Ulster Club SFC 2024

[statto]

Clann Eireann were poor enough but got over the line. Turbitt was way below par and it wasn't even the way he was marked, looked uninterested at times which is bizarre to say when i seen the display he gave in County final. To win when some of your top men don't perform says a lot and I expect a really good game v Errigal C. However, if Clann Eireann's big guns don't step up against EC then they'll be wasting their time. They have the arsenal to win and i hope they do but i think Errigal will be too strong for them, hopefully i'm wrong.

I thought was a decent game between two strong sides. Jack Conlan was excellent and himself and McDonald to me are better players than Magee who was part of the extended Armagh panel. 

Matchups will be interesting Owens maybe the best suited for D Canavan and did an excellent man marking role in the County final with possibly Heffron on R Canavan and McCarthy on Petey Harte.  If Turbitt is really on it not sure Errigal have someone fit for him. 

[thebigfullforward]

All club championships imo should be straight knockout.  I think group stages are a total nonsense, ending up with meaningless, dead rubber games or the shadow boxing games early on if two of the big teams in the county meet each other (ie Slaughtneil vs Glen). The championships in Antrim, Armagh, Derry are completely diluted as a result of their formats, it doesn't really work for me.  You end up with clubs and players maybe not playing a proper knock out game which simply shouldn't be the case.  Tyrone championship is by far the most exciting Ive seen based on their format, great crowds, great hype and it feels like a big game for all the players.  That all feeds into the game as well.  The big issue with the group stages for me is say the likes of a smaller team takes a scalp of a bigger team, if they happen to meet again later on in the championship, say in a semi final, its very difficult and rarely happens where that smaller team will beat that bigger team again. 

I don't get the support for straight knockout myself. In Derry the group stages are just to reintroduce the county men and allow them a few games before it's all or nothing. If Derry was straight knockout all you are getting is one extra knockout round of 16. It's knockout from the last 8 anyway. In your example the smaller team probably only took a scalp because it's not knockout. For example Glen always rest players in the early group games in Derry, they wouldn't do that if it was straight knockout.

That's exactly my issue with none knockout. Teams like Glen able to rest players or get them into shape before knockout is what people mean when they say that system supports the bigger teams. At least in Tyrone if you aren't up to scratch from the get go you're at risk of getting put out. In fairness most teams are prepared for championship since the league is taken more seriously here than in other counties and county men play the majority of the league. In championship I don't think teams should have the luxury of resting county players knowing that those games don't mean much

[Goals_Will_Come]

I think group stages are a total nonsense, ending up with meaningless, dead rubber games or the shadow boxing games early on if two of the big teams in the county meet each other 

Whatever about shadow boxing, it takes a very rare set of circumstances for there to be dead rubber matches.

The championships in Antrim, Armagh, Derry are completely diluted as a result of their formats, it doesn't really work for me.  You end up with clubs and players maybe not playing a proper knock out game which simply shouldn't be the case.

A team who gets knocked out at the group stage has effectively played a knockout match with their third fixture.

I appreciate you're only voicing your opinion, and it is one that seems to be gaining increasing popularity, but I'd only ask that people keep in mind that for those Counties who have introduced group stages, have already had straight knockout for over 100 years, and felt that it was time for a change. Furthermore, with the arrival of the split season, there seems to be growing alarm at the fact that some County players are getting to play only 4 / 5 games with their Clubs each year - a straight knockout would surely only add to that issue, with the possibility of one game and you're out.

The Championship is the most important competition in the GAA calendar, where teams are best prepared and have their strongest squads available. Having more matches between those teams, for me, simply means more fixtures to enjoy.   

Should really follow the Tyrone model were the 15 game league is widely competitive and then a knockout championship. County players available for 10 league games and the championship run.

[Milltown Row2]

So the best league in the world and the best championship in the world

I jest.

As said, clubs do what they feel right that helps them, they control the championship set ups and that is how the delegates at county level want things.

With the majority of the other counties doing it and it works for them, that's ok, though they will lose the title of the best championship in the world

[lurganblue]

Clann Eireann were poor enough but got over the line. Turbitt was way below par and it wasn't even the way he was marked, looked uninterested at times which is bizarre to say when i seen the display he gave in County final. To win when some of your top men don't perform says a lot and I expect a really good game v Errigal C. However, if Clann Eireann's big guns don't step up against EC then they'll be wasting their time. They have the arsenal to win and i hope they do but i think Errigal will be too strong for them, hopefully i'm wrong.

