Well the ulster championship kicks off next Sunday with the glamour tie of the preliminary round.
Antrim will be buoyed by their promotion to division 4. The have a lot of men back and will fancy their chances of causing an upset in Brewer.
Fermanagh had a good league campaign but have been hit by some injuries to key players. McCluskey is definitely out and Eoin Donnelly and Che Cullen must be rated as extremely doubtful.
The loss of probably the best midfielder in ulster at the moment and our full back would be a big blow to Fermanagh but I would still expect us to come through by a couple of points.
Fermanagh will have to do it the first day. They put in some good shows in the league so we will see how McGrath has them next Sunday
I would have fermanagh as favourites by 4 or 5 but missing donnelly would level it a good bit as would mccluskey.
Quote from: FermGael on May 08, 2016, 07:40:55 AM
Well the ulster championship kicks off next Sunday with the glamour tie of the preliminary round.
Antrim will be buoyed by their promotion to division 4. The have a lot of men back and will fancy their chances of causing an upset in Brewer.
Fermanagh had a good league campaign but have been hit by some injuries to key players. McCluskey is definitely out and Eoin Donnelly and Che Cullen must be rated as extremely doubtful.
The loss of probably the best midfielder in ulster at the moment and our full back would be a big blow to Fermanagh but I would still expect us to come through by a couple of points.
Yeah, Div 5 can be a very lonely place ;) Pains me to say it as a Saffron in Fermanagh, but I can't see anything other than a comfortable Fermanagh win, 6-8 points.
Fermanagh might be an outside bet for Ulster
Def leading the chasing pack but Tyrone, Monaghan and Donegal still out in front.
Quote from: seafoid on May 09, 2016, 03:04:02 PM
Fermanagh might be an outside bet for Ulster
If Fermanagh beat Antrim, they play Donegal and if they win that they play the winners of Tyrone/Derry. That's just to get to the final. A tall order to win it from that side of the draw.
Quote from: AQMP on May 09, 2016, 04:53:33 PM
Quote from: seafoid on May 09, 2016, 03:04:02 PM
Fermanagh might be an outside bet for Ulster
If Fermanagh beat Antrim, they play Donegal and if they win that they play the winners of Tyrone/Derry. That's just to get to the final. A tall order to win it from that side of the draw.
Pete McGrath is cute. They will be coming in under the radar
Quote from: Ethan Tremblay on May 09, 2016, 04:05:56 PM
Def leading the chasing pack but Tyrone, Monaghan and Donegal still out in front.
I don't think Fermanagh are better than Derry and that's with us being a bit of a mess at the minute. I think they will win this one with 3 or 4 points to spare though.
One thibg for sure Fermanagh won't fear Antrim :)
Was in Roslea on Sunday Fermgael selling tickets for our club fundraising draw and was talking to a few guys there in the know who say that Fermanagh will have both Donnelly and Cullen available.
Seen that.
What's the story with McVeigh Bannside?
Always rated him as a good footballer but why didn't he start against Louth?
Quote from: bannside on May 11, 2016, 08:12:09 AM
Was in Roslea on Sunday Fermgael selling tickets for our club fundraising draw and was talking to a few guys there in the know who say that Fermanagh will have both Donnelly and Cullen available.
Donnelly is a serious footballer, but I remember Bam roasted one of the Cullens two years ago, can't mind whether it was Lee or Che.
Sean Mc Veigh is an option for midfield or full back where he was experimented with during the league and it worked out well. I was expecting him to feature against Louth especially as it was clear we needed a pull out in midfield. He will definitely get game time on Sunday and may even start. Sean didnt cover himself in glory last year so will be keen to make amends, especially as he has worked hard on fitness all year and is leaner now than ever.
Antrim have a few injury concerns so I cant see management naming team until the last minute, or if so dont be surprised to see a few changes.
We will go down with reasonable confidence. We are better prepared than last year...but Fermanagh have kicked on also. Bam Neeson needs another field day like two years ago, and that day Mick Mc Cann and Niblock were awesome, so they too will need to get back to that level though both were below par against Louth a few weeks ago when we needed them. Conor Burke will attempt to curtail Sean Quigley once again but thats no easy task.
Looking forward to this. Neither team fear each other so the gloves will be off.
Quote from: AQMP on May 09, 2016, 04:53:33 PM
Quote from: seafoid on May 09, 2016, 03:04:02 PM
Fermanagh might be an outside bet for Ulster
If Fermanagh beat Antrim, they play Donegal and if they win that they play the winners of Tyrone/Derry. That's just to get to the final. A tall order to win it from that side of the draw.
don't Armagh/Cavan play Tyrone/Derry?
