Ulster Senior Football Club Championship 2010

[brokencrossbar1]

I'm not looking appreciation DK just fed up with the whole "synical team" shite spouted all the time about us.  Of course we have played to the edge over the years but you don't win games simply by being "synical"!  Even Paddy Heaney, who really has no love for us admitted in his coverage today that we are a good team.  When we have played teams from down the country over the years the cynical approach has never been necessary as they generally play tough hard football against us, and in fairness, Burren played good football yesterday and could have won the game.  Also given that we are in the headlines more than any other team even the smallest little thing gets made into something that it is not, like the pre match parade before the St Gall's game.  Is it any wonder that other teams in Armagh have struggled to beat us, they worry so much about our synical tactis instead of playing their own games

It's the price of success and I'm surprised a good cross man still gets cross at it.

Maybe I am just "cross" as I get older!

[winsamsoon]

Bc i am certainly not saying that the achievements of Cross are solely due to the synical nature of their game but i am highlighting this aspect as imo yesterday it was the difference in the two teams (The experience of the cross over an unexperienced Burren team) There are a few facts from the game yesterday.

1. Mc Conville took an eternity with the free kicks and the waterman running on with water at every interval shouldn't be allowed in any game, this only slows the game down.

2. Some people call it close marking but i call it a foul. Everytime an opposing forward wins the ball there is a slight push in the back sending the forward in the wrong direction hence putting them on the back foot. The Cross have perfected this over the years but it is a free by the letter of the law. This occured many times yesterday. Also if you notice i said that the ref favoured Burren.

I have no doubt the cross have been well advised on these tactics and i would say Mc Entee with his knowledge of the armagh set up has probably tried to implement it more. These stoppages in play shouldn't be tolerated by any referee when you add up the amount of time spent on frees yesterday it would have taken about 15 minutes away from the actual game time. This was the difference in the teams yesterday as Cross had the luxury of having the lead and therefore could dictate the pace. I would look over it if the time was then added on but it never is.


I'm not going to get into the whole debate about rabbit punches and the rest as you will find most teams have their moments on the football field . I have every aspiration for Cross and have cheered them on in every All Ireland or Ulster club game they have played. They have had some quality footballers over the years and in my lifetime have always been at the pinacle of Armagh football.

OOh and over the years any rabbit punches you got from Les Blues were probably well deserved, my lasting memories of you were that you were a hallion on the pitch     

[thebandit]

Sure it's all Cross football that's in the Burren goalscorer yesterday!

[armaghniac]

Sure it's all Cross football that's in the Burren goalscorer yesterday!

Its a pity his cousin wasn't available to mark him!

[supersub]

Sure it's all Cross football that's in the Burren goalscorer yesterday!

which one 

[drici]

Ulster Junior Football Championship
Preliminary Round
Killyman St Marys(Tyrone) 1-12 Corduff Gaels(Monaghan) 1-12   After Extra Time
Full Time: Killyman St Marys 1-09 Corduff Gaels 1-09

Preliminary Round Replay
Corduff Gaels 1-10 Killyman St Marys 0-07

Quarter Finals:
31-10-10 (Sunday)
Swanlinbar St Marys(Cavan) 4-16 Ardmore St Marys(Derry) 2-06

Maguiresbridge St Marys(Fermanagh) 1-07 Drumaness St Colmans(Down) 1-14

Grange St Colmcilles(Armagh) 0-13 Cardinal O'Donnells(Antrim) 0-05

Corduff Gaels 1-08  Newtowncunningham Naomh Colmcille(Donegal) 0-06

14-11-10 (Sunday)
Semi Finals:
Swanlinbar St Marys 0-16 Drumaness St Colmans 0-07
Omagh

Grange St Colmcilles 0-10 Corduff Gaels 0-15
Casement Park

28-11-10 (Sunday)
Final
Swanlinbar St Marys v Corduff Gaels
12-15pm   Clones



Ulster Intermediate Football Championship
Preliminary Round
Doohamlet O'Neills(Monaghan) 1-12 Bundoran Réalt na Mara(Donegal) 1-10

Quarter Finals:
30-10-10 (Saturday)
Derrytrasna Sarsfields(Armagh) 0-08 Doohamlet O'Neills 1-10

31-10-10 (Sunday)
Tullylish(Down) 1-08  Lisnaskea Emmetts(Fermanagh) 2-12

Rasharkin St Marys(Antrim) 1-10 Castledawson St Malachys(Derry) 0-11

Drumalee(Cavan) 0-16 Derrylaughan Kevin Barrys(Tyrone) 2-15   After Extra Time
Full Time: Drumalee 0-12 Derrylaughan 1-09

