McKenna Cup 2024

[never kickt a ball]

Cassidy back in Donegal line-up
Kevin Cassidy is back in the Donegal starting line-up for Sunday's Gaelic Life McKenna Cup clash against Antrim.
Cassidy came on as a sub against UUJ last weekend but he will be making his first start since opting out of last year's championship squad. He refused to return to the squad after being dropped for disciplinary reasons earlier in the year. Christy Toye returns to a much-changed Donegal side which also sees Michael Boyle getting the goalkeeping jersey. Youngster Kevin McMenamin starts in the full-forward line after impressing in last weekend's win over Jordanstown. Cassidy has been selected at midfield alongside Joe Friel. Other changes see Colm McCarron replacing Frank McGlynn at left full-back while Kilcar's Noel Hegarty takes over from Barry Monaghan in the half-back line.

Donegal Team:

M Boyle, P Witherow, P Campbell, C McCarron, N Hegarty, E McGee, B Dunnion, J Friel, K Cassidy, C Toye, R Bradley, M Murphy, K McMenamin, B Byrne, M McElhinney

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/6254883.stm

[GrandMasterFlash]

Totally agree RNRH,
  Mickey Harte flexes his muscles.... At worst it's three games, at best it's 5! What about the 3 students he had sittin on the bench? What about the fact the McKenna cup was virtually unheard of a few years back and teams still managed to build and win AIs? Mickey Harte seems to think he has an authority on GAA in Ulster. He just get of his high horse and let the lads play for their respective colleges as that's a big accolade for any young fella. I was at UUJ myself at the competition there for places was fierce,so gettin your spot on the University team was a good accolade.

[Uladh]

I normally have a healthy respect for harte's views on all things gaa. he normally thinks things through pretty well and offers useful insights. but on this occasion he's being an ass. the mckenna cup is a vibrant early season competition. it alows counties to get a good look at squad players in a competitive environment and allows colleges to prepare in ernest for the more presssing sigerson cup. however, for the competition to remain competitive, the unis must be full strength or the games will become a farce. i had given harte the benefit of the doubt that these were 3 players he absolutely had to get a look at until i heard he left them sitting in the stand. that above anything else tells me he's trying to show who's boss and reflects poorly on the man.

the ulster council should come down hard on tyrone for this. the tyrone county board deserve a severe dressing down for sitting on their hands and alowing their manager to treat the tournament with such disrespect. if all county managers were to adopt this policy the unis would withdraw and the tournament will go back to what it was.

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

Did McIver get Sundays match changed to Saturday evening? 

[aontroim]

1. John Finucane
2. Damien Gault
3. Colin Brady
4. Lawrence Higgins
5. Sean McVeigh
6. Gavin Bell
7. Niall Ward
8. Joe Quinn
9. Darrel Martin
10. Aodhan Gallagher
11. Michael McCann
12. Chris Lynch
13. Ciaran Close (Capt.)
14. Kevin Brady
15. Michael Rea

Gaoth - match is still on Sunday as there wasnt enough time to get approval for official use of floodlighting - they are planning their first floodlit game v Meath in the NFL.

[J70]

Cassidy back in Donegal line-up
Kevin Cassidy is back in the Donegal starting line-up for Sunday's Gaelic Life McKenna Cup clash against Antrim.
Cassidy came on as a sub against UUJ last weekend but he will be making his first start since opting out of last year's championship squad. He refused to return to the squad after being dropped for disciplinary reasons earlier in the year. Christy Toye returns to a much-changed Donegal side which also sees Michael Boyle getting the goalkeeping jersey. Youngster Kevin McMenamin starts in the full-forward line after impressing in last weekend's win over Jordanstown. Cassidy has been selected at midfield alongside Joe Friel. Other changes see Colm McCarron replacing Frank McGlynn at left full-back while Kilcar's Noel Hegarty takes over from Barry Monaghan in the half-back line.

Donegal Team:

M Boyle, P Witherow, P Campbell, C McCarron, N Hegarty, E McGee, B Dunnion, J Friel, K Cassidy, C Toye, R Bradley, M Murphy, K McMenamin, B Byrne, M McElhinney

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/6254883.stm

Looks like McIver's thinking about using Cassidy alongside Neil Gallagher later in the year. We can't say he's not giving the young lads a chance, that's for sure! It'll be interesting to see the panel he uses for the league.

[never kickt a ball]

Down name team to face UUJ
Friday, January 12
Down have named their team to face UUJ in Sunday's Gaelic Life Dr McKenna Cup clash in Burren (throw-in 2pm).
The Mourne County drew 0-9 apiece with Antrim last weekend in their McKenna Cup opener and will be looking for an improved performance against the college side.
Down dual star Brendan McGourty, of Ballycran, has not managed to retain his place for the Section C tie with University of Ulster Jordanstown, despite putting in a decent performance against the Saffron County last time out.