Quote from: tonto1888 on May 11, 2016, 12:21:50 PM
Quote from: AQMP on May 09, 2016, 04:53:33 PM
Quote from: seafoid on May 09, 2016, 03:04:02 PM
Fermanagh might be an outside bet for Ulster
If Fermanagh beat Antrim, they play Donegal and if they win that they play the winners of Tyrone/Derry. That's just to get to the final. A tall order to win it from that side of the draw.
don't Armagh/Cavan play Tyrone/Derry?
Sorry my mistake, it is either Monaghan/Down who will play Donegal/Antrim/Fermanagh. Still a tall order for Fermanagh to win Ulster from the prelim round though
Quote from: AQMP on May 11, 2016, 10:43:07 AM
Quote from: bannside on May 11, 2016, 08:12:09 AM
Was in Roslea on Sunday Fermgael selling tickets for our club fundraising draw and was talking to a few guys there in the know who say that Fermanagh will have both Donnelly and Cullen available.
Donnelly is a serious footballer, but I remember Bam roasted one of the Cullens two years ago, can't mind whether it was Lee or Che.
Bam did indeed have a field day 2 years ago.
He was left one on one that day and made hay.
No chance of that happening this year.
Antrim SFC (v Fermanagh): C Kerr; K O'Boyle, R Johnston, N Delargy; P McBride, M Johnston, J Laverty; N McKeever, C Murray; M Fitzpatrick, K Niblock, J Carron; B Neeson, T McCann, M McCann
Subs: R Hanna, S McVeigh, C Burke, R Murray, P McAleer, P Gallagher, S Burke, M Armstrong, M Sweeney, D McAleese, J Dowling
Heard from a good source that tomas Mccann won't last 15 mins due to a bad calf strain
Quote from: FermGael on May 11, 2016, 07:57:26 PM
Antrim SFC (v Fermanagh): C Kerr; K O'Boyle, R Johnston, N Delargy; P McBride, M Johnston, J Laverty; N McKeever, C Murray; M Fitzpatrick, K Niblock, J Carron; B Neeson, T McCann, M McCann
Subs: R Hanna, S McVeigh, C Burke, R Murray, P McAleer, P Gallagher, S Burke, M Armstrong, M Sweeney, D McAleese, J Dowling
Surprised Conor Burke doesn't start
I'd be shocked if Burke was on the bench
Antrim at 11/4.
Il be having myself some of that.
Fancy them to put up a good show and get over the line.
The loser might be the winner.
JJ Treacy, father of Fermanagh assistant manager Brian, passed away today.
JJ Treacy Played at right half-back in the '59 All-Ireland junior winning team and, despite damaging his collar-bone in the replayed semi-final, insisted on turning out for the UK All-Ireland final.
He later managed Fermanagh to successive U21 Ulster titles in the 70s and successive All-Ireland U-21 finals, losing in both finals to Cork.
He was the trainer of the Fermanagh senior team that reached the Ulster final of 1982.
A legend of Fermanagh Gaa.
Fermanagh (v Antrim): C Snow; M Jones, C Cullen, M O'Brien; D McCusker, J McMahon, B Mulrone; E Donnelly, A Breen; P McCusker, R Jones, R Lyons; R Corrigan, S Quigley, T Corrigan
Happy enough with that team and there's a very strong bench.
Mon the Saffs.
https://youtu.be/xfMtOpGcK5A
Have all the mc gurtys gone?
Any live TV coverage of this?
Quote from: theticklemister on May 14, 2016, 09:44:44 AM
Any live TV coverage of this?
Delayed coverage on BBC 2 at 7 I think
Quote from: hardstation on May 14, 2016, 09:47:37 AM
Quote from: theticklemister on May 14, 2016, 09:44:44 AM
Any live TV coverage of this?
No, I don't think Barnbrack are still going.
Heard the Barnbrack tribute group are very good but there's just that ring missing with all this health and safety stuff these days.
Quote from: rrhf on May 14, 2016, 08:06:52 AM
Have all the mc gurtys gone?
Two are too oul. Conor could still do a job. Think he was hurlin for a while this year.
Fermanagh will strangle the life out of Antrim, Fermanagh by 3/4 points.
I am expecting a tight, nervy affair.
Both Fermanagh and Antrim play a defensive system.
By all accounts Antrim have set up very defensively throughout the league and Fermanagh have done the same.
