Ulster Championship 2026

[statto]

What's going on in Tyrone?  I ask because, with all the great youth teams and the strong Senior base, I thought Tyrone would be on the rise - certain to dominate Ulster in the near future.  Like the high expectations for the Cork hurlers.

Instead they seem to be "spinning their wheels".  Are people expecting future Tyrone teams to be at Kerry's consistent level, maybe even a Tyrone dynasty?  Just wondering how relevant youth success is to senior football.

Any predictions?

Underage success now, more than ever, is less of an indicator of future senior success due to the age groups.
There's a huge gap between u20 and senior football.
Tyrone have lots of small skillfull forwards and that's not the physical profile needed for the new rules game. Tyrone still relying on old heads, I can see them falling back a bit further before being realistic challengers again.
There's a few "big" u20s at the minute, like O'Neill, who looks like he is almost ready to step up, but not many more. So as the likes of Donnelly, McCurry, Morgan etc retire, there's no obvious replacements coming through.

I think with underage teams, they would have less time to develop tactics/structures the same way senior teams would, kids would lapse a bit more with these things also. 

Tyrone seem to produce highly skilful underage players year in year out, which always makes them formidable at underage as generally tactics aren't as strict, its more skill v skill, best players win.   

If football was played the way it was 20years ago, Tyrone seniors would be entering another golden generation.  As it is, having a good structure in place is a vital cog to a good team.  You only have to look at how mcguniness has Donegal operating at the highest level again.

There is very much tactics at underage.  While we can never tell if football was played the way it was 20 years ago and the rules were the same where Tyrone would be, smaller men would struggle 20 years ago also, unless you are exceptional e.g. Canavan.  20 years ago there was also tactics also. 

[dec]

I have a long drive tomorrow while the Armagh Fermanagh game is on, anyone have an idea where I could get streaming radio commentary. Or alternatively a way to keep the GAA+ audio going from the app when I have it in the background as I am using the phone for navigation as well.

[J70]

That's J70s Donegals version of the 'yerra', 'Donegal haven't been tested yet with tough games ahead, yerra anything could happen'.

Maybe it's years and years of disappointment outside of when McGuinness has been in charge. It's hard to shake off the pessimistic fatalism.

And let's face it, we literally squeaked past Armagh in the last two Ulster finals. Both of those games could just as easily have gone their way. We suffered a systems breakdown in last year's AI final. Who's to say one of the better Ulster teams won't have something up their sleeves that we're not prepared for? I've seen Donegal lose far too many games that they were supposed to win over the years to ever be complacent.

That's fair, Donegal will rightly go in as heavy favourites vs Down, favourites against Armagh just given performances to date and the men we're missing, (but no one would be madly shocked if Armagh won it) will 100% be favourites against Derry/Monaghan and would be a fair surprise if either of those beat Donegal.

I'll be shocked if Armagh beat Donegal because they never do

We got a fair auld hammering in Bonner's last match in '22.

[Mario]

That's J70s Donegals version of the 'yerra', 'Donegal haven't been tested yet with tough games ahead, yerra anything could happen'.

Maybe it's years and years of disappointment outside of when McGuinness has been in charge. It's hard to shake off the pessimistic fatalism.

And let's face it, we literally squeaked past Armagh in the last two Ulster finals. Both of those games could just as easily have gone their way. We suffered a systems breakdown in last year's AI final. Who's to say one of the better Ulster teams won't have something up their sleeves that we're not prepared for? I've seen Donegal lose far too many games that they were supposed to win over the years to ever be complacent.

That's fair, Donegal will rightly go in as heavy favourites vs Down, favourites against Armagh just given performances to date and the men we're missing, (but no one would be madly shocked if Armagh won it) will 100% be favourites against Derry/Monaghan and would be a fair surprise if either of those beat Donegal.

I'll be shocked if Armagh beat Donegal because they never do

We got a fair auld hammering in Bonner's last match in '22.

McGeeney never beats McGuiness then

[J70]

McGeeney has been very unlucky against McGuinness though.

That Kevin Cassidy wonder point in 2011, losing two Ulster finals, one on penalties, another to a late extra time point.

Sooner or later the odds will fall in his favour.

[Norm-Peterson]

The stand hasn't even sold out for the Derry Monaghan match. Either it is because of the fuel prices or people know that Donegal are going to win it this year. The Armagh Donegal semi final is basically the final as far as I'm concerned.

Also did you notice Derry city couldn't even fill the stand in Celtic Park. 85k population in that city and they can't fill a stand?

[Wildweasel74]

This game on bbc2? Not seeing it come up even though it advertised?

[Armagh18]

GAA+. Where was it advertised as on BBC?

[An Watcher]

In the Irish News.  Said BBC2

[bennydorano]

Hate to see Cassidy near any game, worst ref on the circuit.

Fermanagh kicking themselves out of it

[ElJeffe]

Lads I hope the Fermanagh Co Board are not paying a management team for to produce this as a display ... possibly one of the worst halfs from a county time in years

[Armagh18]

Lads I hope the Fermanagh Co Board are not paying a management team for to produce this as a display ... possibly one of the worst halfs from a county time in years

If they could shoot they'd be competitive.

[ElJeffe]

Lads I hope the Fermanagh Co Board are not paying a management team for to produce this as a display ... possibly one of the worst halfs from a county time in years

If they could shoot they'd be competitive.

They conceded 1-17...

[OakLeaf]

Lads I hope the Fermanagh Co Board are not paying a management team for to produce this as a display ... possibly one of the worst halfs from a county time in years

If they could shoot they'd be competitive.

I think you're being very generous! You could make Armagh play with 10 in the second half and they'd still win.

[ElJeffe]

Lads I hope the Fermanagh Co Board are not paying a management team for to produce this as a display ... possibly one of the worst halfs from a county time in years

If they could shoot they'd be competitive.

I think you're being very generous! You could make Armagh play with 10 in the second half and they'd still win.

Maybe let them get a point for a wide ... go games maybe ..