Ulster Senior football championship 2024

[Wildweasel74]

On another matter, there seems to be, a few new posters on here past few weeks. On the messages, I get the impression they been on here before or jumping between a few names.

[screenexile]

Derry were not serious All Ireland contenders ffs. They are at a level below Kerry/Dublin, same as Armagh/Mayo/Galway/Tyrone/Donegal.

A few facts:
They beat Clare and Cork to get to AISFs the last 2 years.
Kerry played sh1te against them last year and still bate them.
They won the league final against Dublin reserves and believed the hype.

I also really think the new structure hurts teams in Derrys position. 4(?) weeks of no championship football before potentially playing Dublin or Kerry.

My prediction: they'll get through the group by beating the guff but will go out at the quarter final stage to a bigger team. Questions will remain over Harte but he will get to stay and we will see the same next year, only a bit worse.

True though they were being mooted with Dublin and Kerry as top 3. That league 'win' (penalty shootout) was very overstated and hyped. Harte got left behind in managing a long time ago. Hadn't beat Dublin, Kerry or Mayo in the championship 2009-2020. I don't think that would
have happened to Rory Gallagher today.

Yeah something like that wouldn't happen with a Rory Gallagher managed team

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/0722/892196-galway-v-donegal-report/#:~:text=Galway%20routed%20Donegal%20with%20a,once%2Dfeared%20defence%20to%20shreds.


https://derrygaa.ie/allianz-football-league-roinn-2-derry-0-12-galway-4-11-20-03-22/

That championship match was 2017 he'd brought them on a long way since that.. as for a league game irrelevant sure Tyrone got hammered in the league by Kerry in 2021 and took Sam up the road a few months later.
Mickey can't handle the big championship games... not in years...

Great man for the McKenna cups though! #champion #warratrophy

What Tyrone wouldn't give for a McKenna cup.... A 4 year drought!!

[An Watcher]

Good scheduling today, Tyrone v Cavan and Mayo v Roscommon on at the same time??

[snoopdog]

Good scheduling today, Tyrone v Cavan and Mayo v Roscommon on at the same time??

Once the Munster Hurling basketball championship starts football takes a back seat.

[Truthsayer]

Good scheduling today, Tyrone v Cavan and Mayo v Roscommon on at the same time??

Once the Munster Hurling basketball championship starts football takes a back seat.

'Football' more akin to basketball!

[Tones]

On another matter, there seems to be, a few new posters on here past few weeks. On the messages, I get the impression they been on here before or jumping between a few names.

On the matter at hand watching the goals again, first was terrible, second Lynch actually scored it, it was going wide, forth lying in a heap in midfield embarrassing stuff.

[marty34]

On another matter, there seems to be, a few new posters on here past few weeks. On the messages, I get the impression they been on here before or jumping between a few names.

On the matter at hand watching the goals again, first was terrible, second Lynch actually scored it, it was going wide, forth lying in a heap in midfield embarrassing stuff.

I think this is the lesson for all teams with the  'fly keeper' nowadays.

I think Dublin were doing this to Derry in the NFL Final but didn't attack with much agression.

Donegal took it to a new level.  Derry press high with Lynch covering space way out the pitch and Patton kicks over the top.  It's 50/50 but if it breaks Donegal's way, they attack with serious pace and power from all angles and score the goals.

It got that bad that the last goal, the keeper actually kicked it deliberately (in my opinon) on top on Lynch, it broke and Donegal were in again for a really handy goal.

For me, when the press is on the kick-out, the only option is to go long. That's where the space is and Mc Guinness nd his management recognised this. The space is in the other half.

Patton is great at the long kicks butthe key is the strong pacey runners driving forward in support.

Now I'm sure Donegal's plan was to get a goal and a few points from this, thinking obviously, that Derry would recalibrate and stop this but for it to hppen time after time, Isure Mc Guinness couldn't believe it.

Now the thing is, the high press and keeper has been found out, will other teams be as brave to do it.

Mc Guinness and his management worked it well. Will it work again for them? 

[twohands!!!]

But we were worryingly outmanoeuvred today.
Donegal had done their homework and exploited the opportunities, we failed to react and adapt.

The bit about "failing to react and adapt" in a game just leapt out at me as I'm sure a lot of Tyrone and Louth folk would agree on it being a common theme in games lost under Harte.

I'd disagree with screen on our attacking play, imo we lacked any cutting edge today, our speed and incisiveness was non-existent, very few line breaks, we didn't/couldn't carry the ball at pace. Our normal game plan just wasn't there. Barely won a breaking ball either.

