Ulster Club SFC 2024

[Milltown Row2]

Championships are won by the best teams in every county that year, if a team is walking it most years that's not down to a lesser league or whether they have knock out, back door or groups, it's down to the standard.

Antrim have had all styles of championships. It still didn't have jeopardy, the best teams won regardless.

The thing about the league in Tyrone I seen from above is they have the starred games, do non starred games have points to be won or are they friendlies due to no county players?

Tyrone is a one code county too so it's able to concentrate on the football and promote it better

We ran a starred format for a couple of seasons and the players and managers at the time didn't find it useful, so it was binned.

Why are EC able to win Ulster over the other teams?

[Armagh18]

Errigal have played 15 competitive league games in Tyrone followed by a knockout county championship where they were close a few times to being knocked out and went on to win Ulster.

 I feel sorry for GAA people from other counties where leagues are practically friendly games and championships that gives the bigger clubs a chance to rest players as they can afford to lose a game and still win it.

I'd love to hear opinions from neighbouring GAA counties on why they don't have a similar system. My own club would play a league game on a Friday night with 1000+ attendance, and the talk of the village all week would be about the next league game. A championship game would have a big attendance with many neutrals with it being a knockout game.

5 games are set aside as starred games (without county men) and if the county get far then the league is put on hold to make sure county men get the chance to play club football for their club, which could be the difference for certain clubs staying in senior football or getting relegated.

Our - Armagh - leagues are linked to the championship also but we have the group stages first. Which, while it guarantees teams 3 games, takes a lot of excitement out of it. I'd prefer the Tyrone model if I'm honest

Me too, look at Clann Eireann and Cross this year were both beat early on, and obviously the county lads understandably took a while to get motoring for the clubs. Although when it does get going our championship was very good this year in all 3 grades with competitive games and surprises.

[johnnycool]

Not an expert on the football, but Kilcoo kicked that one away yesterday and from a well seasoned team, that will hurt over the winter, no doubt.

I get that there's a lot of hate in Down towards Kilcoo as they don't always help themselves they way they conduct themselves, but there is a lot of sour grapes in there as well.

A bunch of upstarts with no right to be winning anything making wee boys out of a lot of their neighbours with much bigger pools of players, tradition or whatever.

They've won 13 of the last 16 Down championships and a lot of them at a canter, so straight knockout, back door, round robin, it won't matter until the rest of the other clubs in Down up their game, grow a set of swingers and go toe to toe with them and stop complaining.

[Armagh18]

Not an expert on the football, but Kilcoo kicked that one away yesterday and from a well seasoned team, that will hurt over the winter, no doubt.

I get that there's a lot of hate in Down towards Kilcoo as they don't always help themselves they way they conduct themselves, but there is a lot of sour grapes in there as well.

A bunch of upstarts with no right to be winning anything making wee boys out of a lot of their neighbours with much bigger pools of players, tradition or whatever.

They've won 13 of the last 16 Down championships and a lot of them at a canter, so straight knockout, back door, round robin, it won't matter until the rest of the other clubs in Down up their game, grow a set of swingers and go toe to toe with them and stop complaining.

Pretty much. Think Warrenpoint ran them close a few years ago, extra time maybe? Clonduff have put it up to them before but Kilcoo have their number now and I don't know what to say about Burren, for all their quality they seem to have a mental block when it comes to Kilcoo.

Was a fella in midfield for Kilcoo a few years ago Dylan Ward, has he left the panel now? Did rightly on Conor Glass in Armagh the year Kilcoo beat Glen.

[DownFanatic]

There was a second All Ireland Club title in Kilcoo this season, that I'm convinced of. The sending off completely altered the outcome yesterday and they will be sick today with the defeat. As expected, both Canavan's were largely nullified and this was testament to the superb defensive work that Kilcoo are renowned for. Kilcoo's forwards, for the most part 4 of them playing up, were very much off song and really didn't produce near enough quality or finishes. There was more of a reliance on deep runners coming with pace and looking to pick off scores. Whether it was tactical intent or a lack of options, but bar Laverty and Crissy Rooney, Kilcoo's bench didn't have much more ammo that could have been introduced.

Looking at advancing years in the panel, I'm not sure Kilcoo have another stab at the All Ireland in them with this current offering. Karl Lacey may be re-evaluating his future with them too. They are still the standard bearers in Down and Ulster. Andy Merrigan is now completely open. Errigal have as good a chance as anyone.

[gallsman]

Dylan Ward has been in Australia but is back as of a few weeks ago. There was a piece in the Irish News at the time.. Not sure where he is in relation to the panel though.

bar Laverty and Crissy Rooney, Kilcoo's bench didn't have much more ammo that could have been introduced.

Don't remember Laverty touching the ball yesterday after he came and it's been a while since I can remember him doing anything significant, possibly as far back as the All Ireland win against Kilmacud. Maybe time to pack it in.

[thebigfullforward]

Championships are won by the best teams in every county that year, if a team is walking it most years that's not down to a lesser league or whether they have knock out, back door or groups, it's down to the standard.

Antrim have had all styles of championships. It still didn't have jeopardy, the best teams won regardless.

The thing about the league in Tyrone I seen from above is they have the starred games, do non starred games have points to be won or are they friendlies due to no county players?

