Messages

Good to hear about Jim McCorry talking (in the Irish news) about Marty Clarke joining up with the panel in a while.

still think he could have showed the same leeway to benny and a couple of others.

Great column by paddy Heaney. Although he didn't explicitly state his own personal opinion he subtly connoted towards siding with giving the old guard a rest, which I completely agree with. Benny or Dan  G didn't have to go in the manner in which they did. Good article with good quotes also. Thought he would have mentioned other players that couldn't commit to the '5 days training or nothing' and were turned down by McCorry, however id say that particular story has been kept within our confines, however he did mention it briefly.

Good to hear about Jim McCorry talking (in the Irish news) about Marty Clarke joining up with the panel in a while.

Reports in the Irish News say that Gearard McGovern had fermanaghs best player (for the past 4 years) Sean Quigley 'well marshalled' as he only scored one point fom play. They also reported that he and Micky Cunningham are 'within McCorrys plans' for the full panel. Any truth to this?

Highlander, we have Barry o'hagan and the two Johnstons with St Mary's. At queens we have Micky Cunningham, Gearard McGovern, Ruari Wells and Michael Monan (Darragh Cross).

Is Cunningham the only one playing for Queens, and have we no one at the Ranch?

Line Ball, the players who are unavailable as opposed to allegedly retired are Cunningham,  who is in goals for QUB,  Savage and the Johnston brothers who are with UUJ, O'Hanlon, who is on holidays, Donnelly who is injured, Carr and Poland, who are on their respective honeymoons, and the four Warrenpoint guys, Boyle, Mallon, McCartan and McGarry. Throw in Fitzpatrick and Peter Turley, who were unused subs today, and there is practically an entire team which is arguably stronger than the starting 15 today.

There is every reason to hope that Clarke will also return, and it would not be a major surprise if Ambrose, Gordon and even Benny were to appear again later in the year.

No one will be too upset about a McKenna Cup defeat, even if we looked well off the pace, and the point of the competition is to find a couple of new faces who can initially press for a league place. Collins could be one of them and Chris McKay is worth another run.

What was disappointing today was the lack of an effective game plan and the low-key response when we conceded a couple of bad goals, but people will remember that we lost at home to Antrim at the same stage last year with what looked like a much more capable squad. McCorry is an experienced coach and he will know that we will have to be in better shape before we go to Kildare for our first league fixture.

Gearard McGovern also unavailable as he is playing full back for queens. Agree with your post Mounre Rover. No point in over analysing a McKenna Cup game. It really is early days yet.

Completely agree with redandblackareback, dismayed with the fact that mccorry dragged off Kevy Anderson after he was playing well as a driving force from the half back Line and midfield. Also confused as to why he played both McKay and Anderson in midfield, both being attack oriented players. Don't think either player made a clean catch. However both players looked effective going forward especially when they took on players. Very little attacking players on this current panel fit this new sweeper game plan. Felt sorry for both mckays and Kevin Anderson.

Full back line was my only positive to be fair. Annoyed at the way Cavan completely compromised out sweeper system by pushing up so they only left 3 men back yet nothing was done about it. Not liking this zonal marking, sweeper system already.

Poor game. Positives to take out of it none the less

But he may not have been overlooked, he could have pulled out or declined an invite to join the panel or the trial games

LB, I honestly thought that he would have introduced Niall and Daryl branningan to the set up, with other sticky man markers like Gerard McEvoy or Gearard McGovern or even Miceal O'Hare, however he has been overlooked (allegedly) for the U21's and has commitments to the Points all Ireland drive.

Caolan mooney (and maybe Conor Gough or Chris Duggan) for Jordanstown (I think), Micky Cunningham and Gearard McGovern for Queens ( I think ) and Barry O'hagan and the 2 Johnstons for St. Mary's. However I'm not sure wether or not the university panels have been released yet.

Good to see Kieran Gordon getting a shout, great shot stopper  for the minors and U21's all the way back in 2008-2009. Also good to see big Kevin Anderson back for the first time since 2011 and Luke Howard. Who is Banbridges Malachy Magee? What position ? In addition, the Ulster council, Paddy Tally, McAleenan, McGuckin and Wee James will all find mccorrys decision to select university players hard to swallow !

Lecale, it appears you need to dust off the reading glasses. Simple mistake to make, no harm done! (My usage of commas may need to be repaired)

Carryduff allowed players From neighbouring areas (Bredagh and St pauls) to play for them in the U21's (I think), like ballyholland and saval. Good to hear Grimley is on the road to recovery, great player

3 saval men too? However they are good players, they're 'thrown together last minute' 'ballysaval' team was nothing to go by on though