Ulster Championship 2026

[imtommygunn]

I actually think Tyrone are a bit too rigid too. It's not that they don't have the players to play otherwise they just don't.

Looking at McElholm playing in the seniors you feel like he wants to do stuff like he would have done at underage and then something has him second guessing himself. I think it's their rigidity...

(Great footballer who I am not trying to slight btw)

[J70]

Travelled to Letterkenny yesterday in hope of a good performance and to stay with Donegal for as long as possible.  That performance by Doen was off the charts. I was at every league game and they were never as direct as they were yesterday. And the plaudits for Mooney wow what a performance by a man who hasnt kocked a ball all year for Down.  Byt everyone of the team and the subs were magnificent. Rooney never scored a goal for Down until yesterday and he shouldve jad 3. 
Did Donegal under prepare for Down? Does Jim ever undee prepare. Lost 1 UC game in 21. Conceded 4 goals in total in that timeframe. ?
The conditions helped Downs running game. Hoping for a sunny dry Clones on Sunday. It will be hard to reach that intensity again but momentum is a big thing. Maybe the trip to Killarney last weekend fpr a friendly gave them belief.
Whatever happens next sunday there are a lot of happy Down people this morning , we domt get that too often these days. Thats what its all about. The unexpected and the reason why you keep going, for special occasions like yesterday.

I'd say Jim had them well prepared and the main Down dangermen analyzed and planned for (McBrearty on tv even referred to Murdock having been a major focus for last year's meeting).

However, there's not much a manager can do about the general atmosphere surrounding a game. No matter how much you drum it into players, they're hearing in the media and from everyone outside the camp that they're among the favourites for Ulster and the AI, that there's another big meeting with Armagh a couple of weeks down the line, and while Down are a decent side, you still handled them with relative ease in the end the previous  year. And equally, Laverty will be using the same background noise to put fire in the bellies of his own team, who have been totally written off and have a free shot. Same thing happened to us against Cavan in 2020 when, on our way to a showdown with the Dubs, we got ambushed by a team that had been completely written off.

Anyway, hope you can build on it and Down get back to challenging for Ulster. Some superb players in Guinness, Murdock, Rooney and Mooney and a very good manager who came up with a great game plan to nullify a lot of our strengths.

[Armagh18]

Travelled to Letterkenny yesterday in hope of a good performance and to stay with Donegal for as long as possible.  That performance by Doen was off the charts. I was at every league game and they were never as direct as they were yesterday. And the plaudits for Mooney wow what a performance by a man who hasnt kocked a ball all year for Down.  Byt everyone of the team and the subs were magnificent. Rooney never scored a goal for Down until yesterday and he shouldve jad 3. 
Did Donegal under prepare for Down? Does Jim ever undee prepare. Lost 1 UC game in 21. Conceded 4 goals in total in that timeframe. ?
The conditions helped Downs running game. Hoping for a sunny dry Clones on Sunday. It will be hard to reach that intensity again but momentum is a big thing. Maybe the trip to Killarney last weekend fpr a friendly gave them belief.
Whatever happens next sunday there are a lot of happy Down people this morning , we domt get that too often these days. Thats what its all about. The unexpected and the reason why you keep going, for special occasions like yesterday.

I'd say Jim had them well prepared and the main Down dangermen analyzed and planned for (McBrearty on tv even referred to Murdock having been a major focus for last year's meeting).

However, there's not much a manager can do about the general atmosphere surrounding a game. No matter how much you drum it into players, they're hearing in the media and from everyone outside the camp that they're among the favourites for Ulster and the AI, that there's another big meeting with Armagh a couple of weeks down the line, and while Down are a decent side, you still handled them with relative ease in the end the previous  year. And equally, Laverty will be using the same background noise to put fire in the bellies of his own team, who have been totally written off and have a free shot. Same thing happened to us against Cavan in 2020 when, on our way to a showdown with the Dubs, we got ambushed by a team that had been completely written off.

Anyway, hope you can build on it and Down get back to challenging for Ulster. Some superb players in Guinness, Murdock, Rooney and Mooney and a very good manager who came up with a great game plan to nullify a lot of our strengths.

I'd say Langan was a huge loss for Donegal for all the obvious reasons but also the fact he kept Murdock relatively quiet for large parts last year.

Anything confirmed around his injury, seen rumours ranging from a couple of weeks to a month to season ender. 

