Messages

I don't mind the Derry model, .5 age groups at primary school to keep class groups together but it then jumps from u11.5 to u14.  This means a bad gaa birthday gets 2 years at u14 and a good gaa birthday gets 3 years.  However, I still think they need to keep an intermediate u12.5 age group to help some bridge the gap from u11.5 to u14.

The LFGA model in Derry stops the .5 age groups at u10.5 and then u12.  u12 isn't a competitive league but it's a step up from go-games - usually a proper ref (albeit probably from the home club) and can be 11-a-side or 13-a-side depending on the league entered.  This does mean some girls will only get 1 year at u12.

Local soccer is just year of birth so bridges 2 primary school classes and there really is no issues, boys and girls might gravitate to their peers but overall it's just one team.

[Is Tyrone u12.5 league football and no championship?]

Seen a thing on facebook/instagram outlining the underage structures across the country with the majority of counties (20) using even ages, 5 using odd ages & 7 using a mix.  Just wondering if its accurate.

Derry's structures are
U7.5 (p2&3), U9.5 (p4&5) & U11.5 (p6&7) for go-games
Then u14, u16 & u18

You have 3 years at u14 if you've a "good" birthday.

In Derry there was an u12.5 league last year, mostly clubs with bigger numbers, to give players just out of u11.5 competitive football - not sure if it will be scheduled for the 2026 year group.

I know of clubs exploring the option of going to the Inishowen u12 league but apparently the county board are starting to listen to the clubs re the u12 situation

Tyrone has u10.5, u12.5 then u14s, u16s, minor.
For those with a bad birthday coming out of u14s, they only get 1 year at u14s then straight into u16s.
Not great for development of your mid/lower tier players and contributes to a drop off in numbers imo.

I personally think the even numbers the whole way up are a better fit.

Tyrone also just played 5 rounds of an U13 League as well. Good to see it back in the calendar.

Noticed this from clubs posting on facebook... is this to sort seedings/leagues for incoming u14?  Is Tyrone u12.5 league football and no championship?

It's played as Go-Games. Clubs grouped based on numbers, no scores officially kept etc.

I would've thought it was a push to keep the go-games format for first years (and will be second year by the time the season ends)... maybe this is why Tyrone have brought back the u13 league to bridge into competitive games.

I'm a big advocate of the go-games format but looking in, with primary school tournaments and the tournaments that clubs organise (and tell everyone to keep the photos off social media), that kids are mostly ready for competitive action after P7.

Seen a thing on facebook/instagram outlining the underage structures across the country with the majority of counties (20) using even ages, 5 using odd ages & 7 using a mix.  Just wondering if its accurate.

Derry's structures are
U7.5 (p2&3), U9.5 (p4&5) & U11.5 (p6&7) for go-games
Then u14, u16 & u18

You have 3 years at u14 if you've a "good" birthday.

In Derry there was an u12.5 league last year, mostly clubs with bigger numbers, to give players just out of u11.5 competitive football - not sure if it will be scheduled for the 2026 year group.

I know of clubs exploring the option of going to the Inishowen u12 league but apparently the county board are starting to listen to the clubs re the u12 situation

Tyrone has u10.5, u12.5 then u14s, u16s, minor.
For those with a bad birthday coming out of u14s, they only get 1 year at u14s then straight into u16s.
Not great for development of your mid/lower tier players and contributes to a drop off in numbers imo.

I personally think the even numbers the whole way up are a better fit.

Tyrone also just played 5 rounds of an U13 League as well. Good to see it back in the calendar.

Noticed this from clubs posting on facebook... is this to sort seedings/leagues for incoming u14?  Is Tyrone u12.5 league football and no championship?

Seen a thing on facebook/instagram outlining the underage structures across the country with the majority of counties (20) using even ages, 5 using odd ages & 7 using a mix.  Just wondering if its accurate.

