Ulster Championship 2025

[bennydorano]

Was Tomas McCormack injured? Seemed a strange omission

[mackers]

Did they turn it on? Last years All-Ireland was poor, all I remember about it is a great point by Grimley. I thought Galway kicked themselves out of it rather than Armagh turning it on. I think Donegal is Ulster best bet for An All-Ireland this year. But still fancy Galway.

I seem to remember boys like you writing us off last year as well. Keep talking.

[bennydorano]

If today showed anything its that you need a bit of luck to fall your way. Got our share last year, hopefully it'll come again.

[Mikhailov]

Whilst today was exciting I didn't really think it was a great match. Bar Thompsons excellent 2 pointers and Soupys first score I thought most of the other scores were pretty average.

The new rules definitely tilt the game heavily towards a running game. Basically they suit a guy like Conaty down to the ground. He's a very fine footballer but essentially your top 12 players should all be guys whose game is centred around using size and sped to round your marker or come off the shoulder and sweep it over the bar. There's not really much point in starting skilful corner forwards like McBearty, Duffy or Turbitt given that the ball is pretty much never kicked into the inside line. The status quo is now break fast and try to run in a score quickly and if that fails then recycle recycle recycle until you can manufacture a spare man or pick out a lazy defender.

It's no coincidence that the game is now being dominated by teams that mirror Galway's running game. Maher, McHugh, Kelly, Tierney, Conroy, McGrath, McDaid are all basically runners who pick good lines and are accurate from 30 yards.

It's weird that in a game were Donegal scored 2-23 or whatever I don't remember a single score coming directly from a ball being kicked into their full forward line. Murphy's mark is the obvious exception but it's a sad reflection on football when a long kick pass caught by a full forward stands out as something truly exceptional.

You're not a happy bunny 

Whilst today was exciting I didn't really think it was a great match. Bar Thompsons excellent 2 pointers and Soupys first score I thought most of the other scores were pretty average.

The new rules definitely tilt the game heavily towards a running game. Basically they suit a guy like Conaty down to the ground. He's a very fine footballer but essentially your top 12 players should all be guys whose game is centred around using size and sped to round your marker or come off the shoulder and sweep it over the bar. There's not really much point in starting skilful corner forwards like McBearty, Duffy or Turbitt given that the ball is pretty much never kicked into the inside line. The status quo is now break fast and try to run in a score quickly and if that fails then recycle recycle recycle until you can manufacture a spare man or pick out a lazy defender.

It's no coincidence that the game is now being dominated by teams that mirror Galway's running game. Maher, McHugh, Kelly, Tierney, Conroy, McGrath, McDaid are all basically runners who pick good lines and are accurate from 30 yards.

It's weird that in a game were Donegal scored 2-23 or whatever I don't remember a single score coming directly from a ball being kicked into their full forward line. Murphy's mark is the obvious exception but it's a sad reflection on football when a long kick pass caught by a full forward stands out as something truly exceptional.

You're not a happy bunny 

I watched the highlight reel back there on YouTube. Of the 15ish scores they showed only one involved a kick from pass immediately prior to the score. More than 80% involved no kicking at all in the build-up if you exclude kickouts.

Quite ironic that a Trillick man complains about the style of play today.

Sure Trillick are basically the kings of the possession game at club level - brilliant at it I must add and great to watch in full flow but they rarely if ever kick it long

Trillick don't hit much into Lee Brennan early, it is all methodical and pre planned - yet you complain when these 2 teams today play the same type system

On today's game - it was a classic, even for the neutral. A brilliant advertisement for GAA but not sure how long county players are going to play the game going forward. 3/4/5 of those type games every year followed by a club season will soon reduce your playing life span

Today was brilliant - it had everything. Goal chances, high fielding, great tackling, great scores, end to end, misses, mistakes...,very enjoyable

Brilliant performances from Conaty, McMullen, Murphy, McCole and to a lesser extent Moore, Langan and McQuillan.

