Ulster Senior Football Club Championship 2011

[whitegoodman]

Rogueryhill, Burren looked a bit shellshocked yesterday from the off. I'd say they were nervous enough, but the speed and precision of Cross really unsettled them. Perhaps coming through the easier side of the draw did them no favours, perhaps inexperience told. Burren are a much better team than they showed yesterday - but like most clubs in Ireland, they'd need the performance of their lives to beat Cross.

They didn't exactly set "the easier side of the draw" alight either though. I was amazed anyone gave them a chance yesterday. An average enough outfit at this level.

The same team was very close to taking Cross to extra time last year so to write them off as an average side with key personal sent off, injured and suspended is a tad harsh.  Add to that the fact that they have an average of 22 means they should get better and be back at this stage again.  Dont no why you would be amazed at all!?!

Difficult to know how big the sending off was in the game but Mcardle is a very big player for Burren and imo would have had a big impact on the game as he had in Burrens previous 2 games in ulster.  That being said a bit of stupidity and naivety at having is run blocked can not be excused and he will have to learn from it.

On Cross many say they are a cynical, crafty side but that is all part of being a great side.  As well as having wonderful football players they are also masters at the dark arts and teams will have to learn to deal with this if they are to compete with them.

[Applesisapples]

Fair play to Cross. Truely exceptional record of continued championship success. If only Armagh could get a bit of their winning mentality, tactical discipline and self belief.

It's hard to believe Paul Kernan isn't a regular in the armagh team. Cross players likely to be in the armagh team next year perhaps...

keeper - hearty
corner back - pmckeown
wing half back - akernan
wing half back - jmorgan
half forward - cunningham
full forward line - clarke

Stephen and Tony Kernan should be there too. Stephen has been exceptional this year for Cross.

[yellowcard]

Fair play to Cross. Truely exceptional record of continued championship success. If only Armagh could get a bit of their winning mentality, tactical discipline and self belief.

It's hard to believe Paul Kernan isn't a regular in the armagh team. Cross players likely to be in the armagh team next year perhaps...

keeper - hearty
corner back - pmckeown
wing half back - akernan
wing half back - jmorgan
half forward - cunningham
full forward line - clarke

Stephen and Tony Kernan should be there too. Stephen has been exceptional this year for Cross.

Some of these players will have the problem of integrating into the county set-up if Cross get to the AI final. At best they will have about 2 League games to nail down a championship place and thats tough for the non-established players like Morgan and Cunningham who I think are both deserving of a shot at it. I would also agree that S Kernan is still the most creative player in Armagh.

[bennydorano]

He's too slow for an inter-county FB and there's better about than him in FB about, there's also better than him at his own club in both CB positions.  He got the chop during POR's tenure as well didn't he?  Malevolent influence and all that Donal probably was I dont think they were too far of the mark with PK's axing tbh. 

[Hoof Hearted]

highlights now on TG4

[imtommygunn]

Some ball from Clarke for McConville's goal. Clarke is unmarkable - doesn't matter if the ball is in high or low he'll still win it.

[NP 76]

Left nearly 15 mins early after watching both games today, game was over when it was 4-0 and burren got man sent off. Congrates to cross

Down football is brutal, sicken ya's!!


What would you honestly know about Down football . Armagh club  football cant be much cop either when the team in the county final can only score 3 pts this really helps your point

[crossfire]

He's too slow for an inter-county FB and there's better about than him in FB about, there's also better than him at his own club in both CB positions.  He got the chop during POR's tenure as well didn't he?  Malevolent influence and all that Donal probably was I dont think they were too far of the mark with PK's axing tbh.

You must be joking.

[crossfire]

Long time lurker, first time poster.
I think alot of people are definitely underestimating Burren.
Id say that this is the game they have been wanting to get since they lost out last year to cross.
Id be surprised if they sit back this time and admire cross for the first 30mins like they did last year.
Yes they might be weakened with suspensions and injuries but still dont think this one will pan out as some people think.
Cross are an excellent side, dont get me wrong, but if im honest i see Burren taking them this time round to make amends for 12 months previous. On the game last sunday, i was impressed with Latton's sheer guts and spirit. They never gave up and kept plugging away, a very honest, hard-working effort from the Monaghan men. Lennon was a colossus in the middle of the field and had no equal, only for their shooting they would have perhaps taken Burren. Burren did what they had to when it mattered and would be happy enough to stutter unconvincingly into an ulster final and be labelled as underdogs.


Totally unrelated i know, but was wondering could anyone clear this one up. Was entering the ground at Armagh on sunday and seen Michael McGill the former Down player, he had a Burren tracksuit on. Was he not a Warrenpoint player previously, or was he their manager or what. Is he involved with the Burren team or whats the connection there. Settle a dispute amongst friends.

Very good prediction.

[crossfire]

Well done the Rangers-9 final wins outa 9 will never be matched never mind bettered
Burren on the day have actually regressed with regards last year,albeit the loss of Rooney,Toner and to a lesser degree Eoin Mc  had quite a bearing on todays game-

Oisin was rightly mentioned as holding most provincial medals-however  Hearty must surely be up  there also??

Yes Paul Hearty has also 9 Ulster medals, but he didn't play in the 96 final due to injury.

[Armamike]

There are no superlatives left to describe Cross and their achievements. To play in 9 ulster finals and win the lot is staggering. They used to just dominate Armagh, now its Ulster.   I just wish they would share their blueprint with the rest of the clubs in Armagh and the county set up! The stark truth is though that very few clubs in Ireland, never mind Armagh are as well organised and committed at all levels, with the range of individuals behind the scenes willing to put the work in without complaint.

I would think David McKenna, Johnny Hanratty and James Morgan would be pushing hard for a starting spot for the county if they're interested, if they can bring that level of aggression and workrate.  The likes of Paul McKeown as well maybe. As someone else has said here, J Clarke is pretty much unmarkable at the moment.  There is a score off him everytime he touches the ball. He has it all.     

[armaghniac]

There are no superlatives left to describe Cross and their achievements.

pure munya?

I just wish they would share their blueprint with the rest of the clubs in Armagh and the county set up!

I think you have it in the quote below. Not rocket science.

The stark truth is though that very few clubs in Ireland, never mind Armagh are as well organised and committed at all levels, with the range of individuals behind the scenes willing to put the work in without complaint.

[brokencrossbar1]

There are no superlatives left to describe Cross and their achievements.

pure munya?

I just wish they would share their blueprint with the rest of the clubs in Armagh and the county set up!

I think you have it in the quote below. Not rocket science.

The stark truth is though that very few clubs in Ireland, never mind Armagh are as well organised and committed at all levels, with the range of individuals behind the scenes willing to put the work in without complaint.

Rilya feens, don't forget the rulya feens.

Every team has at least 1 coach with a few county medals, nearly all have players with a few AI medals. Hard to compare with.

[screenexile]

No great secret I would have thought. They have the right people taking their teams all the way up. People with County medals who understand the game and I would think that they all preach the same game plan so the younger ones are well prepared to make the step up. As far as I know there is a strong emphasis on getting the current team to take time off and do coaching with the younger kids in primary school and that which can't do anything but help.

I know its a cliche but young lads playing Senior football these days are interested in themselves and don't see the effect that giving their time when playing can have on the younger kids in the parish for the future. There are too many excuses trotted out and I would imagine that doesn't happen too often around Cross!

[brokencrossbar1]

From the team that started on Sunday all the Kernans, Oisin, Mickey Mac and Paul McKeown all have been active in coaching underage teams. Not a bad turn out.