McKenna Cup 2024

[Orior]

Full time.
Armagh 1-10 Donegal 0-20

[Il Bomber Destro]

I see there was an Edward English from Mullaghbawn playing for Armagh tonight.

Not the kind of name you'd usually associate with South Armagh!

[Orior]

I see there was an Edward English from Mullaghbawn playing for Armagh tonight.

Not the kind of name you'd usually associate with South Armagh!

Correct. There are English's in mid/north Armagh but more into rugger or soccer.

[BennyCake]

I see there was an Edward English from Mullaghbawn playing for Armagh tonight.

Not the kind of name you'd usually associate with South Armagh!

Correct. There are English's in mid/north Armagh but more into rugger or soccer.

We had very regal sounding names tonight: a James and a Charles too. No Billy, though.

[StGallsGAA]

All square at half time. Armagh basically fielded their B team.

Knew what was waiting in the final obviously.  Players can only take so many thrashings at the hands of Tyrone in their playing career!  The counselling therapy bill must be enormous at this point

[inthrough]

Neither team at anything like full strength. Donegal going well at midfield & up front but the full back line looked vulnerable under a high ball.

We'll know more next weekend after a trip to Killarney!!

[Rois]

Has this been switched to the Athletic Grounds from Celtic Park?  Tyrone GAA have this on twitter. 

[belfastkev]

Has this been switched to the Athletic Grounds from Celtic Park?  Tyrone GAA have this on twitter.

Yeah it's been moved to Armagh with a 6pm throw-in. They moved it from Derry because Derry are playing their refixed league game on Sunday.

[Rois]

Thanks

[never kickt a ball]

Dr McKenna Cup final: Colm Cavanagh returns for much-changed Tyrone

Donegal hope to end Tyrone's bid for a seventh consecutive McKenna Cup title

2018 Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Final
Venue: Athletic Grounds, Armagh Date: Saturday, 17 February Throw-in: 18:00 GMT

Coverage: Live video stream on the BBC Sport NI website
Colm Cavanagh is named in a Tyrone team for Saturday's Dr McKenna Cup final which shows 14 changes from last weekend's League win over Kildare.

Defender Cathal McCarron is the only player to retain a starting role.

Brendan Burns and Michael Cassidy are named in the defence with Errigal Ciaran's Ben McDonnell partnering Cavanagh at midfield.

Harry Loughran and Ronan McHugh are selected in an attack that does include Declan McClure and Ronan O'Neill.

The bench includes regular starters Niall Morgan, Mattie Donnelly, Peter Harte and Niall Sludden.

'No love lost between teams' - Doherty

Speaking in the run-up to the game, Donegal defender Eamonn Doherty has admitted there is "no love lost" with Tyrone ahead.

The two sides will meet in a rearranged match at the Athletic Grounds after the early stages of the tournament were disrupted by bad weather.

"It's neighbouring counties who have seen an awful lot of each other the last few years," said Doherty.

"There's no love lost between the two teams so both will be going for it hammer and tongs."

Donegal are still without a win from their opening three league matches while Tyrone registered their first victory with a battling one-point success against Kildare in round three.

"I don't think the mentality changes," added Doherty.

"There is a trophy on the line in the middle of the league but in hindsight it's a good thing because it could make it a more interesting game.

"Both teams will be that bit fitter after a few tough league games so the form is going to be a bit better."

Tryone beat Donegal by 1-21 to 1-12 in their Ulster semi-final last year

Donegal's three defeats in Division One have all been by narrow margins with a five-point loss to All-Ireland champions Dublin at Croke Park following one-point defeats by Galway and Kerry.

Tyrone, who began the league with losses against Dublin and Galway, will host their neighbours at Healy Park when they meet in round five of Division One.

"We have been playing well but playing well doesn't necessarily get you points on the board and that shows," admitted Doherty.

"It's against Tyrone so there's a bit of bragging rights coming up to a league game, on the third of March in Healy Park, and as well as that it's a morale booster going into the Kildare game next week.

"So it's a very important game, it's not just a McKenna Cup final."

Tyrone's magnificent seven

Tyrone have dominated the McKenna Cup in recent years and the Red Hands will be targeting a seventh consecutive title at the Athletic Grounds.

The reigning Ulster champions have moved off the foot of the Division One table following their narrow win at Newbridge and manager Mickey Harte hopes his side can take that momentum into Saturday's final.

"It's such a difference between having two league points and none," said Harte.

"We would have been bottom basement again if we had lost that game but now the way the results have gone, it kind of puts you as a mid-table team.

"We won't be flattered by that either because there's very good games coming up and anybody can beat anybody in Division One, apart I suppose Dublin - they seem to beat everybody - but everybody else would believe they have a chance against the others."

Donegal manager Declan Bonner must decide whether or not to hand a first start of the season to Michael Murphy, who came off the bench during the defeat by Dublin.

The two-time All Star winner could be set to renew his attacking partnership with Patrick McBrearty, who has been in sensational form for Donegal in the early part of 2018.

"It's exciting to see Michael getting back," said Doherty.

"He's a leader in the team and it's good to have him back training now as well because he just lifts the whole team and the standards that he sets brings the whole squad with him."

Tyrone: M O'Neill; A McCrory, C McCarron, B Burns; M Cassidy, R McNabb, K McGeary; C Cavanagh, B McDonnell; D McClure, H Loughran, C McCann; D McCurry, R McHugh, R O'Neill.

Replacements: N Morgan, M Donnelly, P Hampsey, P Harte, C McAliskey, HP McGeary, C McLaughlin, P McNulty, C McShane, C Meyler, N Sludden.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/northern-ireland/43049736

[BennyHarp]

Game is being shown on the bbc website tomorrow night.

[Blowitupref]

Game is being shown on the bbc website tomorrow night.

Link?

[BennyHarp]

Game is being shown on the bbc website tomorrow night.

Link?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/northern-ireland/42649959

[Blowitupref]

Game is being shown on the bbc website tomorrow night.

Link?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/northern-ireland/42649959

Thanks.

[twohands!!!]

Donegal 1-4 Tyrone 1-2 after 10 minutes

Crazy scoring.