Both keepers deserve credit although I have seen them both play much better. Looking for a moving target in a midst of big athletic men under pressure in a cauldron like today can't be easy, but they are both brilliant and both showed their fielding capabilities today as well

[Truthsayer]

Whilst today was exciting I didn't really think it was a great match. Bar Thompsons excellent 2 pointers and Soupys first score I thought most of the other scores were pretty average.

The new rules definitely tilt the game heavily towards a running game. Basically they suit a guy like Conaty down to the ground. He's a very fine footballer but essentially your top 12 players should all be guys whose game is centred around using size and sped to round your marker or come off the shoulder and sweep it over the bar. There's not really much point in starting skilful corner forwards like McBearty, Duffy or Turbitt given that the ball is pretty much never kicked into the inside line. The status quo is now break fast and try to run in a score quickly and if that fails then recycle recycle recycle until you can manufacture a spare man or pick out a lazy defender.

It's no coincidence that the game is now being dominated by teams that mirror Galway's running game. Maher, McHugh, Kelly, Tierney, Conroy, McGrath, McDaid are all basically runners who pick good lines and are accurate from 30 yards.

It's weird that in a game were Donegal scored 2-23 or whatever I don't remember a single score coming directly from a ball being kicked into their full forward line. Murphy's mark is the obvious exception but it's a sad reflection on football when a long kick pass caught by a full forward stands out as something truly exceptional.

You're not a happy bunny 

Whilst today was exciting I didn't really think it was a great match. Bar Thompsons excellent 2 pointers and Soupys first score I thought most of the other scores were pretty average.

The new rules definitely tilt the game heavily towards a running game. Basically they suit a guy like Conaty down to the ground. He's a very fine footballer but essentially your top 12 players should all be guys whose game is centred around using size and sped to round your marker or come off the shoulder and sweep it over the bar. There's not really much point in starting skilful corner forwards like McBearty, Duffy or Turbitt given that the ball is pretty much never kicked into the inside line. The status quo is now break fast and try to run in a score quickly and if that fails then recycle recycle recycle until you can manufacture a spare man or pick out a lazy defender.

It's no coincidence that the game is now being dominated by teams that mirror Galway's running game. Maher, McHugh, Kelly, Tierney, Conroy, McGrath, McDaid are all basically runners who pick good lines and are accurate from 30 yards.

It's weird that in a game were Donegal scored 2-23 or whatever I don't remember a single score coming directly from a ball being kicked into their full forward line. Murphy's mark is the obvious exception but it's a sad reflection on football when a long kick pass caught by a full forward stands out as something truly exceptional.

You're not a happy bunny 

I watched the highlight reel back there on YouTube. Of the 15ish scores they showed only one involved a kick from pass immediately prior to the score. More than 80% involved no kicking at all in the build-up if you exclude kickouts.

Hugely exciting game.. which is also the overwheming consensus. Maybe Gaelic football is not for you. #analysisparalysis

[Wildweasel74]

It was death by handpassing through stages of the game. Donegal could worked a score or 2 near the end of normal time, would have seen the game out, but just held onto it. For the manager McGuiness is supposed to be, not putting somebody on Conaty to man mark him was criminal. Him and O O'Neil kept Armagh in it.

[Truthsayer]

It was death by handpassing through stages of the game. Donegal could worked a score or 2 near the end of normal time woukd seen the game out, but just held onto it. Fir the manager McGuiness is supposed to be. Nit putting somebody on Conaty to man mark him was criminal. Him and O O'Neil kept Armagh in it.

Reminds me of man fiercely critical of an All Ireland winning minor manager who didn't pick someone from his club. I says: "they won the All Ireland!".. reply: "just about!"   
Jimmy just won another Ulster #supitup

[Easttyrone23]

It was death by handpassing through stages of the game. Donegal could worked a score or 2 near the end of normal time, would have seen the game out, but just held onto it. For the manager McGuiness is supposed to be, not putting somebody on Conaty to man mark him was criminal. Him and O O'Neil kept Armagh in it.

Manager he's supposed to be? From donegals all Ireland title in 1992 until when mcguinness took over Donegal didn't win an ulster title never mind all Ireland. Under mcguinnes they have won 5 ulsters and an all Ireland title.

