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Yeah, great evening's football in prospect, and proper that it's both counties that have both U21s and Seniors out (as opposed to different opposition in the U21).

A speedy and full recovery to Ronán, he'll be missed.

Anyone at today's hurling game folks? Were the Tír Eoghain hurlers that good (2-23), Liatroim An Cabhán that bad (1-09), or a mixture of both?

[Looked like a cracker from the teletext.]

Queens 0-15, UUJ 0-14 AET. Looked like a cracker from the teletext.

Yep, score for score almost, but appearances can be deceptive   

Syd has the low-down though, and not the best of quality apparently 

Queens 0-15, UUJ 0-14 AET. Looked like a cracker from the teletext.

Best of luck with your venture Ardal, fair dues to you all, great to see.

opening up of croke park has been a disaster for the gaa.

opening up of croke park has had  this result- rugby gains a foothold in the minds of our children to the expense of gaelic games ,opening up of croke park has been a pr matersroke for rugby in its quest to win the heart of our youth.

I don't know where you live, but in my neck of the woods the children - and remember, We Must Do Everything We Can For The Children - had heard of rugby before the Ireland - France game

I agree Deiseach..really some of the shite on this topic...how many kids will be playing rugby come May/June!

'Hearing' of rugby is one thing a chairde, but elevated to such a pre-eminent and prominent position in the psyche of the collective young?... Only time will tell.

Did he not come on as a sub against Donegal last week ??

Yes, he did, but might as well not have! 

I would just see it as cringeworthy like the use of 'Great' or any other 19th century notion they sometimes hang on to.

I don't see any problem with the word "Great" in "Great Britain". I think it's just the geographical name of the island - i.e. the largest of the geographical British Isles, similarly to "Great Blasket". I don't think it's meant to apply to their status as a nation, though I've no doubt many of their great unwashed think it does.

I think I've seen two different explanations for the term. One is that it distinguishes the island as a whole from "Britain", which actually comprises England and Wales only. Another is that it goes back to Norman times, and it was named in reference to the other part of their kingdom in Northern France, that we now call Brittany. So you had "Bretagne" and "Grand Bretagne".

The second bit of your explanation is correct. Great Britain is a derivation of Grand Bretagne, it has nothing to do with being great in the Muhammed Ali sense.

Don't know where the French come into this SammyG, it's not like the English would ever do the French bidding in relation what to call their island. Is the great not of Roman derivation, to distinguish it from its littler neighbour (Hibernia)?

He had an excellent game against Monaghan in the Mc Kenna cup, How could you justify starting Mc Mahon in midfield over him, he has had no good games at midfield for Tyrone..

I wouldn't rule Justin Mc out simply because he hasn't played at midfield before, after all Joe had never played at full back before either, and excelled. That's not to say Kelvin Hughes shouldn't be given a run-out however.

[what is the point in having so much capital tied up in a part time rugby pitch?]

rosnarun,

what is the point in having so much capital tied up in a part time rugby pitch?

That sums it up perfectly.

Jeez lads, is that all it comes down to in the end, capital? Money?

Croke is still ours, it's still a Gaelic Games stadium (with mendicant professional, though temporary, tenants of late), and it represents so much more than money, or material, of any kind can or ever could.  The money accrued from its sale will be accrued by the association anyway. OK, it'll take it a little longer, but at least we will have arrived with our soul fully intact, and not as a spiritually bankrupt and empty parody of what we once were.

Does Justin McMahon not play mid filed for Omagh - any Omagh game I have seen he was playing midfield, had to be moved out of midfield twice against Ardboe last year as he couldnt cope with John McConville

Could be wrong there, it's a while since I've seen him playing, but that would be a worry that he had to be shifted.

MH and the players will have had a good break to digest the aftermath of the Cork game and hopefully will have done some real soul searching.

The question is - does MH go for essentially the same team again (minus Mugsy) to give them a shot at redemption, or does he go for others who may take thier chances?

IMHO - Mellon, Carlin, Hughes and Cavanagh jnr should all sit this start out with Cavo moved to CHF.

Justin McMahon at Mf anyone??? and Rouse in for a start at FF

Ricey should be back(?) to steady the backs and Jordan could well get a work out.

I would keep Mulgrew in as his workrate has improved a lot, same for McCullogh. SON is way off form at present and needs games.

Any word on Joe McMahon? When is he due back in trianing?

I would agree with that analysis largely; would like to see Justin Mc at midfield too (know that he's half-back for Omagh, but even so), Carlin does much better, and is much more of a threat to the opposition, from the half-back line.

MH has a few big calls on this one.

If the terms are right-YES

Full back,
But, if it's a National Stadium, then the three major sporting organisations will have equal call on it, therefore gaelic games will be denied use when they might otherwise have had free reign, therefore how could the terms ever be right in such a circumstance?

By terms I meant that it can be used as the National stadia providing it doesnt interfere with the GAA calendar during the course of the year.
If the rent is used correctly over the years & filtered through the system to grass roots it can only benefit all of us. FFS in Armagh, clubs have to give the county board £4000 a year. To certain clubs this is a big chunk to pay before a ball is even kicked.
With clubs having more spare capital, hopefully facilities will improve, therefore attracting more youngsters.It may sound a bit far fetched but we have to look for the future.
I dont believe this bullsh1t of the GAA promoting other sports by renting CP out.As previous posters have said, while any National team are excelling at a particular sport there will always be an explosion of interest & the media spotlight will shine on them for a period, but not I believe to the detriment of GAA.
The GAA hasnt unduly suffered in recent years as a result of the soccer team doing well in the late 80's early 90's

But, as a National Stadium, it no longer belongs to the GAA, it's the Nation's that's the whole issue, and therefore the GAA cannot dictate unequal terms. It cannot be a half-National or pseudo-National stadium; a National Stadium is the whole hog.

OirthearMhaigheo, Billy - thank God - I thought I was going mad!

I think you're right, Billy - it started being used in reference to NI vs Britain. It first appeared as 'mainland Britain' as I remember. This then gradually became 'the mainland'. As I say, it's not a political issue for me, but I can't believe that an uber-chuckie like Lynchbhoy is OK with it!   

And of course 'mainland Britain' is relevant only to Lindisfarne, Isle of Wight, the Hebrides, etc., Ireland is an island in her own right, Britain is an island in her own right, so when anyone speaks of the 'mainland' in reference to the north, and meaning Britain, they're invoking some magical property that some people have, i.e., that you can be from two islands at the one and the same time!