McKenna Cup 2024

[Any craic]

http://www.youtube.com/user/UlsterGAA#p/f - Coney's best bits from today in Omagh.

[blewuporstuffed]

A romp in the park for tyrone today.  Coney awarded MOTM, very good so he was but really should have went to Brian McGuigan, simply outstanding, man is a class act and is in great shape for this time of the year, different sauce altogether.  Tyrone very strong squad, going to be hard to pick national league / championship team the year!!

Dont f**king jinx him!! Glad to see McGuigan do well though. Any chance of rankings for the players?? Any in depth analysis??

Curran = 7...steady, not overly tested

Swift = 7..done rightly on CJ who was there only scorer in the 1st half

McKeown = 6....got sandwiched and had to be withdrawn early in the 1st half, took a heavy knock

Carlin = 6..bit off the pace but its early, no raiding runs like he is renowed for. fitness will improve in the next fews weeks so will see a big improvement

McNabb = 6..first game at county so its a right step up and it showed a bit.  never got tight to marty murry but kicked a lovely score himself.  wouldnt be to hard on a young player just yet, game at this level will have done him no harm

Justin McMahon = 7...steady, the usual from McMahon, silky on the ball, didnt over exert but looks quality

Sean red Oneill = 7 good player, good passing, good ball carrier, solid stuff

Mickey Murphy = 8 kicked a point or 2, very strong got, if can keep injury free will be a good asset

Cassidy = 8 took three marks from kick outs, good use of the ball, good ball carrier.

McKenna = 7, kicked a good score, didnt look out of place, came into it more as game went on, slow start

B McGuigan = 11, superb performace, kicked 4/5 points, set up numerous others, got up and down the field, won break ball, use of the ball was top drawer, dont think he made a mistake.  He was always on the ball as well, class stuff.

K Coney = 9 some lovely scores, looked in the mood, lovely lazy looking left peg on him, the boy has a bit of quality about him.  rated highly in ardboe and if perform like this for tyrone on a regular basis he will have a lot more fans from outside ardboe

M Donnelly = 6 done ok, was out in front most of the time but didnt offer a massive threat scoring wise. used the ball well

S Oneill = 8 didnt touch leather for 20 minutes, first touch was a point, 2nd touch was another point.  Good second half, few more scores out of him, pushing boys off the ball, what more can one say about SON

E McCusker = 8 very good, won ball, strong kicked 3 or 4 points, very good outing

Subs

E McGinely = not on long enough to be rated
Hub Hughes = 7 kicked nice score off the LEFT peg
McElholm = 7 replaced mckeown first half, didnt have much to do, what a size of a man!!
cant mind the other 2 subs who came on 

generous rating for mcelhom thought he got skinned when he came on, looks off the pace at that level

[Caid]

did not make the game today.  Any of the Fermanagh men impress??

Was on the blower to Ferm Pundit earlier to get the low down.  He'll prob be on later to give a full account.  Fermanagh were poor as well by all accounts.  James Sherry played well and Matthew Keena was the best player apparantly. By the sounds of his nine pound entry was not rewarded with value for money!

[Monaghan_Ultra]

A scan of the entire programme for the Barrett Sports Lighting Dr. McKenna is available on the Monaghan GAA Forum for anyone who is interested.

[ONeill]

I was very impressed by Antrim today, with the way they kept their heads when Derry went 6-1 ahead in the first half. Paddy Cunningham hit the first point of the day - one of his few from play - after a nifty 1-2 with Eoin O'Neill I think it was. I didn't see much of O'Neill for the rest of the game. Derry then went into overdrive and dominated every sector of the park, especially midfield. Eoin Bradley tortured Douglas in the first half who was either too slack on him or fouled him. No 31 for Derry was also causing problems, unsure of who he was.

Of the 6 points-in-a-row Derry hit during that period, the highlight was a humdinger from Declan Mullan after a great individual run. The first mark of the day was made by Fergal Doherty who seemed to be the only player capable of doing so on the field, and if he wasn't going to win it, he made sure no one else did.

Baker was doing his nut on the sideline at this point and Antrim responded. They finally won a scoreable free after a speedy move involving O'Connell of Ahoghill, O'Boyle, Cunningham and Mick McCann who was fouled. Cunningham was on form from placed balls and after he converted that he hit another after Magill was dragged to the ground. Magill was starting to use his strength - I didn't realise he had that to the extent he showed today.

At 6-3, Doherty made his second mark and it led directly to a point from O'Neill of Lavey. Michael McCann seemed to be blowing heavy at this point and I thought it was only a matter of time before he was hauled off. Saw Baker having a word with him. Another Cunningham free after Herron was fouled kept just a goal between them at 7-4.

