McKenna Cup 2024

[twohands!!!]

It will be interesting to compare the total attendances at the 7 Armagh league games versus the total attendances at the McKenna Cup games. 3 home games against Tipperary, Fermanagh and Louth will surely all be capacity crowds. Don't be surprised if the county treasurer is proposing a blue-collar UFC exhibition match featuring members of the Armagh squad so that they can cover the expenses of the back-room team.

Also with the 4 away games, I'd be quite concerned that Armagh bus driver might have trouble finding the unfamiliar pitches.

Maybe the Armagh lads better bring hurleys with them for the Division 3 games, since they are playing so many hurling counties?

[armaghniac]

There mightn't be a great crowd at some Armagh games, but compared to Derry and the real Div 4 team, Antrim, they will be massive.

[theticklemister]

There mightn't be a great crowd at some Armagh games, but compared to Derry and the real Div 4 team, Antrim, they will be massive.

up yers

[Over the Bar]

Armagh probably have the best pub based support in Ireland!

[armaghniac]

Armagh probably have the best pub based support in Ireland!

Of course, Armagh superiority in many things is well known.

[BennyCake]

On the subject of Div 3, is it cheaper to get into games than it would be in Div 1 and 2?

[Line Ball]

Why would it be?

[imtommygunn]

I think it is actually...

[Line Ball]

Seriously, I know Down are offering a £5 discount on NFL tickets paid for in advance.  As long as the are paid for before Sunday then the discount applies.  Is this the same in all counties or just Down?

Taken from Down Facebook page:

Allianz League Game Ticket Sales
Once again this year there is a €5 pre-purchase discount (€10/£9.00 pre-purchase price as opposed to €15 on match day) for all Division 1 and Division 2 Football League fixtures and this is something that we are keen to promote as much as possible.
For all of our Allianz League Games, Tickets can be purchased in advance from the County Office in Castlewellan, you thus can on Match Days proceed straight to the Turnstiles with no worries of queuing and you can do so by saving money too.
It will offer supporters better value and also take some of the pressure off ticket sales at the various venues on match days.

[Fuzzman]

Sure is funny reading SOME Armagh fans completely scraping the barrel with their comments on Tyrone winning another McKenna cup.
I see the Dubs won their Leinster cup too.
Peaked too soon?
Always best not to show your cards too early and play your best forward of the last 20 years in defence. 

Was impressed with young McNulty, Mccurry, McCarron, Justy but disappointed again with RON. He looks really slow and no urgency.

Back to school tomorrow Orange?

[never kickt a ball]

Armagh are probably more like Div 4  standard.  Punching above their weight at present.   Have any previous AI winners fallen as far in the decade following their triumph?

They are certainly doing that.

Also last year they have jumped on the band wagon too.

[illdecide]

Congratulations Tyrone in winning four in a row, were def the best team in the competition and deserved the win. Had a rough few days there so wasn't available to give my congrats earlier...Should be another great Ulster this summer and can't wait for it but not looking forward to the League campaign as it will be hard Spring time for us Armagh men...

[never kickt a ball]

Dr McKenna Cup: Cavan 0-10 1-13 Tyrone

Tyrone made it four McKenna Cup titles in a row thanks to a 1-13 to 0-10 victory over Cavan in Saturday night's final at the Athletic Grounds.
Cavan led by 0-10 to 0-6 at the break but failed to score in the second half as Tyrone produced a quality display.
The Red Hands scored 1-7 without reply in the second period with Niall McKenna netting the only goal of the game after 57 minutes.
Half-time substitute Darren McCurry hit four points for Mickey Harte's team.
Tyrone previously won a four in a row from 2004-2008, also under manager Harte.
In front of a 3,554 crowd in Armagh, Cavan bossed the first half and fully deserved their four-point lead at half-time.
Their direct running put the Tyrone defence on the back-foot and caused them huge problems.
Nine of Cavan's first-half points came from play, with six different players on the scoreboard.
Martin Dunne was dangerous and hit 0-4 in the first half, three of his scores coming from play.
In contrast, Tyrone only managed one point from play in the first half with the bulk of their scores coming from frees.
Cavan completely took over in the second quarter and outscored the Red Hands by 0-6 to 0-2 for the remainder of the half.
Cavan should have been further ahead but Dunne fluffed a brilliant goal chance in the 26th minute.
Tyrone captain Sean Cavanagh shows off the McKenna after the Red Hands triumphed once again
Niall Murray's crossfield ball was well won by Dunne, who turned Aidan McCrory and tried to chip Niall Morgan with the goal at his mercy, but his tame effort dropped wide.
Harte had seen enough and made three half-time substitutions with Colm Cavanagh, Mattie Donnelly and Darren McCurry coming in to bolster the side.
It was vital for Tyrone that they got the first point of the second half - and they did just that after 43 minutes from midfielder Padraig McNulty, who took a few big hits as he rumbled through to score off his weaker left foot.
McCurry was full of confidence after hitting a great point from the wing and followed it up with even better points from distance as Tyrone pulled clear.
McKenna latched onto Sean Cavanagh's knocked down pass and steered the ball low into the right-hand corner of the net.
Cavan, who were without suspended midfielder Gearoid McKiernan, put a lot of energy into the first half and couldn't keep it going once Tyrone upped the ante.

Cavan: C Gilsenan; K Brady, R Dunne, J Hayes; N Murray (0-1), P Smith, M McKeever (0-1); D O'Reilly, K Clarke (0-1); M Reilly, M Lyng (0-1), D McVeety; R Flanagan, N McDermott (0-2), M Dunne (0-4, 1f) Subs: C Moynagh for Hayes (HT), J Brady for Lyng (44), E Hessin for Moynagh (55), T Corr for McKeever (59), P Tinnelly for O'Reilly (68)

Tyrone: N Morgan (0-1, f); A McCrory, Justin McMahon, C McCarron; R McNabb, Joe McMahon, B Tierney; P McNulty (0-2), C McCann (0-1); Mark Donnelly, R O'Neill, P Kane (0-1); K Coney (0-1, f), S Cavanagh (0-3, 3f), N McKenna (1-0) Subs: Mattie Donnelly for Joe McMahon (HT), C Cavanagh for Kane (HT), D McCurry (0-4, 1f) for Coney (HT), P Harte for Mark Donnelly (44), R McNamee for McCarron (62)
Referee: Ronan Barry (Down)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/gaelic-games/30957940?print=true


Interviews and highlights

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/gaelic-games/30957940

[Blue in hope]

Just said that was sectarian so draw your own conclusions.  It was directed to one of the Wylie boys.
[/quote]

It must not have been two bad if he just got two game ban ?
[/quote]


I see a couple of the Monaghan players had their own problems with racism at the weekend. Didnt take long for the wheel to turn.

[Bingo]

Just said that was sectarian so draw your own conclusions.  It was directed to one of the Wylie boys.

It must not have been two bad if he just got two game ban ?
[/quote]


I see a couple of the Monaghan players had their own problems with racism at the weekend. Didnt take long for the wheel to turn.
[/quote]

? Any more to share?