I would put a lot of this down to Donegal's defensive approach - I haven't watched the game back but I'd be willing to put money that Donegal's setup and tactics were all about denying Derry goal chances. This is a Derry team that have built so many of their victories off scoring goals and denying them chances would be a key platform of Donegal's approach - I think the stuff mentioned "lacked any cutting edge today, our speed and incisiveness was non-existent, very few line breaks, we didn't/couldn't carry the ball at pace. Our normal game plan just wasn't there." was most likely as a result of Donegal's defensive setup. No better man than McGuinness to look at what worked for this Derry team previously in terms of creating goal chances and setting up his side to counter-act this.

The rest should do us good and the seeding is largely irrelevant as has been discussed ad nauseum. Better to have 4 weeks off than 2 more games where you could still end up as a losing provincial finalist, meaning you cannot draw the Munster or Leinster finalists, who will be the weakest teams in the competition.

Just to clarify the losing Ulster provincial finalist can't draw any of the the losing provincial finalists, they will also be in a group with the one of the other winning provincial finalists

[square_ball]

On another matter, there seems to be, a few new posters on here past few weeks. On the messages, I get the impression they been on here before or jumping between a few names.

On the matter at hand watching the goals again, first was terrible, second Lynch actually scored it, it was going wide, forth lying in a heap in midfield embarrassing stuff.

The 2nd wasn't going wide but he made a balls of it. Should have kept it out.

[David McKeown]

On another matter, there seems to be, a few new posters on here past few weeks. On the messages, I get the impression they been on here before or jumping between a few names.

On the matter at hand watching the goals again, first was terrible, second Lynch actually scored it, it was going wide, forth lying in a heap in midfield embarrassing stuff.

I think this is the lesson for all teams with the  'fly keeper' nowadays.

I think Dublin were doing this to Derry in the NFL Final but didn't attack with much agression.

Donegal took it to a new level.  Derry press high with Lynch covering space way out the pitch and Patton kicks over the top.  It's 50/50 but if it breaks Donegal's way, they attack with serious pace and power from all angles and score the goals.

It got that bad that the last goal, the keeper actually kicked it deliberately (in my opinon) on top on Lynch, it broke and Donegal were in again for a really handy goal.

For me, when the press is on the kick-out, the only option is to go long. That's where the space is and Mc Guinness nd his management recognised this. The space is in the other half.

Patton is great at the long kicks butthe key is the strong pacey runners driving forward in support.

Now I'm sure Donegal's plan was to get a goal and a few points from this, thinking obviously, that Derry would recalibrate and stop this but for it to hppen time after time, Isure Mc Guinness couldn't believe it.

Now the thing is, the high press and keeper has been found out, will other teams be as brave to do it.

Mc Guinness and his management worked it well. Will it work again for them? 

I don't think McGuinness is getting enough credit for not only exploiting the space on the long kick outs but also in creating it.  Id need to see the goals again but from memory on 3 of them he made sure that there were no Donegal forwards near the goals so that there would be no covering defenders who could drop back and cover for Lynch.  That was unusual tactically and worked a treat at creating the goals.

All that said, Donegal were gifted 4 goals and only won the game by 6 points (although there is no doubt they deserved to win), that will have to be of concern.

[NotedObserver]

But we were worryingly outmanoeuvred today.
Donegal had done their homework and exploited the opportunities, we failed to react and adapt.

The bit about "failing to react and adapt" in a game just leapt out at me as I'm sure a lot of Tyrone and Louth folk would agree on it being a common theme in games lost under Harte.

I'd disagree with screen on our attacking play, imo we lacked any cutting edge today, our speed and incisiveness was non-existent, very few line breaks, we didn't/couldn't carry the ball at pace. Our normal game plan just wasn't there. Barely won a breaking ball either.

I would put a lot of this down to Donegal's defensive approach - I haven't watched the game back but I'd be willing to put money that Donegal's setup and tactics were all about denying Derry goal chances. This is a Derry team that have built so many of their victories off scoring goals and denying them chances would be a key platform of Donegal's approach - I think the stuff mentioned "lacked any cutting edge today, our speed and incisiveness was non-existent, very few line breaks, we didn't/couldn't carry the ball at pace. Our normal game plan just wasn't there." was most likely as a result of Donegal's defensive setup. No better man than McGuinness to look at what worked for this Derry team previously in terms of creating goal chances and setting up his side to counter-act this.

