Messages

1

GAA Discussion / Re: AIF 2021 -- Maigh Eo vs Tír Eoghain

« on: September 10, 2021, 08:28:33 PM »

I haven’t really been following this thread and no doubt most of the points have already been made but my 2 cents:- I think Mayo will win by 4 or 5 points, i’ve a Zen like feeling of calmness that I know the result, but there is of course no basis for it.

The aftermath of the Tyrone v Kerry match was a strange one for me, Tyrone were rightly lauded for masterminding a victory against raging hot favourites but then for the next few days there was some strange takes on it like Tyrone weren’t been giving enough credit etc..I actually thought they were given way too much credit – Tyrone came out the right side of an incredibly tight game against a team generally thought to have underperformed and been extremely tactically naïve, Kerry missed an open goal, Conor McKenna’s 2nd goal was so incredibly fortuitous, I just felt Tyrone got the rub of the green and by law of averages they wont be as lucky again.

I think Mayo bring an organised chaos that will trouble Tyrone, Tyrone are solid & formulaic and will be quite confident in their ability to shackle Mayo, but they’ll have to shackle about 3 or 4 different types of Mayo by the end of the game and I think one of them will get through.  Ignore the passion, desire, drive and history - I just think Mayo are a better side with a better manager.

Or are Tyrone's name written on it this year? Donegal game could have been different with Murphy not being sent off. The Monaghan game was very tight, against Kerry there were two fortuitous goals, Mckennas 2nd as you say and McShane was right place right time the rebound could have gone anywhere.

If the game is tight with 10 mins to go I suspect Tyrone will win, they are use to tight finishes and I think Mayo will wobble with all the bad experiences of past. For Mayo to win they need to be 5-6 points up to be able to see it out.

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GAA Discussion / Re: AIF 2021 -- Maigh Eo vs Tír Eoghain

« on: August 30, 2021, 08:15:12 PM »

2 weeks ago Tyrone were ravaged with Covid and only got the full squad together last Tuesday for the first time in 3-4 week. Based on performance the put out with 1 weeks work think of what they can do with 2 weeks work. Tyrones to lose

3

GAA Discussion / Re: Does Pat Spillane need apologise to Tyrone GAA?

« on: August 30, 2021, 04:39:31 PM »

Cavanagh comes across as a very bitter man. The "conversation" about Covid happened in the first few mins of coverage and seemed to hold onto it the whole way through, talking over Pat and visible angry. Even after the game he was still playing the man as Pat was giving credit to Tyrone for the win. I'm also surprised that he didn't know much about the rules for the black card given his tackle escalate the conversation at the time, come to think of it Pat went to town on him after that pull down. Whelan just laughed his way through it yesterday. Joanne could have pulled him in a bit more.

McConville and O'Se are by far the best.

Good craic yesterday listening to the others

4

General discussion / Re: The Many Faces of US Politics...

« on: August 17, 2021, 10:11:53 PM »

Each administration over the past 25 years made mistakes to lead to this point. However, the execution of the exit falls square on this administration.

The WH keeps saying that they wanted to stick with Trumps agreement rather than going back into a 10 year more war (or something to that effect). I thought Trump agreed to a 1st May exit, we're in the middle of Aug now so there should have been ample time to get this right. Sending in 2K-3K more troops to assist in a fast exit should have been an easy decision to make if there was concerns with the 2.5K troops there.
 

5

GAA Discussion / Re: Top 3 Prospects for Senior out of 2019 U17 & U20 Grades in your County

« on: August 17, 2021, 07:10:29 AM »

Offaly U20s
Cian Johnson-Ferbane
Aidan Bracken-Ballycommon
Nathan Poland-Erin Rovers
Aaron Brazil-Shannonbridge (just out of minor(u17))

I remember posting that.
While not necessarily the star man, the last name there has won an U20 All Ireland earlier today.
One of a couple of players who played and started for the Offaly 20s for 3 consecutive years, straight outta minor.

If they could get Cian Johnson back fit a FF line of him, Cian Farrell and Jack Bryant would have some fire power.

6

GAA Discussion / Re: U20 All Ireland football championship 2021

« on: August 17, 2021, 07:05:33 AM »

Yes, the game could have panned out differently had Roscommon snatched an early goal.
Offaly were fortunate that when the goal did finally come they had built up a cushion. It made for a tense finish.

And this is the hallmark of this Offaly side. Dazzling, high speed attacks, yet living precariously at times and holding on in games that should have closed out.

Roscommon people will be pleased with the spirit their players showed and they have a couple of very useful prospects. Any Offaly burst of scores was responded to.
Overall, the main difference being that Offaly were quicker to transition into attack. Roscommon were slower in the build up play and left themselves more vulnerable to turnovers.

The third quarter run of scores when Offaly finally managed to cut loose will be the abiding memory.
Yesterday was an unexpected glory day for Offaly people as many of us assumed the possibility of challenging for honours was remote and distant in the future, if ever.

I remember growing up in the 80s and 90s Offaly were regularly up in Croke Park contending. In a year like 1998, Offaly played on 10 different match days in Croke Park.
Of the attendance of 24,000 yesterday, there was at least 15,000 Offaly supporters. It's a long time since anything approaching that number went to watch Offaly.
I'd estimate it is 15 years since a match day special train pulled into Clara, Tullamore and Portarlington.

To see the gangs young fellas hitting the streets of Dublin, mad for drink, like we all did years ago. They wouldn't have been born when Offaly were last in the hunt for a trophy.