Derry's structures are
U7.5 (p2&3), U9.5 (p4&5) & U11.5 (p6&7) for go-games
Then u14, u16 & u18

You have 3 years at u14 if you've a "good" birthday.

In Derry there was an u12.5 league last year, mostly clubs with bigger numbers, to give players just out of u11.5 competitive football - not sure if it will be scheduled for the 2026 year group.

Audioslave - Cochise

Appeal lodged by Slaughtneil

A very enjoyable minor semi final between Dungiven and Screen in front of a huge  crowd tonight, 1-12 to 1-11 to Dungiven at full time

Thought the ref kept screen in the game missing the most obvious black card by screens number 3 on harkin. And also missed a wreckless tackle on the same player moments earlier during a goal chance.

Dungiven made hard work of it with discipline issues and few missed goal chances.

Screen support had some complaints about a missed 2 pointer but it was 100% inside the arc.

Was at the game myself, I was actually amazed screen thought it was a 2pointer for even the player that kicked it didn't appeal for the 2 pointer.

Thought the ref was superb in letting the game flow but possibly missed a black for the screen 3.

If we are judging it on player reaction then the Ger Dillon free that was hesitantly signalled wide by one umpire as the other umpire went to grab the flag must have definitely been a 2-pointer.

It was 100% a black card to Screen's full back.

[hard to know how much continuity you can take from U17 to U20]

Eamon Young, James Sargent, Johnny McGuckian is some half forward line for this level. Donegal are dangerous but it could be the same as last year, where whoever wins when Tyrone and Derry meet will be thinking of an All Ireland.

Galway and Mayo probably need watched having been the minor final 3 years ago but hard to know how much continuity you can take from U17 to U20

There are only 11 of Derry's 2022 minor panel on the 2025 u20 panel (35 players).

I was chatting to a referee at the Derry v Galway game and he told me an interesting one. Should a team concede a penalty, and remonstrate the decision with the ref (i.e. dissent), the penalty will be taken, followed by a free being awarded to the attacking team, who can chose to take a 2 pointer. So a penalty can potentially gain 5 points if anyone is deemed to be dissenting (is that a word?).

Mad.

Surely this is not true? Just black card the player remonstrating and allow the defending team to take the kick out. 

I hadn't seen it anywhere before and he's the only one who pointed this out to me, so I don't know with certainty. But he's a ref, so should know.
Any resident referee's know if this is the case?

Was at a club meeting regarding the new rules and this was mentioned.

However, the way it was explained was that if the remonstrating continued after the penalty was taken then the referee could award a free which could be a 2-pointer.  For example, as players and referee are running back out to their positions after the penalty is scored and a sub or manager shouts at the referee then he can award the free.

I thought the 2nd Armagh 15 always beat the 1st Armagh 15 in training... 

Who said that? I dunno why but every Armagh loss seems to attract bellends to the board.
I know what people are saying about the players that are missing and of course this is right but my concern is how many will be returning soon.  It's a relatively short season and there's a few long term injuries there.

Jaysus, bit touchy are ye?? Fecking relax ye douchebag!

It was said several times on here during the Armagh's run last year that the 2nd 15 beat the 1st 15 in in-house games... it was often talked about that one of Armagh's strengths was in the replacements being of the same standard as the lads in the first 15 with no drop off.

Not that it should need said, my comment was a joke hence the emoji.  Of course any team will suffer with an extensive injury list.

I thought the 2nd Armagh 15 always beat the 1st Armagh 15 in training... 

I'm so delighted for Armagh and I'm happy man that we won, genuinely think there's an all Ireland in that Galway team. They have some serious players and It's Armagh's fortune that they had too many players injured and not match fit (not taking anything away from our lads, they've been brilliant) but how the feck did Galway even reach the final is beyond me with their injuries and struggles all year, I guess it was just one match too far for them. If them men can go away and get themselves fit for next year then they'll be hard to stop. Very sporting bunch of fans who congratulated us after the match and I wish them well next year.