Mullan hit another for Derry which followed Eoin 'The Best Forward in Ulster' Bradley's best point of the day when he won the ball from a cluster of Antrim defenders and fisted her over. I remember Kielt making a mark around this time -  a man well capable of benefitting from this rule. 9-4.

Antrim then upped the tempo a bit and in the blink of an eye (slow enough blinking, maybe more of a wee rest) 0-9 to 0-4 was 0-10 to 2-4. First, Magill set up Mick McCann for the first goal, Bradley replied with a free and then Magill powered through impressively for the second goal after an interception. Half time brought confirmation of the score as the scoreboard man had the runs and hence no scoreboard.

Baker must've sent another rocket up their collective hole as Antrim came out flying in the second. Three points (Dara Edwards, Eoin O'Neill and Cunningham's point of the day involving a cheeky dummy) left the Saffs 2-7 to 0-10. Gault was defending heroically too. For some reason, the ref decided to take a severe disliking for Antrim and seemed to punish them harshly. Baker's continued rant and bottle throwing/stamping escapades maybe made the situation worse.

Brendan Herron had a chance to put them 4 ahead after an interception but fluffed it. Derry went down the field and points from the busy Wilkinson, Fergal Doherty and another Bradley free left it 2-7 to 0-13. Bradley was missing serious chances at this point, especially from free.

Unfortunately herself was beeping outside and I had to leave. I heard the roar of Antrim's goal as I left but was afeard to look as she was watching me.

Didn't have the line outs but Antrim had starting:

Douglas
McQuillan
Scullion
O'Connell
Loughrey
McCann
Herron
Cunningham
Walls
Gault
O'Boyle
Doherty
O'Neill
Magill

Derry had:

McGoldrick
McGuigan
O'Kane J
Hinphey
O'Kane G
Kielt
Doherty
Bradley Patsy
McCloskey
McCartney
Mullan
Wilkinson
Bradley E
O'Neill

Best battles were Edwards v Pat Bradley, Herron v Hinphy, Loughrey v Mullan, Cunningham v McGoldrick and O'Boyle v Kane but not sure if McGoldrick started on Cunningham. Paddy has turned into a right asset for Antrim even apart from frees.

Overall impressed with Antrim given the strength of Derry's side.

[Shortso79]

Thanks lads

Heading to the Monaghan Armagh match this Wednesday

What's the best way to Inniskeen from Newry ?

Guessing head to Cross, take the Sheilagh road, turn left at the T-junction and its signposted?

I would go up the motorway as far as the Castleblayney turn off and head out through the Hack as if you are going to Cross. If you take a left at that little shop just before the turn off for Cross it will take you into Inniskeen. Go right when you get into Iniskeen and the pitch is out that road about a half a mile on the left.

[tyrone86]

A romp in the park for tyrone today.  Coney awarded MOTM, very good so he was but really should have went to Brian McGuigan, simply outstanding, man is a class act and is in great shape for this time of the year, different sauce altogether.  Tyrone very strong squad, going to be hard to pick national league / championship team the year!!

Dont f**king jinx him!! Glad to see McGuigan do well though. Any chance of rankings for the players?? Any in depth analysis??

Curran = 7...steady, not overly tested

Swift = 7..done rightly on CJ who was there only scorer in the 1st half

McKeown = 6....got sandwiched and had to be withdrawn early in the 1st half, took a heavy knock

Carlin = 6..bit off the pace but its early, no raiding runs like he is renowed for. fitness will improve in the next fews weeks so will see a big improvement

McNabb = 6..first game at county so its a right step up and it showed a bit.  never got tight to marty murry but kicked a lovely score himself.  wouldnt be to hard on a young player just yet, game at this level will have done him no harm

Justin McMahon = 7...steady, the usual from McMahon, silky on the ball, didnt over exert but looks quality

Sean red Oneill = 7 good player, good passing, good ball carrier, solid stuff

Mickey Murphy = 8 kicked a point or 2, very strong got, if can keep injury free will be a good asset

Cassidy = 8 took three marks from kick outs, good use of the ball, good ball carrier.

McKenna = 7, kicked a good score, didnt look out of place, came into it more as game went on, slow start

B McGuigan = 11, superb performace, kicked 4/5 points, set up numerous others, got up and down the field, won break ball, use of the ball was top drawer, dont think he made a mistake.  He was always on the ball as well, class stuff.