14-11-10 (Sunday)
Semi Finals:
Lisnaskea Emmetts 2-12 Rasharkin St Marys 0-09
Omagh

Derrylaughan Kevin Barrys 1-05 Doohamlet O'Neills 2-12
Brewster Park

27-11-10 (Saturday)
Final
Lisnaskea Emmetts v Doohamlet O'Neills
7-00pm   Breffni Park

[drici]

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary Round:
Kingscourt Stars(Cavan) 0-11 Naomh Conaill(Donegal) 1-12
Kingscourt 0-11 (C Smith 0-1, B Reilly 0-3(1 free), J McMahon 0-1, T Malone 0-1, R McCormack 0-5)
Naomh Conaill 1-12 (A Thompson 0-1, J McLoone 0-1, B McDyre 0-1, L McLoone 1-0, D Gallagher 0-2(2 frees), J O'Malley 0-2, D (B) Molloy 0-4(1 free), L Thompson 0-1)
O Raghallaigh Park


Quarter Finals:
31-10-10 Sunday
Crossmaglen Rangers(Armagh) 1-12 St Galls(Antrim) 0-09
Rangers 1-12 (A Kernan 0-2(1 free), D McKenna 0-2, M McNamee 0-1, O McConville 1-6(goal from penalty, 4 frees), J McEntee 0-1)
St Galls 0-09 (S Kelly 0-1, M Pollock 0-1, CJ McGourty 0-5(3 frees), K Niblock 0-2(1 fifty, 1 free)
Crossmaglen

Coalisland Na Fianna(Tyrone) 1-10 Roslea Shamrocks(Fermanagh) 1-07
Na Fianna 1-10 (J Curran(goalkeeper) 0-1(a fifty), P Toner 0-2, P Kane 0-1, S Curran 0-1, B Toner 0-1, P McNeice 0-1, T O'Hagan 1-1, D Thornton 0-2(1 free))
Shamrocks 1-07 (Séamus Quigley 0-6(4 frees, 1 fifty), Seán Quigley 1-1)
Omagh

Naomh Conaill 2-12 Clontibret O'Neills(Monaghan) 0-09
Naomh Conaill 2-12 (E Wade 0-1, J McLoone 0-1, L McLoone 0-1, D Gallagher 0-1, D (B) Molloy 1-5(4 frees, 1 fifty), L Thompson 1-3)
O'Neills 0-09 (A Rooney 0-1, V Corey 0-1, C McManus 0-7(6 frees))
Ballybofey

07-11-10 (Sunday)
Burren St Marys(Down) 1-12 Coleraine Eoghan Rua(Derry) 0-05
Burren 1-12 (C Murdock(goalkeeper) 0-1(a free), Conal McGovern 0-2, J McGovern 0-1, E McGovern 0-3, S Murdock 1-3(1 free), E Toner 0-2)
Eoghan Rua 0-05 (B McGoldrick 0-4(3 frees), Ciaran McGoldrick 0-1)
Páirc Esler



14-11-10 Sunday
Semi Finals:
Crossmaglen Rangers 1-11 Burren St Marys 2-07
Rangers 1-11 (A Kernan 0-1, S Finnegan 0-1, J Hanratty 0-1, T Kernan 0-3(1 fifty), M McNamee 1-2, O McConville 0-3(3 frees))
Burren 2-07 (E McGovern 0-1, D O'Hare 1-0, S Murdock 1-5(4 frees) E McCartan 0-1)
Casement Park

Coalisland Na Fianna 1-09 Naomh Conaill 1-10
Na Fianna 1-09 (J Curran(goalkeeper) 0-2(2 fifties), P Kane 1-0, B Toner 0-1, S Curran 0-1, P McNeice 0-4(3 frees), D Thornton 0-1(a free))
Naomh Conaill 1-10 (E Waide 0-1, L McLoone 0-1, D Gallagher 1-1(point from a free), J O'Malley 0-1, D (B) Molloy 0-5(3 frees) L Thompson 0-1)
Brewster Park


28-11-10 (Sunday)
Final:
Crossmaglen Rangers v Naomh Conaill
2-00pm   Clones

[drici]

