2008 Ulster Club Championships

[drici]

Saturday 20th December 2008(the marra)
Casement Park 1-30pm
All Ireland Intermediate Hurling Quarter Final:
Gort na Mona(Antrim) v Robert Emmets(London)
(Winners to get the leg talked off them in the Semi Final by Blarney(Cork) in Tullamore on Sunday January 25th)

Sunday January 25th 2009
Portlaoise 1-00pm
All Ireland Junior Football Championship Semi Final:
Skellig Rangers(Kerry) v Drumhowan

Sunday January 25th 2009
Portlaoise 2-30pm
All Ireland Intermediate Football Semi Final:
St Micheals Foilmore(Kerry) v Trillick

Sunday 25th January 2009
Pearse Stadium 2-30pm
All Ireland Junior Hurling Semi Final:
Dripsey(Cork) v Lisbellaw

Saturday 21st February 2009
Longford 2-30pm
All Ireland Senior Football Semi Final:
Dromcollogher-Broadford(Limerick) v Crossmaglen Rangers

Sunday 22nd February 2009
Parnell Park 2-30pm
All Ireland Senior Hurling Semi Final:
De La Salle(Waterford) v Cushendall

[armaghniac]

Saturday 21st February 2009
Longford 2-30pm
All Ireland Senior Football Semi Final:
Dromcollogher-Broadford(Limerick) v Crossmaglen Rangers

Is it only me or does anyone else thing that Longford is an odd and inconvenient venue for this game. Perhaps suitable for Cross v Corofin but it is not at all near Limerick and is not easily reached from Cross either. These games seem to be allocated to suit some agenda within the GAA rather than the travel of the thousands of supporters. Somewhere like Newbridge would have the advantage of being on main routes from each place.

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

Saturday 21st February 2009
Longford 2-30pm
All Ireland Senior Football Semi Final:
Dromcollogher-Broadford(Limerick) v Crossmaglen Rangers

Is it only me or does anyone else thing that Longford is an odd and inconvenient venue for this game. Perhaps suitable for Cross v Corofin but it is not at all near Limerick and is not easily reached from Cross either. These games seem to be allocated to suit some agenda within the GAA rather than the travel of the thousands of supporters. Somewhere like Newbridge would have the advantage of being on main routes from each place.

I'd thought initially Portlaoise would be the likely venue.

[Rufus T Firefly]

However they are nowhere near the worst Armagh Club fans I have experienced, the wonderful honour is between Pearse Ogs and Armagh Harps. Both these sets of fans are the worst I have ever come across in Club Football anywhere. Now I do Realise that all Clubs have their Head the Balls and and that both these clubs have genuinely good supporters also, but Having been at plenty of Ogs and Harps games over the last number of years, both clubs have a very sizeable unsavoury element.

Being at Ogs games and being at Harps games has introduced me to a level of bad manners, abuse, jeering, bad language and name calling (to players and officials) that I find most uncomfortable.  Both teams seem to attract a strangely large number of sc**bags and dodgy characters, which is probably due to being from a large town, and after some of the games i have been very glad to be leaving the pitch.  What I find the most dissapointing about this is, the fact that although both teams are nowhere near Crossmaglen in terms of ability, they are the next best teams in Armagh, and are probably the only ones with any hope of putting it up to cross in the near future, and the antics of there fans are definately not a help and would also nearly make me not support the underdog in such a challenge. 

Words indeed to blacken the name of the Harps Club, and if I may say, entirely in keeping with the persona that you have built up here for 'billythekid'. Like Benny earlier, I entirely refute your claims, made here under what you perceive to be a cloak of total anonymity. The words go against 'billythekid', but you yourself typed them here about our Club on this public forum. For doing that, you should hang your head in shame!   

What is wrong with an individual talking of his encounters with other clubs and their behaviout. I thought this was a discussion forum and the behaviour of fans in Armagh. The man has been to many Armagh champinship games and is writing about his experience. Just because it is not to your liking doesn't mean it isn't true!

They are not to my liking and I am saying they are not true!  I go to all Harps Senior matches - he does not!

[crossfire]

In boxing day's Irish News Dominic Corrigan suggested that Cross are setting the standards in club Football. He tells Kenny Archer that the Armagh men have risen to levels which other teams should aspire to reach.

Quote: "I feel Crossmaglen have come in for a lot of unfair criticism over the years with people talking about "over-the-top" tactics. I watched the Ulster club final with Declan Loughman who is now the Castleblaney Faughs manager and we both agreed that over the two games of the final Crossmaglen gave an exhibition of quality defensive play that coaches should look at. There was no goading of opponents. There was no cynical or dirty tactics. Crossmaglen defenders attacked the ball with a fierce commitment to win every ball within the rules." Unquote

I consider this a very fair assessment of "the Crossmaglen way".

[INDIANA]

I'm sure mickey linden would agree.

[Throw ball]

Indiana. What would you talk about if Cross were not so good. One challenge does not determine a team. At that rate Dublin are a dirty plie of so and sos having fought with Tyrone, Armagh and Meath in the recent past and Kerry keep intimidating referees. Both are incorrect too. I have read many times how referees favour Cross. Maybe the problem is that unlike some they know the rules. This is what Corrigan was hitting at. I am not a Cross man and as an Armagh man I believe as much as their success brought us success in 2002, there continued success has hindered us since.

[INDIANA]

Look lads there is lot of things I could say about Cross but I won't. I admired the 99-01 team. I don't admire this crew for my own reasons and thats based on watching severals of their matches.

[orangeman]

Look lads there is lot of things I could say about Cross but I won't. I admired the 99-01 team. I don't admire this crew for my own reasons and thats based on watching severals of their matches.

What was it about the 99 - 01 team that you admired so much ?

[INDIANA]

just a class outfit who had the right mix

[orangeman]

just a class outfit who had the right mix

And what sets the current team apart ? Individuals or tactics or what ?

[crossfire]

In time the present team will surpass the 99/2000 team in my opinion.

[INDIANA]

not a snowballs

[orangeman]

not a snowballs

I'm inclined to agree with you alright.

[orangeman]

Once Bellew, Donaldson, 2 Mc Entees and Mc Conville go, Crossmaglen will have lost the biggest and best part of the team.

Watching the 2 Mc Entees in particular is a real joy. 2 tremendous footballers.


Bellew and Donaldson are warriors who can also play a bit whilst Mc Conville is a class act - the first day against Ballinderry he scored a goal that few would have had the calmness to finish.