Ulster Club SFC 2023

[brokencrossbar1]

do they use in house management all the time ?

Yeah. Don't think they've ever had an outsider as far as I remember anyway. I'd say theres a fella thats just hung the boots up in the last few days who'll be in that hotseat within the next few years.

Have often had external fitness coaches and trainers but never an outside manager. Something to be proud of in many ways but I suppose historically there's always been fairly qualified people to stand up to the job.

[DownFanatic]

Kilcoo were superb this year in Down at times. Looked as strong as they'd ever been. You have to remember that they were without one of the most deadliest finishers in the province, Jerome Johnston, and the physical power of Dylan Ward at midfield. They were two huge losses. That's why so much credit must go to Scotstown because they've beat a seriously strong team. The standard in Ulster is high and it can only but set up the provincial winners for a good stab at the Andy Merrigan.

[general_lee]

Not sure if its a lack of competition in Armagh or what. Although their last Ulster in 2015 they walked Armagh. I know the quality isn't what it was in their glory days but any team with 2x O'Neills, Clarke, McConville, Hughes and Cumiskey should be doing a lot better. None of them turned up the other night bar Jamie. Hard to put your finger on it.

Apart from all the politics that has been going on behind the scenes:

Haven't got a solid no1 between the sticks - especially one that can play a bit of ball and act as a 1+.
They parachuted in a 37 year old at full back. Not to say he hasn't done a decent job, but they must be lacking either options or faith in the youth conveyor belt if he's no1 option.
AK as good as he has been all these years probably over-stayed slightly. It's hard to tell exactly what his role was at times the last year or so - probably keeping a younger lad out or the team that would do no different to what he was doing.
Oisin has been out for ages and doesn't look at full fitness yet.
Rian looks like he doesn't give a shit half the time. He's been pretty average for Cross this year (by his own very high standards)
Jamie Clarke is almost guaranteed to get carded every match. Don't understand the decision to have him captain either.

All the above is fine to a certain extent, nothing really any other club would be dealing with. It's certainly manageable when negotiating past the limp resistance of the likes of Sarsfields, Mullaghbawn etc in the Armagh championship.

But when it comes to a proper tilt at Ulster you need to be on it and Cross still seem to be struggling with the transition from their old (arrogant) kicking style to the more defensive approach.

[Saul goodman]

Trillick v Scotstown is in Armagh

Glenties v glen is in Omagh I am hearing

[FearCrua8]

Glen v Glenties 5.30pm Healy Park live on RTE

Trillick v Scotstown 1pm Athletic Grounds live on TG4

[JoG2]

Glen v Glenties 5.30pm Healy Park live on RTE

Trillick v Scotstown 1pm Athletic Grounds live on TG4

The Naomh Conaill men wouldn't be overly keen on Glenties as their club name.. Its like putting up Maghera v Glenties

[thebuzz]

Why would it be the end for Kilcoo? May as well ask is it the end for Crossmaglen. An Ulster championship is always hard won, getting beat by Scotstown is no disgrace. They'll be team to beat in Down again next year.

Winning groups always find a way. Kilcoo won the all Ireland. Maybe this current team has done all it could.  Crossmaglen are currently off the boil. It happens to all teams in every sport . Kilcoo will be back but maybe not with this team. 

Scotstown just edged them with the last kick of the game.

They're still top dogs in Down, beat Derrygonnelly handy enough, so they'll be there or there abouts next yesr again I think.

They just got caught at the death. I wouldn't write them off by that. It's not as if the Monaghan lads beat them by 10 pts.

Yeah they got caught at the death in the same way they caught Glen at the death the year they won the All Ireland. I'd be very surprised if they don't win Down next year and be back into Ulster again.

[Aaron Boone]

Long run for Trillick for a 1pm start. Thought Enniskillen would have got that match. 

[ONeill]

The could stay overnight in safe houses in Blackwatertown.

[Main Street]

Why would it be the end for Kilcoo? May as well ask is it the end for Crossmaglen. An Ulster championship is always hard won, getting beat by Scotstown is no disgrace. They'll be team to beat in Down again next year.

There are 7 county team players  plus captain and motm Donal Morgan in the Scotstown team.


I thought the ref did well in a heated encounter, despite awarding a soft penalty and a late soft free to Kilcoo to put them a point ahead. but somewhat balanced to a very small degree by the soft free awarded for a bit of a pullback on K Hughes, however  that was about 55m out near the sideline.

That was an easy penalty to give, the lad that came in at the end was the culprit

Darren Hughes it was, from what I saw  Darren was almost stationary when the Kilcoo  player ran into Darren's partially outstretched arm and on auto pilot hit the grass in agony. There was a obstruction foul in the build up which the ref later correctly gave a yellow to the Scotstown player (Caulfield), I think that foul where the ref played advantage affected his penalty call judgement.
 In the last play not even Kieran Hughes thought he was fouled, after easily breaking free he raised his arm (in error) for a mark that wasn't a mark, the linesman came over to him  grinning and hand gestured to Kieran to relax, that it was a free and to put the ball down.

