Ulster Championship 2026

[tyrone08]

Have to say the amount of throw balls i have seen over the past few weeks has been unreal. No attempt to strike the ball but never called out by the refs.

[screenexile]

That performance today reminded me of Donegal v Derry in the first round of the Championship 2024.

Derry were "flying" taking on the best teams in the country yet Jim had planned for that one game for months and picked out every weakness he could find and hammer it.

Down did exactly the same and got their just rewards. It will be very interesting to see if they can bring that same energy intensity and gameplan the next day!! I hope they can it'll make for a great game.

Also I imagine Armagh have been prepping for a a showdown with Donegal. They'll have to do some tweaking to their plans now.

[bennydorano]

Armagh 4/9 v Down 2/1 and  17/2 draw
Derry 1/4 v Monaghan 16/5 and 9/1 draw

Wouldn't touch Derry (or Armagh) at those prices. There's a draw there somewhere.

[moonster]

That's genuinely exceptional from Down.

Almost flawless decision making.

Guinness and Murdock and Mooney all superb.

Good to see the 3 of them getting plaudits in a huge game like this, Mooney in his school/minor days was as good as you'll ever see at that age before going to Australia. Three great athletes.

Championship has been super so far, I would hate to see Down playing Tailteann cup after that today, would be criminal

Down will be fine. Don't see Westmeath beating Kildare

[moonster]

Brilliant from Down. A strong performance after league final display. If we had shooting boots would have won it.

[Wildweasel74]

Derry/Monaghan be a very tight game, cant understand those odds!

[ONeill]

There's something about Down in their pomp, for us older ones, that has a warm feeling.

[Main Street]

Was impressive from Down talking out the strong favourites and defending Ulster champions Donegal.

Armagh,Derry,Monaghan all have their own issues so why shouldn't Down back up that win today and go on to win Ulster?

When it comes to Ulster football Down are the aristocrats, a lost tribe of sorts these days but when that dna kicks in it could be a bandwagon, beat Armagh  they would have to be favorites for Ulster. When Down football clicks it's popcorn time.

[armaghniac]

Was impressive from Down talking out the strong favourites and defending Ulster champions Donegal.

Armagh,Derry,Monaghan all have their own issues so why shouldn't Down back up that win today and go on to win Ulster?

Their biggest problem is that you get an element of suprise the first time, but the second time they are expecting you. Donegal were looking beyond today, their training regime may even have envisaged heavy training last week and then a rest week. Their player's heads were not up for a big game today. Armagh will always have expected a big game next week and hopefully they now to be wary of the opposition.

[ElJeffe]

Was impressive from Down talking out the strong favourites and defending Ulster champions Donegal.

Armagh,Derry,Monaghan all have their own issues so why shouldn't Down back up that win today and go on to win Ulster?

When it comes to Ulster football Down are the aristocrats, a lost tribe of sorts these days but when that dna kicks in it could be a bandwagon, beat Armagh  they would have to be favorites for Ulster. When Down football clicks it's popcorn time.

Well this so some load of BS. "Down football"

Explain that to us

[grounded]

That's genuinely exceptional from Down.

Almost flawless decision making.

Guinness and Murdock and Mooney all superb.

Good to see the 3 of them getting plaudits in a huge game like this, Mooney in his school/minor days was as good as you'll ever see at that age before going to Australia. Three great athletes.

Championship has been super so far, I would hate to see Down playing Tailteann cup after that today, would be criminal

Down will be fine. Don't see Westmeath beating Kildare

I wouldn't be so sure. Westmeath scoring goals at will in last 2 games and have a lot of momentum now. They are a handful for anyone let alone Kildare who haven't been firing this year.

[grounded]

Mooney's sublime flick and point just before half time was a big moment too. It was a great boost to be going in ahead a t half time.
   Donegal never really got sufficiently in front so they could strangle the life out of Down. 
   

[statto]

No GAA+ only I think, niblock probably seething

Game was one of Gaa + picks so BBC couldn't show it.  Derry Monaghan next week is the same.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Derry favourites with Paddy power for Ulster hard to believe.

[statto]

Far better team won. If Down keep playing like that they won't be stopped in Ulster.

If they lose to Armagh by fewer than 10 I'll be shocked.

Interesting..why?

Indeed

Pretty simple. I think Armagh are a much better team who got their poor performance out of the way in the Tyrone game and will be all out to win Ulster. I don't think they'll be anywhere near as exposed through the middle as Donegal were today and I don't think this Down team, at this point in their trajectory, have it in them to put two performances like that back to back.

I'll be very happy to be proved wrong though, as the hubris from the Armagh fans this year is unbearable.

Down under Laverty have produced good performances in Championship over the last few years beating Louth, Clare convincingly last year and running Galway and Armagh very close in the last few seasons. 

They have been able to solve a problem position in the Goalkeeper and Burns is excellent.  I expect this to go to the wire.  Down when they have their tails up are a tough proposition for anyone.  Pat Havern can't be afforded the space McGurn was at the weekend.

Langan was a huge loss for Donegal yesterday, possibly one of the most influential players in Ireland at moment and did a great job on Murdock last year.  Down were excellent and fully deserved the win and are a better outfit than they where two years ago.