Ulster Club IFC/JFC 2025

[rodney trotter]

I thought both JFC & IFC in Armagh were poor, couldn't see anyone doing any damage in Ulster - probably Seniors included as well as there'll be partying there whoever wins. Clonoe have to be the Cullyhanna of the season - really a strong Senior team playing in IFC.

Been Intermediate for 2 out of the last 3 seasons. Would hardly call them a strong senior team

If Tyrone separated league and championship like most counties do, Clonoe would be nowhere near the IFC based on their SFC results. Senior semi-finalists in 2022 losing by 3 points to Carrickmore but relegated to IFC based on their league status, then last year beat Coalisland and then lost narrowly to Errigal Ciaran after a replay, yet somehow got relegated again to Intermediate via the league. They were massive favourites to win Tyrone IFC in 2023 but got ambushed by Moy in the semi-finals and they made sure they did not get caught out like that this year.

Yeah you're right but it's just further examples of how Tyrone are rigging the system.

I'd say it's the opposite in Tyrone.. What's that saying doing the rounds these days, accusations are usually confessions. Arva has to be the biggest shit show in club history

How can you have a team that were two games away from winning the Senior Championship relegated to Intermediate based off their performance in glorified challenge games / league campaign.

Arva were rightly relegated to junior based of abysmal performances in league and Championship were they barely scored in some games.

Cavan also restructured the championship around that time. There was too many teams in Senior. 3 teams were relegated to Intermediate amd 3 to Junior. Arva with players away and injured went to junior.
This year it has evened out as all the teams bar Belturbet were in Division 3. Belturbet were near the bottom of division 2.

[Sleater]

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.

[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.