Sunday Shame

Who'd be a manager? Don't get a penny, well not officially, for their troubles and then when beaten in the championship have to run the gauntlet of the RTE lot.

Brolly's criticism of the Armagh boss Grimley was way over the top and last night Eamonn O'Hara took his differences with Kevin Walsh to new heights.

Even the bould Des, who arranged the question during the advert break, was shocked with the ferocity of the answer and looked completely stunned.

Look it was compulsive viewing, listening. But RTE are putting up stuff at the moment that Sky Sports or the old The News of the World would run a mile from.

There is obviously a few bob to be made in this sector and competition for places on Team Lyster and Team Cahill is hotter than ever but let's say something will have to give and soon.


Paddy Bites Back

Donegal have the best full forward line playing Gaelic football at the moment. Young Paddy McBrearty is now a vital member of this trio and really left his mark on yesterday's game.

Scored two nice points and set up both goals. Man of the Match and was dead right not making that trip to Dublin. Did they really expect him to Rat on a fellow player?


Honda Lu

Don't really know what to make of Louth. Not many teams go to Portlaoise and win by such a margin.

Maybe its something to do with they having no real proper grounds of their own but the Wee County men appear to travel better than most. They had already drawn away to Laois in the NFL and included in a decent enough league campaign was a fine win in Armagh.

On the flip side Louth suffered bad home losses to Derry and Wexford.

Next up in the championship? Those same Yellow Bellies. Game is fixed for Drogheda and if inconsistent Louth are up to their old tricks expect an away win.


Munster and the Tommy Murphy Cup

Was it Joe Brolly who yesterday compared the Munster football championship to the Tommy Murphy Cup with Cork and Kerry thrown in.

Tipp were terrible, played a really crude brand of football. Very disappointing to see their young players not developing. If Kerry had some of those Premier minors of recent years----

Maybe there is a higher level of club football in Cork and the Kingdom that keeps the gap in standards fairly significant.

But have the sneaky feeling that once drawn against the big two, both Tipp and Limerick subconsciously say yeah we have no chance here, lets prepare for the back door instead.

Don't be surprised to see either take one or two bigger scalps before the championship is over.


Donegal - One extreme to the other

Sure Tyrone dominated possession for long periods yesterday. But one just had to admire the pure economy of the Donegal effort.

There was no Sky Scrapers of the Colm Kavanagh variety from McGuinness's men. Instead the motto of making the most from every opportunity abounded.

Don't give the ball away and only shoot when certain.

But Jim could have a word or two with the Donegal minors. They were completely on top of their Tyrone opposition for much of the game but let themselves down badly in the shooting stakes. A fella told me on the way out of Ballybofey that they had shot 19 wides.

Hardly surprising that they made their exit from the championship. The same chap also stated that Monaghan had a fine minor team and fully expected them to win at least the Ulster crown.


Hero One Week---

Amazing this old GAA world of ours.

This time last week Galway people were very vocal about appointing big Kevin Walsh as their football manager. The hero cometh home. Mulholland hadn't a clue etc etc.

All of a sudden complete silence on the matter. As we previously alluded to --- who in their right frame of mind would be a manager?


What a Cracker

Game of the weekend? A hurling match hosted in the confines of rural Trim.

The contestants--Meath and Down, hardly two giants of our ancient game. The competition-the much beleaguered Christy Ring Cup. But what a match.

Fifty scores in total and a period of extra time thrown in and still no final result. Meath midfielder Steven Clynch shot 15 points over the 90 minutes

Down folk rave about big Gareth Johnston and call him Magic Johnston, presumably for his many hurling talents. The Mournes or should it be the Ards has produced some great hurlers over the years and Magic along with the like of Paul Braniff would get on any team.

Roll on next Saturday for more of the same stuff.


Cillian Farrell Rings a Bell

First time on these boards and will finish off with that same Ring Cup clash or rather with a quote from Royal boss Cillian Farrell

"This is a competition it must be remembered to promote hurling. They are trying to promote hurling with a competition that is finishing in mid June"

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