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McKenna Cup attendances up 40%
20 January 2012

As the competition reaches its penultimate stage with the semi-finals down for decision this weekend - two more mouth-watering clashes featuring Derry V Down and Tyrone V Fermanagh Pt II in a double bill - Ulster Council admits the gates have been a big improvement on last season.

The 40% increase was epitomised by the 7,000-strong crowd that travelled to Omagh to watch the meeting of neighbours Tyrone and Fermanagh on Wednesday night.

Provincial secretary Danny Murphy says there have been two main reasons for the upturn: "Weather conditions are far better and we've been lucky with the draw and the number of local matches.

"Down and Armagh was up 50% on last year and the Canavan factor had an impact on Wednesday. It's probably slightly unfortunate Tyrone play Fermanagh again in the semi-finals on Sunday but, without being certain, we'd expect around 5,000 for the double bill in Armagh."

If some of the players are not happy about the money being paid to managers then they should do the courses and get themselves a coaching job when they finish playing a la Justy McNulty, Jim McGuinness, Peter Canavan, McGeeney etc. With a county player profile they should have no problem getting a job either at club or county level with someone prepared to pay them for their services. Those players  twittering about it may not have the same opinion if the gravey train has stopped before they get a chance to get on it.

Why do people take any notice of Colm Parkinson?

Managers get paid a lot of money to make these sort of big decisions! 

Yeah,your right TAM, I'm swayed by your argument now. It's much more important that Mickey Harte ensures that universities are mildly competitive in a nothing competition than his Tyrone team get fully prepared for a meaningless division 2 league game in front of a potential 50,000 crowd in 3 weeks. You'd make a good manager one day.

I've said earlier that I think the Sigerson is a class tournament and I have attended the finals many times, but I don't feel that the universities add enough to the McKenna cup to warrant interrupting a counties preparation for league and championship. Tyrone play a massive game in Croke Park in three weeks, how can anyone say that they should prepare for this without their full squad. The Universities have the Ryan Cup to prepare for the Sigerson and the Counties have the McKenna cup to prepare for the league and championship. If the universities don't like that then they can leave the competition. I for one have never been excited at the thought of watching Tyrone play St Marys!

That was at the peak of the Tyrone Armagh rivalry, you can hardly say that was a reular occurrence in the McKenna Cup

And it was achieved without the universities. I didn't say it was a regular occurrence, but to say the universities have added "excitement, flair and bite" to the competition is nonsense.

[As for McKenna cup - this was a nothing competition before the college sides added excitement, flair and bite into it! It's now a thriving competition with a competitive edge.]

Would I be speaking out of turn when I say that the majority of people don't care about the sigerson fullstop?
I went to university in belfast and lived with several lads that represented their respective counties at underage, (one had a runout with county seniors,) and they never considered even attending matches out at the dub never mind training for the university teams. It's a side of university life that only a few feel attached to, as can be seen by supporter attendances.  I presume that most of the people in support felt more affinity with the university than we did at least, maybe you were part of the 'rancher clique'.  Anyway for me county is county and sigerson only interests those who have played in it.

You would be way off the mark here. The lads "who never even considered attending matches" were just not good enough. Every college has a band of players "who don't consider playing" cos they know they are not good enough. The best players play and then make their county teams. The fact that they play Sigerson cup usually brings them on and helps them make county sides.
As for McKenna cup - this was a nothing competition before the college sides added excitement, flair and bite into it! It's now a thriving competition with a competitive edge. Mickey harte should wise up and let his colleges players play for their college. Sligo IT have all of our county lads and it was no problem with their respective managers

Really?? Is this the impact that the Universities have had on the McKenna Cup??

Again, i think this is an example of Sigerson team/players over valuing themselves. Was there not over 10,000 at a Tyrone v Armagh McKenna cup semi a few years ago? Im sure this was before the Universities joined in.

Is that keeper from Tyrone, was he the same boy in nets for Dungannon Swifts tonight.

Yes, the St Marys keeper is Niall Morgan from Edendork and he was playing for the Swifts the other night. He's a very good goalie with an excellent kick out and a la Stephen Cluxton takes long range frees and 45s. Hopefully Mickey will give him a run in the Tyrone team before we lose him to soccer.

cannot help but think henrys return will have a bad affect on van persies performance,  at the min vp is the main man, but now that henry is bac all attention will be on him.  henry is top dog again.   i could be talking bollocks too though. time will tell

Funnily enough - i was thinking thinking this myself last night as I watched Henry strut around and milk the crowd for all it was worth. Van Persie has thrived under the pressure of being the top man and the undisputed crowd favourite since Henry and Fabregas left. I wonder will the change in dynamics that Henry brings impact on him. Probably not!

Henry scores a gimme against probably the Championships worst defence (which was also ravaged by injury) and celebrates like he has just punched the winner in a world cup qualifier. Meanwhile the press nearly cream all over the back pages. I thought I was over it - but I'm not.

Much as I do agree that Khan is a ball bag. That footage of the fella in the hat at ringside interfering with the judges does make the whole thing look very dodgy indeed. Also at one point as the fight is going on, none of the judges are actually looking at the action as this bloke is talking to them.

I know nothing about boxing but i was under the impression the reason they looked down was because there are tv monitors in front of them ?

Fair enough, but if they watch the whole match on monitors, why do they need to be at ringside where there is the potential of interference.

Much as I do agree that Khan is a ball bag. That footage of the fella in the hat at ringside interfering with the judges does make the whole thing look very dodgy indeed. Also at one point as the fight is going on, none of the judges are actually looking at the action as this bloke is talking to them.

Mickey Hartes attitude to the McKenna cup in his early years as Tyrone manager rejuvenated a competition that was dying, his approach to winning all games added bite the competition long before the Universities joined in. Surely trying to get a full team onto the pitch shows respect for a competition, not contempt!

So I switched over on your recommendation and see Frankie Cocozza and thon slapper who shagged Ryan Giggs. I've switched off again!