Ulster Senior Football Club Championship 2010

[KIDDO 4]

Final in Casement Park.

[drici]

Final in Casement Park.

Preliminary Round:
November 28th (Sunday)
Omagh St Endas(Tyrone) v Lámh Dhearg(Antrim)
1-30pm

Hmmm, that would be messy.

[FermGael]

Final in Casement Park.

You sure about that Kiddo??
I would say if the Donegal team wins there is a fair chance that Omagh may get it.

[drici]

Fond Memories Evoked

CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS v BURREN (DOWN)


Nov 3rd, 1996 has little meaning or recall for most people but for Crossmaglen Rangers people all over the globe that Sunday afternoon has become sacrosanct in that it heralded a chapter in the club's history which no one could ever have imagined in their wildest dreams.

Cross were after capturing their first Armagh championship in 10 years a month previous with an emphatic 3-14 to 1-4 win over Clan Na Gael and had knocked out the reigning Ulster Club Champions Mullaghbawn on their way to that county title. But the Kingpins of Ulster Club Football, Down champions Burren, competition winners in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988 were coming to St Oliver Plunkett Park to really test these new kids on the block.The kids caused an upset on a day of drama 0-12 to 1-8 with the visitors spurning a last minute levelling free. A year later the teams crossed swords in the competition in Newry, Rangers won this time 3-09 to 2-08 and they have not met since but Cross have climbed to the top of the Ulster club championship tree with 7 titles sparked by that Nov 3rd, 1996 triumph.

So Sunday's encounter at Casement Park is a complete reversal of the 1996 senario with Cross now the team to be knocked off their lofty perch, especially following their opening round win over the defending Ulster and All-Ireland champions, St Gall's. Burren have not tasted success in Down until this year since the teams last met. Cross have won 14 of the last 15 Armagh titles contrasting fortunes indeed.

When one considers the amount of top level club football Rangers have been involved in, let alone that played by their players on County duty it is amazing to see that Cross are carrying five survivors from the squad involved that day against Burren. Tony McEntee is current joint manager with Gareth O Neill, twin brother John has made a timely return out of retirement for the Ulster campaign. Paul Hearty is back between the sticks after losing out through injury to Jarlath McConville that day in Cross. Francie Bellew, who operated at centre half back 15 years ago is still a vital cog that has been slotting in regularly over the course of the championship. Leading marksman Oisin McConville is still picking up Man of the Match awards at 35 years of age.

Burren beat Bryansford in the Down final 1-14 to 1-13. On Sunday they easily disposed of the Coleraine challenge 1-12 to 0-5 having led 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time. The match was delayed a week to allow the Down side's most destinguished player, Kevin McKernan, play international rules for Ireland.While McKernan may be to the fore for club and county this Burren team is full of household names from yesteryear as sons, relations of some of the clubs famed players are anxious to begin a new chapter for the Down side.The Burren club have a lot of history, including twice winning the All-Ireland Championship. Manager, Frank Dawson said: "This team has tons of ability and will not be held back by the past but will be looking to create their own history. We obviously will be well aware of Crossmaglen but we will be focusing on our own game."

Cross will again be minus the services of the suspended Jamie Clarke and will be hopeful that their appeal against the Johnny Hanratty red card against St Gall's will prove successful, leaving him available to continue his midfield role. But With John McEntee back in the fold, very reliable defender Brendan McKeown getting some very valuable match time last time out on his long road to recovery from injury, Rangers look pretty solid.

Cross will be wary that they are now the hot favourites having been underdogs on their own patch last time out. Burren are the ones with nothing to lose and all to gain. The quality to be sprung from the Rangers dugout is very formidable in comparison to what others have to offer. The " old hands" in Cross have a batch of players just below them who have a wealth of experience and then there are a tasty few novices included. They have been around the block once too often to be caught by complacency and once their nostrils get a whiff of success they become a different breed of animal. The team that beat St Gall's were a transformed side from the one which struggled to overcome St Pat's. Burren have made great progress but will find Rangers a step beyond them in their bid to rekindle the glory days. After a year's absence Cross to book their eighth Ulster final appearance since 1996.

[bcarrier]

Burren Coleraine highlights

http://www.u.tv/Sport/Burren-cruise-to-Ulster-semis/3ad0373d-c8d9-4e84-a262-f0bc89374803

[T O Hare]

As much as it kills me to say it ,I Think Burren will win on Sunday!! They played excellent football the weekend and Cross should be very wary  of them!

[HiMucker]

Who is the number 12 for Burren, looked to have had some game!

[crossfire]

Eamon Mc Govern.

[HiMucker]

If Hanratty plays, will this be the guy he will be targeting for "special treatment"

[Applesisapples]

If Hanratty plays, will this be the guy he will be targeting for "special treatment"

We have had enough shit stirring from L'Derry for one week.

[brokencrossbar1]

If Hanratty plays, will this be the guy he will be targeting for "special treatment"

I don't think Johhny targets anyone for "special treatment".  He is not really choosy about who he targets

[HiMucker]

The L stands for Legenderry  .  UK city of culture, an easier and more importantly, legal way of getting tax revenue of teh Brits than fuel smuggling 

[tonesfirstandlast]

The L stands for Legenderry  .  UK city of culture, an easier and more importantly, legal way of getting tax revenue of teh Brits than fuel smuggling 

In fairness the Brits built Crossmaglen a new pitch and stand as well.

[brokencrossbar1]

The L stands for Legenderry  .  UK city of culture, an easier and more importantly, legal way of getting tax revenue of teh Brits than fuel smuggling 

In fairness the Brits built Crossmaglen a new pitch and stand as well.

And didn't they do a great job!!!!!

[fitzroyalty]

Looking forward to the Cross/Burren game, the football last week between crokes and portlaoise was crap until midway through the second half, and that other shite with the two connacht teams in red was a pain so didn't even try to watch it. with tg4 showing hurling this weekend do people think there'd be a market for an Ulster GAA channel? instead of that bhearna baoil or whatever the f**k it is BBC could possibly broadcast an Ulster game as Gaeilge once a week for the club championship? have tg4 exclusive rights for club games or what?