Cross withstand Burren surge

Ulster Club Championship Semi Final

Burren 2-07 Crossmaglen 1-11


This Ulster club football semi-final certainly lived up to its pre match billing of having all the hall marks of a classic. The game, delayed by 15 minutes due to traffic congestion following a bomb scare, produced the proverbial game of two halves. With some 12 minutes to play in the opening half Cross were cruising 1-7 to 0-2 in front with the same period of time remaining in the second half the teams were level 1-10 to 2-7. The Down champions were given a first half lifeline with their chief marksman Sean Murdock giving Hearty no chance in the goals with a super shot following good interplay between James McGovern and Anton McArdle. The Burren goal closed the first half scoring and left them with a lot to do as they trailed 1-8 to 1-3 with favourites Cross missing out at being home and hosed by the break.Twenty eight seconds on the clock Tony Kernan fed brother Aaron off a Danny O'Callaghan free and Cross went into a lead that was never relinquished. Sean Murdock levelled from a free before a like score from Oisin McConville put Cross back in front.  Midfielder Johnny Hanratty, making the most of his red card reprieve, interchanged passes with Oisin before shooting between the uprights to make it 3-1. A miscued sideline kick was punished to the full by Cross as Midfielder David McKenna ravced through the middle to place Mickey McNamee who gave keeper Cathal McGovern no chance as he grabbed the game's opening goal. Burren replied with a Murdock free but would not raise another flag for 15 minutes with their first score from play from the boot of Eamon McGovern.  During that barren Burren spell Rangers had points from Stephen Finnegan, Mickey McNamee, Oisin (free) and a converted "45″ from Tony Kernan. Indeed it was Tony Kernan, from play, with a terrific point that responded to the Burren point before Murdock closed the scoring with a goal that one thought was just keeping the game alive.

The opening minutes of the second half were fractured between substitutions and crucially a trio of wided from good positions from Cross.  With Burren starting without Chris McGovern, replaced by Donal O'Hare, from the team which did duty against Coleraine manager Frank Dawson brought on Ryan McGovern and Eoin McCartan for Alan Higgins and Conall McGovern. Aaron Cunningham left out of the starting fifteen replaced Kyle Carragher who had taken his starting berth. Buoyed by the Rangers misses Burren through Substitute Eoin McCartan opened the second half scoring with a point.  The Downmen were dealt a big blow when they had to replace the injured full forward Eamon Toner, who was causing Cross problems, with Kieran Byrne. Good work by Danny O'Callaghan led to a Cross free which Oisin pointed 1-9 to 1-4 eight minutes into the half. Burren were twice wide of the mark before Murdock pointed a free to reduce the deficit. A family point followed for Cross as three of the 4 Kernan brothers playing combined with Aaron and Stephen setting up Tony for a very good point. A sublime effort from a near impossible angle from a free by Murdock crept inside the post to keep Burren in touch. 1-10 to 1- as Francie Bellew came in for Johnny Hanratty at midfield. Outgunned at midfield up to now, Burren were at last beginning to get some joy in this sector, especially in picking up the loose ball.  A subjued Kevin McKernan burst forward and was fouled, enabling Murdock to leave a goal between the teams, as he duly pointed the free.

The sides were back on level terms when Donal O'Hare pounced on a high delivery from Ryan McGivern to rifle a snapshot into the back of the Rangers net.  Game on and all to play for with 12 pulsating minutes of drama to be endured.  Martin Aherne came in for Francis Hanratty as the favourites were under pressure and their cause was not helped by another brace of wides before John McEntee entered the fray for Stephen Kernan. Rangers best player on the day Aaron Kernan broke out of defence to combine with brother Tony who in turn sent Mickey Mac away for what was to be the match winning point even though there was still 6 minutes left on the clock and another 4 added on by Donegal whistler Jimmy White. Goalscoring hero O'Hare hit a bad Burren wide before another followed from a 50 metre free by goalkeeper Murdock. A John Mac attempted point dropped short into the keepers hands a trait that hallmarked a lot of first half Burren possession. Burren powered forward as Rangers defended in classic style and counter attacked which produced a long range free which was hit wide by Tony Kernan, as Cross a point ahead, went one ahead in the wides stakes also. The Down champions were gifted one last chance of taking the game to extra-time when their man of the year Kevin McKernan missed a gilt edged opportunity to level from 30 metres.  15 years on since their first Ulster club meeting the Down side squandering of a levelling point will forever form a talking point.  But one must not forget that the Down men failed to score after the equalising goal as their forwards from play did not do any sort of damage to a very stout Rangers rearguard. The much anticipated and hyped pre match physicality was non existant with the game played in a thoroughly sporting manner. One thing about Cross you will have learned over the years that whatever approach the opposition take to a match, the Rangers can adapt, which is why they are so successful.