The rest should do us good and the seeding is largely irrelevant as has been discussed ad nauseum. Better to have 4 weeks off than 2 more games where you could still end up as a losing provincial finalist, meaning you cannot draw the Munster or Leinster finalists, who will be the weakest teams in the competition.

Just to clarify the losing Ulster provincial finalist can't draw any of the the losing provincial finalists, they will also be in a group with the one of the other winning provincial finalists

I'd agree with Donegal defensive shape  was a major factor on winning the game. Derry live of goals and not many teams have been able to live with their movement. Galway seem to be able to handle it and Donegal kept kept them under control as well.


Donegal players to come back in too and will not be an easy proposition for any team.

[NotedObserver]

On another matter, there seems to be, a few new posters on here past few weeks. On the messages, I get the impression they been on here before or jumping between a few names.

On the matter at hand watching the goals again, first was terrible, second Lynch actually scored it, it was going wide, forth lying in a heap in midfield embarrassing stuff.

I think this is the lesson for all teams with the  'fly keeper' nowadays.

I think Dublin were doing this to Derry in the NFL Final but didn't attack with much agression.

Donegal took it to a new level.  Derry press high with Lynch covering space way out the pitch and Patton kicks over the top.  It's 50/50 but if it breaks Donegal's way, they attack with serious pace and power from all angles and score the goals.

It got that bad that the last goal, the keeper actually kicked it deliberately (in my opinon) on top on Lynch, it broke and Donegal were in again for a really handy goal.

For me, when the press is on the kick-out, the only option is to go long. That's where the space is and Mc Guinness nd his management recognised this. The space is in the other half.

Patton is great at the long kicks butthe key is the strong pacey runners driving forward in support.

Now I'm sure Donegal's plan was to get a goal and a few points from this, thinking obviously, that Derry would recalibrate and stop this but for it to hppen time after time, Isure Mc Guinness couldn't believe it.

Now the thing is, the high press and keeper has been found out, will other teams be as brave to do it.

Mc Guinness and his management worked it well. Will it work again for them? 

I don't think McGuinness is getting enough credit for not only exploiting the space on the long kick outs but also in creating it.  Id need to see the goals again but from memory on 3 of them he made sure that there were no Donegal forwards near the goals so that there would be no covering defenders who could drop back and cover for Lynch.  That was unusual tactically and worked a treat at creating the goals.

All that said, Donegal were gifted 4 goals and only won the game by 6 points (although there is no doubt they deserved to win), that will have to be of concern.

Donegal gifted them 4 points at the end

[jmk]

Have to commend Oisin Gallen's role in first goal, he was in front of goal with McKague and his run out to right forced McKague into having to decide whether to go with him or cover the goals.

[nrico2006]

On another matter, there seems to be, a few new posters on here past few weeks. On the messages, I get the impression they been on here before or jumping between a few names.

On the matter at hand watching the goals again, first was terrible, second Lynch actually scored it, it was going wide, forth lying in a heap in midfield embarrassing stuff.

The 2nd wasn't going wide but he made a balls of it. Should have kept it out.

The thing that stood about thise goals was him seemingly jogging back.  Surely he should be anticipating these scenarios and be busting his balls to get back.

[J70]

Unfortunately didn't get to see the match in real time, but watched it back last night. Honestly could not believe what I was watching with Derry's goalkeeper shenanigans! Not blaming Lynch. He's been caught before, not least by Comer two years ago, and obviously this is a risk Harte felt was worth continuing to bear, but when you've been caught twice and you concede a third?? Absolute madness! Any hype in or about Donegal will have to be tempered by the fact that most other teams are not going to gift us those goal opportunities.

Great performance across the field though. You could see the belief balloon in that period before the first goal where we started to repeatedly turn Derry over AND make hay up front with McHugh and Mogan punching through the lines. Ryan's best performance this decade. Eoin Ban still to come back too to add more running and line breaking power. Caolan McGonigle is starting to bring back memories of Rambo Gavigan. He's like a bull when he gets moving. McCole did a good job on McGuigan again, although the system certainly helped. Brilliant work in midfield, and some finish from Jamie Brennan, whose biggest contribution to the county in the last few years had been coaching Abbey VS to the McLarnon and AI titles! And fair fucks to Daire O'Baoil - scored an even better goal against Cork in the league from further out.

Ulster wide open now, especially with only a week to prepare for Cavan or Tyrone. There'll be no four goals next week!