Messages

Delighted to see Gilroy get a run. He looks a really exciting talent. Albeit I think the praise he got for a hat-trick against Fiji was ridiculously over the top. For example I think McFadden would have finished all 3 of Gilroy's trys, but I'm not so sure Gilroy would have finished either of McFadden's (I'm not even sure McFadden actually finished one of them!!). So if I was McFadden I'd certainly be disappoinited that Gilroy has leap frogged him based on Fiji.

The real star of the Fiji match for me was Marshall at centre. Earls on the wing with D'arcy & Marshall at centre might have been an option, although a brand new centre partnership with 2 guys who usually operate at 12 might have been a step too far (I still think that defensively it'd be better than Darce-Earls).

But overall as I said at the start, Gilroy will bring some excitement to the table.  Its great that there's a lot riding on this game, should lead to a good atmosphere.

Def agree that Marshall was very impressive against Fiji. Looked the real deal and thought he deserved a chance this weekend. Glad to see gilroy in as he is a born finisher. Think Hernandez will target him aerially though. I don't rate McFadden at all, think he engages contact too often when the pass/offload is on. Seemed very greedy against Fiji!!

Looking forward to the trip down on Sunday for it, the lads were looking forward to playing in Casement but are more than happy to be in the competition. Into the unknown but they'll give a good account of themselves on Sunday and hopefully nick a win.

Which club are you bingo?? Was reading about the Fermanagh lad who has soccer trials on Sunday morning. Busy day for him!

Castleblayney Faughs. We'd be playing the Fermangh outfit. Busy morning indeed for him, he in luck that the times where moved. 

Good stuff. All the best for Sunday!

Looking forward to the trip down on Sunday for it, the lads were looking forward to playing in Casement but are more than happy to be in the competition. Into the unknown but they'll give a good account of themselves on Sunday and hopefully nick a win.

Which club are you bingo?? Was reading about the Fermanagh lad who has soccer trials on Sunday morning. Busy day for him!

Any odds out yet??

[Quarter Final:]

Donegal have put their Minor Championship Final back until Sunday 2nd December. The rule that current County Champions only (and not a nominated team from that County) can play in the Ulster Minor Football Club Championship has had to be invoked for the first time and Killeavy move forward to the Semi Final on Sunday 16th December to play the winners of this Sunday's game between Donagh St Patricks and Castleblayney Faughs which will now take place at St Pauls at the new time of 1-30pm.


Sunday 25th November
Quarter Final:
Donagh St Patricks(Fermanagh) v Castleblayney Faughs(Monaghan)
1-30pm   St Pauls

Quarter Final:
Donegal Champions v Killeavy St Moninnas(Armagh) Walk Over for Killeavy St Moninnas

Saturday 1st December
Quarter Final:
Lavey-Castlerahan(Cavan) v Ardboe O Donovan Rossa(Tyrone)
1-30pm   St Pauls

Sunday 2nd December
Preliminary Round:
St Johns(Antrim) v Glen Watty Grahams(Derry)
1-30pm   Casement Park

Sunday 9th December
Quarter Final:
Warrenpoint St Peters(Down) v St Johns or Glen Watty Grahams
1-30pm   St Pauls

Sunday 16th December
Semi Final:
Killeavy St Moninnas v Fermanagh/Monaghan
1-30pm   St Pauls

Wednesday 26th December
Semi Final:
Cavan/Tyrone v Antrim/Derry/Down
1-30pm   St Pauls

Tuesday 1st January
Final:
1-30pm   St Pauls

Jeez that's a bit of a c**k up by the donegal county board. Killeavy will now be big favorites to go through to the final!!

Thought this was a joke!

Rafa back in the PL is a joke. 

This amazes me at times. You will have managers like Hughes,  Redknapp, O'Neill who seem to walk in and out of jobs, get linked with every job available and the fans will get excited at the prospect of them.

Then Rafa gets linked and there is outcry and its a big joke. Alot of these clubs would be far better off with him in charge.

Agree and I'm not a scouser!! Think the media just took a dislike to him as he was a nightmare in interviews!!

The talk is Benitez to take temporary charge...then Guardiola will be sacked this time next year

Heard that. Why would Guardiola want to go near the joke that is Abramovich FC. Treated Di Matteo like dirt. The man has no class or appreciation for the game!!

With the Cross and Kilcoo game in the Athletic grounds I assume the Glen and St Johns game will still be in Casement??

St Johns are in the final of the Ulster minor club Hurling championship in Ballinascreen waiting on the winners of the Slaughtneil v Portaferry game this Saturday with the final set for Sunday 2nd December fixture clash which competition moves?

No idea trasna. A johnnies man would have to confirm that.

With the Cross and Kilcoo game in the Athletic grounds I assume the Glen and St Johns game will still be in Casement??

Don't be bringing TFAL into this FGS. I didn't mention Muldoons name, you did. I then pointed out he has an Ulster championship winners medal. You obviously think that we have had a wonderful 12 years at intercounty football.

And Kilrea provided who? Martin O'Neill?