But in truth the defeated Burren men can hold their heads high as many a more experienced side would have thrown in the towel give the early Cross onslaught. Cross were given their sternest examination for a long while and in the end like all battled hardened champions instincitively knew how to behave when on the ropes to survive. A place in the Ulster final has now been achieved. Leading forward Jamie Clarke is available for selection against Donegal side Glenties. Perhaps it will take a win in the final for people to believe in this current Cross squad, but the main thing is that they have belief in themselves and that ingrained mentality on can only associate with winners.

Crossmaglen Rangers – P Hearty; P McKeown, P Kernan, J Morgan; A Kernan (0-1), D O'Callaghan, S Finnegan(0-1); J Hanratty (0-1), D McKenna; M McNamee(1-2) , S Kernan,
F Hanratty; T Kernan(0-3), K Carragher O McConville (0-3).

Subs – A.Cunningham for Carragher, F Bellew for J Hanratty, M Aherne for F Hanratty , J McEntee for S Kernan

Burren – C Murdock; Ciarán McGovern, D McCartan, R McGovern; K McKernan, Conal McGovern , G McCartan; D Rooney, A Higgins; Donal O'Hare (1-0), J McGovern , E McGovern (0-1) ; S Murdock (1-5) , E Toner , A McArdle. Subs: R McGovern for Higgins E McCartan (0-1) for Conall McGovern, Kieran Byrne for Toner

[drici]

Leo McLoone powers Naomh Conaill to Ulster Final

Ulster Club Championship Semi Final
Naomh Conaill 1-10 Coalisland 1-09

By Peter Campbell

A five-star display from Leo McLoone was one of the main reasons Naomh Conaill bridged a 19-year Donegal gap to reach the final of the Ulster Club Championship in Brewster Park, Enniskillen on Sunday.
Naomh Conaill will be the first Donegal team since Na Cealla Beaga in 1991 to contest the final.

In foggy conditions, McLoone set the standard by winning the throw-in and right through the contest, he was the man who kept them ticking.
Amazingly, captain Anthony Thompson was kept on the margins.

Coalisland obviously had their homework done on him while brother Leon couldn't buy a score, hitting four wides. But it is a mark of the team, that when the usual suspects are kept quiet, they had others stepping up to the mark and they again showed character when needed, most notably when Coalisland inched a point ahead.

In a very high quality first half Naomh Conaill were into their stride from early on. Patrick McNeice pointed a free for Coalisland on two minutes, but by the 10th minute Naomh Conaill were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead thanks to points from John O'Malley, Dermot Molloy (free)and Eoin Waide.

Young John O'Malley had a great opening quarter, mopping up ball and using it well, as did Leo and Johnny McLoone and Brendan McDyre.
Patrick McNeice was given acres of space to fire over a second Coalisland point while Johnny Bonner set the patter for the winners with a second mighty block on 16 minutes.

Seamus Corcoran came in as a blood sub for McDyre and made an immediate impact, turning over possession in midfield which led to the opening goal. Corcoran found Leo McLoone and he fed Leon Thompson out in front. The ball then found Dara Gallagher who played a one-two with Dermot Molloy before firing home what was a really good team goal.

Goalkeeper Johnathon Curran came forward to fire over a '50′ before Johnny Bonner was instrumental in Leo McLoone finishing well on 2 minutes.

Stephen Curran pulled a point back but a quick free from Brendan McDyre found 'Brick' Molloy in space to increase the margin to four points once more.

McNeice from a free and Johnny McLoone traded points before Leo McLoone was involved again finding Dermot Molloy to loft one over from near the sideline. The umpires were undecided and waved it wide but linesman Joe McQuillan guaranteed his inclusion on the Naomh Conaill Christmas card list by informing the referee that the score was good.

On the stroke of half-time Coalisland 'keeper Curran came forward a second time to point a '50′ and leave the half-time score: Naomh Conaill 1-07, Coalisland 0-06.

Within 45 seconds of the restart Leo McLoone took up where he left off and won a free for Dermot Molloy to point from 45m.

But they would have to wait another fifteen minutes for their next score as Coalisland came back into the game with three points in as many minutes from Brian Toner, McNeice (free) and Dermot Thornton to reduce the magin to two points by the 35th minute.

Naomh Conaill had a great chance to extend their lead on 41 minutes when Leo McLoone ands Leon Thompson combined to put Brendan McDyre clear but a last ditch block from Peter Donnelly denied him at the expense of a '50′.

Three minutes later the game was turned on its head when Brendan McDyre was harshly penalised for a handpass and the ball was transferred quickly for McNeice to put Plunket Kane clear and he drilled to the Naomh Conaill net to put his side a point in front.

