Ulster Colleges

[bennydorano]

Any word of the semis? If anywhere near I'd probably go and watch Donaghmore v Dungannon. Form lines there suggest a Donaghmore win but who knows in such a derby.

Cahir O'Kane gave Maghera v Magherafelt a bad review in his Irish News article today, a state of the football nation statement rather than a direct indictment of this particular game - a symptom rather than cause argument. Having been to 10 or so school games between Rannafast  & MacRory Cup this autumn/winter involving St Pats Armagh I can tell you that every single team I've watched plays the same way, there must be a coaching manual emailed out from the CCMS -  it is brutal to watch.

[Goals_Will_Come]

Any word of the semis? If anywhere near I'd probably go and watch Donaghmore v Dungannon. Form lines there suggest a Donaghmore win but who knows in such a derby.

Chair O'Kane gave Maghera v Magherafelt a bad review in his Irish News article today, a state of the football nation statement rather than a direct indictment of this particular game - a symptom rather than cause argument. Having been to 10 or so school games between Rannafast  & MacRory Cup this autumn/winter involving St Pats Armagh I can tell you that every single team I've watched plays the same way, there must be a coaching manual emailed out from the CCMS -  it is brutal to watch.

Omagh CBS V St Mary's Magherafelt - Coalisland 26/1/24 - 7:30pm
St Joseph's Donaghmore V St Patrick's Academy Dungannon - Carrickmore 27/1/24 - tbc

[Goals_Will_Come]

Any word of the semis? If anywhere near I'd probably go and watch Donaghmore v Dungannon. Form lines there suggest a Donaghmore win but who knows in such a derby.

Chair O'Kane gave Maghera v Magherafelt a bad review in his Irish News article today, a state of the football nation statement rather than a direct indictment of this particular game - a symptom rather than cause argument. Having been to 10 or so school games between Rannafast  & MacRory Cup this autumn/winter involving St Pats Armagh I can tell you that every single team I've watched plays the same way, there must be a coaching manual emailed out from the CCMS -  it is brutal to watch.

Teams have to be set up these days. To not have a setup in place would be naive at this point. The problem comes with teams having a lack of attacking plan to break teams down, a lack of inventiveness, a lack of pace and drive, a lack of stretching the opposition lines. This is what separates the good coaches and teams from the pack.

[imtommygunn]

When two teams mirror each other with the defensive setup it's horrendous - beat example I can think of at county was 2014 AI final between Kerry and Donegal.

Those two derry teams have some great footballers between them too - as good as is about.

[shawshank]

For me its the gap in the attacking coaching is the problem, not the defensive system.

[bennydorano]

Any word of the semis? If anywhere near I'd probably go and watch Donaghmore v Dungannon. Form lines there suggest a Donaghmore win but who knows in such a derby.

Chair O'Kane gave Maghera v Magherafelt a bad review in his Irish News article today, a state of the football nation statement rather than a direct indictment of this particular game - a symptom rather than cause argument. Having been to 10 or so school games between Rannafast  & MacRory Cup this autumn/winter involving St Pats Armagh I can tell you that every single team I've watched plays the same way, there must be a coaching manual emailed out from the CCMS -  it is brutal to watch.

Teams have to be set up these days. To not have a setup in place would be naive at this point. The problem comes with teams having a lack of attacking plan to break teams down, a lack of inventiveness, a lack of pace and drive, a lack of stretching the opposition lines. This is what separates the good coaches and teams from the pack.

I agree to an extent but it's also a self perpetuating fallacy, sort of the point Cahir was making, if everyone is doing it it becomes the orthodoxy (& we're well past that stage now). Plus in tight games of this nature the quality players come to the fore - they always do & will - in spite of the system that is looking them to be robots.

[imtommygunn]

For me its the gap in the attacking coaching is the problem, not the defensive system.

It's so much harder to to the attacking plan. Donegal 2011 vs 2012 - it took a year for a county team training god knows how much to perfect defense and attack. The defense is easier but I think the attack takes time and the likes of school teams etc are never going to have that time tbh.

[Silver hill]

Declan Bateson played for the Convent. And Derry. There may have been somebody else before him but I doubt it saying boys were only admitted from 1978, the the class set up was a 2.1 basis meaning u only 50 boy intake per year for a long time.

Still going with Seamus Shivers.

