Sporting rivalries

[tonto1888]

Clann Eireann Clan na Gael
Armagh Down. Special mention to Armagh/Tyrone from the 00s and Dublin Mayo also
Argentina v everybody
Boca/River Plate
State of Origin
Lakers/Celtics
Ward/Gati

I always thought St.Peters and Clan Na Gael was the big Lurgan rivalry. I know Clann Eireann and Clan Na Gael have met a few times in the past couple years in championship but not a big rivalry at this stage for me. This may come in time as both done great work at underage in recent times.

Really enjoyed the Tyrone/Armagh rivalry in naughties proper hatred towards one another.

Dromintee/Cross in Armagh around that time was good rivalry in around that time Dromintee had great side but unfortunately ran into a machine, in any other era would got a couple of championships and would gave Ulster a good rattle.

Clonoe/Coalisland in Tyrone always feisty.

potentially but CE is my own club so going from my own persepective there

[marty34]

In GAA terms, I don't think a lot of these rivilvaries are as strong as they were.


Maybe this is down to a lot of championships, except Tyrone, are now in a group stage format. For a rivalry, in my opinion, you need two strong teams well above every other team.


In Derry, I remember Ballinderry V Bellaghy and Dungiven V Lavey etc. years ago. These were proper rivals with huge crowds going looking, dare I say it, for a punch up. Then a game of football might break out.


Or maybe that was just proper knock-out championship?  Or maybe I've framed games in my head differently from that era compared to now? 

[Eamonnca1]

Nice thread idea!

In Armagh, Sarsfield's / Wolfe Tone's. Rural neighbours.
Armagh / Down in the 1980s.
Prost / Senna, Borg / McEnroe, Coe / Ovett, Roche / Delgado in 87.

[Hoof Hearted]

In GAA terms, I don't think a lot of these rivilvaries are as strong as they were.


Maybe this is down to a lot of championships, except Tyrone, are now in a group stage format. For a rivalry, in my opinion, you need two strong teams well above every other team.


In Derry, I remember Ballinderry V Bellaghy and Dungiven V Lavey etc. years ago. These were proper rivals with huge crowds going looking, dare I say it, for a punch up. Then a game of football might break out.


Or maybe that was just proper knock-out championship?  Or maybe I've framed games in my head differently from that era compared to now? 

dungiven v Lavey in early 90s was unreal. Pure hatred. Great games though.
Was another credit to the great Eamon Coleman how he was able to get the players from both teams to play together

[Armagh18]

In GAA terms, I don't think a lot of these rivilvaries are as strong as they were.


Maybe this is down to a lot of championships, except Tyrone, are now in a group stage format. For a rivalry, in my opinion, you need two strong teams well above every other team.


In Derry, I remember Ballinderry V Bellaghy and Dungiven V Lavey etc. years ago. These were proper rivals with huge crowds going looking, dare I say it, for a punch up. Then a game of football might break out.


Or maybe that was just proper knock-out championship?  Or maybe I've framed games in my head differently from that era compared to now? 

Cross/Cullyhanna in Armagh always a big one.

Strange in Armagh in the last few years in that no team or 2 teams has been consistently at the top to really develop a rivalry- Madden, Clann Eireann, Cross, Cullyhanna, Clann Na Gael, Maghery although they've dropped away have all sort of been knocking around the top table without anyone dominating. Cross and Maghery had some great battles.

[brokencrossbar1]

We had no rivals ....just pretenders to the throne....

[ONeill]

Louth are your rivals and will continue to be on your slow and painful descent down the leagues.

[statto]

We had no rivals ....just pretenders to the throne....


Hopefully Tyrone can secure promotion

Louth are your rivals and will continue to be on your slow and painful descent down the leagues.

I think BC1 was referring to Crossmaglen not Armagh.

While I don't expect Armagh to win all Ireland in next couple of years would still expect to be in division one /top end division 2 while Geezer is there and not flirting with the Tailteann Cup.

[Norm-Peterson]

Glen and Slaughtneil in Derry is an interesting one. They share a parish. Same with Newbridge and Ballymaguigan although they don't play in the same tier nowadays. Ballymaguigan used to be a part of Newbridge club. The Derry captain from the 1958 All Ireland final played for both clubs in his time.

The county rivalry I grew up with was Derry and Tyrone although I think I dislike Donegal just as much.
Tyrone fans always made jibes about the Londonderry name yet they have plenty of plantation towns in their county. Cookstown, Stewartstown, Newtownstewart.
Although you can't really expect loud mouths like that to have any self awareness. Same with Armagh.

[armaghniac]

Armagh / Down in the 1980s.

Yes, Down were worthy rivals in the 20th century.

[ranch]

In Armagh in the 2000s I'd say Dromintee v Crossmaglen. Although it was a bit one sided, I don't think anybody else beat Dromintee between 2001-2008.

At county level for me it would be Armagh v Down. Obviously the Tyrone is huge for a lot of people but I'd have Down above it.

Other sports - Taylor v RvB in darts, Man Utd v Arsenal from around 97-2005, Wigan v St Helens and the roosters vs rabbitohs in rugby league, Lakers v Celtics in NBA from many years ago, Australia v England in Test cricket.

[Orior]

Club: Redmond O'Hanlons Poyntzpass & Lissummon
County: Armgh & Down
Other: Celtic & Rangers

[Armagh18]

Club: Redmond O'Hanlons Poyntzpass & Lissummon
County: Armgh & Down
Other: Celtic & Rangers

Bald men and comb comes to mind with that first one

[Muhammad]

Moyle Rovers/Clonmel Commercials Tipp Football !

[general_lee]

The big club rivalry in Armagh would have been Cross and Clan na Gael. I wouldn't say there's any huge rivalry in Armagh club football anymore other than local derbies which are spicy no matter where or what level.

Armagh and Down again was the traditional rivalry but I would say the rivalry with those hateful f**kers across the Blackwater Tyrone has eclipsed that. Donegal maybe in the last couple of years.

Celtic v Sevco in other sports is the big one outside of GAA. It's fuelled by pure hatred.