Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "As said … talk is cheap , let's see if he can do more than just that… And travelling on a jolly to the other end of the world to a club in Korea will mean dam all if football is in the same malaise as it's in now when his very well paid term is over…. I am more than willing to give him time as the Job is big but people wetting themselves over a speech after a match is a tad over the top… Get a grip"

Replying To Young_gael:  "The Men of '25 I say no word of the long ago Of our warriors staunch and true, Who fought their fight in the days of old, In our memories live their gold, But I raise a hand to our own dear lads, All royal, brave and true, Who fight their fight, Keep Meath's dream's alive, The men of '25! When they heard the call of the days of old, They sprang to the field again, And the foe of old was the first to fall, In Portloaise's mighty den. And in war with our friend's o'er the great, blue Boyne, Did our foe, oh how did they strive! And defeat the men of old green of Meath The men of '25! And to work they went, against foes of old, Rebels, Rossies oh how they fell, And the kingdom came to Tullamore's den To face the royals unleashed from shell. Then a showdown, in Dublin's town, Came to mighty western tribe, And we watched with fright, Old Meath's might, Then men of '25! Now back to the den, Meath go again, To face a northern foe. With the county right, and the panel's might, To battle, now they go. And in Meath's proud name may they rise again, And all Royals to Croker arrive, And they'll fight the fight all over again, Mighty Meath of '25! Up the Royals."

Replying To skillet:  "Think the shackles of the Catholic Church have been well left behind... Now we've got the Woke, perpetually offended and outraged by everything Shackles to deal with."

Replying To bad.monkey:  "Even putting aside his ridiculous self indulgent speeches, he has been a poor President in addressing issues. -The Provincial Championship system: he will not address because of his own personal bias for Ulster, forget everyone else in the country. As he said '"Well anybody who asks me that, about provincial finals and making changes to the championship, I say, 'Well, I'm an Ulsterman, there won't be any changes during my three years." He wasnt saying this when the Leinster counties welcomed Antrim into their hurling championship as there was no competition for them in Ulster. - Casement Park. Lots of politician like talk as usual but not a piece of sod turned. - Compressed Intercounty championship and All Ireland finals in July. Blink and youll miss it. Since the switch LOI soccer is growing massively in North Dublin and Leinster rugby in the South. -"

Replying To AfricanGael:  "All these counties giving out about Dublin's boring style of play and crying about lack of funding haven't cottoned on that all you need to do today is get together the best group of athlete's in your county (Gaelic footballers preferred but not essential), a couple of big brutal enforcers for centerfield, teach them first how to catch a tennis ball, when they're used of that a big white ball will be child's play, employ a strength and conditioning coach, a part time dietitian and last but not least, the main man, the basketball coach. Hone the dying art of palming your goals and fisting your points in from two yards, a good hoofer to knock over your frees and before long you'll be deemed the best team ever to play the game. And sure look if the lads haven't the ability or the confidence to take a 99% shot on don't worry about it, let them retreat back to there own half, throw the ball around like shelf stackers throw loaves of bread to each other and start again. If you come under pressure of a mass press just hoof the ball over the top of them and give your team a 50/50. The whole world will come to a standstill on All-Ireland final day to marvel at these unbelievably skillful Irish men, from Brazil to Germany, Italy and Spain, we'll be the envy of the world. It will be the number one game on the planet in no time. Ye have it all wrong lads, just copy the best team ever. :-)."

Replying To Breffni40:  "Agreed but to me it seems that the negativity and cynicism on here in particular has increased significantly relatively recently. There are a significant number of posters on here for whom nothing is good enough. You'd question why they're here at all if the GAA brings so much spite into there lives. Rules, presidents, counties, refs, pundits, players, volunteers, tickets, facilities, fixtures, venues etc, they're furious about it all"

Replying To clare_sparrow:  "I couldnt give a toss who wins this all ireland (or any garlic football game for that matter) but my major concern is what ever happens will set a precedent that may be used in hurling in the future re the 16th man. Therefore I think it has to be replayed."

Replying To MesAmis:  "Who are they? What influence do "they" have that is comparible to the influence the Catholic Church had in Ireland? Would you ever give over."

