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Unionism can't afford to promote integration, when people meet each other and collaborate the bogey-man element disappears, the Union is in its own self imposed death grip

Yes they should definitely retain their Britishness in a United Ireland if thats what they want, I'm sure they'll enjoy the minority-immigrant moniker

This will be reflected on the ballot as Unionism will congregate under a big tent again to cut their losses for as long as possible, but its a losing battle as we know, re-unification could take another 30 years but it is inevitable
I noticed for the second year, the message on the twelfth  is for a more united unionism. Circle the wagons.  They're getting  desperate.

That's the thing with unionism. They can't unite. The whole reason they are in this mess is because every unionist party has to be different. TUV is experiencing a good polling period atm but their young voter base is paltry. Similar with DUP, a lot of their voters are over 50+. I seen a picture on twitter the other day and it showed that 3 unionist dominant constituencies had 25%+ 65 years or over voting demograph, with North Down at nearly 33%. Maybe in order to get a united Ireland, we don't have to breed like rabbits anymore. We just have to be patient and wait for the unionist voting power to die off

Imagine if Reform stands in the north.

A rival to the TUV.

Would shred the vote a bit more.

I wonder would they many members in the north?

Morgan apparently taking time to think about his future. Id guess he'll stay but a serious gap is going to open in a major position.

 Another reason why anyone counting All Irelands from the very good underage talent is a fool.

Turns 34 today - you'd wonder if he might go for a reduced role next season if he does stay on - maybe sit out some of the games in the league and give a chance to some of the other goalie options to get some game time - he's still a teacher so championship would be less of a commitment issue. Anyone know what the options are like in terms of his potential replacements ?

I can't see Morgan retiring to be honest.

Yeah if I had to bet I'd be backing him to stay on for a year or two more.

However once a player goes over the thirty mark it's only a matter of time before things come to an end.

A goalkeeper is different to an outfield player.

From the Cricket Club statement
"But let's be clear: openness is not a threat. Respect is not surrender. And our culture is not so fragile that it can't be shared."

What's the "our culture" bit about?  who's the "our"?

Same mentality, different garb.

The latest statements from both on this are interesting, The local OO are saying they put out their FB post AFTER the CC had cancelled this event but what the CC hint at and don't elaborate is that they come under pressure from a local Whatsapp group which pushed their buttons and the admin of it is meant to be the main man in that OO crowd.

If this was one of those Ards and North Down sponsored "Game of three halfs" which we used to partake in not only would the East Belfast kids be playing cricket, but the Cricket crowd would be playing gaelic football.

Bad time of the year for that.

We normally would have done ours in March or so with Donaghadee rugby and Portavogie soccer.

They're covering their tracks.

A PR disaster for them all.
 

Is there not a GAA club in Larne?

Yeah, there is.

Funny how there are Gaa clubs in strong unionist areas like Larne and Holywood etc.

Just surrounded by huge unionist areas.

Great credit to them.

Morgan apparently taking time to think about his future. Id guess he'll stay but a serious gap is going to open in a major position.

 Another reason why anyone counting All Irelands from the very good underage talent is a fool.

Turns 34 today - you'd wonder if he might go for a reduced role next season if he does stay on - maybe sit out some of the games in the league and give a chance to some of the other goalie options to get some game time - he's still a teacher so championship would be less of a commitment issue. Anyone know what the options are like in terms of his potential replacements ?

I can't see Morgan retiring to be honest.

As it's only for General Election, nationalist parties should not step aside for Alliance and aim to simply secure the highest possible percentage vote. 

I get where you're coming from but you'd hate to see the DUP taking Lagan Valley back...

Unionism will combine and win it back the next time I think.

Same as East Derry. They'll go for an 'agreed candidate'.

I think unionism for sure will definately be against lowering the voting age.

https://www.balls.ie/football/shelbourne-linfield-belfast-champions-league-636075?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR5tW6AQTd3HVGPjI9Oak3oz4VMQuN1YdXnfO5bt5jSSYIc6-BOUf6o8MLuRdA_aem_e3N5QCqKMtebUG5lXNmSVQ

Proper scum aren't they

Watched it on BBC iPlayer.. clearly cud hear Billy Boys... "we're up to our neck in Fenian blood.."
Lovely people bringing their children up in that...

Paratrooper flag in the picture also.

A bad few weeks for unionism. 