There is a definite feel good factor in the county right now. However there is also a recognition that there are lot of rungs on the ladder above them in senior hurling and football.
This win in isolation would make a small improvement but the hope is that every up and coming Offaly underage group gets a boost from it.

You might be talking about 1989 - An Offaly team played in HQ every time it was open that year for inter-county C'ship games. A mad summer

Great win yesterday, hopefully the teams can keep the momentum going into 2022.
Speed of transition and a bit of luck early on won it.

I believe you are nearly correct about 1989 when both minor teams got to All Ireland finals, but I don't think an Offaly team would have played before the Ulster - Connacht All Ireland football semi?

In 1998 the footballers played a league semi final, final and Leinster championship vs Meath.
The hurlers played 7 out of 8 games in Crow Park and one in Thurles.

U21 hurlers played Antrim (I believe) before the minor football final Ulster/Connacht semi final. It was a mad summer one I won’t forget as we went to every game that summer. Hopefully days like those are on the way back.

7

General discussion / Re: The Many Faces of US Politics...

« on: August 16, 2021, 06:23:57 PM »

Finally a point that Biden agrees with Trump, getting out of Afghanistan. The Trump administration tried started the process with a peace deal, could they have done better - Possibly, could they have done worse - possibly.
Should Trump have left more troops there, maybe. Could Biden have brought in 1K or 2K troops to help the exit, maybe.

Everyone is so blinded by blaming the other side that no one see's the innocent people that are being hurt by all of this.

8

GAA Discussion / Re: U20 All Ireland football championship 2021

« on: August 16, 2021, 05:21:20 PM »

Yes, the game could have panned out differently had Roscommon snatched an early goal.
Offaly were fortunate that when the goal did finally come they had built up a cushion. It made for a tense finish.

And this is the hallmark of this Offaly side. Dazzling, high speed attacks, yet living precariously at times and holding on in games that should have closed out.

Roscommon people will be pleased with the spirit their players showed and they have a couple of very useful prospects. Any Offaly burst of scores was responded to.
Overall, the main difference being that Offaly were quicker to transition into attack. Roscommon were slower in the build up play and left themselves more vulnerable to turnovers.

The third quarter run of scores when Offaly finally managed to cut loose will be the abiding memory.
Yesterday was an unexpected glory day for Offaly people as many of us assumed the possibility of challenging for honours was remote and distant in the future, if ever.

I remember growing up in the 80s and 90s Offaly were regularly up in Croke Park contending. In a year like 1998, Offaly played on 10 different match days in Croke Park.
Of the attendance of 24,000 yesterday, there was at least 15,000 Offaly supporters. It's a long time since anything approaching that number went to watch Offaly.
I'd estimate it is 15 years since a match day special train pulled into Clara, Tullamore and Portarlington.

To see the gangs young fellas hitting the streets of Dublin, mad for drink, like we all did years ago. They wouldn't have been born when Offaly were last in the hunt for a trophy.

There is a definite feel good factor in the county right now. However there is also a recognition that there are lot of rungs on the ladder above them in senior hurling and football.
This win in isolation would make a small improvement but the hope is that every up and coming Offaly underage group gets a boost from it.

You might be talking about 1989 - An Offaly team played in HQ every time it was open that year for inter-county C'ship games. A mad summer

Great win yesterday, hopefully the teams can keep the momentum going into 2022.
Speed of transition and a bit of luck early on won it.

9

General discussion / Re: The Many Faces of US Politics...

« on: August 16, 2021, 05:10:11 PM »

It's a messed up situation, seeing people cling to US planes, people trying to get into planes etc. reminded me of images from the Vietnam exit. So many lives in danger now, anyone that helped the US troops while they were there are now in danger I suspect.

Biden and his administration have to take full blame for this mess. Three other presidents are to blame for different aspects of the war over the past 20 years but this exit is a mess. All last week we heard the Taliban were racing through the country taking over cities, towns and the country without any resistance so it should not come as a surprise that they tool over the capital this fast.

10

General discussion / Re: NFL Fantasy Football - GAABoard Superbowl XII ** Important C Update *****

« on: August 03, 2021, 02:28:01 AM »

Savage Bears in

11

GAA Discussion / Re: Leinster U20 football championship 2021

« on: July 22, 2021, 09:17:05 PM »

This fella with the mullet is pacey

He gave a great interview for a 20 year old. Well done Offaly.

Only 18, was on the 2020 minor team that got beat a few weeks ago in the final by Meath. Also played in the 2020 Leinster Minor hurling final a few weeks ago.

12

General discussion / Re: Man Utd Thread:

« on: May 26, 2021, 11:16:22 PM »

Well done Villarreal

I honestly dont think United will win anything with OSG managing them. He made some bad calls and really that team should have won it in normal time

Can't blame De Get for missing the penalty, but FFS he should have saved 1-2 before that.

13

General discussion / Re: Man Utd Thread:

« on: May 26, 2021, 10:33:16 PM »

Taking Pogba and Greenwood off in ET with penalties potentially coming up. OSG has lost the plot

14

General discussion / Re: The Official Golf Thread

« on: May 26, 2021, 09:06:08 PM »

You know where I played last summer and thought it was overrated 

Pebble beach, Carmel CA 18th hole

15

General discussion / Re: The Official Golf Thread

« on: May 21, 2021, 01:04:42 AM »

Lowry with a steady round up to the 17th and an almost unplayable 2nd shot to end with a double bogey but fair play pulled one back on the 18th. Played by far the best of the three with Dustin and Sergio. Its a tough place to play with that wind.
Padraig H doing very well to hang in there in the last 6 holes lots of scrambling. Will be an interesting day tomorrow.