Naomh Conaill responded immediately with Dara Gallagher winning a free for Dermot Molloy to equalise. They should have had another free when John O'Malley was the victim of a late tackle which was on the blind side of the referee and it resulted in O'Malley having to be replaced by Seamus Corcoran.
The final quarter was a ding-dong battle but it yielded only one score which came four minutes from the end. Naomh Conaill showed patience in bringing the ball out of defence before Dara Gallagher took the ball through on the ground and tried to round the Coalisland 'keeper, who went to ground to stop him and was penalised.

It was a harsh call against Johnathon Curran, but Dara Gallagher availed of the free to put Naomh Conall on their way.

They had to withstand a grandstand Coalisland finish with Curran coming forward to hit a '50′ and a 45m free but both fell short and eventually John McKenna cleared to the sound of the final whistle.

Overall, the Glenties men deserved the victory but they have left room for improvement for the final. Their tally of three second half points will not be enough in two weeks' time, and they will need a better all-round display.

On Sunday they relied heavily on Leo McLoone, who really came up to the plate while Johnny McLoone, Tommy Donoghue, Brendan McDyre, Dara Gallagher, John O'Malley and Dermot Molloy also performed well.

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Tommy Donoghue, Johnny Bonner, Ciaran Boyle; Marty Boyle, Anthony Thompson, Eoin Waide (0-1; Martin Regan, Johnny McLoone (0-1); Brendan McDyre, Leo McLoone (0-1), Dara Gallagher (1-1,0-1f); John O'Malley (0-1), Dermot Molloy (0-5,3f), Leon Thompson. Subs., John McKenna for C Boyle 34; Seamus Corcoran for O'Malley 50; Conal McNelis for L Thompson 53

Coalisland Johnathon Curran (0-2,2 50s); Louis O'Neill, Peter Donnelly, Liam Wylie; Stephen McNally, Niall Kerr, Conor Bayne; Peter McGahan, Phillip Toner; Plunket Kane (1-0), Brian Toner (0-1), Stephen Curran (0-1); Patrick McNiece (0-4,3f), Tiarnan O'Hagan, Gerard Toner. Subs., Dermot Thornton (0-1,f) for G Toner 24; Patrick O'Farrell for Bayne 39; Richard Thornton for N Kerr 58.
Referee: Martin Higgins (Fermanagh)

Man of the match
An easy choice. Leo McLoone was the heartbeat of Naomh Conaill from the first whistle to the last and it is hard to see how they would be preparing for their first Ulster final without his all-round contribution.

Turning point
There were many twists but it was Naomh Conaill's ability to respond when it was put up to them that mattered. When Coalisland hit the front with their goal on 44 minutes, within 60 seconds Dara Gallagher had won a free for Dermot Molloy to level again.

Ref watch
Fermanagh referee Martin Higgins was very tough on the handpass, especially on Naomh Conaill, but overall kept a close grip on the game. He missed little (apart from the late tackle on John O'Malley) but could be seen explaining that he had missed it. His interaction with his linesmen was also commendable

[drici]

27-11-10 (Saturday)
Ulster Intermediate Football Championship
Final
Doohamlet O'Neills v Lisnaskea Emmetts
7-00pm   Breffni Park


28-11-10 (Sunday)
Ulster Junior Football Championship
Final
Corduff Gaels v Swanlinbar St Marys
12-15pm   Clones

Ulster Senior Football Championship
Final
Crossmaglen Rangers v Naomh Conaill
2-00pm   Clones

[crossfire]

Senior and Junior finals fixed for Clones.

[RMDrive]

Senior and Junior finals fixed for Clones.

Terrible decision. Shows a massive disrespect for the NC supporters. It's 30 miles from Cross to Clones and 80 miles from Glenties to Clones. How the fcuk is that fair?

[winsamsoon]

Very true it is an unacceptable venue but a great surface. Cross have played numerous county finals at their home pitch so just the norm. I'm sure someone will come in with the if you are going to win it doesn't matter where it is speech

[crossfire]

Very true it is an unacceptable venue but a great surface. Cross have played numerous county finals at their home pitch so just the norm. I'm sure someone will come in with the if you are going to win it doesn't matter where it is speech

Another silly rant from you.
Anything else you can think of.

[crossfire]

Senior and Junior finals fixed for Clones.

Terrible decision. Shows a massive disrespect for the NC supporters. It's 30 miles from Cross to Clones and 80 miles from Glenties to Clones. How the fcuk is that fair?

I agree.
We really expected it to be in Enniskillen, but we dont make those decisions.