SF v UUJ: B Connell; A Burns, A Carville, M Cole; D Cunningham, B Doran, K Gracey; C Gribben, E Henry; S Kearney, B Loughran, J Lynch; P Matthews, R McArdle, M McClean.

http://www.gaa.ie/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=17098

[never kickt a ball]

Saffrons opt for experienced starting XV

Friday, January 12

New Antrim manager Jody Gormley has made three changes to his starting XV ahead of Sunday's Gaelic Life Dr McKenna Cup clash with Donegal at Casement Park.
Former All-Star nominee Sean McGreevy drops to the bench with John Finucane taking up residence between the sticks.
Gormley has opted to leave his defence and midfield, which started the 0-9 apiece draw with Down last weekend, unchanged.
Chris Lynch has been selected at left wing forward with Eoin O'Neill the man to make way, while Kevin Brady, in at full forward, will lead the attack at the expense of O'Donovan Rossa's Paul Close.
The only other change is a positional one with skipper Ciaran Close relocated from number 14 to right wing forward.
Intercounty hurler Gavin Bell has been given the nod to continue for the Saffron County footballers at centre back.
Gormley has again opted to field a relatively experienced side with the majority of the team having already tasted championship football.

Antrim Team: J Finucane; D Gault, C Brady, L Higgins; S McVeigh, G Bell, N Ward; J Quinn, D Martin; A Gallagher, M McCann, C Lynch; C Close (capt), K Brady, M Rea.

Donegal Team: M Boyle, P Witherow, P Campbell, C McCarron, N Hegarty, E McGee, B Dunnion, J Friel, K Cassidy, C Toye, R Bradley, M Murphy, K McMenamin, B Byrne, M McElhinney

http://www.gaa.ie/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=17093

[never kickt a ball]

What's the odds on: Armagh, Monaghan, Tyrone, Donegal, Cavan and UUJ? All to win?

[never kickt a ball]

Cavan beat QUB tonight in Breffni by two points. 1-13 to 1-11

[Cloc Mor]

SF v UUJ: B Connell; A Burns, A Carville, M Cole; D Cunningham, B Doran, K Gracey; C Gribben, E Henry; S Kearney, B Loughran, J Lynch; P Matthews, R McArdle, M McClean.

Don't hold much hope for this side with so many guys played out of position - experimental it surely is.  There is no way possible the team will line out like this.  Is this team for real?

[Redhandfan]

Cavan beat QUB tonight in Breffni by two points. 1-13 to 1-11

I expected Cavan to win this game much more comfortably.  QUB must have improved a hell of a lot from last week's drubbing at the hands of Tyrone.  Or, perhaps, Cavan were given too much credit for their opening round victory over Derry.  This evening's conditions could not have helped either team's cause.

[DownFanatic]

That Down starting 15 cant be accurate. For a start Kearney and McArdle are injured. It looks like the names are going in alphabetical order aswell. Definitely not the starting 15.
If I were Ross Carr tomorrow id be putting a team out with a lineup something like this:

1. Bernard Connell (Drumgath)
2. Martin Cole (Rostrevor)
3. Stephen Toner (Bryansford)
4. Paudie Matthews (Clonduff)
5. Barry Doran (Longstone)
6. Kevin Gracey (Downpatrick)
7. Brendan Rogers (Mayobridge)
8. Adrian Carville (Bryansford)
9. Jackie Lynch (Drumgath)
10. Brendan McGourty (Ballycran)
11. Peter Telford (Downpatrick)
12. Fintan McGreevey (Castlewellan)
13. Brendan Loughran (Shamrocks)
14. Gareth Johnson (Ballygalget)
15. Danny Hughes (Saval)

[tyroneman]

Gavin Donaghy sent off for Queens - straight red.............sure they're all angels are they not?

[Redhandfan]

From BBC NI:

Cavan 1-13 1-11 Queen's 

Debutant Rory Gallagher hit a late point in Cavan's victory over Queen's in the Gaelic Life McKenna Cup.
Gerald Pearson hit seven Cavan points although he was replaced in the closing stages by ex-Fermanagh star Gallagher.

Cavan led 0-8 to 0-6 at the break and Dermot McCabe's penalty then helped extend their lead to 1-11 to 0-9.

Eoin McCartan's goal helped QUB draw level but Cavan hit the final two points. QUB's Gavin Donaghy got a straight red card just after half-time.

Derry county player Donaghy was given his marching orders after an apparent clash with Cavan star McCabe.

McCabe's penalty came after Mark McKeever had been hauled down in the parallelogram.

Four of Pearson's seven points came from play while Queen's top scorer was Fermanagh county forward Ciaran O'Reilly who hit four points.

Cavan defeated Derry in their McKenna Cup opener last Sunday and they take on Tyrone in their final group game next weekend.