Ulster Championship 2026

[Wildweasel74]

Was it not a free out to E Doherty to start with and Mooney didnt give it,

[Wildweasel74]

I always maintained a 2pter should be from behind the 45 from play,a exceptional score, wouldnt happen often, i seen a U16 last yr hit 1 2pters from play and 2 from a free, surely county men are gonna tally up 2pters alot easier especially frees.

[jb77]

Only call or lack of call that was poor was when Murray had his arm hooked, dangerous play that can dislocate the shoulder very handy

[Armagh18]

Thought the free in was dubious enough, he does get the ball but in real time probably looks like he cleans the man in the air. Derry will be kicking themselves for letting it get to that stage though. Unreal skill from McCarron and great from Beggan to keep his composure for what was really a tap over for a man like him, but Morgan missed a handy enough 45 to draw the game for Tyrone against us so the pressure can be too much.

[David McKeown]

Why any free worth 2 points, when a goal only worth 3.

Sure it was gonna be a 4pt goal til it wasn't

Why did they drop that one so early?

Presumably because it further devalued the point

[David McKeown]

The 2 pointer has been a terrible rule, certainly in its current form. I'd understand if it had been from outside the 45 to actually encourage great scores-instead we have what were always routine points now worth double. Other than the solo and go I don't think any of the other rule changes have significantly improved the game-don't get me started on the 1v1 throw in!

Previously it was work the ball to death until you get into position for the percentage score, shots from outside the ark weren't exactly "routine" as they were low probability and therefore discouraged.

The problem is a lot of teams now seem to use them as their first option and if they can't get them then try to work a 1 pointer.

Statistically if they had the average probability that was half the probability of a 1 point effort they'd be the better choice.

[straightred]

Why any free worth 2 points, when a goal only worth 3.

It's ridiculous, that and the hooter are the two changes which have not improved the game at all. And before anyone starts rolling out the mantra that teams would be lining up to foul outside the arc, no they wouldn't - the mathematics would dictate that if you're close enough to foul, you'd better to let the player shoot as the under pressure 2-pt shot yields a lower expected value than a 1pt free from the same place.

My pet hate last year was teams running down the clock from 3 or 4 minutes out waiting for the hooter and then kicking the ball dead. My fix would have been that the ball cant go back to your own half - that would close the space down and force the team with the ball to do something. I still think that would work.

On the 2 point itself maybe change it to just from play

[AustinPowers]

The 2 pointer has been a terrible rule, certainly in its current form. I'd understand if it had been from outside the 45 to actually encourage great scores-instead we have what were always routine points now worth double. Other than the solo and go I don't think any of the other rule changes have significantly improved the game-don't get me started on the 1v1 throw in!

1,000,000% agree with  that

[Armagh18]

The 2 pointer has been a terrible rule, certainly in its current form. I'd understand if it had been from outside the 45 to actually encourage great scores-instead we have what were always routine points now worth double. Other than the solo and go I don't think any of the other rule changes have significantly improved the game-don't get me started on the 1v1 throw in!

1,000,000% agree with  that

Same here

[Armagh18]

Nervous for this one today, if Down can bring what they did against Donegal we're in bother, but if we play to our best for 70 minutes we'll win. Fast start is imperative to stop those cocky huers getting the tails up. Massive crowd expected so should be a brilliant day

[AustinPowers]

Why any free worth 2 points, when a goal only worth 3.

It's ridiculous, that and the hooter are the two changes which have not improved the game at all. And before anyone starts rolling out the mantra that teams would be lining up to foul outside the arc, no they wouldn't - the mathematics would dictate that if you're close enough to foul, you'd better to let the player shoot as the under pressure 2-pt shot yields a lower expected value than a 1pt free from the same place.

My pet hate last year was teams running down the clock from 3 or 4 minutes out waiting for the hooter and then kicking the ball dead. My fix would have been that the ball cant go back to your own half - that would close the space down and force the team with the ball to do something. I still think that would work.

On the 2 point itself maybe change it to just from play

Yes I agree

Donegal wouldn't have  kept ball for those 2 or 3 minutes in  last year's Ulster final if they  couldn't go back into their own half.

That rule would have  seen more turnover , and I believe  teams automatically would have  left  one (or two) speedy forwards in the opposition half  (and the  opposition would do likewise with a defender back)  to get a headstart to goal  when  a turnover happened. Imagine the likes of Oisin Conaty, Kobe McDonald, Darragh Canavan in a mile of space  after a turnover. The game would have evolved into  a better spectacle

That simple rule  was all that was needed.

[An Watcher]

Can someone tell me the craic about Mondays draw.  Who can tyrone get?  Will they be hkme/away?  When will the matches be?

[jb77]

Can someone tell me the craic about Mondays draw.  Who can tyrone get?  Will they be hkme/away?  When will the matches be?

Tyrone can get Down Maybe?/Armagh, Monaghan, Dublin, Kerry, Cork, Roscommon, Galway, not sure of the other with the cup and all. Tyrone will play away to whoever they draw on I assume the 23/24 May weekend. Someone can explain better but that's roughly how I see it

[EoinW]

Why any free worth 2 points, when a goal only worth 3.

It's ridiculous, that and the hooter are the two changes which have not improved the game at all. And before anyone starts rolling out the mantra that teams would be lining up to foul outside the arc, no they wouldn't - the mathematics would dictate that if you're close enough to foul, you'd better to let the player shoot as the under pressure 2-pt shot yields a lower expected value than a 1pt free from the same place.

My pet hate last year was teams running down the clock from 3 or 4 minutes out waiting for the hooter and then kicking the ball dead. My fix would have been that the ball cant go back to your own half - that would close the space down and force the team with the ball to do something. I still think that would work.

On the 2 point itself maybe change it to just from play

Yes I agree

Donegal wouldn't have  kept ball for those 2 or 3 minutes in  last year's Ulster final if they  couldn't go back into their own half.

That rule would have  seen more turnover , and I believe  teams automatically would have  left  one (or two) speedy forwards in the opposition half  (and the  opposition would do likewise with a defender back)  to get a headstart to goal  when  a turnover happened. Imagine the likes of Oisin Conaty, Kobe McDonald, Darragh Canavan in a mile of space  after a turnover. The game would have evolved into  a better spectacle

That simple rule  was all that was needed.

Simple?  What bureaucracy does simple any more?  How could the FRC secure its legacy for having saved the game if they just did simple?  It will be ironic if, novelty of the new rules wears thin, the FRC are viewed as having ruined the game.

Some hated the game as it stood in 2024, however the game reached that point by natural evolution.  No governing body forced teams to play that way - like they're forcing everyone to play the new rules.

All sports see their game evolve.  They deal with this evolution by tweeking the rules, not completely overhauling the entire game.  If only they'd added the tap and go rule for 2025 then seen how much it alone improved the game.  That was a missed opportunity.

[An Watcher]

Aw jesus.  Thats tough.  Woukd take any of the leinster finalists and possibly cork.  The rest are tough.  Monaghan as well maybe