Ulster Club IFC/JFC 2025

[ClubScene13]

That's an outrageous luxury of options if Emyvale can get all those fellas back in time. Sounds like a decent level of quality from most of the intermediate clubs as well.

[DownFanatic]

It's difficult to adopt a one size fits all approach, counties like Fermamagh and Monaghan have smaller number of clubs. Emyvale in particular look very strong for junior level this year.

Down have top 16 teams at senior, next 16 at intermediate and bottom 10 in Junior. It works well within the county but probably to our detriment at provincial level in the intermediate and junior grades.

While Emyvale will be strong, just a caveat that it depends on their key players being fit to start. Ryan McAnespie hasn't kicked a ball since going off injured against Donegal. Michael Hamill has been out injured since v Westmeath in Feb. Monaghan U20 full back Johnny Wright hasn't kicked a ball in the JFC due to a groin injury. Another Monaghan U20, Andrew Stuart, is only back from injury. And Karl Gallagher just back from two years with Adelaide Crows came on as a sub and was very impressive in the final. If all 5 of them start, no one in UJFC will come close to them.

That's an unreal embarrassment of riches for a JFC club. You'd never get that in Down where year on year teams are almost exclusively of Junior standard. You'd very rarely see a Junior team in Down with any county representatives in their ranks whether that be at Minor, U-20 or Senior.

[rodney trotter]

Is that because the Down County team overlook Junior football in Down or nobody up the standard? Cavan was too top heavy with Senior clubs a few years ago. 3 teams were relegated to Intermediate and 3 to Junior.
10 in Senior Championship now.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

It's difficult to adopt a one size fits all approach, counties like Fermamagh and Monaghan have smaller number of clubs. Emyvale in particular look very strong for junior level this year.

Down have top 16 teams at senior, next 16 at intermediate and bottom 10 in Junior. It works well within the county but probably to our detriment at provincial level in the intermediate and junior grades.

While Emyvale will be strong, just a caveat that it depends on their key players being fit to start. Ryan McAnespie hasn't kicked a ball since going off injured against Donegal. Michael Hamill has been out injured since v Westmeath in Feb. Monaghan U20 full back Johnny Wright hasn't kicked a ball in the JFC due to a groin injury. Another Monaghan U20, Andrew Stuart, is only back from injury. And Karl Gallagher just back from two years with Adelaide Crows came on as a sub and was very impressive in the final. If all 5 of them start, no one in UJFC will come close to them.

That's an unreal embarrassment of riches for a JFC club. You'd never get that in Down where year on year teams are almost exclusively of Junior standard. You'd very rarely see a Junior team in Down with any county representatives in their ranks whether that be at Minor, U-20 or Senior.

That could be a Down issue just because a player is junior doesn't mean he isn't county standard.

12 senior in Cavan at the minute Rodney but I take your point.

12 senior
14 intermediate
12 junior

Which is fair.

[rodney trotter]

Sorry 12 yes. Even at that its probaly too many. Not 12 standard Senior teams in Cavan. They could have 10 with a couple of Divisional teams added.

[theticklemister]

It's difficult to adopt a one size fits all approach, counties like Fermamagh and Monaghan have smaller number of clubs. Emyvale in particular look very strong for junior level this year.

Down have top 16 teams at senior, next 16 at intermediate and bottom 10 in Junior. It works well within the county but probably to our detriment at provincial level in the intermediate and junior grades.

While Emyvale will be strong, just a caveat that it depends on their key players being fit to start. Ryan McAnespie hasn't kicked a ball since going off injured against Donegal. Michael Hamill has been out injured since v Westmeath in Feb. Monaghan U20 full back Johnny Wright hasn't kicked a ball in the JFC due to a groin injury. Another Monaghan U20, Andrew Stuart, is only back from injury. And Karl Gallagher just back from two years with Adelaide Crows came on as a sub and was very impressive in the final. If all 5 of them start, no one in UJFC will come close to them.

How's Michael O'Brien faring back home?

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Sorry 12 yes. Even at that its probaly too many. Not 12 standard Senior teams in Cavan. They could have 10 with a couple of Divisional teams added.

Yeah there was some bad hammering this year.