[ranch]

Great result for Down yesterday and if there's one county that thrives on a bit of momentum then it's definitely Down.
As an Armagh man I'm far from convinced by our performances so far, but I'd be cautiously optimistic that we have enough about to us to win by a couple of points. After Down's win yesterday a lot of people will fancy them to push on. It's a big derby game and Down will definitely be up for it and bring a decent sized crowd, hopefully Armagh can put a full 70 minutes together.

[thebigfullforward]

I actually think Tyrone are a bit too rigid too. It's not that they don't have the players to play otherwise they just don't.

Looking at McElholm playing in the seniors you feel like he wants to do stuff like he would have done at underage and then something has him second guessing himself. I think it's their rigidity...

(Great footballer who I am not trying to slight btw)

Yep. R. Canavan the same. You'd see him making shots in underage football like against Monaghan for example from the lineball outside of the foot. Just don't see him doing it for the seniors and plenty more in the same boat

[J70]

Travelled to Letterkenny yesterday in hope of a good performance and to stay with Donegal for as long as possible.  That performance by Doen was off the charts. I was at every league game and they were never as direct as they were yesterday. And the plaudits for Mooney wow what a performance by a man who hasnt kocked a ball all year for Down.  Byt everyone of the team and the subs were magnificent. Rooney never scored a goal for Down until yesterday and he shouldve jad 3. 
Did Donegal under prepare for Down? Does Jim ever undee prepare. Lost 1 UC game in 21. Conceded 4 goals in total in that timeframe. ?
The conditions helped Downs running game. Hoping for a sunny dry Clones on Sunday. It will be hard to reach that intensity again but momentum is a big thing. Maybe the trip to Killarney last weekend fpr a friendly gave them belief.
Whatever happens next sunday there are a lot of happy Down people this morning , we domt get that too often these days. Thats what its all about. The unexpected and the reason why you keep going, for special occasions like yesterday.

I'd say Jim had them well prepared and the main Down dangermen analyzed and planned for (McBrearty on tv even referred to Murdock having been a major focus for last year's meeting).

However, there's not much a manager can do about the general atmosphere surrounding a game. No matter how much you drum it into players, they're hearing in the media and from everyone outside the camp that they're among the favourites for Ulster and the AI, that there's another big meeting with Armagh a couple of weeks down the line, and while Down are a decent side, you still handled them with relative ease in the end the previous  year. And equally, Laverty will be using the same background noise to put fire in the bellies of his own team, who have been totally written off and have a free shot. Same thing happened to us against Cavan in 2020 when, on our way to a showdown with the Dubs, we got ambushed by a team that had been completely written off.

Anyway, hope you can build on it and Down get back to challenging for Ulster. Some superb players in Guinness, Murdock, Rooney and Mooney and a very good manager who came up with a great game plan to nullify a lot of our strengths.

I'd say Langan was a huge loss for Donegal for all the obvious reasons but also the fact he kept Murdock relatively quiet for large parts last year.

Anything confirmed around his injury, seen rumours ranging from a couple of weeks to a month to season ender. 

Haven't seen anything official. Just the same internet rumours that he is gone for the year. I'd imagine it will be clarified this week.

If he's gone, that's a major blow to our hopes and the second big man/long range scorer we will be missing in addition to Ciaran Thompson.

[Fuzzman]

I heard he rolled his ankle in a match against the u20s during the week so if that's true you'd imagine he will be back for the end of May 1st round games.

Very impressed with how Down approached the game yesterday and hope it shows other managers how to take a few risks and run at Donegal and create and go for goal chances rather than tapping it over the bar.
As a few said above, Id rather say Tyrone forwards taking their man on and going for the tough shot that this mindless boring recyling it back out to midfield and create a fear to shoot.

Armagh will have their hands full I'd say on Sunday and I wont be surprised if it's a Down v Derry final.

[bennydorano]

It'll be interesting to see some of the match ups in Armagh v Down. I could see Ciaran Mackin trying to pick up Murdock, his Rambo style could suit this encounter. I'd be very concerned about Daniel Guinness as well, Joe McElroy if fit maybe.

[Armagh18]

It'll be interesting to see some of the match ups in Armagh v Down. I could see Ciaran Mackin trying to pick up Murdock, his Rambo style could suit this encounter. I'd be very concerned about Daniel Guinness as well, Joe McElroy if fit maybe.