I think the experience of playing division 2 football will ultimately be the difference between the two teams.
Twenty three minutes it took Antrim to score. latest Fermanagh 0-6 Antrim 0-1
More fight in Antrim in the second half, latest Fermanagh 0-11 Antrim 0-8
Quote from: hardstation on May 15, 2016, 05:34:20 PM
Shite!
Shite first half for Antrim however they won the second half 0-7 to 1-3
Gerry Adams denies he was born in Antrim
Fermanagh population = 61,170
Antrim population = 618,108
10x difference.
Just saying.
Quote from: Itchy on May 15, 2016, 06:29:32 PM
Fermanagh population = 61,170
Antrim population = 618,108
10x difference.
Just saying.
Brilliant achievement
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on May 15, 2016, 06:44:14 PM
Quote from: Itchy on May 15, 2016, 06:29:32 PM
Fermanagh population = 61,170
Antrim population = 618,108
10x difference.
Just saying.
Brilliant achievement
It sure was for Feemanagh beating those odds.
Very comfortable win today for Fermanagh.
Antrim were very poor and the match was over at half time.
Antrim tried to play a defensive system but just couldn't cope with the Fermanagh running game. Fermanagh were very patient with the ball in the first half compared to Antrim who were obsessed with putting high balls on top of our sweeper.
Sean McVeigh made a difference when introduced in the second half and Fermanagh let Antrim get back to with 4 points through sheer complacency.
Upped it then and scored 1-1 to end the game as a contest.
Job done today in a very professional manner.
Could Fermanagh put it up to Donegal I wonder?
And with Fermanaghs favourite son managing them as well.
Did someone in the BBC turn off the crowd noise? Was like a wake.
Quote from: T Fearon on May 15, 2016, 05:48:37 PM
Gerry Adams denies he was born in Antrim
Will all the denials Gerry has had to issue over the years and the nonsense he has been coming out with lately, I wouldn't be surprised if that sentence ended without the words "in Antrim"
Quote from: Tony Baloney on May 15, 2016, 08:26:34 PM
Did someone in the BBC turn off the crowd noise? Was like a wake.
Yeah thought it was fairly muted all right.
Job done for Fermanagh - however even a somewhat in decline Donegal are worlds apart from Antrim.
Niall McKeever seems to be blighted with injuries, he'd make a huge difference to Antrim if he was fully fit - was looking forward to seeing how the midfield battle with Eoin Donnelly would have unfolded today but alas.
That first half was brutal. Tactics from antrim were shocking.
Fermanagh in the first half were wilier, made space easier, drew fouls easier and were just light years ahead really.
Second half things improved but when it got close quigley put it to bed >:(
Really disappointing. Tough work supporting antrim sometimes :(
Good win for the minors and they should have won by more.
Fermanagh gained a lot from antrim's indiscipline. To challenge donegal they will need to step it up but they did what they had to do.
Very poor stuff but hardly surprising. The only bright spark was Tomas 'Dumper' Corrigan ;D
Awful
Burnt to a crisp!
Quote from: FermGael on May 15, 2016, 08:08:55 PM
And with Fermanaghs favourite son managing them as well.
Thought Rory was a Cavan man?
Did look like D2 v D4 for a long time until Antrim either got up to speed or Fermanagh's levels dropped and there was an evening off for about 20 mins in the second.
Corrigan is a lovely footballer, seems to have taken over from Quigley as Fermanagh's main man.
Quote from: Il Bomber Destro on May 15, 2016, 10:30:22 PM
Corrigan is a lovely footballer, seems to have taken over from Quigley as Fermanagh's main man.
He was top class today
Quote from: Gold on May 15, 2016, 10:59:05 PM
Quote from: Il Bomber Destro on May 15, 2016, 10:30:22 PM
Corrigan is a lovely footballer, seems to have taken over from Quigley as Fermanagh's main man.
He was top class today
Yeah two amazing scores from sideline balls. Might be benefiting from playing club football in Dublin. Quigley was very quiet for about 71 mins! If I'd the pick of the two it's be Corrigan all day long.
Quote from: Farrandeelin on May 15, 2016, 07:58:42 PM
Could Fermanagh put it up to Donegal I wonder?
I would be fearful myself.
Our main men are another year older and some of the newer lads have yet to prove themselves at senior level.
This is all set up for an "ambush".
Quote from: J70 on May 16, 2016, 02:09:35 PM
Quote from: Farrandeelin on May 15, 2016, 07:58:42 PM
Could Fermanagh put it up to Donegal I wonder?
