2008 Ulster Club Championships

[INDIANA]

I was told by a very prominent Ulster coach that they spend heavily on it. But if its bullshit that's fine. But having seen them up close in Navan last year , they absolutely dwarfed our lads in most areas in terms of physical strength.

[brokencrossbar1]

Not a bit of it, after being thoroughly outplayed the first day, in an effort( not to be pushed around) they make a physical statement of intent, get beaten upo and lose. Like I said braindead. No gameplan, no lateral thinking just typical macho Ulster club football I can hit harder than you even if you're 2 stone heavier than me. Well Balinderry found they couldn't. I thought they were very very disappointing over the 2 days with the amount of inter county experience at their disposal. They had no gameplan either day, and that fault lies with the management who somehow came to the conclusion that a physical appraoch was best. mindboggling.

This isn't really true INDIANA. You seem to put a lot of Cross' success down to their physical prowess, while seemingly ignoring that they can play a bit too. Its worth remembering that 8 or 9 or Cross' starting 15 would not break the six foot mark, so branding them as a sort of band of ferocious ogres is wide of the mark. Their makeup is quite similar to most good teams around the country, they have their big guys that can hit and they have their footballers too.

The thing is AFS that teh smaller guys can hit hard too, and are very good at tackling in groups.  Much of the "hard" persona of the team was built on the earlier teams.  It is still the same few that are the mainstays of the physical side of their game, but the younger lads are well fit to hold their own.  It is noticeable how many of them are able to break tackles and stay in possession of the ball.  That is a core strength that is formed from playing games at a high intensity over a sustained period, similar to the KK hurlers.

BC can I ask you a question, the perception amongst many is that Cross (and indeed Armagh) spend a lot of time in the gym bulking up and that this results in a physical advantage for Cross. I have my doubts as to whether Cross spend any more time or do anything different in the gym than most other serious club teams, would that be fair to say or am I underestimating Cross' devotion to gym work?

Zulu, I am gone from the squad 3 years now, but during my time we did our own thing in the gym if we wanted but we did no pre-season programmes the way some teams do. When I was a student I would have been in the gym twice a week maybe, but never doing any crazy weights.  Some toning, step and cross trainer work, but no heavy lifting.  The only heavy bulk weight I did were from my legs. I would say some of the younger lads would do gym work, but the older ones certainly wouldn't.  Much of the strength is like I said from playing at a high level for a sustained period, which has consequently built up a core strength.  

Most of the stuff was done on the field and involved hard running and piles of bricks in the corner

[armaghniac]

So it is not true that JD and Francie have bullock tossing competitions!

[orangeman]

So it is not true that JD and Francie have bullock tossing competitions!

I heard they do ! And Donaldson wins nearly every time ! 

[brokencrossbar1]

So it is not true that JD and Francie have bullock tossing competitions!

I heard they do ! And Donaldson wins nearly every time ! 

Only to pass the time before training

[Joxer]

I was told by a very prominent Ulster coach that they spend heavily on it. But if its bullshit that's fine. But having seen them up close in Navan last year , they absolutely dwarfed our lads in most areas in terms of physical strength.

You are fons of your "Ulster Coaches and your coaching techniques",  Think you need a couple of them down your neck of the woods!

[The GAA]

The gym thing is bit of a myth with cross and the armagh team. cross have a few naturally big, physical players down their spine but everyone on the team is aggressive and physical, irrespective of size. the mcentees would be naturally physical freaks and there were originally cunningham and cumiskey, who were just big lads. the other two are obviously bellew and jd, who are manual workers and that is becoming more of an anomily these days.

similarly with armagh, the gym thing was assumed because armagh had such a big team but they really just had a generation of big lads and the gym myth piggy backed. obviosly fellas like mcgeeney, mcnulty and mcgrane were disciples of the weights but the rest, like hughes, marsden, mckeever, clarke, o'rourke, mcdonnell, bellew, etc were just strong lads.

[seamusthebard]

So it is not true that JD and Francie have bullock tossing competitions!

I heard they do ! And Donaldson wins nearly every time ! 

Only to pass the time before training

Any truth that Bellew headbutts bullocks?

[orangeman]

So it is not true that JD and Francie have bullock tossing competitions!

I heard they do ! And Donaldson wins nearly every time ! 

Only to pass the time before training

Any truth that Bellew headbutts bullocks?

Did you mean bollocks ?

[armaghniac]

and there were originally cunningham and cumiskey, who were just big lads.

fortunately for the opposition some of these mighty men have retired

Did you mean bollocks ?

he couldn't wouldn't stoop that low. 

[orangeman]

and there were originally cunningham and cumiskey, who were just big lads.

fortunately for the opposition some of these mighty men have retired

Did you mean bollocks ?

he couldn't wouldn't stoop that low. 

Would he not ? I'd say he would if he had to.  He'd do anything for the cause. Legend.

[seamusthebard]

and there were originally cunningham and cumiskey, who were just big lads.

fortunately for the opposition some of these mighty men have retired

Did you mean bollocks ?

he couldn't wouldn't stoop that low. 

For one of the most respected posters on the board orangeman, I am a wee bit taken aback at your attitude  towards Darren Conway who remember, didn't touch anyone and in your words "legend" Bellew whose act of thuggery on Sunday and before seems to be in the lesser echelons of bad behaviour. This would appear to be the attitude of not only the posters on here but also the media who would appear to be disregarding Bellews actions. Could you explain to me how i'm getting it so wrong.


Would he not ? I'd say he would if he had to.  He'd do anything for the cause. Legend.

[The GAA]

For one of the most respected posters on the board orangeman

[orangeman]

Francie does kind of enjoy legendary status - but yes he should have walked on Sunday - no need for what he did.

You know what I mean by legend - it's a turn of phrase - not to be taken literally. You understand, I know you do - a bit like Big Niall - another legend.

[Croí na hÉireann]

For one of the most respected posters on the board orangeman

Got a laugh out of that myself...