3 December 1989

NFL Derry 3-5 Cork 4-12

Derry team: D McCusker; K McKeever, T Scullion, P O'Donnell; J McGurk (0-1), B McPeake (RIP), G McPeake; E Heaney, D Barton (0-1); S Shivers (1-1), PJ McCormack, M Berryman; R Scullion (2-2), L Devlin, J O'Neill. Subs: P Gribbin, E Gribbin.

Though I think maybe Barry Young from Glen also got an NFL game or two.

Seamus was some servant for Castledawson ,in the 84 county final he lined out for then and was still under 16 from memory

Yes NBE, Think he had just turned 15. John Somers denied him a certain goal with a brilliant save down to his right in the top goals at Greenlough. Dawson had a great side then, unlucky not to get a championship at that time. Mackle, Keenans, Mckees, backboned them from memory.

[onefineday]

For me its the gap in the attacking coaching is the problem, not the defensive system.

So maybe we change the rules to make the sport attractive to play in and watch again.
Defence is usually easier, that's why so many other sports tweak rules on an ongoing basis to help the sport retain its appeal for players and spectators.

[ClubScene13]

Any word of the semis? If anywhere near I'd probably go and watch Donaghmore v Dungannon. Form lines there suggest a Donaghmore win but who knows in such a derby.

Chair O'Kane gave Maghera v Magherafelt a bad review in his Irish News article today, a state of the football nation statement rather than a direct indictment of this particular game - a symptom rather than cause argument. Having been to 10 or so school games between Rannafast  & MacRory Cup this autumn/winter involving St Pats Armagh I can tell you that every single team I've watched plays the same way, there must be a coaching manual emailed out from the CCMS -  it is brutal to watch.

Omagh CBS V St Mary's Magherafelt - Coalisland 26/1/24 - 7:30pm
St Joseph's Donaghmore V St Patrick's Academy Dungannon - Carrickmore 27/1/24 - tbc

Thanks for this GWC, can you post confirmation when you hear it? Ulster Schools very slow at posting these things they're website doesn't be up to date that often

[LC]

Any word of the semis? If anywhere near I'd probably go and watch Donaghmore v Dungannon. Form lines there suggest a Donaghmore win but who knows in such a derby.

Cahir O'Kane gave Maghera v Magherafelt a bad review in his Irish News article today, a state of the football nation statement rather than a direct indictment of this particular game - a symptom rather than cause argument. Having been to 10 or so school games between Rannafast  & MacRory Cup this autumn/winter involving St Pats Armagh I can tell you that every single team I've watched plays the same way, there must be a coaching manual emailed out from the CCMS -  it is brutal to watch.

Cahir highlighted the Stevie O'Neil points scored years ago against Kildare, you would never see that now and he is 100% correct.  Thank God for David Clifford in recent years.  Hard to know if we will ever see footballers like the Gooch, Mugsy and Ciaran McDonald again, they are out there but the issue could be the time they become senior their natural talent and flair is coached out of them and / or they could just get fed up.  Saw McDonald's young boy playing last year, definitely one for the future.

[Milltown Row2]

Teams/coaches players are too afraid to lose/shoot/attack

Watching players run past a opposition player with the ball to get 'into position' is fecking nuts

The game only opens up in the final quarter when teams have to try and win it

[Keyser soze]

Teams/coaches players are too afraid to lose/shoot/attack

Watching players run past a opposition player with the ball to get 'into position' is fecking nuts

The game only opens up in the final quarter when teams have to try and win it

It sure is....if you nothing about football.

[Goals_Will_Come]

Confirmed
Omagh CBS V St Mary's Magherafelt - Coalisland 26/1/24 - 7:30pm - Referee: Martin McNally
St Joseph's Donaghmore V St Patrick's Academy Dungannon - Carrickmore 27/1/24 - 2:00pm - Referee: Paul Falloon

[Goals_Will_Come]

Confirmed
Omagh CBS V St Mary's Magherafelt - Coalisland 26/1/24 - 7:30pm - Referee: Martin McNally
St Joseph's Donaghmore V St Patrick's Academy Dungannon - Carrickmore 27/1/24 - 2:00pm - Referee: Paul Falloon

Not sure why but the Omagh and Magherafelt game has been changed to Monday 22nd at 12:00, still in Coalisland.
Very disappointing to see a MacRory Cup Semi Final being played at such a time.