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Serious 2 of Kin has been decent, 2 episodes in.

Much more happening now and the introduction of Bren has certainly added a new dimension to the family!

Two episodes in, it is much better than the entirety of Season 1. They've tightened the plot holes up considerably. Bren adds more intrigue to it. Some of the characters are a bit flat though.

The more likely this becomes the more I'm thinking the GAA needs a bloody big "pre nup" as part of the merger.

Let's call a spade a spade. This would not be a partnership of equals. One organisation brings all the grounds and premises, the long-standing  tradition of volunteerism, the sponsorship, the media, the political influence, and the majority of players. The other organisations bring a minority of players.

The current hierarchy whereby men's football and hurling are pegged above their female counterparts in terms of importance is owed most significantly to the ownership of grounds. Currently one sport can call the tune ahead of the others. The other sports then set their schedules in and around what's left.

For everyone's sanity it has to stay that way. When the availability of facilities cannot keep up with demand, absolutely no good can come from an equal balance of power.

Equality yes. Egalitarianism, no. That's not going to work.

Yes the "Men's GAA" bring the infrastructure and why wouldn't they, they've had a 130 or 40 year head start. The LGFA and Camogie will bring a lot of things. I know in my own local club where it is basically run as one, the Ladies bring a whole different dimension to fundraising, coaching, and lots more.
The ladies are afraid it will be a take over. I think we take our time and get it right for all parties. One thing is for sure we could learn a lot from them, even in how their All Ireland competitions are run, with Senior, Intermediate and Junior all Irelands.

A gripe I have with the LGFA is that there are too many competitions. Last year in Down there were 9 championships played for at senior level.

Could never understand that concept last year. I thought it completely devalued the main championships. Down LGFA at times seems to focus on participation over competition at senior/intermediate/junior level. Having three grades in each sector simply does not make sense. In the Intermediate Championship last year, if you lost the Intermediate A semi final you went straight into the Intermediate B final. Ludicrous.

There is a huge population base for St Paul's to exploit. Demographically they've a big take but this probably isn't consolidated by the cultural makeup of the area. Newtownards has St Finian's P.S. and Loughries IPS with St Mary's P.S. nearby in Comber. There is St Malachy's P.S. in Bangor along with St Comgall's P.S. in the same town. Glencraig IPS and St Patrick's P.S. are in Holywood with St Anne's P.S. in Donaghadee. There are eight primary schools alone that they could be drawing from.

Have always believed that an urban taskforce for want of a better term should be created in Down. We have most of South and East Belfast plus that whole metropolitan area of North Down. Then large towns like Newcastle, Downpatrick and Banbridge along with the 'city' of Newry. We really should be maximising our potential in all of our urban areas.

Loughries Integrated PS??? I'd love to see the breakdown of that wee school! Heck they've only started allowing in GDO's into Kircubbin Integrated that last few years or so.

Comber would come into the catchment area of Darragh Cross I'd have thought even though it's 10 miles or so away, but you've Ballygowan, Saintfield and all in that area with pretty decent populations.
We used to get a few underage hurlers out of Bangor/Holywood/Ards area from going to school in Knock with some of our lads, but they never stuck at it.

You've places like Carrowdore, Ballyhalbert, Greyabbey, etc etc and they wouldn't even have youth soccer teams. Heck even Ballywalter had to cancel some underage soccer games one Saturday as it was first communion on in Kircubbin and a few weeks later also had to cancel games as the Down Feile was on in Portaferry.

More into farming, motorbikes and marching.

Was there never any sort of tradition of Ards hurlers playing football for St Paul's at a time? I do mind Kevin McGarry and Magic Johnston throwing their lot in with Loughinisland, Brendan McGourty with Darragh Cross, Danny Toner with Saul and a few of the Ennis men with Carryduff.

There is a huge population base for St Paul's to exploit. Demographically they've a big take but this probably isn't consolidated by the cultural makeup of the area. Newtownards has St Finian's P.S. and Loughries IPS with St Mary's P.S. nearby in Comber. There is St Malachy's P.S. in Bangor along with St Comgall's P.S. in the same town. Glencraig IPS and St Patrick's P.S. are in Holywood with St Anne's P.S. in Donaghadee. There are eight primary schools alone that they could be drawing from.

Have always believed that an urban taskforce for want of a better term should be created in Down. We have most of South and East Belfast plus that whole metropolitan area of North Down. Then large towns like Newcastle, Downpatrick and Banbridge along with the 'city' of Newry. We really should be maximising our potential in all of our urban areas.

Down brought in a hybrid type Go Games at U-13 level in 2022. Had mixed feelings on it.

