McKenna Cup 2024

[never kickt a ball]

Monaghan's thoughts on the McKenna Cup


Dr. McKenna Cup groupigns
18 October 2012
MC KENNA CUP GROUPINGS DECIDED.

The Dr. McKenna Cup competition for 2013 will again include the three University teams, St Mary's, Queens University and UUJ. When the draws were made at a recent meeting of the Competitions Control Committee of the Ulster Council Monaghan came out in Group A along with Donegal, Fermanagh and St Mary's. Group B is made up of Armagh, Cavan, Down and Queens University while Group C has Antrim, Derry, Tyrone and UUJ. The dates, venues and times for the various rounds of matches have yet to be decided but the regulation whereby the college teams travel to the various counties still pertains. It is a little unclear at this moment in time though as to how Group A will pan out as certain soundings emanating from Donegal would indicate that they may opt out of the competition or perhaps use it to blood new players and get their U21 team ready. Donegal manager Jim McGuinness is not a big fan of pre-season tournaments and is also opposed to the regulation that colleges have first choice on players. The competition is due to start on January 6th at which stage the Donegal team will be abroad on their team holiday as they depart these shores sometime around the 28th/29th of December.

http://www.hoganstand.com/Monaghan/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=179458

[never kickt a ball]

Fermanagh to meet Rory, Sam and Malachy in McKenna Cup

Fermanagh will come up against Jim McGuinness and Rory Gallagher as they have been paired with All-Ireland champions Donegal in the McKenna Cup. This year's Dr. McKenna Cup will be a bit of an old boys' reunion for Fermanagh as they have been paired wiith All-Ireland champions Donegal and Monaghan.
Fermanagh will face All-Ireland champions Donegal in January after the draw which was made on Thursday evening placed Fermanagh in Group A with St. Mary's making up the quartet.
Donegal of course have former Fermanagh player Rory Gallagher as assistant boos while Monaghan will be managed by Malachy O'Rourke who is starting his competitive reign as Farney boss in the McKenna Cup.
It is then a tough group for Peter Canavan's side but one in which he is sure to get competitive games as he prepares for the onstart of the league and a difficult Division Three campaign in which Fermanagh will again come up against Monaghan.

http://www.impartialreporter.com/news/roundup/articles/2012/10/12/398371-fermanagh-to-meet-rory-sam-and-malachy-in-mckenna-cup/

[Onion Bag]

Anyone know when the Ulster Minor league starts? are the fixtures out yet?

[BennyCake]

I see the McKenna Cup season ticket available, but have the fixtures been announced yet?

[Mont]

dont waste your money on a season ticket. many of the players wont be on the first 30 of the county come the summer mths never mind the first 15

[Redhand Santa]

Off course a lot of the players won't end up playing in the championship but its always interesting to see how good club players do when they step up a level. It also gives you a chance to see what players might make the break through later in the year. It can produce some decent games. £20 isn't bad especially if your county plays 5 games which Tyrone have done regularly in recent years. Assume the fixtures will soon be announced.

[never kickt a ball]

Having won it last year I hear Tyrone will be looking for a crisp start again this year

[never kickt a ball]

Season Ticket Now Available

Following the tremendous success of the inaugural Power NI Dr McKenna Cup Season Tickets in 2012, Ulster GAA are once again offering supporters the chance to make huge savings in 2013.

Limited Edition Season Tickets are priced at £20/€25 and will permit you access to Round 1, Round 2 & Round 3 Games involving your team, ALL Semi Finals and the Final in the 2013 Power NI Dr McKenna Cup... that's a potential saving of over 60%!

Group A: St Marys, Fermanagh, Donegal, Monaghan
Group B: QUB, Armagh, Cavan, Down
Group C: UUJ, Antrim, Derry, Tyrone

Semi Finals:
Group A Winners v Group B Winners
Group C Winners v Best Runner Up

Fixtures
Round 1: Sunday 6th January
Round 2: 13th January
Round 3: Wednesday 16th January
Semi Finals: Sunday 20th January
Final: Saturday 26th January

To order, call (028) 3752 1900 or email tickets.ulster@gaa.ie

The official launch of the 2013 Power NI Dr McKenna Cup will take place on Thursday 6th December.

[BennyCake]

Are the fixtures available yet?

[never kickt a ball]

Ulster Colleges may withdraw from McKenna Cup
22 November 2012
A number of Ulster Colleges could pull out of the Dr McKenna Cup, if their county players are not made available to them.
The likes of Tyrone and Armagh have stated that the want their full squads for the early season tournament, while other counties are believed to considering the same.
Before this Colleges had first pick on county players, but Ulster counties are now demanding a change, which could lead to a problem for the Ulster Council.
According to Gaelic Life, Queen's UUJ and St Mary's are all considering the possibility of withdrawing from the competition.

http://www.hoganstand.com/Tyrone/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=181341

[never kickt a ball]

CJ wants a break
22 November 2012

CJ McGourty is planning on taking an extended break from football following St. Gall's exit from the AIB Ulster SFC last Sunday.
In what will come as a blow to new Antrim football boss Frank Dawson, the talented forward has revealed that he is taking a "three or four-month" break from the game to recover from an on-going hip injury. He is also toying with the idea of going travel in 2013, which means he may not be available to the county side at any stage next season.
"The hip is still giving me a good bit of trouble. I know I'm not alone on this, but I definitely feel as if I need three or four months off," he is quoted as saying in the Irish News.

