USFC Armagh v Derry, St Tiernach's Park, Clones, 19th June 2pm

[Ulick]

justchecking are u-16s free into this game ?

Will be free unless you are getting family tickets to the Gerry Arthurs, then it will be £5/€5

[Oak Leafer]

Really looking forward to the game....will be intriguing. Have to say the Brennan factor gives me a lot of hope and i believe Derry are very capable of causing an upset.

Any thoughts on team selection?

Can't see too many changes from Fermanagh game....B Mc Goldrick will probably start presuming he's fit......i've a feeling K McGuckin could feature!

[wherefromreferee?]

Am looking forward to the tactical battle between Brennan and Joe Kernan. I heard Armagh are so sure of victory that Aidan O'Rourke has ordered in 500 special Ulster final 2011 picture frames for the shop. A huge after game party has been planned for clones square by the Armagh sponsors. Friar Tucks, simply fruit and Morgan Milk. Yummmm! Prize draw for a free cube of diesel 

On a much more serious note I hope the apple munchers from around Cross behave themselves a lot better than they did the last time Brennan led a team against one from Armagh. The throwing of screenings will not be tolerated!

thon hallion brought it all on himself and he's lucky he was bate home!!!

Not really BCB. What happens inside the fence should stay there and those Cross supporters let themselves and their club down very badly that day. Any talk of beating people home is showing yourself up for what people percieve the Cross supporters to be. It wouldnt have been the most sensible move either.

Thats all off topic anyway. I saw Dermot McNicholl out running last night. He is going to show McKeever how a real Aussie Rules man plays the game.

Derry by 8

Then Mr Brennan should remember that himself as he got heavily involved with people outside the fence.  And as someone who was inside the fence in both games, Brennan antagonized everyone from players, managers and officials and I would suggest he was the losing of it from Slaughtniel.  Anyway, back to the game, I reckon that if he can control himself on the line Brennan at the back of it all has the tactical nous to set up Derry to beat Armagh.  Armagh are obviosuly on a high from the win and Derry are a bit unknown after their facile win over the men from the lakes.  Armagh have the momentum but have they the game plan to beat a Derry team that will pack midfield and defence and leave space for Eoin Bradley to exploit?  I don't know but where James lost the run of himself in the first game I can't see Brennan going the same way. I actually think this will be a draw with Derry to sneak the replay.

I cant let that sit at all BCB. The reason Cross beat the balubaa's was the very dubious sending off of Shane Kelly in the drawn match. Only for that you where beat. Brennan is what he is, a head the ball, and came straight out after the match and apologised for his part in what went on. For the vast majority of the Derry club championship matches he has been involved in watching him on the line has been more entertaining than the games.

Derry simply dont have the players to beat Armagh if they are faced with the level of performance that Armagh produced against Down. I would agree with some of the Armagh supporters scepticism about wether the Armagh team can repeat the performance against Derry. In reality it probably wont be needed as we are a middling division 2 team. If Paddy Bradley was fit and available it could have been a different story. We dont have the midfield capable of winning enough possession and we dont the quaility of backs needed to contain McDonnell and Clarke. Its a far cry from recent times where the forwards where always the bother.

Was this game in Glen?  If so, did young Kelly not sink the head in some cross man?  Could be wrong, before anyone jumps down my throat.

[Fuzzman]

A defeat and the vultures will circle again. I hope it is a good game as I have always liked Derry (there attitude to Tyrone might help  ) but I suspect it may be a bit scrappy.

Can you explain and I am not highlighting your spelling?

We could have 2 great semi-finals in the making I think

[Throw ball]

A defeat and the vultures will circle again. I hope it is a good game as I have always liked Derry (there attitude to Tyrone might help  ) but I suspect it may be a bit scrappy.

Can you explain and I am not highlighting your spelling?

We could have 2 great semi-finals in the making I think

Good point on the spelling. Sorry (their!) Was only joking that they are Tyrone's rivals and so are Armagh.

[tonto1888]

is the game on tele at all lads?

[Fuzzman]

Its on live on BBC2 so more Side Bottoms

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/7504095.stm

[illdecide]

It's also live on RTE next Sunday at 2:00pm

[sheamy]

Might the Ulster council not want to have more covered seats for the comfort of supporters, many of whom will complain vociferously if they don't get them and the weather remains as it is?

But this "simple" theory doesn't hold up as there as as many covered seats in Omagh.

'Profit before the public' should be their new mantra.

Perhaps it is? Perhaps they wish to avoid an all ticket game in Omagh where kids could not be allowed in free?

Here's the official reasoning from the Ulster counci for taking Derry and Armagh to Clones. It's just like armaghniac says 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLzb_6HHMy8

Yes, It's all about the kids, apparently.

The uncovered seats are also great value at 25euro, apparently.

It's a wonder he didn't mention that Casement doesn't have many of them and is mainly terrace.

Oh wait, he never mentioned Casement at all. Once. Funny that.

Lads, having gone to the trouble to make up a story ye could have made a better fist of it than that.

There's still time. What is the problem with Casement?

Call Jerome and make another video there to explain yourselves.

[tbrick18]

So the game is on RTE and BBC live and in Clones as there'll be a huge crowd!
I can see a half empty stand and a few stragglers around the rest of the ground. I'd argue that those with kids, will be staying at home to watch the game.

[armaghniac]

for taking Derry and Armagh to Clones. It's just like armaghniac says

I am not sure what the problem is with Casement, but I think not having the game All-ticket and allowing kids in free is a legitimate objective. A lot of the people complaining are not planning to go in any case.

Perhaps Donegal and Derry will end up in the final and they can play it in Strabane.

[Bogball XV]

for taking Derry and Armagh to Clones. It's just like armaghniac says

I am not sure what the problem is with Casement, but I think not having the game All-ticket and allowing kids in free is a legitimate objective. A lot of the people complaining are not planning to go in any case.

Perhaps Donegal and Derry will end up in the final and they can play it in Strabane.

I agree, but Casement could have satisfied that criteria.

The fact that many complaining aren't planning on going is the point is it not?  If it was in Casement, they may have been planning to go.

[attheraces]

As a Tyrone man I would love Derry to win the All Ireland

Few other things.

Peter Canavan was over rated, and Tyrone fans are crying ..................

Tohill was one of the greatest players to the play the game.

Doire Abú!

[attheraces]

Doire Abu!

[tonysoprano]

Really looking forward to the game. I have an awful feeling that Armagh are going to win this game quite easily because of a weak derry defence against a great armagh full forward line.  However, Derry are a very attacking side who can cause problems for the opposition especially with players like skinner and gilligan in the forwards. I think the tactics that brennan has used in the last couple of games has paid off for derry with sean leo being used as a corner back who runs tirelessly up and down the pitch but at the same time things might be different against a better forward. Hopefully Muldoon can turn it on again like he did against Fermanagh and the midfield, whoever it may be will not get cleaned out!

Team i expect to see lining out:

1. Conlon
2. Sean Leo
3. Kevin McCloy
4. McBride
5. Michael Bateson
6. Charlie Kielt
7. Barry McG
8. Joe Diver
9. Michael Friel
10. Lynch
11. O'Boyle
12. Emmett McGuckin
13.Gilligan
14.Skinner
15. Muldoon

Wouldn't be surprised to see Kevin McGuckin in defence. I would probably prefer him than McCloy however both in my opinion will struggle against Stevie. There are quite a few attacking options to come off the bench with Kielt, Declan Mullan, Donaghy, Mulholland and Ciaran McG all having something to offer. However things will be difficult in midfield and defence!

Heres hoping for a big victory. Everyone get out and support regardless of the venue.

Doire Abú