McKenna Cup 2024

[From the Bunker]

Mickey's main argument for taking the University players is that this is the only opportunity to prepare their team for the league. A  few Ulster teams played in the O'Fiaich Cup this year and it seemed to be a success. In the future would the Ulster Council not consider a Pre-McKenna Cup tournament (like the O'Fiaich) which includes all the Ulster teams so Mickey would have necessary preparation and the Universities would be able to have all their players available to them in the McKenna Cup.

Ah yeah, but sure all the other counties around the country have the same problem and get on with it without their students? Anyway i thought that for allot of Managers it's a chance to look at other players and look at your own on another team? Is this over preparation? Greediness? Overemphasis on small competitions?

[OverThePostsAWide]

Is/was there not a rule in place for the McKenna Cup already? My recollection on this is hazy so happy to be corrected, but I seem to recall that the Ulster Council took the McKenna Cup off Mickey-Tyrone (after they had won it) early on in the experiment for playing University players illegally? However, Mickey-Tyrone appealed it as far as DRA and won. Don't know if there is any truth in the rumour that Human Rights were cited, but since then all Mickey-Tyrone players sign a letter (completely voluntarily of course) stating that they want to play for Mickey-Tyrone rather than their University. The Ulster Council have cowed ever since.

I would think the O'Fiaich Cup organizers would happy enough to escape Mickey's attention for as long as they can - demanding synchronised starting times (all on the Cross pitch) would be the least of their worries   

[ck]

If the Ulster council are incapable of resolving then should the GAA not step in? Mickey Harte has lost the run of himself long since but there's many who'd support his stance so rules are needed, anything less and the northern colleges should just pull out.

[BennyHarp]

Mickey's main argument for taking the University players is that this is the only opportunity to prepare their team for the league. A  few Ulster teams played in the O'Fiaich Cup this year and it seemed to be a success. In the future would the Ulster Council not consider a Pre-McKenna Cup tournament (like the O'Fiaich) which includes all the Ulster teams so Mickey would have necessary preparation and the Universities would be able to have all their players available to them in the McKenna Cup.

Let the Universities play in the O'Fiaich Cup and leave the McKenna Cup for counties that want to prepare properly.

[supersarsfields]

If the Ulster council are incapable of resolving then should the GAA not step in? Mickey Harte has lost the run of himself long since but there's many who'd support his stance so rules are needed, anything less and the northern colleges should just pull out.

Sense at last.

[EC Unique]

Id guess we will move towards two groups (one with 4 teams & the second group with 5 teams)
The two winners of each group to play in the final. You could have semi finals as well if you wanted but it would be overkill.

The UUJ message comes across as very shabby & not well thought out. It is in complete contrast to the tone of their previous statement when they couldn't fulfil their last league game due to exam commitments, injuries & player unavailability. It smacks of one impulsive tweet to a journalist by the individual who controls their official twitter account.

This mess should be sorted out by saying the dual players at colleges / county can choose which side they'd like to declare for.

How can you compare a one sentence tweet to a press release. The tweet was talking about next year and never mentioned Tyrone. It is the only solution either the universities exit the Mc Kenna Cup or all the counties comply with the rules and the spirit of the rules. Afterall the counties sign up each year to these rules. The current situation is unsustainable. A University cannot compete if they lose 12/13 players to the Counties.
This is the only solution
1. Exclude the Universities or
2. Include the Universities and invite those Counties would will abide by the rules and regulations

This. They offer very little to the competition except complaining and whinging.

[Zulu]

Surely it is Micky Harte doing most of the whinging?

[sheamy]

Id guess we will move towards two groups (one with 4 teams & the second group with 5 teams)
The two winners of each group to play in the final. You could have semi finals as well if you wanted but it would be overkill.

The UUJ message comes across as very shabby & not well thought out. It is in complete contrast to the tone of their previous statement when they couldn't fulfil their last league game due to exam commitments, injuries & player unavailability. It smacks of one impulsive tweet to a journalist by the individual who controls their official twitter account.

This mess should be sorted out by saying the dual players at colleges / county can choose which side they'd like to declare for.

How can you compare a one sentence tweet to a press release. The tweet was talking about next year and never mentioned Tyrone. It is the only solution either the universities exit the Mc Kenna Cup or all the counties comply with the rules and the spirit of the rules. Afterall the counties sign up each year to these rules. The current situation is unsustainable. A University cannot compete if they lose 12/13 players to the Counties.
This is the only solution
1. Exclude the Universities or
2. Include the Universities and invite those Counties would will abide by the rules and regulations

This. They offer very little to the competition except complaining and whinging.

