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Not sure which way this will swing, looking forward to it nonetheless. Derrys line up is difficult to predict with the slaughtneil boys not playing in the league, a few players coming back from injury and a few away off on their annual summer injury trip. I think it will be something like this

                      Mallon

Duffy             Rodgers          Mc bride

Sean Leo        Chrissy           Johnson

               Lynch        Doc

Lynn                Kielt              Mc Faul 

Heron            Skinner            O Boyle

Any thoughts? Difficult to know if he'll start Kielt but anyone who can kick scores from 50m+ surely could be carried, especially against a blanket which we struggle with. Will be an interesting full forward line with skinner and oboyle capable of causing all sorts of problems, assuming he stays in the square. Any idea on the down team?

Toye, MacNiallais, O'Connor and McLoone scored 2-10 from play.

Murphy, McFadden and McBrearty scored 0-2 from play. (We were brutal from place kicks today too)

Some change from last year!

Did you play many D4 teams last year?

True, but that is not the whole story. They did well against Div 1 finalists Derry too and had a good league. Bigger tests await, of course.

That same Derry team has since been put out by a team that will be playing D4 next year.

"Same"...

Very excited about this game. Any word on when the Donegal team will be announced? Derrys is to be announced on Friday at the club derry dinner. Will Neil Gallagher be fit? I feel he will be vital in any game plan mcguiness would have and may force him into a different kickouts tat agh as derry would surely do,image if Donegal were without their first choice midfield pairing.

1. Thomas Mallon (The Loup)
2. Gareth Mckinless (Ballinderry)
3. Chrissy Mckaige (Slaughtneil)
4. Dermot McBride (Ballinascreen)
5.Kevin Johnston (Dungiven)
6.Gerard O'Kane (Glenullin)
7.Sean Leo McGoldrick (Coleraine)
8. Fergal Doherty (Bellaghy)
9.Patsy Bradley (Slaughtneil)
10. Ciaran McFaul (Glen)
11. Mark Lynch (c) (Banagher)
12. Enda Lynn (Greenlough)
13. Benny Heron (Ballinascreen)
14. Emmett McGuckin (Magherafelt)
15. Caolan O'Boyle (Lavey)

This is how I would want us to line out and expect us to do so. McKaige on Murphy and Mcbride on McFadden. I don't think the country understands how important Sean Leo is for derry and how huge of a miss he was for the Dublin game. I expect Derry to get the better of the middle of the pitch and hopefully limit the supply into the all star full forward line. With bell and Kielt on the bench, mciver has the option to change his tactics to long range shots if the running game is countered by donegals blanket. Really looking forward to this one and hoping for a win in a very tight, intense game against and brilliant donegal set up.

Why not go watch the match?

[Tyrone]

Come championship time I would have Tyrone and Donegal as favourites.  Derry would be next on the ladder closely followed by Monaghan.   

Has Fay Devlin and Chris Lawn returned to the fold or what??

Why would anyone think any different? 

Preliminary Round:
Down vs Tyrone: Tyrone

Quarter Finals:
Derry vs Donegal: Donegal
Armagh vs Cavan: Cavan
Antrim vs Fermanagh: Fermanagh
Tyrone vs Monaghan: Tyrone

Semi Finals:
Donegal vs Fermanagh: Donegal
Cavan vs tyrone: Tyrone

Final:
Donegal vs Tyrone: Tyrone

Because as usual you are completely blinkered when it comes to Tyrone. You have no defence!!

Tyrones defence wasn't overly brilliant during the league but a lot of new players were introduced and becoming accustomed to the highest standard doesn't happen over night.  I would be hopeful of the defence being stronger come the summer especially with the possible additon of the two McMahons and Gormley.  I honestly just feel that Derry did well in the league due to them being ahead of the rest from the start in terms of preparation and fitness and can't really see them doing anything significant in Ulster.  Tyrone (without a defence as you say) beat them handy enough in the McKenna Cup and were comfortable as well in the league until a bit of youthful inexperience caught up with them at the end and allowed Derry to snatch the draw.

That is one of the most disrespectful posts I've seen on this board. How did tyrone get past derry handy enough in th McKenna cup? Thought derry were all over them to be fair! Derry also had numerous youngsters on in that game. In the league derry got them game back against tyrone through hard work, organisation and their fitness levels. Suppose beating kerry in Killarney was luck also? Lucky enough not to be beaten by 15 I mean... And sure tyrone had no luck at all against Kildare... And sure derry were lucky enough with the sending off of fergal Doherty against mayo....
I'm not saying derry will win Sam, or even the Anglo Celtic cup, but you have to give credit where credit due, derry have been brilliant in the league and long may it continue.

son i can see you havent suffered the defeats i have following derry the past 25yrs, i dont look by Donegal to be honest and even that at the minute would favour Donegal

Wouldn't know about the last 25 years just a few short of it though! This was just the way I want it to work out and it probably won't with how competitive the ulster championship is. Donegal is a huge task, but I think we may just nip it by a point or two with home advantages saying that even if we get past them, Fermanagh are a savage of a team to play in the ulster semi final....2008.....

