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

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 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:-)"

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 AfricanGael:  "It would pay these fellas to watch a few All-Irelands even from the 90's, they can talk all they like about "winning is all that matters", they must think no team at all won in the past :-). Trying to be talking all posh and sophisticated, making a simple game complicated. They forget the bigger picture of course, that most neutrals wont watch the sort of tripe many of them are playing, pansying around trying to feel like they are Barcelona for 70 minutes, afraid or unable to back themselves. I'll tell you this, if they came up against a few of the greats of the past, they wouldn't get too much time for pansying around."

Replying To ONdeDITCH:  "The thing about Catholicism in practice is that its totally lacking in humanity,some of us copped it at an early age but more and more have copped it throughout my lifetime thankfully.There will always be a cohort that can't drag themselves away from it."

Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Against soccer? I don't like soccer and from what I've seen of it, women's soccer is even worse. nothing to do with it being played by women. Women's gaelic football is great game and I've been at a fair few games over the years and it's often better TV than the senior men's for entertainment."

Replying To DonaldDuck:  "You are kind of proving my point in saying "Think over 2018/2019 so far there has been at least 4 new rugby clubs set up". Rugby is on the crest of a wave at the moment. Imagine how many rugby clubs would be set up if they were granted access to the GAA pitch on every town and village in the country? A lot more. Why would the GAA facilitate a rival sport to spring up in village where they are already tight on numbers? tomhealycork (Cork) - Posts: 19 - 2/1/19 3:29:48 PMNobody has said sports clubs(why are you only saying rugby???) should be given access to any/every GAA pitch??"

Replying To endgame:  "I'm not having a pop at Wexford but they're poor at the moment. So are Offaly and Galway are mediocre. That's led to an ordinary Kilkenny team reaching the last two All Ireland finals and getting hammered by 9 points yesterday. The provincial championship is distorting the All Ireland series. Cork nearly knocked Limerick out yet Cork themselves were out and gone home. I don't know what Cork would have thought yesterday watching that final. Perhaps the answer is to have the provincial championships separate from the All Ireland championship. Nobody wants to see the end of the Munster championship but having Leinster on a par with Munster at the moment for qualification for the All Ireland series is nonsense and nobody, yellow belly or whatever will convince me otherwise."