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Simon Harris to become new Fine Gael leader today, he is 37 https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/03/24/simon-harris-fine-gael-leader-contest/ It moved quickly ! I remember him as a 16 year old when we served on the board of a youth NGO. I was in Health when he was Minister, quick grasp of complex briefs etc but he seemed more interested in PR than actual delivery so it will be interesting to see. He is much more popular with women than men. My wife who is apolitical follows him on Insta, TikTok etc . 37 is too young I feel and I say that as a 46 year old. I’m out canvasing this week for Fianna Fáil for locals and European elections, I’ll give the feedback from the ground next weekend.

That made me roar out laughing ! cheers .....

Even the worst counties spend a fortune on team prep. A friend of mine is involved with another county that may win 1 game this year and they have already had 55 training sessions since November for the squad. Some of it is individual sessions but most of them are team sessions. Every county wants the best for its team, its why we are out fundraising morning, noon and night and we are lucky that a large number of property developers come from our county who dig deep when asked for golf classics, horse race meetings, buying raffle tickets for apartments and house etc, putting up the prizes. It should be pointed out a lot of GAA money goes on Games Development Officers (GDO's) in schools and counties who are working full time coaching kids and helping out clubs. One of the strongest selling points of GAA is community involvement. My own 5 year old is being trained in our club where I live by a former all star and county player who is giving back to the club.. 90 five year olds are out each Sunday morning in the all weather cages with kids playing whose parents are mystified by the GAA and come from all over the world. The cost is negligible, its €50 for about 40 sessions a year and any kid who can't afford it, is looked after quietly. The young lad is excited as he goes to his first hurling session tonight on the beach. I enjoy all sports and have season tickets to rugby, soccer club and international and GAA and the FAI must cry when they see the governance of the GAA.

As someone on the fundraising committee of a county team, the expenses are horrendous at times. Meals after every training session, buses bringing players down from Dublin etc couple of nights a week, The coaches, manager, strength and conditioning coaches , nutritionists plans, gym memberships, kit, medical teams, physios etc. Basically nowadays everything a player needs to train like a professional is provided. The overwhelming majority of our county players live away from the county. It adds up but being a county player is a good lifestyle with a few perks. Managers are creaming it at times but the players get little bar maybe a sponsored car. In my day job In the civil service, I have a county player from a different county on the team. With flexileave. wfh he can easily play county and dedicate time to it but the other reality is he has failed the last 3 promotion competitions as he doesn't have the workload or experience needed. Also it should be pointed out that intercounty teams includes hurlers, footballer, Under 20's, Minors, U16, u-14 county development squads ! About 40 lads in the senior football squad and about 32 in the hurling squad.

As a Longford Town fan who has nothing but respect for SK after all he did for my club, it was a cheap mistake by the FAI. I think Hughton or Carsley are decent options and if nothing else Keane would be box office. No thanks to Lennon or Bruce. as for the future we are lucky we should qualify for Euro 28 as Co hosts with all the available slots. WC try for a play off. Some good young players coming thru but who knows other than Evan Fergusson we don’t have a stand out player. Most international teams have 2/3 decent players these days.

The Swiss have replaced Scotland with Ireland in Dublin on Tuesday March 26th. Obviously thinking Ireland are a like for like replacement lol The Belgians rock up on Saturday 23rd as a Slovakia/Romania level game I suppose. Decent games on my season ticket anyway! I wouldn’t be surprised if Germany or Hungary in a June friendly with Austria likely if Wales get through against Ireland.

I think he is going to become a pointless legend ! I can honesty say I have never heard of him but he cant be too rubbish he has played at Lyon and RM.

Just down Baggot st for prematch pints. Ireland never get hammered but I have an awful feeling about tonight. I can see France running up the score.

I would agree with that. I was the Rock v Michael’s senior school cup semi during the week and the skill levels were immense. The size of what are 17/18 year old schoolboys was not normal and I do worry they are taking “supplements” etc which in later life will have consequences. The private schools now have 12 year olds on S&C plans, diets etc training and living like a pro plus they all play the same style of Leinster rugby. Young Prendergast from the 20’s is a outside chance of going to the RWC if Ireland can find a place for him. He is the next Sexton. of course that means nothing for tomorrow and I’ve a bad feeling about the game and expect Scotland to win.

Watching the U-20’s on RTÉ it’s Ireland 47 - Scotland 0 at half time ! what’s going on with underage teams ? Ireland look like monsters beside them. Finished 82-7 in the end. Scottish No4 got a red with 10 minutes to go.

Strangely I had not watched it but my wife was hooked and had watched about 12 episodes before I watched the last few although i forgot she didn't know how it ended up and I was going look what a difference a year makes Hayden has scored the winner against Maidenhead tonight which was screamed at as a spolier LOL Everyone would enjoy the kind of interest in their club that Ryan and Rob generated and related merch and ticket sales. They come across well in the show and the reality of being a fan v an owner is shown and the shock at the wage budget. I know from being involved in fundraising for a league of Ireland club and for a GAA county team it can be a thankless task going back to the same well time after time to get more money with little to show for it at times.

Second yellow for the hand ball for the penalty double yellows for dissent , it was a handball all day long but VAR did wait to call it when Armenia were attacking at the other end. The guy lost the plot and the head went. one or two others could of got yellows surrounding the ref

I thought Ireland deserved a draw but I’ve a feeling we’ll become Scotland’s new Israel and as third seeds see you in the qualifiers lol

Exactly, Rob D4 Kearney talking about record scores You mean Rob Carlingford Co Louth Rob Kearney last seen lining out for Cooley Kickhams in the GAA

I think definitions of success are relative. For Scotland/Ireland making the playoffs is the minimum level of expectation at the start of a qualifying campaign. The next measure is to qualify. Once at a tournament getting out of the group is important and momentum builds. I am 44 and I still remember the excitement of Euro 88 and Italia 90 like it was yesterday. Our run to the quarter final and on another day could of taken the Italians, memories that last a lifetime. Getting to the tournament is success but once there you have to make an impression. It was statistically harder to qualify for a 8 Team tournament, in 1988 25% of teams in qualifying made the tournament (8/32) or in 1922 (8/33) for 24% compared to 1996 34% (16/47) or 2020 44% (24/55). It's what you do at a tournament that people remember and Ireland have qualified for 3 World Cups and got out of the group each time and made a quarter final at one. We have been to 3 Euro's and got out of the group once. In 6 tournaments we progressed to the next stage 4 times.