Replying To Young_gael:  "Again to reiterate, I hate talking about politics on forums, Im here purely to talk GAA, namely football, and namely all things Meath. But in the spirit of the post where I am addressed twice, I have to respond. I agree with you on education, by the way. It is thought from an Irish nationalist point of view, presented as an 800 year constant struggle of oppression and toil, and indulging the period from 1798 until 1922 as the tipping point in our history from which we prevailed into a free state and beyond. No mention of Tom Crean, nor Arthur Wellesley, and not a whole pile on Daniel O'Connell (which the main streets in 2/3 of our cities is named from, or my favourite Irish person of all time, CS Parnell. And the reason there isnt much on them and many others? They worked within the British system. Simple. It doesent suit a basic Irish history system to indulge the extremely complex nature of our history. I dont have an attitude of superiority as you said of me... Im an Irish nationalist and id never call myself a Republican, again note the complexity of language in Irish society. I believe that truly deep down a lot of people, particularly when they study Ireland since partition, often wonder within themselves if freedom was even worth it, when you consider just how poor our leaders were almost non-stop for decades. When you consider the all-emcompassing rule of the catholic church. Absolutely. Ive often had this thought myself. I think that you, bloodyban, are probably a unionist yourself deep down. To further address your saying I have a patronising tone, I dont intend to. My way of writing has frequently been seen as patronsing on these forums, but its just the way I write. Ireland must be unique among the nations on Earth in that aspousing nationalist views, and the nationalist ideal can be met with hostility. Again, I agree with a lot of what you said, just not the argumentative points. Im not here for arguments. Ive studied Irish history through every prism I can and I have enormous respect for figures far beyond the realms of what we teach our leaving certs. There were some great Irish people who worked within the empire, including 3 British prime ministers, one of which lived scarcely 10-12 miles from where I am writing. If Irish history teaches me one thing it is that conciliation is the most important thing, and accepting complexity and finding a common ground is the most important thing, but from my own learning I still conclude that we are better off by ourselves, ruling ourselves, and for that resason I am a 32 county nationalist and I think I always will be. Its not about starry eyed idealism for me, or slogans or chants, but I honestly believe the people of this country are better off free of Britain, while still accepting and coming to terms with our history. Theres only so much I can get across in a message on the forums but I hope your view point of me has changed, even slightly, and Im sure face to face we could discuss these things for hours."

Replying To jacktheDub:  "Lads ye are trying to defend the indefensible ye have a huge advantage based on geography. Before the qualifiers ye could play 3 games to get to an all ireland final. That amount of games would only play a leinster final that's another advantage. Win 2 games in a hurling province and ye were in a semi final. Your great team of the 70's had to beat Tipperary, Cork, Sligo to get to an ALL-IRELAND final one year!!!!. As I mentioned your conversion rate from munster to all ireland's is poor due to the annual cake walk against hurling counties."

Replying To AfricanGael:  "I'd say ye are savage craic altogether in the sanctuary county. :-)"

Replying To KillingFields:  "The only rugby matches that are allowed now are professional games where all players are tested on very regular basis. Players dont work other jobs. Not the same as the GAA."

Replying To legendzxix:  "Are Dublin not box office? The capital would surely naturally have big viewing figures by size of population?"

Replying To Convert1:  "Neil Moyna's of DCU comment on current senior and intercounty football not to mention 3rd level inter college being a turn off. What do folks think. For me I have to agree with him that defensive systems and 14/15 men behind the ball in your own half is a turn off. Hurling or rugby now have far more appeal. No enjoyment to watch and I can imagine no enjoyment to play as well. Maybe the 5 new rules being tested might breath some life into the game. For a game I enjoyed to play, coach and watch now becoming something i do not feel worth watching anymore."

Replying To Alwaysencourage:  "Sure he said last week that hurling final was the most important day in GAA calendar.He talks so m7ch he cantbremember what he said the week before.I honestly thought he would be a decent president but he is the most outright politician that has held the post."

Replying To streaker:  "I watched the game yesterday in a bar in the UK, and as the cameras turned to the presentation to show Burns with his trusty microphone in hand, 3 lads next to me almost simultaneously said "oh, not this fella again", and turned around to watch the women's soccer....."

Replying To Pinkie:  "There is absolutely no doubting the supreme talent of Joe Canning, and he is often compared to Henry Shefflin in terms of ability and skill. For me, that is where the similarities start and finish. There is 1 huge difference, when Kilkenny needed Shefflin most, Shefflin delivered. I'm thinking of the drawn final a few years ago, when Kilkenny were all at sea, Shefflin took the game by the scruff of the neck and single handedly dragged Kilkenny back into the game and got them over the line and a replay. When Shefflin was missing, in finals v Tipp and v Cork when he was sent off, Kilkenny struggled. When Galway need Canning most, Canning is missing and nowhere to be seen. Yesterday typified this. And this has been the story of Joe. He has the ability to score a wonderful goal, but for me he is not fit to lace Shefflin's boots. Am I being too hard on him? Is it because he is marshalled so well and people think stop Joe stop Galway? I personally would never want to be relying on Joe to win a match for me, Shefflin I would bet my life on winning a match for me."

Replying To Mayonman:  "very self serving article. to have a go at AOS, whatever you think about him, for trying to get a bit of career for himself says so much about their mgt style. memo to holmes/coneelly ..........it is an amateur sport and u are not entitled to interfere with a players career. not a very holistic approach to management. hanging a player out to dry over expressing a preference for a keeper. not great lads. maybe players should have no opinions?? players kept their reasons private and so should the x mgmt. they have now started to make it personal. reflects badly on them. going on about humiliation......................grow up. u were dropped as managers. players get dropped every week and have to roll with it. I think their is a cult of manager out there who will drown in their own self importance! PS don't be misled by my name..........................I'm a Galway man to the core and actually enjoying this a bit:-)"