The addition of 3 more teams increases the number of games from 8 or 12 depending on format to the current 21. With the stated aim of the competition to develop and look at possible new players and to give them game time, I'd not be as quick to label that as offering nothing. Seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

[trueblue1234]

If they went to two groups of 5 & 4 each team would get min of 3 games. Same as current set up. And no hassle.

[stalwart]

i think everyone has lost the run of themselves- its the mc kenna cup - a few years ago the mc kennas didnt go to the mc kenna cup!

[EC Unique]

Id guess we will move towards two groups (one with 4 teams & the second group with 5 teams)
The two winners of each group to play in the final. You could have semi finals as well if you wanted but it would be overkill.

The UUJ message comes across as very shabby & not well thought out. It is in complete contrast to the tone of their previous statement when they couldn't fulfil their last league game due to exam commitments, injuries & player unavailability. It smacks of one impulsive tweet to a journalist by the individual who controls their official twitter account.

This mess should be sorted out by saying the dual players at colleges / county can choose which side they'd like to declare for.

How can you compare a one sentence tweet to a press release. The tweet was talking about next year and never mentioned Tyrone. It is the only solution either the universities exit the Mc Kenna Cup or all the counties comply with the rules and the spirit of the rules. Afterall the counties sign up each year to these rules. The current situation is unsustainable. A University cannot compete if they lose 12/13 players to the Counties.
This is the only solution
1. Exclude the Universities or
2. Include the Universities and invite those Counties would will abide by the rules and regulations

This. They offer very little to the competition except complaining and whinging.

The addition of 3 more teams increases the number of games from 8 or 12 depending on format to the current 21. With the stated aim of the competition to develop and look at possible new players and to give them game time, I'd not be as quick to label that as offering nothing. Seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

I see more value in less games with the whole panel than more games with a depleted panel.

[rrhf]

I loved my time at university and I should have been kicked out for sure.  No nostalgia though its time to kick the late risers out..

[Redhand Santa]

 
Tyrone team v Queens – Sunday 12th January

Comórtas: Dr McKenna Cup
Cluiche: QUB v Tír Eoghain
Ionad: An Omaigh
Dáta: 12 Eanair 2014
Throw-in: 2pm

1 Michael O'Neill Cluain Eo
2 Hugh Gallagher An Omaigh
3 Kevin Campbell Doire Treasc
4 Ronan McNamee Achadh Uí Aráin
5 Ciaran McGinley Aireagal Chiaráin
6 Peter Harte Aireagal Chiaráin
7 Tiernan McCann Coill an Chlochair
8 Niall McKenna An Domhnach Mór
9 Conan Grugan An Omaigh
10 Kevin Gallagher An Baile Nua
11 Peter Hughes Eiscreach
12 PJ Lavery Cluain Eo
13 Patrick Quinn Dún Geanainn
14 Daniel McNulty Cluain Eo
15 Connor McAliskey Cluain Eo
16 Niall Morgan Éadan na dTorc
17 Conor Clarke An Omaigh
18 Matthew Donnelly Trí Leac
19 Danny McBride An Srath Ban
20 Aidan McCrory Aireagal Chiaráin
21 Shea McGuigan Ard Bó
22 Emmett McKenna Eaglais
23 Patrick McNiece Oileán a'Ghuail
24 Ronan O'Neill An Omaigh
25 Darren McCurry Éadan na dTorc

Yeah the college lads were badly needed, Mattie Donnely, Ronan O Neill, Danny McBride, sitting on the bench

All 3 college boys named above are starting again on Saturday. I'd say the college boys have got more out of the McKenna cup with tyrone than they would have with their uni's.

Would be great to see such an inexperienced tyrone team go on and win this and very encouraging for the year ahead. When I saw the panel I thought we'd struggle to get out of the group.

[screenexile]

f**k Mickey Harte why should he be dictating the terms of the competition. If the Ulster Council told him tough shit then he would have to lick his wounds and play the McKenna Cup without the Uni lads anyway because Tyrone "don't do challenge matches".

There should be an * beside any win they've had since 2007 (They won because they used all their college players!)

[Redhand Santa]

f**k Mickey Harte why should he be dictating the terms of the competition. If the Ulster Council told him tough shit then he would have to lick his wounds and play the McKenna Cup without the Uni lads anyway because Tyrone "don't do challenge matches".

There should be an * beside any win they've had since 2007 (They won because they used all their college players!)

I'm sure the vast majority of people don't give a crap about the uni's preparations for the sigerson cup and will have no interest in the competition. It's an easy way to give Harte amuse. As the most successful manager in ulster I will trust his judgement which he has been consistent on over the years.