McKenna Cup 2024

[Mikhailov]

Am I the only one who thought the ref was totally inept?
He was completely erratic with his decisions for both sides, when he blew the whistle I'd no idea who he was going to award a free to.
I think he was largely to blame for the mini melee. If he took control of the game and cut out the off the ball stuff and pulled donegal on the obvious rough house tactics on mcguigan, Rogers and mckinless, that row never happens.

I wasn't close enough to see the incidents for the red cards but the first red everyone around me thought it was for donegal until we saw Rogers going off.
Not saying the reds were right or wrong as I couldn't see, but Rogers is not a dirty player so it's hard to imagine he deliberately stamped on someone.

Ref aside, Derry actually were by far the better side.
I was expecting more from donegal, even though they are not full strength.
The tactics for them seemed to be around stopping derry rather than playing their own game and it didn't work.

Lots of wides for both sides but conditions were awful so I wouldn't read much into that.

Donegal looked dangerous at times on the attack when they ran the ball but they didn't do it often enough to really trouble derry.

Derry were comfortable despite what the scoreboard said.
Murphy looks a class act.
Gilmore improved since the Armagh game and it was good to get  game time into the legs of McCloskey,  but he was rusty.

I think the panel is definitely 3 to 4 players stronger than last year with Baker, Higgins, gilmore and murphy standing out.

Mckenna cup has been great prep for the league for both sides.
I'd imagine donegal will improve for the championship,  but if they realistically want promotion, they'll need to improve a lot and quickly.

Agree 100% on the referee. Woeful performance.
No control on the proceedings at all. Both teams asking what decisions are for all game - totally out of his depth

[Keyser soze]

Am I the only one who thought the ref was totally inept?
He was completely erratic with his decisions for both sides, when he blew the whistle I'd no idea who he was going to award a free to.
I think he was largely to blame for the mini melee. If he took control of the game and cut out the off the ball stuff and pulled donegal on the obvious rough house tactics on mcguigan, Rogers and mckinless, that row never happens.

I wasn't close enough to see the incidents for the red cards but the first red everyone around me thought it was for donegal until we saw Rogers going off.
Not saying the reds were right or wrong as I couldn't see, but Rogers is not a dirty player so it's hard to imagine he deliberately stamped on someone.

Ref aside, Derry actually were by far the better side.
I was expecting more from donegal, even though they are not full strength.
The tactics for them seemed to be around stopping derry rather than playing their own game and it didn't work.

Lots of wides for both sides but conditions were awful so I wouldn't read much into that.

Donegal looked dangerous at times on the attack when they ran the ball but they didn't do it often enough to really trouble derry.

Derry were comfortable despite what the scoreboard said.
Murphy looks a class act.
Gilmore improved since the Armagh game and it was good to get  game time into the legs of McCloskey,  but he was rusty.

I think the panel is definitely 3 to 4 players stronger than last year with Baker, Higgins, gilmore and murphy standing out.

Mckenna cup has been great prep for the league for both sides.
I'd imagine donegal will improve for the championship,  but if they realistically want promotion, they'll need to improve a lot and quickly.

Agree 100% on the referee. Woeful performance.
No control on the proceedings at all. Both teams asking what decisions are for all game - totally out of his depth

And 3.....2.....1...... here comes our resident referee to defend the indefensible...

[Rossfan]

If only they'd ask a few GAA boarders to Ref those games...

[JoG2]

If only they'd ask a few GAA boarders to Ref those games...

I'd pay to watch that!

[Captain Obvious]

Ulster chairman Michael Geoghegan said the council lost out on over £300,000 in revenue as a result of there being no McKenna Cup this year.

Having been suspended for 12 months, pre-season competitions are set to return for January 2026 with confirmation expected to come at this weekend's Central Council meeting in Croke Park

[bennydorano]

Hooray. Idiotic decision to do away with them last winter, should  be a public flogging of those involved before the Central Council meeting.

[JoG2]

Be nice of the first round was between Christmas and NY... Blow off the cobwebs

[tbrick18]

Thank goodness for that. Common sense prevails.

[tiempo]

Hooray. Idiotic decision to do away with them last winter, should  be a public flogging of those involved before the Central Council meeting.

https://www.gaelicplayers.com/gpa-statement-on-pre-season-competitions-finances-being-prioritised-over-player-welfare/

Any decision to reinstate pre-season competitions, despite clear risks to player health, will represent a significant shift in how certain factions of the GAA prioritise financial income over the well-being and values of the GAA.

Jebus wept

[marty34]

Hooray. Idiotic decision to do away with them last winter, should  be a public flogging of those involved before the Central Council meeting.

Of all years that the pre season comps were needed was last year with the new rules etc.

Madness to pull them last year alright.

[JoG2]

Hooray. Idiotic decision to do away with them last winter, should  be a public flogging of those involved before the Central Council meeting.

https://www.gaelicplayers.com/gpa-statement-on-pre-season-competitions-finances-being-prioritised-over-player-welfare/

Any decision to reinstate pre-season competitions, despite clear risks to player health, will represent a significant shift in how certain factions of the GAA prioritise financial income over the well-being and values of the GAA.

Jebus wept

The GPA is definitely the right crew to be talking about financial incomes.....

[bennydorano]

Hooray. Idiotic decision to do away with them last winter, should  be a public flogging of those involved before the Central Council meeting.

https://www.gaelicplayers.com/gpa-statement-on-pre-season-competitions-finances-being-prioritised-over-player-welfare/

Any decision to reinstate pre-season competitions, despite clear risks to player health, will represent a significant shift in how certain factions of the GAA prioritise financial income over the well-being and values of the GAA.

Jebus wept

I note they 'release a statement', yet don't put it on their Twitter or Instagram accounts? I suspect they would soon find out exactly what the public think if they did.

[ONeill]

What was the outcome of this? Going ahead?

[Louther]

Aye. Big noise to get them back and then when they appear team management will play development teams again while the real teams are off doing their own thing.
And players already not arsed about competitions no one wants to progress in   

But sure an be excuse to get out of house.

[JoG2]

Aye. Big noise to get them back and then when they appear team management will play development teams again while the real teams are off doing their own thing.
And players already not arsed about competitions no one wants to progress in   

But sure an be excuse to get out of house.

On the eve of the league throwing in, teams in Div 1 wanting to bank early points, teams in 2 / 3 / 4 wanting to be well prepped for promotion, what other things will real teams be at?