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"Opinions are great but the reality is that Monaghan, Tyrone, Donegal and Armagh were all in Division One this year and Derry and Down, albeit they were relegated, in Division Two so that's six out of the province in the top two divisions.

"There's no other province that can boast that same record so it is competitive to say the least and that's grand to a certain extent but it's not great if you're beat in the first round. We've drawn Donegal and Tyrone I don't know how many times in the last decade and that makes things harder.

And Derry did it the hard way this year, beating three of those Division One teams McKaigue mentioned – Tyrone, Monaghan and Donegal in the Ulster final. Meanwhile, Kerry cantered home in Munster by beating Cork by 12 points and Limerick by 23.


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"Donegal have a reputation over the last number of years of being fantastic defensively but they don't get the credit for how well tuned-in tactically they are," he said.

"Their attacks are premeditated and very well structured and you get the feeling that everything they do, they know exactly who they want to shoot and how they want to orchestrate the shot.

"You look at the number of scores they've got in Division One over the last two or three years and they've averaged 17-18 points. That's not talked about much in the media. Look at the stats of how much teams are scoring in inter-county now in comparison to 10 years ago, it's day and night.

"There's a level of our game now tactically, physically... Look at the crowds now going to the games, I think the game is in really good health all the boys and girls that I know of want to be playing GAA. I think GAA in Derry and I do believe in Ulster and beyond is in really good health at the minute. I honestly do believe that."



Chrissy mc Keagues thoughts in today's Irish News.
Take not of his comments on Donegal and how their work is not appreciated.
It is not appreciated because we are listening to commentators like Marty Morrisey who really does not appreciat the entirety of Football

It was the best provincial final this year. Hands down.

Ciaran Whelan  acknowledged  that.

In reference to the tactics not the quality.

I was at the game and it was excellent nail-biting entertainment.  I watched  the replay on BBC and the analysis and commentary added to the appreciation of the tactics used,  and increased the overall enjoyment factor. I tried to watch it on RTE and they focused on every negative, real and imagined . They talked like a couple of old woman disapproving of the antics of the youth today.
The puke  is not what is happening on the field but what is coming from RTE. It's time they realised their job is to sell the positives of the game not react to the negatives.  Their parochial attitudes have no place commenting on a national sport.
No others port in the world is given such negative exposure by those commissioned to promote and enhance its coverage.
The GAA need to think about that as should RTE management.

Some overreaction on here. Was at the game and it was nowhere near as bad as is being made out.

It was a great game and the television coverage on BBC was by adults with an adult understanding of the arm wrestle  this game was gonna be. There is far too many people being influenced by RTEs negative parochial commentary. If your enjoyment is only about high fielding and cricket scores, if that is all you appreciate, you would be better to watch Aussie rules from the eighties. But even Aus
Aussie rules has evolved to an appreciation of tactics and controlling games.

If you must be changing the rules for the so called "purists" then maybe we could divide the pitch into 15 parts so that we can go back to playing catch and kick like in the 50s and 60s man on man and no double teaming.

Judging by my research this was the first time all 15 players in an Ulster winning team were from South Derry. I had thought 1958 was the same but it seems Sean O'Connell was on that team. To be fair though Slaughtneil and Glen feel like North Derry in my eyes. Once you hit the Glenshane it just doesn't feel like South Derry to me.

When did Slaughtneil and Glen move over the mountain?

Judging by my research this was the first time all 15 players in an Ulster winning team were from South Derry. I had thought 1958 was the same but it seems Sean O'Connell was on that team. To be fair though Slaughtneil and Glen feel like North Derry in my eyes. Once you hit the Glenshane it just doesn't feel like South Derry to me.

Young mc Carron is from steelstown. Not on the starting 15 but he did feature as a sub.

It would be a welcome surprise and a tremendous boon for GaA coverage  if Cavanagh and Cantwell were to fall in love and leave Ireland for a sunny island, somewhere very far away.

Brilliant 🤣🤣

Was the Ulster final harder to watch than the leinster final or the munster final?
29000 people were left voiceless on the edge of their rough timber seats in game that looked like it might never end with a winner. It was an entertaining game that had moments of total frustration and absolute brilliance. I certainly know I would either watch a game that goes down to the wire than a game that is over in 15 minutes.
Ulster football championship is going to be put to the sword because of the uncompetitive nature of the other provinces . In the last 20 years all 9 counties have played in the Ulster final .

Derry have the minor and senior double won
According to their fans
Tyrone and Donegal May as well stay home

Pulled that out of your own ass.
I know nobody in Derry who  thinks that.

We'll really see what this Tyrone management are made of.  Derry nailed every tactic that was deployed and we were kept outside shooting range for most of the game. What is plan c, d, e and how quickly can the team adapt? McShane needs to deliver. Discipline needs to be better. Make Armagh do the fouling. This is the business end of the season and Armagh may be a bit greener than Tyrone (at this stage) so Tyrone to shade it.

Mc Shane will be right.
He has been seen at the pool practising his diving..

Why would Armagh concede home ground advantage?

Would welcome thoughts on this - I am going to the Ulster Final in Clones, but I also need to be in Dublin by 8pm. For all of those experienced Ulster Final goers out there - is this even possible? Throw in is at 4pm and I need to be in Dublin City centre four hours later. Can it be done? Is there somewhere to park in Clones that would give a quick exit in the Dublin direction when everyone else is going back to Derry and Donegal?

Helicopter?

Hello, I am new here. Always had a keen interest in The gaelic football.  Used to be around Hoganstand as Derryman. And post on politics forums as derryman. Joined here some time ago but never posted , then forgot password and the email address used  is now gone so had to change my handle to join again.
Anyway, just want to say that I believe Derry has a good chance here. The occasion may overwhelm this young team and if they don't settle, and let Donegal set the pace they will be in trouble.
But here is hoping . I do feel there is something  about this Derry team.