I thought was a decent game between two strong sides. Jack Conlan was excellent and himself and McDonald to me are better players than Magee who was part of the extended Armagh panel. 

Matchups will be interesting Owens maybe the best suited for D Canavan and did an excellent man marking role in the County final with possibly Heffron on R Canavan and McCarthy on Petey Harte.  If Turbitt is really on it not sure Errigal have someone fit for him. 

I'd actually be surprised if young E Magee isnt tasked with picking up one of the Canavans.

[03,05,08]

Clann Eireann were poor enough but got over the line. Turbitt was way below par and it wasn't even the way he was marked, looked uninterested at times which is bizarre to say when i seen the display he gave in County final. To win when some of your top men don't perform says a lot and I expect a really good game v Errigal C. However, if Clann Eireann's big guns don't step up against EC then they'll be wasting their time. They have the arsenal to win and i hope they do but i think Errigal will be too strong for them, hopefully i'm wrong.

I thought was a decent game between two strong sides. Jack Conlan was excellent and himself and McDonald to me are better players than Magee who was part of the extended Armagh panel. 

Matchups will be interesting Owens maybe the best suited for D Canavan and did an excellent man marking role in the County final with possibly Heffron on R Canavan and McCarthy on Petey Harte.  If Turbitt is really on it not sure Errigal have someone fit for him. 

Cormac Quinn probably be the man to pick up turbit

[Truthsayer]

When did this shite pivot from "best" to "competitive" or "entertaining"?

That's what makes it the best... any of at least 8 teams can win it and is very exciting and competitive. After the Antrim champions display yesterday, maybe it's not the best day to be slagging off Tyrone club football

[downtothecore]

1. Kilcoo
2. Scotstown
3. Errigal
4. CE

3 and 4 are interchangeable.

Whoever wins between Kilcoo/Scotstown will be favourites but the winner of Errigal/CE will give them a right game I suspect. 

Does Erin Gaels not have a chance?

[statto]

1. Kilcoo
2. Scotstown
3. Errigal
4. CE

3 and 4 are interchangeable.

Whoever wins between Kilcoo/Scotstown will be favourites but the winner of Errigal/CE will give them a right game I suspect. 

Does Erin Gaels not have a chance?

Would be very surprised if Erne Gaels beat Scotstown. 

[FermGael]

I think if Erne Gaels would have played this weekend they would have beaten as they had been celebrating hard.

Wednesday , unfortunately, put a stop to that.

They have had a very tough week as a club but I think they will cause Scotstown issues.



 

[Milltown Row2]

When did this shite pivot from "best" to "competitive" or "entertaining"?

That's what makes it the best... any of at least 8 teams can win it and is very exciting and competitive. After the Antrim champions display yesterday, maybe it's not the best day to be slagging off Tyrone club football

This thread is about Ulster championship? Been going 56 years, bar two of those years slagging off Tyrone teams is standard

[Truthsayer]

When did this shite pivot from "best" to "competitive" or "entertaining"?

That's what makes it the best... any of at least 8 teams can win it and is very exciting and competitive. After the Antrim champions display yesterday, maybe it's not the best day to be slagging off Tyrone club football

This thread is about Ulster championship? Been going 56 years, bar two of those years slagging off Tyrone teams is standard

If you've nothing to cheer... slag off someone else : )

[Milltown Row2]

When did this shite pivot from "best" to "competitive" or "entertaining"?

That's what makes it the best... any of at least 8 teams can win it and is very exciting and competitive. After the Antrim champions display yesterday, maybe it's not the best day to be slagging off Tyrone club football

This thread is about Ulster championship? Been going 56 years, bar two of those years slagging off Tyrone teams is standard

If you've nothing to cheer... slag off someone else : )

3 Ulster clubs and an All Ireland 

[Kidder81]

Why does this thread every year turn into MR2 talking about St Galls achievements, as if he's 12 ?

[JoG2]

Why does this thread every year turn into MR2 talking about St Galls achievements, as if he's 12 ?

If you can't remember the good times, what's the point?