[seafoid]

Has any Monaghan team other than the lady footballers won an All Ireland ? 

[marty34]

Why would it be the end for Kilcoo? May as well ask is it the end for Crossmaglen. An Ulster championship is always hard won, getting beat by Scotstown is no disgrace. They'll be team to beat in Down again next year.

There are 7 county team players  plus captain and motm Donal Morgan in the Scotstown team.


I thought the ref did well in a heated encounter, despite awarding a soft penalty and a late soft free to Kilcoo to put them a point ahead. but somewhat balanced to a very small degree by the soft free awarded for a bit of a pullback on K Hughes, however  that was about 55m out near the sideline.

That was an easy penalty to give, the lad that came in at the end was the culprit

Darren Hughes it was, from what I saw  Darren was almost stationary when the Kilcoo  player ran into Darren's partially outstretched arm and on auto pilot hit the grass in agony. There was a obstruction foul in the build up which the ref later correctly gave a yellow to the Scotstown player (Caulfield), I think that foul where the ref played advantage affected his penalty call judgement.
 In the last play not even Kieran Hughes thought he was fouled, after easily breaking free he raised his arm (in error) for a mark that wasn't a mark, the linesman came over to him  grinning and hand gestured to Kieran to relax, that it was a free and to put the ball down.

I thought it was a clear free at the end. Kilcoo player clearly was on the wrong side of Hughes and the cross field ball was under hit to him. He pulled Hughes back.

No complaints from the Down lads.

My take on it was Hughes put his hand in air to signal Beggan to come up and hit it.

[FearCrua8]

Glen v Glenties 5.30pm Healy Park live on RTE

Trillick v Scotstown 1pm Athletic Grounds live on TG4

The Naomh Conaill men wouldn't be overly keen on Glenties as their club name.. Its like putting up Maghera v Glenties

Should I apologise in Irish or English?

[imtommygunn]

Why would it be the end for Kilcoo? May as well ask is it the end for Crossmaglen. An Ulster championship is always hard won, getting beat by Scotstown is no disgrace. They'll be team to beat in Down again next year.

There are 7 county team players  plus captain and motm Donal Morgan in the Scotstown team.


I thought the ref did well in a heated encounter, despite awarding a soft penalty and a late soft free to Kilcoo to put them a point ahead. but somewhat balanced to a very small degree by the soft free awarded for a bit of a pullback on K Hughes, however  that was about 55m out near the sideline.

That was an easy penalty to give, the lad that came in at the end was the culprit

Darren Hughes it was, from what I saw  Darren was almost stationary when the Kilcoo  player ran into Darren's partially outstretched arm and on auto pilot hit the grass in agony. There was a obstruction foul in the build up which the ref later correctly gave a yellow to the Scotstown player (Caulfield), I think that foul where the ref played advantage affected his penalty call judgement.
 In the last play not even Kieran Hughes thought he was fouled, after easily breaking free he raised his arm (in error) for a mark that wasn't a mark, the linesman came over to him  grinning and hand gestured to Kieran to relax, that it was a free and to put the ball down.

I thought it was a clear free at the end. Kilcoo player clearly was on the wrong side of Hughes and the cross field ball was under hit to him. He pulled Hughes back.

No complaints from the Down lads.

My take on it was Hughes put his hand in air to signal Beggan to come up and hit it.

It was a blatant free - it was a tired tackle and yeah pretty sure that's what Hughes was doing. Not sure how anyone wouldn't see that as a free.

[square_ball]

Why would it be the end for Kilcoo? May as well ask is it the end for Crossmaglen. An Ulster championship is always hard won, getting beat by Scotstown is no disgrace. They'll be team to beat in Down again next year.

There are 7 county team players  plus captain and motm Donal Morgan in the Scotstown team.


I thought the ref did well in a heated encounter, despite awarding a soft penalty and a late soft free to Kilcoo to put them a point ahead. but somewhat balanced to a very small degree by the soft free awarded for a bit of a pullback on K Hughes, however  that was about 55m out near the sideline.

That was an easy penalty to give, the lad that came in at the end was the culprit

Darren Hughes it was, from what I saw  Darren was almost stationary when the Kilcoo  player ran into Darren's partially outstretched arm and on auto pilot hit the grass in agony. There was a obstruction foul in the build up which the ref later correctly gave a yellow to the Scotstown player (Caulfield), I think that foul where the ref played advantage affected his penalty call judgement.
 In the last play not even Kieran Hughes thought he was fouled, after easily breaking free he raised his arm (in error) for a mark that wasn't a mark, the linesman came over to him  grinning and hand gestured to Kieran to relax, that it was a free and to put the ball down.

Calling for a mark? You'd need to watch it again.

https://x.com/bbcsportni/status/1723758797875753072?s=46