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I had assumed the whole idea around the extra 2 starred games was to allow the league to start earlier and if the 20's went well then we play the starred games and start at the end of April - early May period.

We cannot be holding up the ACL due to U20's again....we don't even hold up the league for senior county albeit it is the starred game process we use.

Imagine the scenario whereby Tyrone Senior and U20 lose early in April - what do we do then? Wait until the designated start date in late May.

Club teams will have planned around the mid/late May start date and it would be unfair to suddenly say we are starting mid/end April if both county teams lose.

If the seniors get beat by Armagh on April 12, then they have a 5/6 week wait until their next game.....but still no club football. Crazy situation

Surely we use the starred games to compensate for both senior and u20 teams and start the ACL in mid-late April and continue with up to 7 starred games with a staggered schedule rather than week on week.

Be completely ridiculous to ask clubs to play without their Seniors and U20s. Be crippling for some clubs - Loughmacrory for example be down about 8 players.
You want to be playing football in the best months of the year - May, June, July, August and September - that is what we have. Can't understand the push to get playing in April.

Fair point on teams like the Lough etc who would be missing a lot of players. I accept that is not feasible then to play starred games without 20's.

However, imagine the scenario whereby the U20's don't progress far and the seniors lose to Armagh - do we then waste 4/5/6 weeks with no football because the start date is end of May?

So this all goes back to the fact that Tyrone have to push back to Croke Pk to bring U20 football back to straight knock out again.

Re Martin Sludden's comments at the County AGM 'However, he did caution that finding a better balance to the club calendar remained a significant challenge for the county and urged clubs to pilot new ideas, challenge old habits and help put players first.'

The task of the fixtures folk in Tyrone is very difficult and I think on the whole it's well done.

However why do we keep looking for the club's to find a way etc and be open to change?

It was not that long ago that Championship minor was straight knock out, now it's groups. U20 inter County football is the same and we are aware of how senior Championship has evolved over the last 20 years.

The GAA have warned re burn out over the years, but then added to the number of games.

Perhaps Tyrone, to help our own club calender, could campaign for a return to straight knockout at minor and U20 grade.

Had one and loved it bar having to charge it every night. Dropped it and it smashed . Replaced it with an amzfit  watch at half  the price. Does the same thing and battery lasts over a week

I've an Amazfit as well. Like you, I can go a week between charges. T-rex 2, got it on sale for about US$120 last year as they were bringing out the next gen one.

Does pretty much all that the Apple watch I had before it did for me.

Yeah- I got an amazfit about 6 months ago for about £85 online. The charge lasts around 10 days or so and as J70 says it does everything and more than I need.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DSPWKJW4/ref=pe_942301_45935611_TE_FOCE_n_id

Thought this was all voted on and sorted in April???

https://wearetyrone.com/sport/gaa/senior-and-intermediate-club-leagues-set-for-2026-revamp/

I think it was. However Ciaran McLaughlin has led a focus group looking at implementing extra changes.

I don't think Tyrone's set up is perfect, and it's hemmed in by the fact that county minor and U20 season now have backdoors, group stages, I can't believe it's not knockout stages etc. However it's always lauded as the best system. I worry that we try and fix the few problems there are and make it worse.

Reserves as a standalone league on a Saturday? It means an extra night out for a bracket of players and a couple of coaches. I see the reasoning but not sure it will work.

What is the story with Gortin and Glennelly, will they join again for youth? It is clear that the split has done neither team any benifit. There seems to be a bit of an uproar in Gortin about the split, with this emphasised by losing to Urney in a final in a hammering. Surely it cant get much worse than that, especially with their seniors in the top division last season , largely due to their good youth structures provided by the imalgimation .They have taken a huge backwards step thats for sure.

Glenelly have joined with Clann Na Gael at underage for 2026 anyway, not sure beyond that.

Rumour is that this is a tester for an adult merger under the name Sperrin Gaels.

With the current nervousness around the AI bubble is any of you considering moving your money from a pension pot locked in to the NASDAQ etc to somewhere more conservative?

Are any of you on any good money forums where this is a topic? I wouldn't mind being a bit more 'read up' on it.

No doubt both clubs own this but the County Board appear to lack the desire to tackle these brawls any more.

There have been 2 or 3 this year, and I don't believe there was any action taken.

Is the messaging part of the issue.

Like any county board in Ireland, it'll be brushed under the carpet.

And next year, they're be this sort of racket in plenty of counties.

'Tyrone GAA said it took the incident 'most seriously' and is 'working closely with the clubs concerned'.'

