I’m off on a work trip for a few days from tomorrow which involves my leaving my bed at a ludicrously early hour so ahead of this here are a few developments of note to keep you going.
January’s FBD fixtures have been announced – details here. So the Patandnoel era will officially get going with a match against NUIG on the 4th of January.
The minor football league fixtures for next year have also been revealed – details here.
The shortlist for this year’s Mayo News/O’Neills Club Stars Team of the Year has been published – full details here.
James Horan, back writing again for the Western People, had a nice cut at Liam O’Neill and that nonsensical announcement last week about dummy teams and sanctions for same. The Irish Examiner has a piece on this – here. Good on you, James.
That’s it, I’m outta here with Mort’s book packed in my hand luggage.
Safe trip WJ, don’t forget to pack the Prozac with it.
Read the book – I’ll give thoughts on it after your review, Willie Joe.
He had a very interesting interview on Newstalk – nearly more revealing than the book in many respects. Well worth a listen.
I fully agree with James Horan on his stance on Liam O’Neill’s latest crusade. This crusade is stirred up partly by lazy journalists who cannot be bothered to get an insight into what is happening around the country. I would agree that antics such as Donegal’s not informing the Croke Park announcers of their team until the game was started needs to be curtailed but needing team announcements by Thurs/Friday is nonsense. All other sports seem to be able to get on without it.
I am amazed than only five of our starting team plus subs against Kerry could get nominations for the Club All Stars team. I do not get to see much club football in Mayo, usually only semifinals and finals, but five seems to be a remarkably low figure. Presumably the majority of the twenty players going into preseason training are included on this list of nominations.
Bit of a silly statement AndyD re the club stars….its like the All Stars, teams that get to very latter stages of county club championships make up the majority of the nominations (ie. 3 O’Connors in forwards…if they had been beaten by CBar in semi say, might only have been one of them). Is there even a player who’s club didnt get to semi final stage on it?
Also the statement regarding th 20 players selected to do pre-season conditioning, again a ridiculous statement to make – most of these are kids from minor teams from the last few years finding their feet at club level and trying to make the breakthrough at county U21 and Senior squad…give them a break FFS. Not all these lads will be playing for the Castlebar or Ballintubbers of this world either.
Club stars should include as few county players as possible.give ordinary lads a reward for all the hard work
I agree with you on that he should be club players only.
Ming in Europe
I feel it is very patronising of you when you say “ordinary club players”.Many of these guys are excellent footballers and are there on merit for their performances throughout the year.Many intercounty players fail to shine with their clubs and as a result do not make the cut for these nominations. For example Breaffy have only one player nominated which speaks for itself.
Also as stated above, the more successful teams will make up the bulk of the nominations as is the case with the national all stars, that is just the nature of these types of awards. This year there are no players from teams who did not reach the quarter final stage.
I feel county players have to be involved in this or otherwise it diminishes the stature of it. The chosen team must be a representation of the best players in the championship in that year. To be fair to the selection committee they are usually bang on with their selections. There are the odd exceptions but that only serves good debate.
Any initiative like this which serves to promote our club games in the county and reward players must be commended.
Well said Juno. County players who put in the effort with their fellow club players deserve the recognition that the club stars offer. It would be outrageous to think that the likes of Alan Dillon wouldn’t get a nomination for his outstanding performances for his club just because he’s a county player.
Best of luck to Achill in the junior connacht final in Tuam on Sunday. Acaill Ábu!!!
I have total admiration for any player who puts in the shift for both club and county. It is difficult to do but some players can do it year in year out.
Are we in the hastings cup for 15 , the u-21 comp we were in last year?
TG4 are showing deferred coverage of Ballintubber v corofin. They are showing the Munster hurling final between cratloe & kilmallock live.
Just bumping up my query here, are our 21s in the hastings cup for 15?
I did a bit of checking round online the last time you asked this, Sean, but couldn’t find any info on this (apart from a story a few weeks back confirming that Kerry are taking part in it next year). Does anyone else know anything about this?
Been told by a Rossie CB man we are in the hastings cup.