[Tyrone]

Preliminary Round:
Down vs Tyrone: Tyrone

Quarter Finals:
Derry vs Donegal: Derry
Armagh vs Cavan: Cavan
Antrim vs Fermanagh: Fermanagh
Tyrone vs Monaghan: Monaghan

Semi Finals:
Derry vs Fermanagh: Derry
Cavan vs Monaghan: Monaghan

Final:
Derry vs Monaghan: Derry

Derry will probably start with 14 of the team that beat Mayo; Sean Leo out, with Craig probably in his place.

It is an unexpected day out for us and dublin will probably win. We need to come through this injury free and suspension free.

Postie

Duffy            Mckaige          Mcbride

Johnston       O'Kane               Craig

            Patsy           Doherty

Mcfaul          Lynch (c)             Lynn

Heron          Mcguckin          O'Boyle

Agree very exciting Ulster Championship in store.

For me I'd rate teams in the following order in terms of favourites and potential winners.

Donegal

Derry, Tyrone, Monaghan

Down, Cavan

Armagh

Fermanagh

Antrim

Players to watch for me and could have a big summer include.

Donegal - O. Mac Nailis
Derry - C. O'Boyle
Tyrone - M. Donnelly
Cavan - M.Argue

Yeah definitely! Have enjoyed caolans goal threat this year already, could be the thing that derry sides have lacked the past number of years. I heard argue read up in under 21s, must be a right player. Mattie Donnelly was brilliant for uuj big year ahead for him. I can see enda Lynn having a big year from derry and also young McCurry from tyrone is a classy classy footballer!

Sorry if there already is a thread for this, can't see one! Personally I think that any of 6 teams can win it. Donegal would be my favourites, they've discovered a few players in the league and they are very difficult to beat in the championship. Monaghan would be next, very powerful looking team and going very well in the league. Will take a lot of confidence from last year. Then I would have Derry/Down/Tyrone/Cavan. Derry have been going well in the league and have a gem of a manager. If they get through the tough first round tie with Donegal, I wouldn't be suprised if they won it. You can never rule out tyrone, they have a great set of forwards but need to work on their defence. Down are ticking away nicely in division 2 and are starting to get their full squad back. The big question of the championship is will Cavan be able to translate underage success into seniors. In conclusion, we have a mighty championship ahead of us folks, any team listed could win it, even Armagh could spring a surprise. What's everyone else's views on the USFC ahead? Any players to look out for etc?

I feel derry are being shown very little respect here, a team up from division 2 just beat one of the top 4 teams in the country with 14 men, and an average age of 23 yet mayo supporters are still not giving them any respect. You can talk all day about men having to come back to the mayo team, but derry have mckinless, McCloskey, Bradley, Kielt, bell etc all to come back to the team. And then saying the league isn't important... At the end of the day derry can only beat what's in front of them and want to win everything they are involved in. Maybe mayo should have tried yesterday... after all you's do need a win in croke park sometime soon

Funny how you's old men can sit here and say 16/17/18 year olds look overweight when half you's couldn't run the length of yourself! These young boys are brilliant players as we have seen and very rarely lose a game. They have some great ball players but it just wasn't their day, they never got going and PCD deserved the win on the day! Unlucky SPC , did your families, friends, clubs, school, county and province proud!

Absolutely disgusted when I came home and looked at this thread. Brilliant occasion for our county, very proud derry Gael today, but goodness gracious lads, we have own nothing yet. Some stupid comments from derry posters here and ridiculous uncalled for comments from the mayo supporters about politics etc, where does that fit into the GAA ethos? Gracious in victory, gracious in defeat! Derry abú

Really looking forward to getting back down to corker to support the oak leavers again tomorrow. This will be a real indicator as to where we're currently at. I would hope we can go toe to toe with mayo, hopefully Mckaige, the midfield and a few forwards win their personal battles. If we can get our main men on the ball and play OUR game as oppose do stopping mayos I can see us nipping a win. All about building up to the championship now so it's crucial we start to get our starting 15 together and prevent any injuries. I feel young McFaul has made the most progress this year along with Mcguckin so will be very interested in how these 2 do in particular. Hope Duffy can hold his own as well, as he is a useful corner back! Says in the IN we have 9 u21s in our squad, could anyone name these for me. I also seen that we have a number of 18/19 year olds who got a run out last week so we are starting to get a strong, young squad together. Everyone please make an effort to get down to dublin tomorrow to cheer the boys on, Doire abú!!!!

Are you from the 'quigan? You appear too nice and positive

Haha we've changed around the lough shore now ! What's your views about tomorrow? Are you going down?

Really looking forward to getting back down to corker to support the oak leavers again tomorrow. This will be a real indicator as to where we're currently at. I would hope we can go toe to toe with mayo, hopefully Mckaige, the midfield and a few forwards win their personal battles. If we can get our main men on the ball and play OUR game as oppose do stopping mayos I can see us nipping a win. All about building up to the championship now so it's crucial we start to get our starting 15 together and prevent any injuries. I feel young McFaul has made the most progress this year along with Mcguckin so will be very interested in how these 2 do in particular. Hope Duffy can hold his own as well, as he is a useful corner back! Says in the IN we have 9 u21s in our squad, could anyone name these for me. I also seen that we have a number of 18/19 year olds who got a run out last week so we are starting to get a strong, young squad together. Everyone please make an effort to get down to dublin tomorrow to cheer the boys on, Doire abú!!!!