Ulster Club SFC 2023

[ranch]

Likes of Kilcoo and Cross at their best years ago definitely would be looking to hit top form/fitness for the provincials because they walk through their county.

Possibly, but the fact it was straight knock out for years in Armagh probably took away any complacency for Cross. But i did always wonder did winning the championship mean as much to them as it would another club, as it was just a stepping stone to competing in Ulster?
Around the 2001-2007 period Dromintee were incredibly strong in Armagh and Pearse Og were also improving a lot around then so I'd imagine when they were drawn to play those sides the level of intensity at training would have picked up for Cross.
I recall Pearse Og drawing with them (I think it was played in Keady) on one occasion, Dromintee always seemed to get close to them but would be left to rue missed chances, and Killeavy drew with them in Carrickcruppen in a great game one year.
Maybe another poster can correct me on this or confirm, but wasn't it the case that the only side to beat Dromintee in the championship between 2001-08 was Cross? Very unfortunate for them that their best ever side coincided with Cross being such a force.

I think you're right about 2001 to 2008. We definitely beat them in 4 finals and I recall beating them in 2 semis I think it was. They invested an awful lot in management during that period,  not being funny, and had some of the top club managers on the scene. McIvor from Derry, John Rafferty, few others. I recall a few testy post match manager's 'well done's',  one in particular. Dromintee were very unfortunate,  they would have won Ulster if it hadn't been for the fact they were against us.

The Armagh championship in those days was horrendous for us. Straight knock out,  Dromintee, Mullaghbawn in the early days, Clans, Pearse Ogs, and Armagh Harps were all strong teams. How we won 13 in a row I'll never know

I'd be intrigued to hear more about this post match 'well done'? I can imagine there are some interesting stories from around that era.

Yeah that Dromintee side were exceptionally strong. 2003 final up in Cross in particular stands out for me-pretty sure Cross won by 2 points and I recall Martin O'Rourke missing a great chance for a goal in the first half.

I also remember them drawing up in Silverbridge, maybe in 06 or 07. Dromintee always seemed to struggle once those games got into the final few minutes.

[general_lee]

It's only when you look back now you realise just how strong Armagh football was. Some clubs were just unlucky that their golden generations happened to coincide with Crossmaglen's almost unstoppable juggernaut.

That Dromintee side from 2001-10 was outstanding. They were beat by Cross in 5 finals (the rest semis?)

Before that Clans and Mullaghbawn had two brilliant teams, Mullaghbawn did win Ulster in 95 but after that both sides faded badly.

Pearse Óg another team dripping with talent managed to break the Cross dominance in 2009, they were beat by a couple of points by St Galls who walked Ulster and won the AI, the likes of Maghery, Harps & Clann Eireann were nowhere near that level when they won their titles in recent years which is probably a sad reflection of where club football is currently at in Armagh.

[Brendan]

Any chance of the final being postponed? Rain hasn't let up in derry in days

[bennydorano]

There was a game on the Athletic Grounds last night! Wasn't at it but I assume the pitch is ok

[intheknowhow]

Any chance of the final being postponed? Rain hasn't let up in derry in days

Not as bad as back in 2015 when cross and Scotstown played. The junior final was played before too

[Hoof Hearted]

Deemed playable at 9.30 but another inspection at 2.30 before turnstiles open

[intheknowhow]

Deemed playable at 9.30 but another inspection at 2.30 before turnstiles open

Sounds very late...

[Estimator]

Any chance of the final being postponed? Rain hasn't let up in derry in days

Not as bad as back in 2015 when cross and Scotstown played. The junior final was played before too

The conditions for the Cross / Ballinderry final in 2006 at Casement Pk were brutal, didn't get into double figures for scores, it finished something like 0-05 to 0-03.

[armaghniac]

Any chance of the final being postponed? Rain hasn't let up in derry in days

Not as bad as back in 2015 when cross and Scotstown played. The junior final was played before too

The conditions for the Cross / Ballinderry final in 2006 at Casement Pk were brutal, didn't get into double figures for scores, it finished something like 0-05 to 0-03.

The lowest score Cross won by, most games in history they scored more than that. However, I looked it up and the lowest winning score in an Ulster club was 'Blayney in 1986 when they beat Burren 0-04 to 0-03!

[intheknowhow]

Any chance of the final being postponed? Rain hasn't let up in derry in days

Not as bad as back in 2015 when cross and Scotstown played. The junior final was played before too

The conditions for the Cross / Ballinderry final in 2006 at Casement Pk were brutal, didn't get into double figures for scores, it finished something like 0-05 to 0-03.

The lowest score Cross won by, most games in history they scored more than that. However, I looked it up and the lowest winning score in an Ulster club was 'Blayney in 1986 when they beat Burren 0-04 to 0-03!

Be a long time till they win Ulster again I think

[Schkite]

Any chance of the final being postponed? Rain hasn't let up in derry in days

Not as bad as back in 2015 when cross and Scotstown played. The junior final was played before too

The conditions for the Cross / Ballinderry final in 2006 at Casement Pk were brutal, didn't get into double figures for scores, it finished something like 0-05 to 0-03.

The lowest score Cross won by, most games in history they scored more than that. However, I looked it up and the lowest winning score in an Ulster club was 'Blayney in 1986 when they beat Burren 0-04 to 0-03!

Be a long time till they win Ulster again I think

Be a while before they win Monaghan again for that matter, already been 20 years

[Eire90]

is throw in delayed.

[Schkite]

is throw in delayed.

Went ahead as scheduled, currently 2 pts each

[p3427977]

Why do TG4 hate Ulster?

[Schkite]

Absolute fckin disgrace that tg4 go to ads now instead of straight to the Ulster final