It's hard to know where Armagh go from here, I hope there's no retirements and we keep our shoulder to the wheel. There will be 10 Counties thinking they can win it next year and the Championship will be fascinating next year for sure...Ard Mhacha Abu...

Maybe for another thread but I don't think there's 10 contenders; a lot can change over the autumn, winter & spring but current contenders would be:

Dublin, Kerry, Armagh, Galway are probably the top 4 going into next years championship.

Donegal, Derry, Mayo & Tyrone and the next batch.  Donegal are primed for a challenge.  The other 3 have a bit of work to do to get back to their recent heights.

To make it up to 10 you would be looking at:
Louth - second season under Brennan will be interesting to see if they progress
Cork - improving but need to take a few more steps upwards
Roscommon - ??

Any truth to the rumours Gallagher being back in with Errigal gone and LCC in as new sponsor?

Hard not thinking we could have been where Armagh are now

A disaster for Derry if that happens but looking likely. Never heard of LCC. Obviously a crowd that are not that worried about their reputation if that comes about. Yeah if you look Armagh we can only think what might have been. They have Sam up the road with no underage success for years. A win based on spreading the net wide and getting a big panel of lads bought in to the whole thing. A good few of them not playing senior football in Armagh. Its all about who is leading it and the man to do that for Derry isn't going to be RG.

I would say the rumour is nonsense but you've never heard of LCC?

Among other things, they own the GO stations and have annual turnover and profits in the multi-multi-millions.

How many people knew about this Louth talent before Harte became manager of them? They had a better/longer championship this year and a worse league campaign. 2025 will likely show how much Louth has actually kicked on under Brennan or year one under him was more about the ground work that was already done by Harte.

Harte went into Louth at a good time. They were division 4 when traditionally they had mostly yo-yoed between divisions 2 & 3. So he was starting from a low base. He did raise standards though and done a good job there especially in getting them into division 2 and keeping them there in their first season. A bit similar to Rory Gallagher when he took over the Derry job when the only way was up since they would have been traditionally a division 1/2 side languishing in division 4.

Football is played totally different to when Mickey Harte had his most successful years and sometimes you've got to know when to fold them.

As for successors, I would be very surprised if Derry went back to Rory Gallagher at this stage. They've already had one PR disaster with Mickey Harte and reappointing Gallagher would be another huge own goal. There are plenty of other good options about as the job must be an attractive one to get this time around.   

'.....plenty of other good options...' ?
Not sure about that? Apart from Malachy O'rourke it's a very shallow talent pool out there. Plenty of chancers and bluffers on the circuit but Rory Gallagher was possibly the best coach in Ireland last year. Jim Gavin isn't realistic. James Hogan isn't good up in that bracket either as well as being unrealistic re the travel etc.

I'm also pretty sure RG took over after Derry were promoted into Division 3.

Think your correct here!

Did DMcE take them from 4th to 3rd??

Yeah, relegated in Year 1, promoted in Year 2 and then stepped aside.

[With two or three retirements imminent]

It was a panic move by Derry last September. They were all in with Bringing RG back until that was option was blocked by Ulster Council. In fairness it's a very very shallow talent pool at that level and that Derry panel wouldn't have tolerated anything less than a big name to build on where RG had taken them too. The appointment was probably more about getting Devlin in than Harte. The gamble has seriously backfired on Derry co board but at least they have moved quickly ( or the players have) to limited the damage. With two or three retirements imminent RG will have no option other than to widen the panel. Though personally, I'd like to see our minors play out their u20 careers rather than plunging them straight into senior.

Chrissy potentially.....who else you thinking?

Possibly Ciaran mcfaul and Emmett Bradley. Though if it's Gallagher he may convince Ciaran to stay on. Emmett won't.

Yeah potentially Emmett B....

Why McFaul though?  What age is he btw?

McFaul is 30 afaik