Yeah those were the match ups I had in my head as well, Duffy another option for Murdock who would have the engine for him if Mackin not ready for a start, kickouts wise Murnin would be fit to handle him in the air hopefully. McCormack would have the engine for Guinness but probably not the physicality. Hope Murphy is fit, he'd be the man I'd put on Havern.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Travelled to Letterkenny yesterday in hope of a good performance and to stay with Donegal for as long as possible.  That performance by Doen was off the charts. I was at every league game and they were never as direct as they were yesterday. And the plaudits for Mooney wow what a performance by a man who hasnt kocked a ball all year for Down.  Byt everyone of the team and the subs were magnificent. Rooney never scored a goal for Down until yesterday and he shouldve jad 3. 
Did Donegal under prepare for Down? Does Jim ever undee prepare. Lost 1 UC game in 21. Conceded 4 goals in total in that timeframe. ?
The conditions helped Downs running game. Hoping for a sunny dry Clones on Sunday. It will be hard to reach that intensity again but momentum is a big thing. Maybe the trip to Killarney last weekend fpr a friendly gave them belief.
Whatever happens next sunday there are a lot of happy Down people this morning , we domt get that too often these days. Thats what its all about. The unexpected and the reason why you keep going, for special occasions like yesterday.

I'd say Jim had them well prepared and the main Down dangermen analyzed and planned for (McBrearty on tv even referred to Murdock having been a major focus for last year's meeting).

However, there's not much a manager can do about the general atmosphere surrounding a game. No matter how much you drum it into players, they're hearing in the media and from everyone outside the camp that they're among the favourites for Ulster and the AI, that there's another big meeting with Armagh a couple of weeks down the line, and while Down are a decent side, you still handled them with relative ease in the end the previous  year. And equally, Laverty will be using the same background noise to put fire in the bellies of his own team, who have been totally written off and have a free shot. Same thing happened to us against Cavan in 2020 when, on our way to a showdown with the Dubs, we got ambushed by a team that had been completely written off.

Anyway, hope you can build on it and Down get back to challenging for Ulster. Some superb players in Guinness, Murdock, Rooney and Mooney and a very good manager who came up with a great game plan to nullify a lot of our strengths.

I'd say Langan was a huge loss for Donegal for all the obvious reasons but also the fact he kept Murdock relatively quiet for large parts last year.

Anything confirmed around his injury, seen rumours ranging from a couple of weeks to a month to season ender. 

Haven't seen anything official. Just the same internet rumours that he is gone for the year. I'd imagine it will be clarified this week.

If he's gone, that's a major blow to our hopes and the second big man/long range scorer we will be missing in addition to Ciaran Thompson.

Gaelic Life have it that McGuinness confirmed its only a minor ankle injury

[J70]

Just saw that. Amazing how these rumours take off like wildfire!

If it is true, and we can get him fit back in time for the first round of the AI knock-outs, we should be a tough enough opponent for most. Especially with a wee bit of air having been let out of the hype balloon.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Just saw that. Amazing how these rumours take off like wildfire!

If it is true, and we can get him fit back in time for the first round of the AI knock-outs, we should be a tough enough opponent for most. Especially with a wee bit of air having been let out of the hype balloon.

Should be some incredible ties in that draw.

As a Cavan man I have no qualms in saying that we deserve no place in that top 16.

If Westmeath and Down make it; we might for the first time have 16 teams all capable of competing.

[Armagh18]

Just saw that. Amazing how these rumours take off like wildfire!

If it is true, and we can get him fit back in time for the first round of the AI knock-outs, we should be a tough enough opponent for most. Especially with a wee bit of air having been let out of the hype balloon.

Should be some incredible ties in that draw.

As a Cavan man I have no qualms in saying that we deserve no place in that top 16.

If Westmeath and Down make it; we might for the first time have 16 teams all capable of competing.

It's a real shame that one or both those teams won't make it (hopefully). Produced the 2 performances of the championship so far and no disrespect are far more deserving of their spot than Cavan. 

[cavanmaniac]

It's a real shame that one or both those teams won't make it (hopefully). Produced the 2 performances of the championship so far and no disrespect are far more deserving of their spot than Cavan.
+++
Couldn't agree more, unfortunately. Like every other year we'd just be everyone else's whipping boys.

[SouthDublinBro]

I don't think I even want to go to the Ulster final if it's going to be Derry v Armagh.
Those big Armagh games are essentially just big student parties. At the 2023 final the hill was full of young women covered in make up and wearing skimpy outfits who spent the full game flirting with the young men with bowl hair cuts.
If I have to stand on the hill with Armagh fans again I would rather not go at all.

Cry more.

There is unfortunately a LARGE group of Armagh fans who love to treat these games as an excuse to get drunk and act the fool. Moreso than any other county.