Ulster Club SFC 2024

[SouthOfThe Bann]

I think they're the biggest club in the county by membership.

They won this year's minor championship, they're in the SFC final, their second string reached the IFC semifinals, their ladies are LGFA SFC champions, their junior ladies reached the final as well. They also won the LGFA minor championship.

How does having their affairs in order and seemingly being a well run club to achieve that make them a super club like in Dublin? Are they getting on outside players, big managers etc?

They are "super" as in superlative. They are not like a Dublin club, many of whom have a population equivalent to that of Lurgan altogether, although in Lurgan 40% (?) of the population is anti Irish and there are multiple clubs.

Lurgan Craigavon and Portadown as a metropolitan area is comparable to that of Derry city or Galway population wise.

Galway city split 60 40 in favour of Gaelic football for other reasons.

Lurgan have as many football clubs as Galway city am I correct in saying?

Incredibly impressive what Lurgan are producing though.

[bennydorano]

How many clubs are in Armagh city?

2 Football & 1 hurling. Lots of others in the hinterlands. 5/6 within a 5/6 mile radius.

[Squareball71]

Semi finals now in Derry:

Glen v Slaughtneil
Newbridge v Magherafelt

Neither Glen nor Slaughtneil set the world alight this weekend in the quarter finals.

Glen were fortunate to come away with a one point win over Lavey who were good value and could have won it.

Slaughtneil beat Ballinascreen by 4 points. Screen would have been classed by many as the weakest of the 8 quarter finalists and were only 2 points behind with less than 10 to go.

Magherafelt missing 3 county men and Newbridge missing Padraig McGrogan which is a big handicap to both teams but either may fancy their chances in a one off against the other 2 in the final.

[general_lee]

I think they're the biggest club in the county by membership.

They won this year's minor championship, they're in the SFC final, their second string reached the IFC semifinals, their ladies are LGFA SFC champions, their junior ladies reached the final as well. They also won the LGFA minor championship.

How does having their affairs in order and seemingly being a well run club to achieve that make them a super club like in Dublin? Are they getting on outside players, big managers etc?

They've had outside players in the past. They've had outside managers in the past. They were coached last year by an outsider, not sure if this is still the case. Some of their best players' parents wouldn't be locals either. Of course none of these are pre-requisites for super-club status (imo). They're a big club with a big catchment area and they're well run as you say.

I'd say they have had as many outside players as any other club in Ireland.

Similar to the players parents point, where again a lot of people on any team will have a parent from another area.

On their catchment area, I wouldn't call it big whatsoever, especially in comparison with other town teams. Also, their catchment area also has a club from half a mile away competing for players too.

Out of the Lurgan clubs they've always got the blow-ins transfer wise, not that there are too many that come to Lurgan to begin with.

I'd love to know what you call a big catchment area if you don't think theirs is big. Majority of all new build development in the last 30 years has happened in north Lurgan. When the Heffrons, Turbitts, McCambridges et al settled in Lurgan with a choice between St Peter's & CE, there's only ever going to be one winner.

[nrico2006]

I think they're the biggest club in the county by membership.

They won this year's minor championship, they're in the SFC final, their second string reached the IFC semifinals, their ladies are LGFA SFC champions, their junior ladies reached the final as well. They also won the LGFA minor championship.

How does having their affairs in order and seemingly being a well run club to achieve that make them a super club like in Dublin? Are they getting on outside players, big managers etc?

They've had outside players in the past. They've had outside managers in the past. They were coached last year by an outsider, not sure if this is still the case. Some of their best players' parents wouldn't be locals either. Of course none of these are pre-requisites for super-club status (imo). They're a big club with a big catchment area and they're well run as you say.

I'd say they have had as many outside players as any other club in Ireland.

Similar to the players parents point, where again a lot of people on any team will have a parent from another area.

On their catchment area, I wouldn't call it big whatsoever, especially in comparison with other town teams. Also, their catchment area also has a club from half a mile away competing for players too.

Out of the Lurgan clubs they've always got the blow-ins transfer wise, not that there are too many that come to Lurgan to begin with.

I'd love to know what you call a big catchment area if you don't think theirs is big. Majority of all new build development in the last 30 years has happened in north Lurgan. When the Heffrons, Turbitts, McCambridges et al settled in Lurgan with a choice between St Peter's & CE, there's only ever going to be one winner.

Their catchment area isn't big when you compare it to other town teams. Think of the likes of Portadown, Dungannon, Omagh, Cookstown or Strabane who would all have the pick of their towns.

[imtommygunn]

Would there not be considered to be too many clubs for an area that size?

I definitely think west belfast suffers from having far too many clubs.

[Armagh18]

Would there not be considered to be too many clubs for an area that size?

I definitely think west belfast suffers from having far too many clubs.

Probably not- all the clubs operating a a fair level and all have good numbers in fairness.

[WT4E]

Re run of last year's final in Tyrone although the favourites tag will be the opposite way.

Trillick v Errigal Ciaran

Still fancy Errigal for some reason. Trillick hammering Dungannon was a great result for them but maybe that was their big performance? And Dungannon where playing with their best players half fit. Wonder will Darragh Canavan be fully fit for final.

[general_lee]

I think they're the biggest club in the county by membership.

They won this year's minor championship, they're in the SFC final, their second string reached the IFC semifinals, their ladies are LGFA SFC champions, their junior ladies reached the final as well. They also won the LGFA minor championship.

How does having their affairs in order and seemingly being a well run club to achieve that make them a super club like in Dublin? Are they getting on outside players, big managers etc?

