2008 Ulster Club Championships

[ONeill]

T'would be the response I'd expect O Neill from an infant like yourself and another defender of the faith up North. Says it all really.

It's called pitching to the required level.

Now, wipe your chin.

[brokencrossbar1]

Absolutely delighted for Donal and all the lads.  This was always going to be a tight, scrappy game and given the comments from Kevin mcGuckian during the week, it was clear that Ballinderry were more interested in shoving the chest out than playing ball.  The one thing you can do to us all day is hit us.  We have been hit fairly and unfairly too many times for it to be a winning tactic for a team against us.  The Ballinderry showed that football is the best way to have any purchase against us, because if you make it a fight, there is only one winner.

Francie was lucky, but so were a few others.  We are no angels, but some of the sly digs, off the ball shit from Ballinderry showed a very bad side to them.  They are too good of a team to have to rely on that.  As for the playacting, it was a disgrace and you would have thought after the controversy from the last game there would have been a bit of common sense shown.

12-13 points win winter football, as has been shown over and over again. We are the best team in the business generally for keeping teams below that threshold.  

The one thing I am most pleased about over the two games is how the younger players have stepped up to the mark.  Last day out it was David McKenna, Mickey Mac and John Murtagh.  Today it was the later 2, Jamie Clark, and Paul Mckeown.  Personally I am delighted for Paul.  I spoke to him during the week and he was doubtful.  Mammy BC told me he couldn't even throw scraps in the rubbish.  He gave an exhibition today of energy and covering that was years above his 21 years.  It must be having moved in with the missus!!!!  Young Jamie showed that he has the talent to give life after Oisin.  Skinny McKeown and Paul Kernan are more than able replacements long term for JD and Francie.  Your man on TG4 couldn't get over how many young lads were able to slot in.  Kyle Carragher played very well when he came in, as did Tony K.  Johnny Hanratty tried hard, but in fairness to him McCusker is a tough customer.  I must head up over he holidays and give him a tip or two

I also thought it was a lovely touch by TG4 to have The Magnificent Seven as the follow up programme to the game

Indiana, you are entitled to your opinion, but we are not here to please the Dublin public.  Trust me we don't expect anyone to be "quaking in their boots" and we will give everyone of them the credit and respect they deserve.  St Vincents caught us with 2 sucker goals last year when we were missing our full back.  That will not happen again.  we will not look beyond the nest game, something maybe the people following the Crokes should do.

[orangeman]

Good to see a range of opinions - I thought Cross were immense today - how anybody can say that the other teams won't be afraid of taking on Cross is stretching it a bit - look at their record. If you looked at it and studied it, yu'd shite yourself - I know I would.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Can't see anyone quaking in their boots facing Cross. Once you don't let them physically  initimidate you , you're halfway there.

Aye, like Ballinderry tried today? 

You really haven't a clue.

Of course he has a clue: 'Culchies bad, Ulster worst, Leinster good, Dublin best'

It's just the wrong clue 

[Joxer]

One of the worst games of football I've witnessed at this level for a time. Its hard to believe that the replay had less quality than the first game. Niggly, punch-ups,off the field scuffles and little in the way of good football. Again today's game showed everything that was bad about Ulster football. Really a new low, if thats possible when you consider the scenes after the tyrone county football. If any other final had that sort of shite in it , people would be up in arms. A disgrace quite frankly.
Can't see anyone quaking in their boots facing Cross. Once you don't let them physically  initimidate you , you're halfway there.

You see my friend, that is where the Teams in Armagh this last 13 years and teams throughout Ireland have made that mistake!

Think BC was right,  Kilmacud have the All-Ireland sown up sure    You got to love some of the "southerners mentality!,  What sort of bloody game do you expect in December?

Poor tactics and poor form from Ballinderry today hurling themselves to the ground at every opportunity.  Looking at Cross, its really hard to see who will stop them this year.  The talent Donal Murtagh has at his disposal is frightening!

[INDIANA]

Balinderry are systematic of the Derry football team, gifted but can't do it when they have to. Most of the Ulster teams simply don't believe they can beat Crossmaglen. Speed and agility beats Crossmaglen, not taking them on physically. Speed and agilility was how st vincents beat them last year, not 2 sucker goals or the loss of a full back who is slow anyway. You can't play Cross at their own game and expect to win. Yet every single Ulster club team does this. Cross are a fine team, but its quite extraordinary the lack of ability of some of the coaching staff from the other Ulster club teams that despite watching all the videos of Cross matches, that the best conclusion they can come up with is to play the exact same style of football against them .Mindboggling.
I think its wide open quite frankly.

[Off The Fence]

Balinderry are systematic of the Derry football team, gifted but can't do it when they have to. Most of the Ulster teams simply don't believe they can beat Crossmaglen. Speed and agility beats Crossmaglen, not taking them on physically. Speed and agilility was how st vincents beat them last year, not 2 sucker goals or the loss of a full back who is slow anyway. You can't play Cross at their own game and expect to win. Yet every single Ulster club team does this. Cross are a fine team, but its quite extraordinary the lack of ability of some of the coaching staff from the other Ulster club teams that despite watching all the videos of Cross matches, that the best conclusion they can come up with is to play the exact same style of football against them .Mindboggling.
I think its wide open quite frankly.

And what would you suggest o great one?

[brokencrossbar1]

Indiana do you remember the two goals???  Both came from high balls into the square, one were Paul Kernan misjudged it the other the FF fielded well.  I have no doubt in my mind that had Francie been playing neither goals would have been scored.  