I've been refereeing many years, in every game that has a scoreboard I've been asked two things what's the score and how long is left. That's every game

You're telling me they didn't know that a point went up for a wide?

Yes.

Can you throw up a link from the players who couldn't count?

The ref had the correct score the whole time, his umpire put out a wide, the players on the pitch knew that shot was wide as the it was given by the umpire, you'd have to be pretty dumb to not know the correct score at that point.

Incorrect scores go up on boards up and down the country every weekend, and as I said, even with scoreboards having the score up and the time left, players will and have always asked "whats in it" "Whats left ref"

Sorry the match isn't always about you the whole time.

I've been refereeing many years, in every game that has a scoreboard I've been asked two things what's the score and how long is left. That's every game

You're telling me they didn't know that a point went up for a wide?

Yes.

Can you throw up a link from the players who couldn't count?

The ref had the correct score the whole time, his umpire put out a wide, the players on the pitch knew that shot was wide as the it was given by the umpire, you'd have to be pretty dumb to not know the correct score at that point.

Incorrect scores go up on boards up and down the country every weekend, and as I said, even with scoreboards having the score up and the time left, players will and have always asked "whats in it" "Whats left ref"

You're wrong.

Players said they didn't know the score, hence going for points late on.

You are the only one with this view point.

Anyone else on here with MR's point of view?

[anyone who hadn't heard of Kneecap before , will have done so now. Out of curiosity if nothing else.]

Was on politics live on the BBC yesterday - Tory man going mental.

It's all about distraction.

It's  counter productive though , as  anyone who hadn't heard of Kneecap  before  , will have done so  now. Out of curiosity if nothing else.

And a lot of people will  now be aware of Kneecap 's views  on the  genocide in Gaza.  And other musicians rowing in behind them , should  amplify the message.

Sadly though , the slaughter will continue .

They have gone from 485k to 607k followers on instagram.

THE number of people listening to Kneecap has soared in the past week and the band have entered the charts for the first time in several countries.

Following ten days of hostile stories about the rappers, their popularity continues to grow across the world as they win over legions of new fans.

This week, Kneecap's album 'Fine Art' entered the iTunes chart in Italy, Brazil and Germany for the first time. Not only that but the band's monthly listeners on Spotify has also grown from 100,000 to 1.1 million.

I was reading an article this morning, they are now at 1.05million followers, more than doubled in a few months.

They announced a UK winter tour, have sold out Boucher along with The Fontaines next month, Headliner in Electric Picnic,  2 x sold out shows in 3Arena in December, in talks to headline AVA in Belfast next summer, rumours of Croke Park next year with The Wolfe Tones.

They are striking whilst the iron is hot anyway.

These lads are a joke.

How many times have they retired now?

I've been refereeing many years, in every game that has a scoreboard I've been asked two things what's the score and how long is left. That's every game

You're telling me they didn't know that a point went up for a wide?

Yes.

I've in two minds on this.

In a way I think the tickets should just go to the 2 counties and fill their allocation needs first.

Then on the other hand, it's good that they go to clubs from all over Ireland and gives a chance for people from them counties to attend an All-Ireland Final.

Some clubs use their tickets for a £10 fund-raiser, which is good for their club also. A handy fundraiser. 

[If there was a Kilkenny player who didn't know the score I'd be very surprised]

Still no apology for Kilkenny over the scoreboard! 

From whom? If there was a Kilkenny player who didn't know the score I'd be very surprised.

Did Kilkenny come out looking an apology?

There's definately no way Kilkenny players knew the score.

[he's been annihilated on kickouts in the first half of each of the last two games]

Ah I missed that, apologies. Yes I was talking about O'Shea but equally would be surprised with Ryan. Has generally managed to regroup but he's been annihilated on kickouts in the first half of each of the last two games.

Every keeper is getting hammered at kick-outs. That's the way it's going to be.

Plus not all the keeper's fault.

#winyourownball

At the weekend Shane Ryan used one hand to swing up off the crossbar and the other to save a point attempt. Is that illegal?

I remember that.

But was thinking would it not be easier to just jump up. Would you not get the same height?

In a similiar vein to rugby line outs, I'd wonder if a few lads on goal-line 'rugby lifted' a mid-fielder say, in a controlled fashion in stopping a point from a 45 for example.

Would the referee blow it and under what rule?