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Yeah Whip,

The TG4 "Beo" had the game and it was a decent game, Kerry got back into it later but Dubs prevailed.

And fair play to the lassies

BP

Kelly's the man for the job in Brady's absence.

Might not be the worst thing to have to struggle against Offaly having taken down the Cats. We've seen the impact of hype on the big ballers over the years.

Provided we get over them of course - the thought of the inlaws gurning at me if we got bet would be too much to bear.

Absolutely Frank.................although it will be a bit of a downer if we don't beat Offaly and give Galway a good rattle.

Tipp took us for 3 goals in a challenge in Athy on Sunday evening. The loss of Brady is looking more significant as the days go by.

Oh, Oh..............and congratulations to the U14 Hurlers from Raheny who had a fantastic win in the Div 2 Feile Final in PP on Sunday afternoon.

Great performance from a smashing bunch of kids.

Kay Fagan wrote: Ye they are a great bunch of Kids. Its the way they where brought up must have great parents

Most of them anyway.

Excellent speech by Christy Cooney today as he welcomed the Queen to Croke Park.

 

 

"Uachtarán na hÉireann, Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, Dr. McAleese, Airí Rialtais, Ard-Stiúrthóir, Iar-Uachtaráin agus a cáirde go léir. Tá fáilte romhaibh go léir go Páirc an Chrócaigh.

 

Your Majesty, on behalf of the members of the Gaelic Athletic Association throughout Ireland and across the world, I am delighted to welcome you to our headquarters at Croke Park.

 

On 1st November 1884 a small group of visionary Irishmen, profoundly imbued with a spirit of national regeneration, formed our Association. The Gaelic Athletic Association was soon to become the largest organisation in Ireland, sporting or otherwise, and one moreover that, as its founding fathers envisaged, has consistently embodied the mood of the nation, culturally, socially and politically.

 

The Gaelic Athletic Association is deeply rooted in communities in every corner of Ireland, North and South, and throughout the world - above all in Britain - wherever Irish people have made their homes.

 

Our ethos is proudly voluntary and amateur, but at the pinnacle our teams and players thrill huge crowds with their skill, courage and commitment. The Gaelic Athletic Association offers unrivalled social and sporting opportunities to boys and girls at all levels of talent. We are proud of this vast modern stadium, built mainly through the efforts of our members, and our newly upgraded Museum conveys an exciting sense of our history but also of our present.

 

One of those present at the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884 was a man named J.K. Bracken whose son, Brendan went on to be a significant presence in the life of the United Kingdom - as founder of the Financial Times newspaper, one of Winston Churchill's closest friends, and as Minister for Information during the Second World War. This is just one example of the interlinked personal relationships between these islands which have individually and collectively enriched us all in both directions over so many years, and continue to do so today.

 

We also know that in our shared history there have been many tragic events which have inflicted hurt on us all. While acknowledging the significance of the past and honouring all those that have lost their lives, including those that died in this place, the Gaelic Athletic Association has consistently supported and helped advance the peace process in Northern Ireland.

 

In particular, we have encouraged the reconciliation and mutual understanding which have so successfully flowed from the Good Friday Agreement and its endorsement in referenda by the people of Ireland, North and South.

 

Your Majesty's State Visit, at the invitation of President McAleese, will result in a further important underpinning and advancement of this process, which I firmly believe is now irreversible.

 

I was of course deeply saddened to attend last month, on behalf of the Gaelic Athletic Association, the tragic funeral of our murdered young member from County Tyrone, PSNI Constable Ronan Kerr.

 

I was also very heartened by the utter and united determination of people and political leaders across the island, and across the whole community, to stand together against violence and hatred.

 

The Gaelic Athletic Association for its part will continue to try and build new relationships and to reach out in particular to members of the Unionist community.

 

Today above all, it is in a positive spirit that we welcome your Majesty and Your Royal Highness to Croke Park. Your presence does honour to our Association, to its special place in Irish life, and to its hundreds of thousands of members. Today will go down in the history of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

 

Míle buíochas - my great appreciation to all."

Fair play R - what also stands out in that is the amount of hurling in both clubs. Not always the case in days gone by in either club.

Wonder will we always keep the full number of clubs round this neck of the woods or will there eventually be some formal linkages even if only from minor up? Hard to compete against the giant clubs, but on the other hand it's great that kids get a chance at early stages even if they're not all going to become a Ciaran Whelan.....

Sun 29th Croke Park, LSHC QF Dublin V Offaly.

Very quiet build up to this and starting to get worried.

We've nothing to gain and everything to lose in this game. We're red hot favourites,they'll be mad keen to knock us down after a great League Final win and they will bring a proud championship tradition to the table.

Throw in our 3 defensive injuries and all the ingredients are there for a right battle.

No doubt that the lads will have prepared properly and that they have all the ammo to win well, just hope we turn up and play to the limit of our capability.

well we got away with that one ,,always going to be a tricky game ,,been the favs and all that ,,,glad offaly put it up to us ,,and we did not fold ,,,thought Keaney was super ,,even though offaly tried to walk all over him ,,Daly done well on the line and his subs done the job ,,god its only May ,,a long way to go

Next game is in Tullamore I believe? Think a visit to the outlaws might be the order of the day

Have it on tape and will watch it as soon as I get a chance.

Just what the doc ordered - grind out a result, but get a scare at the same time.

I believe Rusher had cramp - that's becoming a regular occurence if I recall correctly? Think he was down in the league final, the galway game in parnell, last year v antrim???????

Big ball next weekend - which I hope to see from Trabolgan. Potential banana skin there. We are now probably better set up to play the big guns, but less capable of a stroll in the park against the minnows. Tripped up Armagh over the years that. So we need to get a few goals.

Championship - can'r beat it.....