"I don't particularly want to play in the McKenna Cup - that's no disrespect to the competition - but I broke my leg in it (playing for UUJ) last year and I injured my hip in it the previous year. I think playing at that time of year would do more damage to my hip than good. Plus, it would give me a break. I definitely need a few months off.
"I'll decide between now and Christmas what I'm going to do. There is also the option of travelling, so I might go away for a few months.
"I've just finished my Masters (in sports management), but there are no jobs at the minute. So there are a number of factors. Now might be the time to travel because of the injury."

http://www.hoganstand.com/Antrim/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=181375

[Sportacus]

Was watching him against kilcoo and to be honest he isn't turning into top class county standard forward that was predicted by some.  Too easy to handle by a strong corner back.  Pollock never gets much praise but I'd as soon have him out of the st gall's full forward line in the county panel.  But no doubt the Irish News will give him an unearned splash.

[NaomhBridAbú]

whats the word on the universities - are they staying or going?
Would be a shame if they pulled out - no point them playing if they cannot get access to their county players...and to be honest it makes sense for the counties to let their student players stay with their colleges...that way Tyrone can field 15, and have maybe 7-8 others playing at the same time...no better way to have a look at 20+ players in a more competitive environment than say a trial set up.

That said i can appreciate that Canavan, MCCartan and Harte in particular wnat to make plans from the start without interuption. Hard call from the Ulster Council - lets see if they have the balls to make the right decision...whatever that is!!!

[never kickt a ball]

Tyrone boss Harte rings changes for 2013 squad

Tyrone boss Mickey Harte has heralded a new era for the county, confirming a major overhaul of his squad and the departure of 11 established players. Fourteen new faces are in the 2013 squad.

Only five members of the 2003 All-Ireland title-winning squad remain. They are Stephen O'Neill, Conor Gormley, Sean Cavanagh, Pascal McConnell and Dermot Carlin.

Niall Morgan of Edendork would appear to be a ready-made replacement for goalkeeper Devine, bringing a Stephen Cluxton-style asset with his ability to kick points from long range free kicks. The leading scorer in Tyrone's Division One, Conor McAliskey of Clonoe, is another recruit, as is Coalisland midfielder Plunkett Kane. Ardboe's McGuigan clan will continue to be represented, with Brian's younger brother Shea given his opportunity to step up to the inter-county scene.

Harte revealed last week that he had his eye on a number of players from his own club Errigal Ciaran, and he has included three - Ciaran McGinley, Tommy Canavan and Stefan Tierney.

Omagh pair Conan Grugan and Barry Tierney have also received call-ups, as have Danny McBride of Strabane, Kevin Gallagher (Newtownstewart), Dean McNally (Kildress), Sean Warnock (Greencastle) and Tiernan McCann (Killyclogher).

Tyrone squad:
Pascal McConnell (Newtonstewart),
Aidan McCrory (Errigal Ciaran),
Conor Clarke (Omagh),
Cathal McCarron (Dromore),
Mickey Murphy (Galbally),
Mark Donnelly (Carrickmore),
Colm Cavanagh (Moy),
Conor Gormley (Carrickmore),
PJ Quinn (Moortown),
Mattie Donnelly (Trillick),
Joe McMahon (Omagh),
Peter Harte (Errigal Ciaran),
Johnny Lafferty (Urney),
Paddy McNeice (Coalisland),
Ronan McNabb (Dromore),
Dermot Carlin (Killyclogher),
Martin Penrose (Carrickmore),
Stephen O'Neill (Clann na nGael),
Darren McCurry (Edendork),
Ronan McNamee (Aghyaran),
Ronan O'Neill (Omagh),
Justin McMahon (Omagh),
Kyle Coney (Ardboe),
Sean Cavanagh (Moy),
Stephen McNulty (Clonoe),
Conan Grugan (Omagh),
Barry Tierney (Omagh),
Plunkett Kane (Coalisland),
Ciaran McGinley (Errigal Ciaran),
Danny McBride (Strabane),
Kevin Gallagher (Newtownstewart),
Conor McAliskey (Clonoe),
Dean McNally (Kildress),
Niall Morgan (Edendork),
Stefan Tierney (Errigal Ciaran),
Tommy Canavan (Errigal Ciaran),
Shea McGuigan (Ardboe),
Sean Warnock (Greencastle),
Tiernan McCann (Killyclogher).

[never kickt a ball]

whats the word on the universities - are they staying or going?
Would be a shame if they pulled out - no point them playing if they cannot get access to their county players...and to be honest it makes sense for the counties to let their student players stay with their colleges...that way Tyrone can field 15, and have maybe 7-8 others playing at the same time...no better way to have a look at 20+ players in a more competitive environment than say a trial set up.

That said i can appreciate that Canavan, MCCartan and Harte in particular wnat to make plans from the start without interuption. Hard call from the Ulster Council - lets see if they have the balls to make the right decision...whatever that is!!!

Farrell doesn't expect colleges McKenna Cup withdrawal
27 November 2012
John Farrell believes college teams are unlikely to withdraw from the McKenna Cup. There are fears that Jordanstown, Queen's and St Mary's could all pull out of Ulster's subsidiary intercounty competition if county teams insist on having first call on their players and speaking in today's Irish News, Farrell - who doubles up as chairman of the Ulster Higher Education Council and president of Jordanstown GFC - notes: "There have been problems in the past, mainly with Tyrone. Last year, there were considerable negotiations with St Mary's to keep them in the competition. "If those three counties took their players, that would be six to seven players from each university / college. That would have serious implications.
"There has to be a balance somewhere or else what would be the point?
"Given that the fixtures are out and given the relationship with the Ulster Council, withdrawal would be a doomsday scenario.
"I'm not saying it's not possible because the universities will say 'What's the sense in putting in a list of 26 players and losing six or seven of them?'"

http://www.hoganstand.com/Fermanagh/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=181597