Were there quotes for the other high profile brawls we've witnessed this year?

I struggle to see how the CB rightly investigate this one and ignore others.

No doubt both clubs own this but the County Board appear to lack the desire to tackle these brawls any more.

There have been 2 or 3 this year, and I don't believe there was any action taken.

Is the messaging part of the issue.

More of a rule query and not a knock on the ref who did well.

Did I see Trillick pass a free back to the keeper with about 10 mins left yesterday? Is that allowed?

My reading of that incident was that the ref was telling the Trillick player to go backwards to take the free, hence the player kicked the ball to the keeper to then take the free from correct position who in turn kicked it back to the outfield player to play on...

Maybe I am wrong but that was what I assume happened

Maybe. I would need to see it again but that's the most likely scenario.

More of a rule query and not a knock on the ref who did well.

Did I see Trillick pass a free back to the keeper with about 10 mins left yesterday? Is that allowed?

Just back from the final. Loughmacrory absolutely deserved that. Thought Trillick were going to steal it but not to be.
Gripe though... why does refs blow so often when a player takes off on a solo run after being fouled? I thought that was the idea to keep the game going. Happened a lot today for no apparent reason.
Great occasion. History made and Tyrone championship def tops all.

The 3 or 4 occasions this happened, it was because the player started with a hand pass or a bounce, and never actually took a solo. There was also some distance between the foul and the solo and go one time.

Agree re Cathal Donaghey and the MOTM call although McElholm had a few magic moments in the last 10 mins.

Another weekend of senior championship, Anyone new impressing?

Getting Cathal Donaghy a run at wing forward during the league should be high up on Malachy's agenda. Has all the attributes to push himself into that position ahead of Oguz and Ben McDonnell.
Ruairi McCullagh strikes me as our replacement for McCurry in the not too distant future - very similar players and always rack up big scores.
Joey Clarke another worth a call up - be a good option in the corner or at wing back.

That Tiktokers brother in corner back for lough is decent. Joey clarke a shoe in for a call up.

Would donaghey suit the half forward role at county level? Good player all the same.

Some conveyor belt coming through at youth. Tyrone must have the best youth coaches of anyone in the country to be constantly producing all ireland winners, its crazy to think of it

Would the clubs and schools not be responsible for most of the coaching of young lads,

Or maybe that is what you mean

Yes the schools have a massive part to play in it. The brothers and academy in dungannon always have great players but donaghmore, holy trinity and st ciarans also reaping benefits from their teams now to. Serious talent all round

Schools and clubs doing a great job. Odd seeing the school with the highest intake producing just one County player and a couple of minors over the last decade, namely Holy Cross in Strabane.

Some bad research this series though. Load of middle aged Lisburn Roadies who think they're all that absolutely horsing the coke into them in a private members' club? Should have just set and filmed it in the Chelsea.

And not one medical professional among them to help the aul fella.

Just a few observations from the Championship so far.

- Re refs and the question re assessing them. What happens if the assessors says that the ref had a bad day? Who replaces said ref? It's obvious this year that the pool of refs is getting smaller. I regularly see a man reffing a game one day, 4th official that evening, linesman the next day. Does that take a toll on decision making eventually? It's a huge, huge issue, and I get the frustration but do forums like this help the situation or hinder it? I am guilty too of venting re refs when my team gets a rough deal. As an aside, have Sean Hurson or Mark Loughran reffed much this year? Two of the stronger refs, so I am surprised they have not been out more.

- The discipline in games has been good this year. I only recall a few red cards, and nothing that would be described as unsavoury. Players, officials, etc should be applauded regarding.

- The County Board really put out a great product for the Championship. Team sheets, set up, PR, live coverage etc. We all like to get a slap at the County Board at times but credit where it's due. In addition, teams playing every two weeks means that preparation for the teams has been better than previous years. With the 7 x starred game system next year that should improve further. We should be able to factor in a July break as well.

- The main thing I wanted to ask was, do you think that the new rules have ended the excitement of Championship upsets? Previously teams could have hung in and won with a sucker punch. The new rules mean that the best teams generally win, and that's not always a good thing. As an example of this take a look at the senior and all the games went to the favourites. Edendork beating Dromore might have raised an eye but not a shock as such. Intermediate and the only shock we had was Aghaloo beating Beragh, and even that was not seismic.

Did Jet just say Stewartstown won an All Ireland club title? Maybe I misheard him. They definitely didn't.

He did. Cookstown, Moy and Greencastle.

Sperrin og as well.