing that type of game with boys who are sub 80kg is a no no!

Go ahead and feel free to name these ones that are missing.

I can think of one who has stepped away over it would seem personal issues with Davy.

I wonder is the drop in levels due to the fact that a lot of the big teams and players haven't had much down time over the past few seasons.

Or is the tactical approach now being adopted especially in the premier league where set pieces seem to be so valued.

No easy games at Nowlan Park, that was always the case of course but Cork had to grind that result out yesterday, thought Kilkenny have improvement in them and the weather was poor enough which wouldn't have suited Corks game so a good leveler

Said it last year and think same is applying this year, KK going no where fast. Think they are good bit behind the top teams, as the ground firms up (if it ever does) only going to exacerbate it.

Sticky enough first half, difference is now that you actually expect a reaction from the team which they definitely got.

Previously this would have petered out to a one nil home loss. Sesko definitely benefitting from Bruno playing further forward with attacking intent.

Hearing reports that the most important role in the county has finally been filled.

Well Bannside, fill us in?

Conal Heatley

Fresh from his NI Commonwealth team role?

What is this job title again?

Agree wholeheartedly with Marty and CK - club is where youve got easily the best chance of developing a player for the future. Been saying this for a long time.

Ive seen what a handful of visionary parents did/ are doing here at club level...leaving no stone unturned. I expect there will be plenty of rewarding days in the future, and the knock on effect runs right through the community.

CK, hard to believe we were level with Armagh after 40 minutes football just 8 months ago. The tackling and ball winning that day was immense. Players were playing for pride, right on the edge, until Armaghs undoubted class shone through. MOM was Paddy McBride who was superb.

Bannside, what type of work and initiatives did these volunteers implement into the club that have made such a big impact? I think clubs should be willing to share ideas and success stories to inspire others around the County. I know PG1 weren't always in such a good place so it should serve as encouragement and inspiration to the rest of us. It would be great to have a development forum where these practices could be shared for the betterment of all in the county. And genuinely, well done to PG1 for the work they're doing.

I will let you in on a little secret......there is no secret. At club level it is hard work by coaches and volunteers to lift the standards across the board for the club.

Is the carlow game definitely at dunloy?

Seen someone on fb say its now switched to corrigan

Confirmed as Corrigan Park now

What did they promise them now 

Have a slight interest in this now being an Antrim blow-in. Surely a lot of this would fall Kearney's remit to start looking towards developing. There's enough 'resources' (players etc) to do much better than currently the case but the overall infrastructure within the city in particular needs looked at. No grass pitch in North Belfast to facilitate any of the clubs based there. Schools with limited facilities. Within a 15 minute walk for my house there are 4 primary schools with no grass facilities. How are they accommodated?  Without fields there's limited that anyone can do and it all starts in P3-4

It totally does fall into his remit, he is supposed to be the strategic lead for the county. This means getting out of the day to day stuff and making change happen.

He is only into the role, but I am pretty confident that the role shouldn't be taken up by arguments over fixtures or venues for games and should be at a completely different level strategically.

[Ballymena could follow.]

We need the people more than investment.  We do not have enough good football men in the county to make anything happen at the minute. 
When it comes to time and volunteering, who will make the sacrifices to do the hard yards when it doesn't involve their own child or club.
The best counties have these people, currently we don't.

Get Ulster GAA to pay their wages! There cannot be any stone left unturned and yes I include 11+ grades in that. Omagh CBS and St Pats Armagh/Downpatrick became non selective. Ballymena could follow.

Never happening.

But that doesn't mean the premise of the idea is flawed. It needs investment though and needs to backed up to support clubs too.

Yeah I see where you're coming from - my only counter would be that most of the best players you see coming out of the south west seem to have went to derry schools which I doubt is coincidence in terms of mindset / coaching etc. That's how it shouldn't be mind you...

I get your point totally, bit of a conundrum because the parents wont send their kids to schools they feel are inferior and the schools can't get out of that rut without the kids.

There needs to be investment into the schools and development squads on a level we've not seen before and a realisation that this is the only way to improve things, not your flashy senior managers etc etc.

It is generational work in schools and clubs to lift the standard and playing pool across the board.

Genuinely isnt rocket science but will be expensive and it will be hard work.

After falling into Div 4 in 2020 Louth GAA implemented a strategic overhaul involving elite coaching, administrative reform and major infrastructure investment. One of the items focused on was strategic planning, with a review to streamline player pathways, improve retention in Urban clubs and enhance commercial self sufficiency through initiatives like An Lu.
Instead of all the money spent on big name managers like Davy Fitz (im sure Doran quite expensive also) could we not focus on the above?

Sounds great. So how do we streamline player pathways and retain players at club level using methods that havent been tried to date?

I'm like a stuck record player but you could start by trying to retain players from travelling to and playing for Derry schools??  Invest in St Louis and get lads from Cargin/Creggan/M'Glass and PG1 going there. I dunno twin it with some Antrim sub academy or that!

Plus, on this one unless they are getting the grades they aren't getting in to St Louis. Hurling or Football ability don't count.

The schools they are going too are taking all comers.