Tyrone is a one code county too so it's able to concentrate on the football and promote it better

We ran a starred format for a couple of seasons and the players and managers at the time didn't find it useful, so it was binned.

Why are EC able to win Ulster over the other teams?

Every league game in Tyrone have points to be won. It's why there was a fuss kicked up when Cush dropped off the Tyrone panel to play for the club during the starred games and I think it was Edendork that didn't like it. Not sure what happened then but the point is every game is taken seriously (bar the final game of the season this year when teams played reserve sides due to championship around the corner)

[tonto1888]

Dylan Ward has been in Australia but is back as of a few weeks ago. There was a piece in the Irish News at the time.. Not sure where he is in relation to the panel though.

bar Laverty and Crissy Rooney, Kilcoo's bench didn't have much more ammo that could have been introduced.

Don't remember Laverty touching the ball yesterday after he came and it's been a while since I can remember him doing anything significant, possibly as far back as the All Ireland win against Kilmacud. Maybe time to pack it in.

He had a few touches. Kicked one straight to an EC man

[ck]

Well done ErrigalC. You were big underdogs and for me deserved the win on the day. The red card was the correct decision by the referee and did have a big baring on the game in last Qtr. Silly tackle, a complete rush of blood to the head, which has been a feature with Kilcoo last year and this year, considering that their composure used to be their strength.

[general_lee]

https://x.com/SportTG4/status/1865795657652433078

Their relentless commitment to being complete tramps is somewhat...well, not admirable, but something.

Watched that in real time and couldn't believe there wasn't a word  about it. One very clear strike and one fairly clear. Either could or perhaps should have been red.

Are we just ignoring the initial attempt at a tackle by EC No7 from the outset?

Silly me, I forgot the rule that if your teammate is being fouled you're allowed to start boxing lads in the head.

It's funny how people's hatred for Kilcoo clouds their ability to see anything other than their indiscretions.

[gallsman]

How do you not get this ffs? Boo f**king hoo, they were fouled. Guess what, they were given a f**king free for it.

But Johnston throwing boxes or Brannigan trying to take someone's head off (and yes, it was absolutely intentional, especially as he launched himself off his feet into it) and a load of saps come crawling out to try and say it's the ref's fault because he didn't whistle for a previous minor indiscretion.

I didn't have a dog in the fight so I honestly couldn't care less who won, but Kilcoo have shown themselves to be a nasty, horrible shower over and over and over again. Which is a real f**king pity, as they're a phenomenal club.

[Armagh18]

Lavery came on and tried to pull the strings but just didn't happen. Tried a pass that would have led to a scorable mark at one stage but the lad waited on it and number 12 for EC made a brilliant interception.

Well done to EC sometimes the name is just on the trophy. Kilcoo will be back I'm sure

[Mikhailov]

Championships are won by the best teams in every county that year, if a team is walking it most years that's not down to a lesser league or whether they have knock out, back door or groups, it's down to the standard.

Antrim have had all styles of championships. It still didn't have jeopardy, the best teams won regardless.

The thing about the league in Tyrone I seen from above is they have the starred games, do non starred games have points to be won or are they friendlies due to no county players?

Tyrone is a one code county too so it's able to concentrate on the football and promote it better

We ran a starred format for a couple of seasons and the players and managers at the time didn't find it useful, so it was binned.

Why are EC able to win Ulster over the other teams?

Every game in Tyrone league counts whether it is starred or not. All worth 2 points for a win or 1 point for a draw. Maximum of 5 starred games (without county men) then 10 games when every team has full compliment to play with. 15 league games / 30 points. This year 22 points finished top of the league with 20 points getting into top 4. At the other end Clonoe got relegated in the highest position on 10 points - seriously competitive

[Sheedy]

How do you not get this ffs? Boo f**king hoo, they were fouled. Guess what, they were given a f**king free for it.

But Johnston throwing boxes or Brannigan trying to take someone's head off (and yes, it was absolutely intentional, especially as he launched himself off his feet into it) and a load of saps come crawling out to try and say it's the ref's fault because he didn't whistle for a previous minor indiscretion.

I didn't have a dog in the fight so I honestly couldn't care less who won, but Kilcoo have shown themselves to be a nasty, horrible shower over and over and over again. Which is a real f**king pity, as they're a phenomenal club.

You don't like kilcoo, I think we've all picked that up at this stage. How many of their games have you seen or how many of their players do you know?

[Caitlin]

Fair play to EC and I hope they go on to win it, although Kilcoo would have had a better chance if they had prevailed imo.
There's been enough said about the game but the winning score was a reminder that fortune favours the brave. However, Kilcoo are unlikely to get any 50/50 calls from referees anywhere outside Down ( the square ball and absence of black card for example- the red was clear) and they should reflect on this before launching unnecessary and counter-productive legal challenges in the future.
It's a big setback for the Magpies as they had emptied the tank with their eyes on an Ulster- at least.
That management team doesn't come cheap and it will be interesting to see if they all make the big trips again next year. Equally , a few of the players might not feel they could give it another lash; PD and JJ looked jaded yesterday and Laverty might not want to continue his cameo role. However, there are more than enough replacements coming off the production line and I don't see anyone troubling them in Down at least for a few years.