McKenna Cup 2024

[ck]

The main point in the colleges/players (in Ulster) argument here (and missed by many) is that it works brilliantly in the other provinces. Games are competitive, colleges have their players, county managers send reps to watch their players with colleges, county players love playing with their colleges as very often they are the main players and play well.
Yet up north you have a very different scenario. Managers are above the rules and their county boards are afraid to challenge them and the provincial council does nothing. The rule is clear in Ulster (same as the other provinces) "Colleges have first pick on players".
All players will choose to play for their colleges but I know county managers threaten players and put them in no win situations.
As for the scholarship thing, some players are on them some are not but ALL will play with their college. No exception.

Personally I don't blame the managers. If you know you can break the rules and get away with it then you will. If those who should be enforcing the rules stand by and do nothing then they are to blame for it getting to this stage. THE ULSTER COUNCIL are to blame, no-one else. Keep doing what you're doing Mickey Harte, cos you're too big for rules. The Ulster Council are afraid out of their lives of you!

[God14]

Some brief footage of yesterdays Donegal v Tyrone McKenna Cup game can be found here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWpOQgB2oj0

[J70]

Just remember boys, its McKenna Cup.

In January.

Though to listen to the roars and screams and all with all the fist pumping from the Donegal support after each of their scores, you'd have thought it was an All Ireland title on the line.

As I'm sure the Tyrone support were too (certainly sounded that way on the radio).

Still doesn't change the fact that people shouldn't read much into games between half-fit teams in January.

The McKenna Cup is not exactly a reliable springboard for later season success.

[orangeman]

Some brief footage of yesterdays Donegal v Tyrone McKenna Cup game can be found here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWpOQgB2oj0

Looking again at Murphy's goal, with the poor conditions, the pick up and the finish were sublime.


Some player.

[Fuzzman]

The pick up was nice alright but sure nobody went to him as he waltzed in and had time to pick his spot. The other two Tyrone defenders stuck with their own men so he had a clear run in but I suppose he did finish it well.
Of course it's very early days and all that and probably won't have much say in the National League or later in the year but it's great for the young Tyrone lads who came in to say that they went to Letterkenny with no AI medals for the first time in 10 years and beat a decent enough Donegal outfit who looked to have fielded a team intent on getting to the latter stages of this tournament.

Who was the Tyrone lad wearing the thick beard?
How did McBride do at CHB?
Did we play a sweeper?

[God14]

The pick up was nice alright but sure nobody went to him as he waltzed in and had time to pick his spot. The other two Tyrone defenders stuck with their own men so he had a clear run in but I suppose he did finish it well.
Of course it's very early days and all that and probably won't have much say in the National League or later in the year but it's great for the young Tyrone lads who came in to say that they went to Letterkenny with no AI medals for the first time in 10 years and beat a decent enough Donegal outfit who looked to have fielded a team intent on getting to the latter stages of this tournament.

Who was the Tyrone lad wearing the thick beard?
How did McBride do at CHB?
Did we play a sweeper?

Tiernan McCann is sporting the beard. Some beard that alright. It probably helps to get noticed too!

[blewuporstuffed]

Some brief footage of yesterdays Donegal v Tyrone McKenna Cup game can be found here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWpOQgB2oj0

Looking again at Murphy's goal, with the poor conditions, the pick up and the finish were sublime.


Some player.

jesus he took some steps though before the finish

[sam03/05]

Some brief footage of yesterdays Donegal v Tyrone McKenna Cup game can be found here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWpOQgB2oj0

Looking again at Murphy's goal, with the poor conditions, the pick up and the finish were sublime.

What the video does not show is Aidan McCrory making a complete f**k up, he was clear favourite to win the ball, but instead retreated back allowing Murphy to pick it up.
A really bad goal to give away

Some player.

jesus he took some steps though before the finish

[Maguire01]

Fairly poor standard in Clones yesterday and a few fairly messy goals - Doherty and Lynch had midfield well sown up for Derry - highlighted Monaghan's lack of depth in this sector whenever Clerkin and Lennon depart.

Shane Smyth worth a bit more time next day out - won a few decent balls in the forward line, even if the finishing was poor enough.

[Dubh driocht]

£9 in to see Armagh v QUB, good to see the Grab All Association in full flight.

Bit steep alright but at long, long last at Newry we were issued with a receipt and it was clear that the stub was retained so that a basic cross-reference with takings could be made. Now I value the huge voluntary efforts of ticket-sellers/admission-men but the GAA has been far too slack in providing oversight arrangements over the years. In a cash business there will always be temptation and this move is overdue. The worst example of this practice was also at a Mc Kenna cup game several years ago between Down and Antrim , moved to Downpatrick at short notice. It was the first game of the Ross Carr and Jody Gormley ( respectively) management eras and a larger than expected crowd turned up. The young man taking the money at one gate didn't even have a bag- he was literally stuffing fivers and tenners into his back pockets. Maybe he was as honest as they come but it was shoddy. So at least our £9 should go to the Ulster Council this time.

[Orior]

Tyrone should be banned from the McKenna cup for not adhering to the rules.

Is there a rule? I don't think it's set in stone. If there was it surely it wouldn't be an option for MH to take the players.

It is not set in stone, but it should be.

I cannot think of any good reason why it is not made a formal rule, and one less county in the McKenna cup will not cause any harm.

[rrhf]

By the sounds of it a good start for the red hand. What chance a big game in omagh next wed

[donegal lad]

£9 in to see Armagh v QUB, good to see the Grab All Association in full flight.

Bit steep alright but at long, long last at Newry we were issued with a receipt and it was clear that the stub was retained so that a basic cross-reference with takings could be made. Now I value the huge voluntary efforts of ticket-sellers/admission-men but the GAA has been far too slack in providing oversight arrangements over the years. In a cash business there will always be temptation and this move is overdue. The worst example of this practice was also at a Mc Kenna cup game several years ago between Down and Antrim , moved to Downpatrick at short notice. It was the first game of the Ross Carr and Jody Gormley ( respectively) management eras and a larger than expected crowd turned up. The young man taking the money at one gate didn't even have a bag- he was literally stuffing fivers and tenners into his back pockets. Maybe he was as honest as they come but it was shoddy. So at least our £9 should go to the Ulster Council this time.

They had a similar issue in letterkenny on Sunday. We arrived shortly after throw in to find the stand completely full. We were then sent to a turnstile to pay but when I paid my €10 in I was told there was no tickets left. When I requested some form of proof of payment I was told he had none and to just go on in. I'd estimate there was 40/50 people entering at a similar time and none of these would of been issued tickets either and met people in the ground I knew who were in from the start and they had a similar issue

[our_fella]

Ye's are all pretty silly if yous didnt take avail of the Ulster councils ticket for £20/25 euro for all 3 of your teams group matches, both semis and then the final! Works out at £4 ticket. Bargain

[donegal lad]

Ye's are all pretty silly if yous didnt take avail of the Ulster councils ticket for £20/25 euro for all 3 of your teams group matches, both semis and then the final! Works out at £4 ticket. Bargain

Yeah that is grand if you can make all 3 games and think your teams will get further than the group. I knew I couldn't make it to the Armagh game away and giving donegals track record under jim in th competition no guarentee they would make the semis