 

[StephenC]

If today showed anything its that you need a bit of luck to fall your way. Got our share last year, hopefully it'll come again.

This is it for me. Incredibly narrow margins between these two teams and between winning and losing.

We had a lot of luck today and I'm delighted for that. To see what it meant to Murphy was brilliant. An Ulster will never be meaningless to Donegal.

That's a class Armagh team. Wonderful to think we are at their level and that we'll both get to fight it out for Sam.

[Easttyrone23]

If today showed anything its that you need a bit of luck to fall your way. Got our share last year, hopefully it'll come again.

This is it for me. Incredibly narrow margins between these two teams and between winning and losing.

We had a lot of luck today and I'm delighted for that. To see what it meant to Murphy was brilliant. An Ulster will never be meaningless to Donegal.

That's a class Armagh team. Wonderful to think we are at their level and that we'll both get to fight it out for Sam.

I always feel

If today showed anything its that you need a bit of luck to fall your way. Got our share last year, hopefully it'll come again.

This is it for me. Incredibly narrow margins between these two teams and between winning and losing.

We had a lot of luck today and I'm delighted for that. To see what it meant to Murphy was brilliant. An Ulster will never be meaningless to Donegal.

That's a class Armagh team. Wonderful to think we are at their level and that we'll both get to fight it out for Sam.

Did you not believe you where at their level last year when beating them in the Ulster final and div 2 final?

Both Armagh and Donegal are big contenders for Sam and I feel they will come up against each other again this season.

[Main Street]

Soupy charged. Referee got it spot on.

Fair enough, as I said looked that way to me but i was far enough away.

On the tv replays it looked very much that it was a foul, that he was tripped, had his feet clipped and therefore he fell but  had the appearance that he was making a meal out of it and that what the ref went with. The ref got it wrong.

[Main Street]

Having not seen it back my initial thoughts are these. Great performance from Donegal who fully deserved their win. Comfortably the better side. Decent refereeing performance I thought to bar one or two decisions. Nothings changed on my thoughts on the rules but not allowed to voice that.

Langan Murphy Thompson and Morgan were exceptional. Conaty I thought was best player on the pitch.

Armagh very poor first half with McQuillian looking injured and Murnin and Crealy not looking fully fit.

Donegal seemed to change their defence approach compressing the space between their lines of defenders confusing Armagh. Donegal could and probably should have been out of sight by half time. Poor kicking from Patton kept Armagh in the game.

Armagh showed great grit to get back in to the game and should take some heart from how they fought back.

Both teams will have a big say in the All Ireland series particularly if Armagh get more players back.

I think you are too generous towards Donegal. I thought it was a 50 50 game, Armagh were the better in the 2nd half, that was not just a fightback  and incredibly by some freak incidence didn't score a goal from any one of those 3 close encounters.

Methinks Donegal got away with it, they were just one point to the good in the end.

[naka]

Soupy charged. Referee got it spot on.

Fair enough, as I said looked that way to me but i was far enough away.

On the tv replays it looked very much that it was a foul, that he was tripped, had his feet clipped and therefore he fell but  had the appearance that he was making a meal out of it and that what the ref went with. The ref got it wrong.

It was a massive decision in the context of the game which having seen it again was a mistake by the referee.
Good game overall think both teams will have a say come the business end of the season.
Disappointing for Armagh , great for Donegal but all will be forgotten in two weeks .

[trueblue1234]

I'm still not sold that it was a foul. Watched live and then watched the replay and for me Soupy overcarries and is looking the free. That said, I've seen them given but for me ref got it right, and got most big calls right.

[Armagh18]

Thought the ridiculousness of the new rules was highlighted once or twice yesterday, early on Oisin O'Neill won a great turnover and hit a pas to Jarly Og, who had to stop on the half way line like a dummy to wait on the ball and allowed the Donegal man to get a hand in, think it broke for us in tbe end up, another tine Murphy was tracking back and had to stop dead while tackling a man to avoid a breach. Daft.