Messages

Derrynoose Junior winners in Armagh. I reckon they'll give a good account of themselves in Ulster if they take it seriously.

Shane O'Neills vs St Pauls this weekend, Shanes huge favourites and with 3 county men of serious ability and plenty more handy players they could go well in Ulster.

Armagh clubs are notoriously shite at provincial level and I am pretty sure Letterkenny are Division 2 in Donegal, Derrynoose will have their work cut out. Likewise Shane O'Neill's, that's if they even get over St. Paul's who are well capable of causing an upset. Whoever wins that gets the Monaghan champs. Again no pushover.

Down clubs have a woeful record at Ulster JFC level. I actually think that only two clubs have actually won a game in it, St John's in 2008 and Glasdrumman in 2015. Bar maybe Antrim, we may have the worst record in the province at this grade.

[Ulster JFCPreliminary Round - 30/10/22]

Ulster JFC

Preliminary Round - 30/10/22

Drumlane (Cavan) v Craigbane (Derry)

Quarter Finals - 6/11/22

Derrynoose (Armagh) v Letterkenny Gaels/Carndonagh (Donegal)
Dromara/Teconnaught (Down) v Aghaloo/Stewartstown (Tyrone)
Aghadrumsee/Newtownbutler (Fermanagh) v Pearses (Antrim)
(Cavan/Derry) v Killanny/Clones (Monaghan)


Ulster IFC

Preliminary Round (6/11/22)

St Paul's/Shane O'Neill's (Armagh) v Corduff/Magheracloone (Monaghan)

Quarter Finals (13/11/22)

Dunloy (Antrim) v Dungloe (Donegal)
Glenullin/Drumsurn (Derry) v Galbally/Edendork (Tyrone)
Devenish/Tempo (Fermanagh) v Castlerahan (Cavan)
(Armagh/Monaghan) v Rostrevor/Saval (Down)

When you stand back and assess it, Intermediate and Junior provincial and All Ireland competitions aren't really fit for purpose. There are too many variations in each county in terms of how their structure and gradings operate. Senior is more authentic as it is the best teams in each county playing in each SFC and the cream of the crop emerges from that to play in their province and beyond.

[Ulster JFC]

Ulster JFC

Preliminary Round - 30/10/22

Drumlane/Arva (Cavan) v Ballerin/Craigbane (Derry)

Quarter Finals - 6/11/22

Lissummon/Derrynoose (Armagh) v Letterkenny Gaels/Carndonagh (Donegal)
Dromara/Teconnaught (Down) v Aghaloo/Strabane/Stewartstown/Derrytresk (Tyrone)
Aghadrumsee/Newtownbutler (Fermanagh) v O'Donnell's/Pearses (Antrim)
(Cavan/Derry) v Killanny/Clones (Monaghan)


Ulster IFC

Preliminary Round (6/11/22)

St Paul's/Shane O'Neill's (Armagh) v Toome/Corduff/Magheracloone/Emyvale (Monaghan)

Quarter Finals (13/11/22)

Glenravel/Dunloy (Antrim) v Dungloe (Donegal)
Castledawson/Glenullin/Foreglen/Drumsurn (Derry) v Galbally/Edendork/Eglish/Killeeshil (Tyrone)
Belcoo/Derrylin/Devenish/Tempo (Fermanagh) v Castlerahan/Ballyhaise (Cavan)
(Armagh/Monaghan) v Rostrevor/Saval (Down)

[Saul]

Saul v An Riocht
Longstone v Mayobridge
Bryansford v Clonduff
Loughinisland v CPN
Glenn v Carryduff
Bredagh v Castlewellan
Burren v RGU Downpatrick
Kilcoo v Ballyholland

Bredagh beating Ballygalget at the weekend must have been the 1st time in a long time, a non-Ards club beat an Ards club.

Maybe Laoitrim have done it at some stage, or would it go right back to when Kilclief reigned supreme.

No, beat one of them in the championship previously

Bredagh have beat both ourselves and Ballycran last year, so not really a surprise. We've fallen down and will take a while to get back up and not taking away from Bredagh who've some fine hurlers in their team and probably should be with the county panel if not already.

RIP Martin Spike Baile, the last few years have been hard on the family as he'd an aggressive form of dementia take hold, hard to watch the impact it had on him, big, strong lad wasting away. Only turned 60 the other week.

Some player in his day, very unpredictable in all sorts of ways and was in his pomp when a lot of us young lads started coming through, he'd always look out for you, some craic on team building nights out.

Condolences to Sheila, Shane, Naomi, Caolan and especially the Da, Seamus, our treasurer for lord knows how many years, runs the bar, cuts the grass, you name it.

What is the landscape like now in Down regards club hurling at underage? I see Castlewellan are into 'A' grade finals at U-13 and U-15 level. Are some of the mainland clubs now on par with Ards' sides in most age groups?

SFC

Blue Wave
Glenn
Magpies
Hoops
Stone
Point
Duff
Burren

IFC

Clone
Gath
Atticall
Super Reds
DX
Saval
Whites
Shams

In Down there is the Premier Reserve Football League, Division 1 and 2, with a Premier Reserve Football Championship too. The teams in this would mostly be the second string from the clubs in Division 1 and 2 of the senior leagues. Then there is the Reserve Football League, Division 1 and 2, with a Reserve Football Championship. Teams in this would mostly be the second string from the clubs in Division 3 and 4 of the senior leagues and the third string from some of the biggest clubs in the county. They have also brought in subsiduary championships for those knocked out in the early stages of the PRFC and RFC. Gives a few more competitive games.