They've had outside players in the past. They've had outside managers in the past. They were coached last year by an outsider, not sure if this is still the case. Some of their best players' parents wouldn't be locals either. Of course none of these are pre-requisites for super-club status (imo). They're a big club with a big catchment area and they're well run as you say.

I'd say they have had as many outside players as any other club in Ireland.

Similar to the players parents point, where again a lot of people on any team will have a parent from another area.

On their catchment area, I wouldn't call it big whatsoever, especially in comparison with other town teams. Also, their catchment area also has a club from half a mile away competing for players too.

Out of the Lurgan clubs they've always got the blow-ins transfer wise, not that there are too many that come to Lurgan to begin with.

I'd love to know what you call a big catchment area if you don't think theirs is big. Majority of all new build development in the last 30 years has happened in north Lurgan. When the Heffrons, Turbitts, McCambridges et al settled in Lurgan with a choice between St Peter's & CE, there's only ever going to be one winner.

Their catchment area isn't big when you compare it to other town teams. Think of the likes of Portadown, Dungannon, Omagh, Cookstown or Strabane who would all have the pick of their towns.

Lurgan is bigger than all those towns bar Portadown. The electoral wards that make up Lurgan amount to a population just over 30k, approx 62% of which we can allow for GAA (18k). Clann Éireann have the lion's share of this.

[FermGael]

Fermanagh final on Sunday 20th

Enniskillen Gaels V Erne Gaels

[WT4E]

I think they're the biggest club in the county by membership.

They won this year's minor championship, they're in the SFC final, their second string reached the IFC semifinals, their ladies are LGFA SFC champions, their junior ladies reached the final as well. They also won the LGFA minor championship.

How does having their affairs in order and seemingly being a well run club to achieve that make them a super club like in Dublin? Are they getting on outside players, big managers etc?

They've had outside players in the past. They've had outside managers in the past. They were coached last year by an outsider, not sure if this is still the case. Some of their best players' parents wouldn't be locals either. Of course none of these are pre-requisites for super-club status (imo). They're a big club with a big catchment area and they're well run as you say.

I'd say they have had as many outside players as any other club in Ireland.

Similar to the players parents point, where again a lot of people on any team will have a parent from another area.

On their catchment area, I wouldn't call it big whatsoever, especially in comparison with other town teams. Also, their catchment area also has a club from half a mile away competing for players too.

Out of the Lurgan clubs they've always got the blow-ins transfer wise, not that there are too many that come to Lurgan to begin with.

I'd love to know what you call a big catchment area if you don't think theirs is big. Majority of all new build development in the last 30 years has happened in north Lurgan. When the Heffrons, Turbitts, McCambridges et al settled in Lurgan with a choice between St Peter's & CE, there's only ever going to be one winner.

Their catchment area isn't big when you compare it to other town teams. Think of the likes of Portadown, Dungannon, Omagh, Cookstown or Strabane who would all have the pick of their towns.

Lurgan is bigger than all those towns bar Portadown. The electoral wards that make up Lurgan amount to a population just over 30k, approx 62% of which we can allow for GAA (18k). Clann Éireann have the lion's share of this.

What is McCambridge history I thought I saw or heard somewhere something about hurling in Antrim???

[imtommygunn]

His da is from cushendall and hurled for them (three uncles hurled for the county). Not sure where the mother is from - always just assumed Lurgan but could be wrong.

[armaghniac]

Would there not be considered to be too many clubs for an area that size?

I definitely think west belfast suffers from having far too many clubs.

If two of these clubs can play in the senior final and another in the intermediate final, then the simple answer is no there are not too many clubs, they can all raise a team.

[nrico2006]

I think they're the biggest club in the county by membership.

They won this year's minor championship, they're in the SFC final, their second string reached the IFC semifinals, their ladies are LGFA SFC champions, their junior ladies reached the final as well. They also won the LGFA minor championship.

How does having their affairs in order and seemingly being a well run club to achieve that make them a super club like in Dublin? Are they getting on outside players, big managers etc?

They've had outside players in the past. They've had outside managers in the past. They were coached last year by an outsider, not sure if this is still the case. Some of their best players' parents wouldn't be locals either. Of course none of these are pre-requisites for super-club status (imo). They're a big club with a big catchment area and they're well run as you say.

I'd say they have had as many outside players as any other club in Ireland.

Similar to the players parents point, where again a lot of people on any team will have a parent from another area.

On their catchment area, I wouldn't call it big whatsoever, especially in comparison with other town teams. Also, their catchment area also has a club from half a mile away competing for players too.

Out of the Lurgan clubs they've always got the blow-ins transfer wise, not that there are too many that come to Lurgan to begin with.

I'd love to know what you call a big catchment area if you don't think theirs is big. Majority of all new build development in the last 30 years has happened in north Lurgan. When the Heffrons, Turbitts, McCambridges et al settled in Lurgan with a choice between St Peter's & CE, there's only ever going to be one winner.

Their catchment area isn't big when you compare it to other town teams. Think of the likes of Portadown, Dungannon, Omagh, Cookstown or Strabane who would all have the pick of their towns.

Lurgan is bigger than all those towns bar Portadown. The electoral wards that make up Lurgan amount to a population just over 30k, approx 62% of which we can allow for GAA (18k). Clann Éireann have the lion's share of this.

My point is that most bigger towns usually have 1 team in the town, which would definitely give them as big a pick, if not bigger, than Clann Eireann, especially given the fact you have 4 other clubs in the area. Anybody got the member numbers per club in each county?

[LC]

Not too familiar with Lurgan but is there a tendency for middle class people to align more with a specific club or clubs?