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Another clinical display from Cross, never felt as though they were ever gonna lose the match. Errigal have some good players and played reasonably well but Cross are a team on a mission and that's to be definitively recognised as the best club team ever. Though how McConville got MOTM was most peculiar, a large degree of sentimentalism I'd imagine.

Never seen the other semi-final but I wasn't surprised to see Kilcoo coming out on top. Jim McCorry has done some job with that side and they are notoriously hard to penetrate defensively. It will be a contrast of styles in the final. Cross with their long kicking attacking game against Kilcoo with their defensive risk free football. Football v Anti Football and I think the football will win out. 

Theres an 11/10 accum at Paddy Power of

Cross
Crokes
Galls
Castlehaven

Galls v Kilcoo is the only one I would be wary of.

Agree with this, think Kilcoo might turn over St Galls.

As the game gets closer I really can't see Cross being beat, Errigal without 2 of their best players this could be the game where Cross put on another show and prove their status as the best club team ever. I'm taking Cross minus 4 on the handicap.

Think it's Cross v St Brigids and Crokes v Ballymun.

[They aren't any more professional then a lot of club teams out there]

I don't think some realise how professionally run Crossmaglen have become. If Jamie keeps going he will be burnt out before 30, he deserves the break and should come back fully refreshed good luck to him.

They aren't any more professional then a lot of club teams out there. They just happen to be better then most  of them.

Not true, they take professionalism to new levels as regards club sides. They would be more professional than a lot of county sides as well. It is their preparation and discipline even more than their ability that has won them all those titles, and it is now ingrained in the culture of the senior team.

If the cross assistant manager got into a spat on the sideline then its up to the officials to deal with it. I don't think the present Cross team use bully boy tactics, in fact I would say that they are a brilliant footballing team. They were a lot more physical 6/7 years ago.

What I do notice is how bullish Cross are about their chances in this years campaign and how they are going to only get better. In the past few days I have seen interviews with Tony McEntee, Hanratty, Morgan and Oisin where they have all talked up their chances. Makes a pleasant change from the usual drivel of 'one game at a time' 'won nothing yet' overused cliches that we are used to hearing. I think this team now has the bit between their teeth and can smell history in the making. First football team to win 3 in a row since the great Kerry side?

What a strange, long-drawn-out system that is.

Yeah, you would think the winners of the 2 regional competitions would just play a final especially considering how late this cship is being played off.

How many will Cross win by this weekend? I'm going for a 6/7 point win

Cross by 9. They will come into their own now.

Not bad, you will be cleaning your management out with predictions like that. Any scores for next week?

Cross will win by 4/5 points against Errigal

The Cross v Errigal match is really hard to call but I think Cross will shade it. Was talking to a Cross man coming out of the match and he said that Danny O Callaghan was back from Australia but probably wouldn't feature in any of their games before Xmas. Will be a big help if they can get him fit again

He should be so committed he shouldn't have a job?

Who said anything about the fact that he shouldn't have a job. All I'm saying is that if he spends Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Glasgow he will at worst miss one training session but in reality its a lot worse than that. Jim was effectively doing the Donegal job full time last season. Now he won't have that luxury and Donegal will be the poorer for it.

Fair play to Jimmy and I hope it works out for him, he deserves a lucrative move based on his remarkable achievements with Donegal. However there is no doubt that his position as Donegal manager will be severely compromised. How can he preach total committment to players when he is fulfilling the Donegal managers role part time? Bottom line is he will be contracted to Celtic and this will severely curtail his role with Donegal. It wouldn't surprise me if Jimmy allows Rory Gallagher to step into his role and for him to become a lesser cog in the wheel. Donegals success was largely based on meticulous preparation, committment and discipline and there is no doubt that they will have lost something from todays announcement.

How many will Cross win by this weekend? I'm going for a 6/7 point win

Cross by 9. They will come into their own now.

IFC semi finals

Warrenpoint v Aghagallon / Termon/ Aodh Ruadh
Doohamlet v Cookstown

JFC

Drumhowan v An Port Mor
Laragh  v Brackaville

Warrenpoint v Aghagallon / Termon

Termon won Donegal last night. They line out against Aghagallon this weekend. Have to tip Aghagallon to win.
Warrenpoint have a great chance of getting to the final. Slamming 5 goals past Teemore was impressive.

Ordinarily would fancy Termon to get to the Ulster final but a tough fixture schedule could leave them susceptible to a defeat against Aghagallon on Sunday. Could well leave the door open for QWarrenpoint to get to the final. Either way I think the real Ulster final will be the game between Cookstown and Doohamlet. Would expect Cookstown to win it though.

The real problem is that Hughie didn't feel that he was being listened to when it came to development plans, structures, choosing managers etc etc. I half expected something like this would happen once it became clear there was a breakdown with Hughie and county board. It happened before after he formed a breakaway club after being ousted from his own club. The county board would be best served to say nothing else on the matter.

[Yeah I fully expect Kilcoo to turn us over, we've a few injuries from last week and the Laverty lad will score a hat full]

Galls have the All Ireland in the bag.

Can't see it myself. They are spooked by the men from Crossmaglen. A bit like Kerry against Tyrone in the noughties they know that Cross have their number and will have again this year should they meet in the final as expected. However I actually think Kilcoo could do them over in the semi-final.

Yeah I fully expect Kilcoo to turn us over, we've a few injuries from last week and the Laverty lad will score a hat full

Probably said with tongue firmly in cheek . I wouldn't expect Laverty to score much but I think that St Galls will have one eye on Cross (presuming they make the final), but you will underestimate Kilcoo at your peril.

kilcoo will just love sitting lying in wait for st galls. a more dogged determined shower of xxxxx u will ever come across and i say that with the greatest of respect.  they seem to be overlooked  and underestimated on this thread but the st galls game seems perfectly set up for them to cause a shock.

Agree, McCorry is a master tactician and will have a clear plan as to how to beat St Galls. It will likely involve trying to grind St Galls into submission. No doubt St Galls have the better individual players but Kilcoo will make it near impossible to break them down. I would expect a low scoring encounter and I think Kilcoo could edge it.