Premier Reserve football in the county is fixed for 5pm on a Saturday evening. Reserve football is at 6pm on a Sunday evening. However, the amount of forfeits in the latter over the past number of years has been staggering and that's even at 13-a-side.

There has been some talk that second string teams are going to be brought into the senior league setup in Down and initially go into Division 4. It's been near 30 years since this was last done and the proposal for it has been lukewarm to date.

Is it a bad thing though?

I remember when I was a minor (way, way back) going to London for 6-7 weeks mid summer and missing 1 game. There's probably some compromise here between these two extremes, but Gaelic football is its best when it's a summer sport. Fill the summer months I say.

I remember Minor League football starting the first Sunday in February and being wrapped up in early April. Then you had to wait for a Minor Championship game in June and if you were beat that was it for the season.

Just out of interest. What Tyrone clubs have the biggest catchment areas and which ones have the smallest? Seems to be a lot of clubs on the Loughshore in what looks to be relatively small area population wise.

At least this ballbag didn't get in;

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/tuv-speaks-out-against-gaa-23854261

Also interesting reading at the bottom of that article...

Do Ballygalget take from Cloughey?

I've always liked our structure of 4 ACFL Divisions. We've a very strong league product in Down and this has been the case for quite some time now. Our Friday night programme of games have been the envy of other counties. We have always had a steady stream of fixtures laid out which has led to a meaningful competition with credibility.

We obviously need to get back to our structure for 2023. But looking at the 16 team Division 1 and the 18 team Division 2 that is proposed for 2022, I can only forsee a raft of mismatched games that will end in trouncings aligned to a lot of non fielding as we move into the final third of the season.

We operated the 3 ACFL Division model from 2013 to around 2015 and it highlighted big gaps in quality across a 16 team division. I've always liked the idea of something along the lines of 5 ACFL's, 1 - 5. Circa 8 teams in each with a few more in Division 5. Would give home and away fixtures (at least 14) with an additional playoff based system on top of that.

Screws on Channel 4 is very good. Solid mix of seriousness and dark humour. Jamie-Lee O'Donnell is excellent in it.

[Kilcummin Kerry 5-13]

Kerry winners in bold.

All Ireland IFC

2020   Oughterard   Galway   2-16   Magheracloone Mitchells   Monaghan   0-12
2019   Kilcummin   Kerry   5-13   Naomh Éanna   Antrim   2-09
2018   Moy Tir na nÓg   Tyrone   1-10   Micheal Glaveys   Roscommon   0-07
2017   Westport   Mayo   2-12   St. Colmcille's   Meath   3-08
2016   St. Mary's Cahirciveen   Kerry   2-10   Hollymount-Carramore   Mayo   0-10
2015   Ardfert   Kerry   1-14   St. Croan's   Roscommon   0-09
2014   Gaeil Triucha   Monaghan   2-21   Kiltane   Mayo   2-13
2013   Cookstown Fr. Rock's   Tyrone   1-09   Finuge   Kerry   0-06
2012   Milltown-Castlemaine   Kerry   1-13   Davitts   Mayo   1-06
2011   Lisnaskea Emmetts   Fermanagh   1-16   St. James   Galway   0-15
2010   Cookstown Fr. Rock's   Tyrone   1-07   Spa   Kerry   0-08
2009   St Michael's/Foilmore   Kerry   1-13   St Michael's   Galway   1-09
2008   Moycullen   Galway   2-09   Fingal Ravens   Dublin   1-06
2007   Ardfert   Kerry   1-04   Eoghan Rua   Derry   0-05
2006   Inniskeen Grattans   Monaghan   2-10   Caherlistrane   Galway   1-11
2005   Carbery Rangers   Cork   1-14   Pomeroy Plunkett's   Tyrone   1-08
2004   Ilen Rovers   Cork   1-11   St Michael's   Donegal   1-04

All Ireland JFC

2020   Na Gaeil   Kerry   3-20   Rathgarogue-Cushinstown   Wexford   1-05
2019   Beaufort   Kerry   3-17   Easkey   Sligo   0-05
2018   Knocknagree   Cork   3-13   Multyfarnham   Westmeath   3-09
2017   Glenbeigh-Glencar   Kerry   1-14   Rock St. Patrick's   Tyrone   1-11
2016   Templenoe   Kerry   4-13   Ardnaree Sarsfields   Mayo   1-09
2015   Brosna   Kerry   0-09   John Mitchels   Lancashire   0-08
2014   Two Mile House   Kildare   5-07   Fuerty   Roscommon   1-11
2013   Ballinasloe   Galway   0-14   Kenmare Shamrocks   Kerry   0-10
2012   Clonbur   Galway   1-08   Derrytresk   Tyrone   1-07
2011   St. Mary's   Kerry   3-13   Swanlinbar   Cavan   1-05
2010   Castlegregory   Kerry   1-14   Kiltimagh   Mayo   0-15
2009   Skellig Rangers   Kerry   0-10   John Mitchells   Lancashire   0-09
2008   Canovee   Cork   1-08   Rock St. Patrick's   Tyrone   0-05
2007   St. Patricks, Greencastle   Tyrone   0-13   Duagh   Kerry   0-12
2006   Ardfert   Kerry   1-07   Loughrea   Galway   0-09
2005   Finuge   Kerry   1-14   Stewartstown Harps   Tyrone   0-06
2004   Wolfe Tones   Meath   0-14   Carbery Rangers   Cork   0-10
2003   Nobber   Meath   2-13   Kilmeena   Mayo   1-13
2002   Drumgoon   Cavan   1-14   Belmullet   Mayo   0-12

Think they were Division 2A. But yes it is well documented regarding the inconsistencies with other counties in terms of how Kerry grade their championships.