Reserve football is on the wane. Just look at how many games didn't take place in 2022 due to non-fielding of teams in the All County Reserve Leagues. It was wild. It is essentially now opt-in/opt-out, happy go lucky, i'll see how I feel at 5pm on a Sunday evening sort of format these days. There's a serious apathy to it. I've been playing Reserve football for over 20 years and I've never seen such a 'take it or leave it' attitude to it as there is now.

[There is talk too that these reserve sides wouldn't be allowed to enter the JFC. Why would this be? Surely they deserve the opportunity of promotion and silverware like anyone else.]

During the early part of the 80's, reserve teams were involved in the Down ACFL structure when there were five divisions. Similarly, reserve teams were permitted entry into the JFC in the early 90's.

If CCC put in proper rules and criteria within by-law in relation to eligibility criteria for these reserve teams then would we not be seeing teams lining out more akin to a thirds' team?

Surely, the clubs that enter reserve teams into Div 4/Div5 will need to name a Top 13/23 that initially excludes players unable to play reserve football. Similarly, you would imagine that 'team hopping' wouldn't be allowed as in if a player outside of the say the Top 23 plays a senior game then that automatically rules them out of playing for the reserve team and vice versa.

Down CCC will surely need to seriously consider the player eligibility factor if integrating reserve teams into the ACFL is to be done right and have purpose. There is talk too that these reserve sides wouldn't be allowed to enter the JFC. Why would this be? Surely they deserve the opportunity of promotion and silverware like anyone else.

In fairness this isn't a Down CB stipulation, that's a Croke Park stipulation and once again is currently in place for the hurling also.
None of the senior teams in Down hurling who have reserve teams in the leagues can enter the intermediate or junior championships but enter into the separate Betsy Gray Cups and shields. There'd need to be different competitions to facilitate these reserve teams in championship football

Not in all cases. Portlaoise reserves won this year's Laois JFC. They defeated Barrowhouse in the final. Barrowhouse went on to represent Laois in the Leinster JFC.

During the early part of the 80's, reserve teams were involved in the Down ACFL structure when there were five divisions. Similarly, reserve teams were permitted entry into the JFC in the early 90's.

If CCC put in proper rules and criteria within by-law in relation to eligibility criteria for these reserve teams then would we not be seeing teams lining out more akin to a thirds' team?

Surely, the clubs that enter reserve teams into Div 4/Div5 will need to name a Top 13/23 that initially excludes players unable to play reserve football. Similarly, you would imagine that 'team hopping' wouldn't be allowed as in if a player outside of the say the Top 23 plays a senior game then that automatically rules them out of playing for the reserve team and vice versa.

Down CCC will surely need to seriously consider the player eligibility factor if integrating reserve teams into the ACFL is to be done right and have purpose. There is talk too that these reserve sides wouldn't be allowed to enter the JFC. Why would this be? Surely they deserve the opportunity of promotion and silverware like anyone else.

Where is Down hurling in the grand scheme of things in relation Ulster Club SHC?

Just watched the other semi and Drumlane look like a right decent team. Newtownbutler are no mugs and they were hammered.

Drumlane had beat Arva in the Cavan JFC. Arva were heavily tipped. Them and Stewartstown could be a very tight game.

Always wondered. Why on earth has Harry Kane never been their prime target?

The opening game of the 94 tournament - Germany v Bolivia. Marco Etcheverry getting a red card.

They put in a very strong performance in the county final against Dromara, with Paddy Grant kicking 11 points. They'd have a decent championship pedigree in the county at this level.
But Down are notoriously out of their depth when we hit the Ulster JFC series.
Stewartstown would probably be more akin to a strong IFC team in Down.

Galbally and Corduff be two of the favourites for the Intermediate.

In terms of the Ulster JFC since its inception in 2001, there have been 20 runs of it. Cavan have had 2 wins, Monaghan 9, Tyrone 6, Armagh 1 and Donegal 2. Down are the only county in Ulster to never reach a JFC final.

The Ulster Intermediate began in 1998 and has had 23 runs. Down have 3 wins, Tyrone 7, Derry 4, Donegal 2, Monaghan 4, Cavan 1, Antrim 1 and Fermanagh 1. Armagh are the only county in Ulster to not win an IFC but they have made 5 finals.

Looking at both competitions combined, it's very obvious that the strength in these two grades lies in Tyrone and Monaghan.

Monaghan - 13
Tyrone - 13
Derry - 4
Donegal - 4
Cavan - 3
Down - 3
Fermanagh - 1
Antrim - 1
Armagh - 1