I would be fearful myself.
Our main men are another year older and some of the newer lads have yet to prove themselves at senior level.
This is all set up for an "ambush".
Hard to tell how good Fermanagh were yesterday as Antrim were so piss poor. Quigley was very quiet and Johnston played him very well bar the last minute, T Corrigan was the stand out player. Only scored 1-4 from play. But I remember that Fermanagh weren't that great the first day against Antrim last year and they went on to the QFs. Fermanagh will definitely benefit from yesterday, home advantage might just favour Donegal...just
I know I will come a cropper with this type of prediction one day but I cannot see how Fermanagh cope with Murphy, Mc Brearty Snr or Ryan McHugh. If they do there is still McNiallas McGlynn and Eoin McHugh to be stopped. Nothing but a home win but it may be a tricky win if we are half cooked with one eye on the semi.
Quote from: hardstation on May 16, 2016, 11:58:57 PM
Truthfully, Donegal should eat & shite Fermanagh. Football would be right and boring if it always went the way it's expected though.
I don't think anyone would eat and shite this Fermanagh team. They are very well drilled with some very good players.
Donegal are very average these days. Fermanagh way better on the line too. A Fermanagh win isn't going to be a big shock honestly.
Quote from: hardstation on May 17, 2016, 10:40:46 PM
Quote from: Syferus on May 17, 2016, 10:24:22 PM
Donegal are very average these days. Fermanagh way better on the line too. A Fermanagh win isn't going to be a big shock honestly.
Really? It would be one of the biggest shocks of the year if it happens.
Not really. Seen both at home in the last year and Donegal look a tired group of men. Fermanagh are very compact and good at counter attacking, they can do what Donegal does and in some ways can do it better at this point. Too many Donegal men at the end of the line and with medals in their back pocket the hunger isn't there either. Don't rate Gallagher either. May win Ulster but that's more a testament to the level Ulster is at than an endorsement of Donegal who are no where in the race for Sam.
Quote from: Syferus on May 17, 2016, 11:31:19 PM
Quote from: hardstation on May 17, 2016, 10:40:46 PM
Quote from: Syferus on May 17, 2016, 10:24:22 PM
Donegal are very average these days. Fermanagh way better on the line too. A Fermanagh win isn't going to be a big shock honestly.
Really? It would be one of the biggest shocks of the year if it happens.
Not really. Seen both at home in the last year and Donegal look a tired group of men. Fermanagh are very compact and good at counter attacking, they can do what Donegal does and in some ways can do it better at this point. Too many Donegal men at the end of the line and with medals in their back pocket the hunger isn't there either. Don't rate Gallagher either. May win Ulster but that's more a testament to the level Ulster is at than an endorsement of Donegal who are no where in the race for Sam.
The level Ulster is at is that 6 of their 9 teams have reached All Ireland quarter finals in the past three seasons.
2013 - Donegal, Tyrone, Monaghan and Cavan
2014 - Donegal, Monaghan and Armagh
2015 - Donegal, Tyrone, Monaghan and Fermanagh.
Every county is guaranteed one team in the last 8 which means there are 4 spots up for grabs ever year and Ulster has claimed more of those spots than the other three provinces combined in that time.
It is the provincial leader by an absolute mile, that's the level Ulster is at.
Quote from: Syferus on May 17, 2016, 11:31:19 PM
Quote from: hardstation on May 17, 2016, 10:40:46 PM
Quote from: Syferus on May 17, 2016, 10:24:22 PM
Donegal are very average these days. Fermanagh way better on the line too. A Fermanagh win isn't going to be a big shock honestly.
Really? It would be one of the biggest shocks of the year if it happens.
Not really. Seen both at home in the last year and Donegal look a tired group of men. Fermanagh are very compact and good at counter attacking, they can do what Donegal does and in some ways can do it better at this point. Too many Donegal men at the end of the line and with medals in their back pocket the hunger isn't there either. Don't rate Gallagher either. May win Ulster but that's more a testament to the level Ulster is at than an endorsement of Donegal who are no where in the race for Sam.
They are nearer than about 26 or 27 other counties.
I was highly impressed by Fermanagh on Sunday. Yeah they took the foot off the peddle but they controlled the game. Antrim looked like a div 4 team. Their tactics of persistently kicking the ball into one man against 4 defenders was very poor. Antrim management have to look at themselves.
Fermanagh under Peter McGrath continue to improve but they won't be in same league as Donegal.