K Coney = 9 some lovely scores, looked in the mood, lovely lazy looking left peg on him, the boy has a bit of quality about him.  rated highly in ardboe and if perform like this for tyrone on a regular basis he will have a lot more fans from outside ardboe

M Donnelly = 6 done ok, was out in front most of the time but didnt offer a massive threat scoring wise. used the ball well

S Oneill = 8 didnt touch leather for 20 minutes, first touch was a point, 2nd touch was another point.  Good second half, few more scores out of him, pushing boys off the ball, what more can one say about SON

E McCusker = 8 very good, won ball, strong kicked 3 or 4 points, very good outing

Subs

E McGinely = not on long enough to be rated
Hub Hughes = 7 kicked nice score off the LEFT peg
McElholm = 7 replaced mckeown first half, didnt have much to do, what a size of a man!!
cant mind the other 2 subs who came on 

generous rating for mcelhom thought he got skinned when he came on, looks off the pace at that level

Very generous rating for the midfield who really should have lorded it a whole lot more against very mediocre opposition and very sore on McNabb who I thought was the best defender after Justy. To say that Mark Donnelly offered very little scoring threat as a negative implies that you haven't seen much of him before today - that's not the type of game he plays. He wins primary ball and links the play in the forward line for Carmen and was very effective in doing that today. McCusker looked particularly impressive today as well along with a whole lot of guys but you can't read anything into it given how shite the Ranch were. It was to be considered as well,  St Mary's ran Tyrone to a point last year and have since lost established county players like Justy, Sean O'Neill, Barry McGoldrick and they had McElholm last year too - all very big losses to a side with a very limited pick. If the rumours are true, Marty Clarke and Dyas should make them a whole different kettle of fish next year. Anyway, providing Tyrone can beat either one of Cavan or Donegal then that 26 points should see a semi final place and another chance for Harte to look at those lads today in a more competitive environment

[FermPundit]

did not make the game today.  Any of the Fermanagh men impress??

Was on the blower to Ferm Pundit earlier to get the low down.  He'll prob be on later to give a full account.  Fermanagh were poor as well by all accounts.  James Sherry played well and Matthew Keena was the best player apparantly. By the sounds of his nine pound entry was not rewarded with value for money!

Very quiet in Enniskillen today. The match was like a challenge game with so many new faces on show.  Fermanagh will be happy to get a winning start to the season. As Caid has said, I was impressed with James Sherry in midfield. He got through a lot of work and he also hit one or two frees. Matthew Keenan was the stand out forward. He hit some great points but he did miss one or two frees at the end. Carson improved in the second half but he didn't win a ball when Clerkin was marking him at full back.

With regards the sending off, I felt the referee got it wrong. It looked bad, but I don't believe there was any real intent from Clerkin.

Monaghan were awful today, but with so many new players, I suppose it wasn't a big surprise. Maybe it's just me but there appeared to be a very small support from Monaghan. Usually they turn out in large numbers for every game.

I suspect Malachy will make quite a few changes for the UUJ game on Wednesday. I would like to see guys like Ciaran O Flaherty and Daniel Ward get a game to see what they're like at this level.

[never kickt a ball]

Antrim bounce back to beat Derry in McKenna Cup opener

17 January 2010

Goals from Michael McCann, Michael Magill and substitute Ciaran Close saw Antrim record a a 3-7 to 0-15 victory over the Derry in Sunday's Barrett Electrical Dr McKenna Cup Group C clash at Casement Park.
Midway through the opening half there were few in the good sized Casement Park crowd who would have fancied the Saffrons chances of victory as they trailed the visitors by 0-8 to 0-2 after being outplayed in most areas of the field.
However Antrim under manager 'Baker' Bradley are a different kettle of fish and they began to find a bit of pattern to their play to slowly claw their way back into the match. They still trailed by six points with just five minutes of first half play remaining but goals by Michael McCann in the thirty-second minute and Michael Magill in the thirty-sixth saw them go in at half-time on level terms at 2-4 to 0-10.
The Saffrons made a great start to the second half with three quick points from Dara Edwards, Paddy Cunningham and Eoin O'Neill to move three points clear. Derry did come back and drew level midway through the second-half but a goal from substitute Ciaran Close, after the Derry keeper had saved Michael Magill's initial shot, gave the initiative back to Antrim.
Derry fought hard to salvage at least a draw and points by Raymond Wilkinson and Eoin Bradley (son of Antrim manger Liam Bradley) saw them close the gap to the minimum.
Michael McCann was off target with a free which would have given Antrim a cushion and in the final kick of the game the Antrim fans had their hearts in their mouths as Derry had a chance to level matters from a narrow angled free, which to the relief of all in Saffron dropped just wide of the target.   
A good start for Antrim, who like Derry fielded a largely experimental team. The first twenty minutes were poor to say the least but they worked hard to get themselves back into the game and will go to Newry on Wednesday night to face Down with a bit more confidence.

http://antrim.gaa.ie/news/details/?id=2113

[never kickt a ball]

The Barretts Sports Lighting Dr Mc Kenna Cup has been well and truly endorsed by the Down faithful who turned out in their thousands to watch the boys in red and black open the campaign with a convincing win on a score line of 1.17 to 0.8.  The result will undoubtedly please the new Management Team led by James Mc Cartan.

