McKenna Cup 2024

rodney trotter · January 05, 2014, 10:34:45 PM

Why doesnt he play challenge games like any other co manager.? Challenge games and Mckenna cup games are effectively the same thing, experimenting looking at players. He has a great track record doent mean what he does re the college teams is right

Orior · January 05, 2014, 10:39:23 PM

Tyrone should be banned from the McKenna cup for not adhering to the rules.

Redhand Santa · January 05, 2014, 10:42:14 PM

Quote from: rodney trotter on January 05, 2014, 10:34:45 PM
Why doesnt he play challenge games like any other co manager.? Challenge games and Mckenna cup games are effectively the same thing, experimenting looking at players. He has a great track record doent mean what he does re the college teams is right

Donegal won a couple of challenge games before today yet looked of the pace in the 2nd half. I think Harte could be right on them being a waste of time. Very different to real match situations.

Nally Stand · January 05, 2014, 10:49:36 PM

Quote from: J70 on January 05, 2014, 05:51:54 PM
Just remember boys, its McKenna Cup.

In January.

Though to listen to the roars and screams and all with all the fist pumping from the Donegal support after each of their scores, you'd have thought it was an All Ireland title on the line.

BennyHarp · January 05, 2014, 11:02:51 PM

Quote from: rodney trotter on January 05, 2014, 10:34:45 PM
Why doesnt he play challenge games like any other co manager.? Challenge games and Mckenna cup games are effectively the same thing, experimenting looking at players. He has a great track record doent mean what he does re the college teams is right

It's right for his team and that's what his remit is. Just because every other manager does it, doesn't make it the right thing to do either. I wouldn't reckon Mickey Harte should be taking his lead from Paul Grimley, Baker, et al. Maybe his great track record is due to being single minded about what is best for his team?

rodney trotter · January 06, 2014, 12:03:37 AM

Possibly, He wants to win and all competitions. But if you hammered a half strenght college team, are you learning much? At least when they are full strenght you will have had a competitive game, as a big county like Tyrone would hardly be stuck for players

BennyHarp · January 06, 2014, 01:20:19 AM

Quote from: rodney trotter on January 06, 2014, 12:03:37 AM
Possibly, He wants to win and all competitions. But if you hammered a half strenght college team, are you learning much? At least when they are full strenght you will have had a competitive game, as a big county like Tyrone would hardly be stuck for players

It's not about Tyrone being stuck for players and it's not about hammering Uni teams. Once the season starts Harte wants everyone available to him. I'm just surprised most people think this is such a crazy idea. You are absolutely right, there is little benefit in hammering a Uni team and I'll say Mickey puts little store in those games - but there's also little point in playing games without a significant number of your squad. It's not Hartes job to help prepare Queens or UUJ for the Sigerson Cup, his job is to prepare Tyrone for the National League and it's very important these days to remain in division 1 to maintain a high quality preparation for the championship.

Cold tea · January 06, 2014, 08:12:23 AM

£9 in to see Armagh v QUB, good to see the Grab All Association in full flight.

trueblue1234 · January 06, 2014, 10:02:48 AM

Quote from: Orior on January 05, 2014, 10:39:23 PM
Tyrone should be banned from the McKenna cup for not adhering to the rules.

Is there a rule? I don't think it's set in stone. If there was it surely it wouldn't be an option for MH to take the players.

shawshank · January 06, 2014, 10:15:10 AM

I am open to correction, as I am not sure, so to ask a question, the players who have to play for the uni's in the south have no choice but to play for the uni due to the contract they have with them re course fees and rent and accommodation paid for them etc, where as in the north the Gaa student would not get the same level of contractual benefits, which means the player has a choice?

under the bar · January 06, 2014, 10:20:09 AM

QuoteTyrone should be banned from the McKenna cup for not adhering to the rules.

And you should be barred from the Gaaboard for being an imbecile.

Fuzzman · January 06, 2014, 11:14:21 AM

What is the rule at the moment?
Is it only certain Uni players that decided to play for Tyrone but are there others than decided to play for their college?

I think it should be the choice of the players themselves as they are the ones doing all the hard work and training. Can you imagine if someone like Niall McKenna, who had been in & out of the squad for the last few years. If he finally had pushed on and had a good chance of making the squad or even the starting team but instead he was made to play for Queens. However, he really wanted to nail down his place in the squad but instead somebody else came in and played well in his place and so he missed out in the squad. Playing for a team like Tyrone you would be worried that you could miss out on a good run of games and possibly an Ulster or an AI medal later in the summer. Competition for places in the squad is fierce in Tyrone and so I don't think there are many young players who are cursing Mickey and thinking I really want to line out here for my college and NOT for Tyrone.

ck · January 06, 2014, 11:35:52 AM

The main point in the colleges/players (in Ulster) argument here (and missed by many) is that it works brilliantly in the other provinces. Games are competitive, colleges have their players, county managers send reps to watch their players with colleges, county players love playing with their colleges as very often they are the main players and play well.
Yet up north you have a very different scenario. Managers are above the rules and their county boards are afraid to challenge them and the provincial council does nothing. The rule is clear in Ulster (same as the other provinces) "Colleges have first pick on players".
All players will choose to play for their colleges but I know county managers threaten players and put them in no win situations.
As for the scholarship thing, some players are on them some are not but ALL will play with their college. No exception.

Personally I don't blame the managers. If you know you can break the rules and get away with it then you will. If those who should be enforcing the rules stand by and do nothing then they are to blame for it getting to this stage. THE ULSTER COUNCIL are to blame, no-one else. Keep doing what you're doing Mickey Harte, cos you're too big for rules. The Ulster Council are afraid out of their lives of you!

God14 · January 06, 2014, 01:22:36 PM

Some brief footage of yesterdays Donegal v Tyrone McKenna Cup game can be found here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWpOQgB2oj0

J70 · January 06, 2014, 01:25:30 PM

Quote from: Nally Stand on January 05, 2014, 10:49:36 PM
Quote from: J70 on January 05, 2014, 05:51:54 PM
Just remember boys, its McKenna Cup.

In January.

Though to listen to the roars and screams and all with all the fist pumping from the Donegal support after each of their scores, you'd have thought it was an All Ireland title on the line.

As I'm sure the Tyrone support were too (certainly sounded that way on the radio).

Still doesn't change the fact that people shouldn't read much into games between half-fit teams in January.

The McKenna Cup is not exactly a reliable springboard for later season success.