It is wide open, no one is suggesting that Cross are home a hack, it is you who is playing the mind games.  Trust me they don't work.  too many turns in the road before now to get caught up in it.  The 22nd of February is all that is on the horizon at this minute in time.

[orangeman]

Cross haven't won so many titles being a poor side - they're are probably the best EVER club side.

It's no shame that Ballinderry, a fine footballing team, didn't beat them today. Yes I thought the tactics were wrong - kicking high balls for one  - but they were robbed of one of Ireland's best footballing talents for today's match. I thought they were wrong even trying to rough up Cross - there's usually only one winner when that happens -

It's quite simple really - they're an awesome team with an awesome panel of players - most good teams have 11 or 12 really good players - Cross have 22 and can interchange without a problem as evidenced today.

[INDIANA]

I doubt it BC Gilroy is 5 inches taller than francie he wouldn't have got near him in the air. Paul Kernan was idenitified as suspect beforehand, as a result he was isolated and you know the rest.
I don't dispute Cross's legacy or talent. But every team has weaknesses. Cross have massive physical power and strength, but the downside is that they aren't as fast as they could be. They aren't slow but they aren't electric. So why in God's creation would you use a slow build up and play them down the middle. Staggering. To beat Cross you tear up the gameplan and come up with something different and you MIGHT beat them. You have absolutely no chance playing the same style against them because you will lose. I'm not saying Vincents are geniuses, but they had a specific gameplan going into the game and they implemented it to a tee. And they still only won by a few points. At least they tried somthing different like Portlaoise did a few years back.
If I was a Balinderry fan I'd be heartbroken with the coaching staff and I would simply ask them, How in God's creation after watching all the videos that the best you could come up with was to play exactly the same way, despite seeing the gameplan fail miserably a few weeks back.

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

Balinderry are systematic of the Derry football team, gifted but can't do it when they have to. Most of the Ulster teams simply don't believe they can beat Crossmaglen. Speed and agility beats Crossmaglen, not taking them on physically. Speed and agilility was how st vincents beat them last year, not 2 sucker goals or the loss of a full back who is slow anyway. You can't play Cross at their own game and expect to win. Yet every single Ulster club team does this. Cross are a fine team, but its quite extraordinary the lack of ability of some of the coaching staff from the other Ulster club teams that despite watching all the videos of Cross matches, that the best conclusion they can come up with is to play the exact same style of football against them .Mindboggling.
I think its wide open quite frankly.

Its nonsense to suggest that Ballinderry are a more gifted footballing side by Cross  but were just physically intimidated. Cross won Ulster because they have more quality footballers throughout their team and squad than any other side in Ulster, simple as that. Cross are perfectly adept at playing the game at pace and to be honest, if the Ulster was played during the Summer, I think they'd be even further ahead.

As for this being the worst at this level, I didn't see the Munster final last week but it didn't exactly sound like a classic.

[brokencrossbar1]

Francie and JD might not be the quickest but I can assure you that there are few quicker than Paul and Skinny McKeown and Paul and Aaron are no slouches either.  The big difference between Cross and most teams is not the individual players but how no matter who plays in what position, they know what is expected of them for the cause of the team.   When push comes to shove they are disciplined in how they defend, a clear example was the time Tony Mac chased a player down in the second half.  As the Ballinderry player was going down for a loose ball Tony stayed up, knowing that if he went in it was an easy enough free.  He put enough pressure on the player for him to spill it and the ball popped up to T.  That coolness is throughout the team and is the difference between us and many others.  

I agree that speed will impact on any team and their ability to cope with it is vital on how the game turns out.  It wasn't speed that won it for Vincents last year, so that knocks you argument out of the water.  As for Gilroy being 5 inches taller than Francie, I can guarantee that he wouldn't have won the balls he did if Francie had been on him, as was shown in the 2nd half when Francie came on and Vincents hung on by the tips of their finger nails to win.

[INDIANA]

Tacadoir- I never said Balinderry were more gifted than Cross- read my post. And secondly neither Drom nor the Clare team were or are genuine All-Ireland contenders. Fantastic achevement for Drom ,but they haven't a hope against Cross, as a result in the context of the all-ireland championship the munster final was a bit inconsequential. I don;t agree Cross would be further ahead in Summer, I think they'd struggle to be honest. But the championship isn;t played in summer so its a pointless argument.

We'll agree to disagree BC but I don't think Francie would get near Gilroy in the air. We'll never find out though . But it was speed that won Vincents that game BC. Believe me I've watched the video often enough, we have to take what we can get Cross are there every year. I'm not saying speed alone will beat them but there is no point in trying to go through guys 2 stone heavier than you, far more effective to try and go around them.

[Zulu]

Fantastic achevement for Drom ,but they haven't a hope against Cross,

Jesus Indiana you have a go off the Ulster lads for being arrogant at times and then you come out with this. It might have slipped your mind but Drom beat Nemo and they are a very hard team to beat. They have a lot of Limerick or ex-Limerick seniors, are an experienced team and play to a very strict game plan. It won't be a pretty game and I wouldn't back Drom myself but to say they haven't a hope is wrong and is the type of ill-informed arrogance that you have accused others of.

[brokencrossbar1]

Too true Zulu, I have seen a few of the Limerick teams at first hand and they played very organised, systematic football, which is hard to break down.  Drum are a strong team with a sprinkling of experienced players.  With nothing to lose, they will be hard to beat and they have serious belief in themselves.  You don't get to an AI semi by being a poor team.