[zero returns]

I would say bellaghy have been the most important. They backboned the county for years, not now but. Now it would be ballinderry, they have been the most consistent club in recent years. In the future itll be magherafelt and glen, they are producing great underage teams.

But the most important place overall will be derry city. There is one senior team and 4 junior teams in a city of 110,000 people. If they can manage to get more players playing here then itll be a huge difference. After derry won sam in 93 it was said derry city was like the ' the untapped oil resources of north russia'. 20 years on they remain untapped. One city player in squad last year, none this year.

Cant disagree with that analysis, but only add that Ballinderrys dominance has resulted in zero returns at county championship level which is a pity considering some of the players they had/have. When you think of Dungiven, Lavey and as you said Bellaghy, when these teams were at the top, our county team prospered, not with Ballinderry, don't really know why either.

Think you are being a tad harsh on Muldoon and Kevin Mc Guckin there. Glen provided 4 key players to successful Derry sides of the early to mid 90s but a bit like the Moy of Tyrone struggled to take that into club level.

Why did you pick on Muldoon, at least he played on an Ulster championship winning team. But did mention Mc Guckian, there were more than that, Mc Cusker, Gilligan, Conway  to name a few also. I am certain that since Ballinderry dominated Derry club football from 2001 onwards we have had a brutal period in championship football. As I said before I don't why, ,maybe there isn't a correlation to make. Is it as simple as 'shit happens'

Why did I pick on Muldoon?? What are you on about, I'm the one defending Muldoon and Mc Guckin. They both had great careers for their county. You are the one stating that Ballinderry provided zero return at county level. You must be from Bellaghy or Kilrea

[zero returns]

I would say bellaghy have been the most important. They backboned the county for years, not now but. Now it would be ballinderry, they have been the most consistent club in recent years. In the future itll be magherafelt and glen, they are producing great underage teams.

But the most important place overall will be derry city. There is one senior team and 4 junior teams in a city of 110,000 people. If they can manage to get more players playing here then itll be a huge difference. After derry won sam in 93 it was said derry city was like the ' the untapped oil resources of north russia'. 20 years on they remain untapped. One city player in squad last year, none this year.

Cant disagree with that analysis, but only add that Ballinderrys dominance has resulted in zero returns at county championship level which is a pity considering some of the players they had/have. When you think of Dungiven, Lavey and as you said Bellaghy, when these teams were at the top, our county team prospered, not with Ballinderry, don't really know why either.

Think you are being a tad harsh on Muldoon and Kevin Mc Guckin there. Glen provided 4 key players to successful Derry sides of the early to mid 90s but a bit like the Moy of Tyrone struggled to take that into club level.

[I would say bellaghy have been the most important.]

I would say bellaghy have been the most important. They backboned the county for years, not now but. Now it would be ballinderry, they have been the most consistent club in recent years. In the future itll be magherafelt and glen, they are producing great underage teams.

But the most important place overall will be derry city. There is one senior team and 4 junior teams in a city of 110,000 people. If they can manage to get more players playing here then itll be a huge difference. After derry won sam in 93 it was said derry city was like the ' the untapped oil resources of north russia'. 20 years on they remain untapped. One city player in squad last year, none this year.

Jaysus you better hope tfal doesn't read this thread!!!!

What much more can be done in the City? They've had development officers, urban development programmes, funding ALL OUR COUNTY GAMES etc. and it's still proving unfruitful. In real terms the City are at least 10 years behind South Derry in terms of talent.

Steelstown are making good progress and producing some good players but Cleary and Forrester are good Club players and I can't see them making an impact at Inter County level. Talk of Magherafelt and Glen is slightly premature I would guess but we'll see how it pans out over the next 3/5 years. Kilrea are best placed to make an impact in the short term I think.

Perhaps an option could be a city side to compete in the minor A grade at football. I know there are occasions when Steelstown have had good sides capable of competing but maybe an amalgamation could become real challengers. I'm just thinking along the lines of Dublin colleges success in the Leinster schools. Any thoughts tickle and screen??

Would St Endas Glengormley be an outpost as regards GAA ? Stayed up there years ago and red, white and blue were the dominant local colour scheme.

Finally getting places after years of abuse by our neighbours that would have finished manys another sports club but thats what sets the GAA apart.
The now predominantly nationalist area over the hightown bridge is called the "Vatican" by the rest of Newtownabbey but sure if thats as bad as it gets.
Our Feile footballers won N'abbey BC Sports team of the year last year which can only be described as massive.
People often say the reason for our progress is that we now have a massive catchment area but kids will not come unless there are structures, decent coaching and facillities and thankfully we are now getting places on all those fronts. We also have the Gaelscoil in the club grounds with teachers who actively promote Gaelic sports and we all know how hard to come by they are.

Brilliant to hear!! Keep up the great work!!!

Would St Endas Glengormley be an outpost as regards GAA ? Stayed up there years ago and red, white and blue were the dominant local colour scheme.

No a big catchment area now with a few new estates built over last 10 years and almost 100% Nationalist.

Would the club stretch on to the upper Antrim road??