Sunday, May 18, 2008
Championship Time
The Ulster Senior Football Championship begins today, with Antrim facing Cavan at Casement Park in the preliminary round fixture. This year’s Ulster Championship promises to be the most open for many’s a seaon, with Derry’s National League triumph elevating them alongside perennial Ulster contenders Armagh and Tyrone as probable favourites- though Monaghan’s early form in the league suggests they’ll be in the reckoning. The BBC will be commencing their most impressive season of coverage to date, showing all but one of the provincial championship games live. For the first time, TV3 will also be broadcasting Championship matches. Their panel should make for interesting viewing, with both Peter Canavan and Joe Kernan confirmed as regular pundits (Kernan will also be working for BBC.) So, Sluggerites, who’s gonna win in Ulster this year, and can they (or anyone else for that matter) stop Kerry?
Chris Donnelly @ 11:50 AM
“The BBC will be commencing their most impressive season of coverage to date”
Hardly surprising given the Nationalist/Republican bias within BBC NI - but it’s insulting to the greater number of licence payers given the GAA’s links with terrorism. Our minister for culture needs to have a word with the BBC. The Ulster-British community deserves equality.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 12:25 PMThere’s no point in commenting on P&J;ridiculous post.
There’s an awful amount of talk about Ciarraí again but there are a few counties who can, and will, take them in the end.
Doire have to be a contender this year and, although i’m biased, Ard Mhacha will also have a good run.
As for today, home advantage should give Aontroim the boost they need. It’s a great aul day for it!
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 01:28 PMSeriously cant something be done about this bigoted fool who keeps hijacking GAA threads?
Cant you ban him from these threads or something Chris?As for the game
Cavan will beat Antrim by 1-14 to 0-11
Derry to win Ulster unfortunately.
Kerry to take Sam.Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 01:30 PMSometimes you just have to laugh at pathetic comments like PeaceandJustice’s.
Aontroim abú! Hopefully it’ll be a good start to the Championship.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 01:32 PMLads,
P&J;’s comments add to threads to my mind. Let his likes forever troll I say.
I think Doire are going well, Ciarrai favourites, Ard Mhacha ,,, seans ar bith RG!!
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 02:23 PMHopefully Stephen o’Neill will have a change of heart, Tir Eoghain abu.
I’d like to see Down have a good run, as it is a pleasure to watch Benny Coulter in full flight. Unfortunately i doubt he’ll get the chance.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 02:26 PMYou can never entirely rule Donegal out. But this should be a good opener.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 02:52 PMWicklow just beat Kildare. First time they have ever won at Croke Park. How does Mick O’Dwyer do it.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 03:33 PMAntrim boys versus Cavan men?
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 04:08 PMKeep that up Mick we came straight back into it once you posted.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 04:16 PMI take it back…
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 04:17 PMMick,
Will you shut up!
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 04:20 PMIn truth is it only 3 or 4 games a year in Ulster GAA, that you see a big crowd?
Today’s attendance didnt look anything worth raving about....on a par with the crowds at Irish league by the looks of it.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 05:18 PMOur Ma next for the Breffni boys, a big ask....perhaps too big?
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 05:43 PMJaysus Aontroim were bad in the second half, An Cabhán have some nice forwards but it wasn’t a great match. The Galway Roscommon game wasn’t much better.
GGN
Ar theacht an tsamhraidh gach aon bhliain, bíonn trua agam do lucht an Dúin ;-)
ILUVNI
Today’s match was played by the two weakest teams in Ulster, both with a comparatively small support. It was still a lot larger than any Irish League game and the Championship is only kicking off.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 05:50 PMRG,
Antrim got spanked in the second half.
Ta trua agam do mhuintir Ard Mhacha ar fus na bliana!
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 05:54 PMRG Guan
‘’Today’s match was played by the two weakest teams in Ulster, both with a comparatively small support. It was still a lot larger than any Irish League game and the Championship is only kicking off.’’No offence,But Cavan dont have a small support normaly,if you’ve followed ulster football for long you will know they usually have one of the largest in Ulster.They just have no faith in this team and management and havent travelled.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 05:59 PMI’ve followed football for twenty odd years and i think it’s fair to say that at the moment An Cabhán have comparatively small support, when compared to Tír Eoghain or Ard Mhacha for example. Not travelling, for whatever reason, still means less supporters than usual.
But sure they don’t have to travel for the next one and Bréifne will be full to welcome Ard Mhacha.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 06:25 PMAnd how will Ard Mhacha do in the championship this year RG? Are you hopeful?
... and then theres the men’s team too!!
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 06:35 PMRG Cuan
Armagh complained about tickets last year against Donegal in Ballybofey/Ballyshannon and that they only got so few,yet they didnt even fill near the small number they got. Not exactly the numbers of the largest in Ulster.
The teams with the largest support in Ulster has always been Tyrone,Armagh,Down and Cavan.
Comparitively Donegal and Derry always had poor support until they got into All Ireland Finals and semi’s when the whole of ulster backed them.
Cavan will leave it hard for Armagh,id say armagh by 3 in that but it will be tough for Liam O Donnell’s men.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 06:48 PMAye Gael Gan Náire, both teams will do well!
Ard Mhacha will give Ulster a good aul rattle.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 06:50 PMNot exactly the numbers of the largest in Ulster. The teams with the largest support in Ulster has always been Tyrone, Armagh, Down and Cavan.
Bit of a contradiction there TyroneGAAmember?
Anyway, Antrim were firmly defeated. Just a usual Championship opener for the Saffrons :-(
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 06:58 PMYou mean Peter McDonnell TyroneGAA?
The Red Hands didn’t have the best day in the hurley but i expect your football Championship will last a little longer. Looking forward to the Down challenge?
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 07:39 PMI felt sorry for some of those Antrim players who were better than the team’s overall performance, but I have to say that I have never seen so many wides in one match. Not much more than a warm up for the main event.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 08:14 PMMick,
Too right, the wides ensured Antrim lost touch in the 2nd. I’d have liked to have seen them against a weak Armagh team.
What I can never understand is how St Galls can be pretty consistent in the Ulster Clubs but the county team consistently fails to get anywhere.
Posted by on May 18, 2008 @ 08:32 PM