Few teams not up to standard.

You'd imagine Cuchullains should be able to sustain themselves as a quarter to semi final senior team over the next few years.

Hard to know if there's any other teams in intermediate capable of doing that over next few years.

Maybe butlersbridge if there big numbers underage start to translate to success.

[mrdeeds]

Down Junior Championship must be very weak? Cavan's weakest winners in years and hammered Ardglas.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

How will the GAA board fraternity frame this one against Cavan?

Munterconnacht division 3 side got promoted this year for first time in decades.

Munchies won't win it out but might get one more win.

[DownFanatic]

Down Junior Championship must be very weak? Cavan's weakest winners in years and hammered Ardglas.

Yes Down Junior football is one of the weakest in Ulster as is evidenced by our year on year poor showings at provincial level. Since the inception of the Ulster JFC we have maybe picked up just 4 or 5 actual wins in our opening games. That's a very poor record.

Ardglass were deserved winners of the JFC this year but wouldn't have been classed as one of our stronger representatives in recent times.

[ONARAGGATIP]

Down Junior Championship must be very weak? Cavan's weakest winners in years and hammered Ardglas.

Yes Down Junior football is one of the weakest in Ulster as is evidenced by our year on year poor showings at provincial level. Since the inception of the Ulster JFC we have maybe picked up just 4 or 5 actual wins in our opening games. That's a very poor record.

Ardglass were deserved winners of the JFC this year but wouldn't have been classed as one of our stronger representatives in recent times.

Perhaps because they are a junior club and other counties have senior clubs playing junior. Put a junior club in any other county against a senior club in down u will gey the same result. Anyway wouldn't worry too much kilcoo will win ulster in second gear.

[Look-Up!]

Down Junior Championship must be very weak? Cavan's weakest winners in years and hammered Ardglas.

Yes Down Junior football is one of the weakest in Ulster as is evidenced by our year on year poor showings at provincial level. Since the inception of the Ulster JFC we have maybe picked up just 4 or 5 actual wins in our opening games. That's a very poor record.

Ardglass were deserved winners of the JFC this year but wouldn't have been classed as one of our stronger representatives in recent times.

Perhaps because they are a junior club and other counties have senior clubs playing junior. Put a junior club in any other county against a senior club in down u will gey the same result. Anyway wouldn't worry too much kilcoo will win ulster in second gear.

Munterconnaught are very much a Junior club. Perhaps they've been on the piss since winning Down, I don't know, but comparing Munterconnaught result against them to the equivalent of playing a Down senior club is some take.

[ranch]

Down Junior Championship must be very weak? Cavan's weakest winners in years and hammered Ardglas.

Yes Down Junior football is one of the weakest in Ulster as is evidenced by our year on year poor showings at provincial level. Since the inception of the Ulster JFC we have maybe picked up just 4 or 5 actual wins in our opening games. That's a very poor record.

Ardglass were deserved winners of the JFC this year but wouldn't have been classed as one of our stronger representatives in recent times.

Perhaps because they are a junior club and other counties have senior clubs playing junior. Put a junior club in any other county against a senior club in down u will gey the same result. Anyway wouldn't worry too much kilcoo will win ulster in second gear.

Munterconnaught are very much a Junior club. Perhaps they've been on the piss since winning Down, I don't know, but comparing Munterconnaught result against them to the equivalent of playing a Down senior club is some take.

Down junior championship has been weak for quite a few years. They also have an unlinked championship and league, so it's no different to the set up in Cavan.
Last year was probably the best junior side for a decade or so that they had compete in Ulster and they lost in the first round.

[general_lee]

How will the GAA board fraternity frame this one against Cavan?

Munterconnacht division 3 side got promoted this year for first time in decades.

Munchies won't win it out but might get one more win.

Cavan clearly have pedigree at this level. Clonmore won the Armagh JFC replay on Saturday and they play Munterconnaught next. It would be a big shock if they were to beat the Cavan champions.

[Armagh18]

Can't see Clonmore doing much with only a week turnaround. Couple of handy players but not a particularly strong team.

Sarsfields- who knows with the 3 weeks gap and if the game is at home they have enoigh big awkward men to at least compete but Derry usually strong.