The new look Down line up meant business from the first whistle and were relentless in seeking a win from their first Dr Mc Kenna Cup game. Ambrose Rodgers captained the team and played a starring role  at midfield, constantly displaying his ability to both command the air and cause damage on the turf.

Although QUB were beaten convincingly in the end they did cause Down some problems throughout the game. The most encouraging aspect for Down fans, however, was that arguably Queens best player was Bryansford man Joe Ireland, who was impressive throughout.

Newer faces to the Senior set up, Sean Parr and Paul Greenan also performed well and gave a committed performance throughout.

Many fans will testify that they were there to see one man in particular...... Marty Clarke. He didn't disappoint those who were there to see the return, he sprayed passes about Páirc Esler like he'd never been away and took his penalty assuredly. Down fans will enjoy seeing Martin ply his trade in the coming year with the round ball as opposed to the oval.

We now look forward to Wednesday night when our Senior side will face last year's Ulster Finalists Antrim, again at Páirc Esler.

Come along on Wednesday night and enjoy the entertainment provided by our lads in a rejuvenated Dr Mc Kenna Cup.

Down Line Up for last nights game;

1. Declan Alder (Carryduff)
27. Stephen Toner (Bryansford)
12. Brendan McArdle (Annaclone)
4. Damien Rafferty (Newry Shamrocks)
19. Sean Parr (Rostrevor)
25. James Colgan (An Riocht)
7. Conor Garvey (Mayobridge)
8. Ambrose Rodgers (Longstone)
20. Paul Greenan (Kilcoo)
10. Martin Clarke (An Riocht)
11. Mark Poland (Longstone)
30. Stephen Kearney (Saval)
29. John Clarke (An Riocht)
15. Brendan Coulter (Mayobridge)
13. Paul McComiskey (Dundrum)

CHANGES TO THE MCKENNA CUP SQUAD DUE TO INJURY:
21. Kalum King (Bryansford) replaces Kevin Anderson
28. Conor Maginn (Bryansford) replaces Mark Doran

http://www.downgaa.net/

[never kickt a ball]

Tyrone power points

http://www.youtube.com/user/UlsterGAA#p/a/u/0/8Jr1YoE6RMo

[ONeill]

Antrim bounce back to beat Derry in McKenna Cup opener

17 January 2010

Goals from Michael McCann, Michael Magill and substitute Ciaran Close saw Antrim record a a 3-7 to 0-15 victory over the Derry in Sunday's Barrett Electrical Dr McKenna Cup Group C clash at Casement Park.
Midway through the opening half there were few in the good sized Casement Park crowd who would have fancied the Saffrons chances of victory as they trailed the visitors by 0-8 to 0-2 after being outplayed in most areas of the field.
However Antrim under manager 'Baker' Bradley are a different kettle of fish and they began to find a bit of pattern to their play to slowly claw their way back into the match. They still trailed by six points with just five minutes of first half play remaining but goals by Michael McCann in the thirty-second minute and Michael Magill in the thirty-sixth saw them go in at half-time on level terms at 2-4 to 0-10.
The Saffrons made a great start to the second half with three quick points from Dara Edwards, Paddy Cunningham and Eoin O'Neill to move three points clear. Derry did come back and drew level midway through the second-half but a goal from substitute Ciaran Close, after the Derry keeper had saved Michael Magill's initial shot, gave the initiative back to Antrim.
Derry fought hard to salvage at least a draw and points by Raymond Wilkinson and Eoin Bradley (son of Antrim manger Liam Bradley) saw them close the gap to the minimum.
Michael McCann was off target with a free which would have given Antrim a cushion and in the final kick of the game the Antrim fans had their hearts in their mouths as Derry had a chance to level matters from a narrow angled free, which to the relief of all in Saffron dropped just wide of the target.   
A good start for Antrim, who like Derry fielded a largely experimental team. The first twenty minutes were poor to say the least but they worked hard to get themselves back into the game and will go to Newry on Wednesday night to face Down with a bit more confidence.

http://antrim.gaa.ie/news/details/?id=2113

Antrim were never 2-8 behind. Nor anywhere near it. Who writes the Antrimgaa  reports?

[ONeill]

Felt a bit ill halfway though that but liked - Last year was memorable and did a lot for Antrim football but this is another year and so it has to be done all over again;

[whiskeysteve]

Some Derry players and supporters must be acutely sensitive to the fact that they as a County, have just been whipped by a team managed by one of their own

3-7 to 0-15 in a mid january cup game is a 'whipping' for us as a county then...

[if this proves to be is a lie from me, it was one to me]

what's this, a dyslexic rap?

[nrico2006]

I didn't know Liam had 3 sons playing either.