Provincial affiliation

[Lamh Dhearg Alba]

Personally I never understood why people should feel compelled to support another team they perhaps didnt like just because they are from the same province, surely that kind of thing is personal choice.

My own feeling has always been to support the Ulster teams in All-Ireland finals, it was fantastic when Down, Donegal and Derry came to prominence in the 90's and I was also delighted for Armagh in 2002. It might be different if an Ulster side came up against an underdog like Leitrim in a final but in the main I would support the Ulster sides in major finals.

All that doesnt mean to say that I dont have a good laugh when Derry and Armagh etc are dumped out of the championship .

[ardmhachaabu]

You weren't the only one to be accused of that AFS.  It happens when sheep see someone deviating from their narrow-minded script.

[corn02]

To suggest there was not a failry strong number calling for Harte's head is as crazy as suggesting the whole county wanted him to get the boot.

It may be a neighbour thing too. I want Tyrone and Down to go out as early as possible, yet when they are in a final I am meant to suddenly turn full circle? Louth would be the third neighbour yet I will them to win Leinster every year. I know it is because they don't come up against Armagh but if they met Down in a final I am meant to support Down? No chance, nothing bitter about it. I support club, county and occasionally Province. If Railway Cup games begin to sell out Croker and their is a real rivarly, only then can people talk about provinces and loyalty.

[puskas]

Watching Tyrone against Meath 07 and Laois 06, I roared on Meath and Laois. No-one wants the neighbours getting ahead of themselves. Tyrone against Kerry however and it's the lesser of 2 evils. Kerry arrogance is a beast that you can never attack enough, schadenfreude and all that, Tyrone winning another All-Ireland is unfortunate but they're still peasants like the rest of us in Ulster, peasnats who had to be shown how to win an Al-Ireland by the rest of Ulster first. Pity the slow learners.

[Pangurban]

It would be a very Dog in the Manger attitude to with-hold support from a team emanating out of your own province, in the concluding stages of the championship. I can never understand why anyone from Cork should support an Ulster team opposes Kerry, or anyone from Meath support an Ulster team opposes Dublin, yet i have seen this happen. It would be rare for any supporter in Ulster not to give whole-hearted support to the Ulster team from whichever County faced with opponents from another Province. Of course we have a few Dogs in the Manger but they are generally despised

[ziggysego]

Makes us weirder? I really wouldn't be using soccer as a benchmark for us. We're Ulster people and GAA people, that's what binds us together. Whatever of the other 8 counties make it to an All-Ireland Final, I'd be giving them my full support... even Derry!

[bcarrier]

I agree with everything AFS said there. 

[full back]

I dont know why it is, but I take great pleasure in seeing the neighbours beaten, unless it is in an All Ireland Semi or Final
When Tyrone played Down I was hoping the game would be abandoned or something similar, yet when Tyrone got to the semi I was hoping they would get a result.
During the Ulster c'ship I would usually shout for the underdogs (unless it is Down)
Maybe it is just some silly mentality of the North against the rest but that is the way it is....

[ziggysego]

That makes the two of you wrong then

[Who me]

Hi lads just new but have to get stuck in here.I have to say as a tyrone man i would support any Ulster team in an all Ireland and that means 9 counties not just 6.I watched the game on Sunday night over here in oz with Donegal,Derry,Monaghan and Armagh men and every one was roaring for Tyrone,it was great.Had to meet up with a few Kerry man the next day for what was supposed to be their "victory" drink.Oh what a day.

[lynchbhoy]

maybe its because of the recent 'oppression' etc that the 6 counties have endured that has banded us together - and our near neighbours and provincial colleagues  too whohave shared or had a closer view of our 35 years plight!

I have been brought up to support all our provincial teams even the tyronies !

Looks like plenty of others have also. I think the 'troubles' plus the pathetic record of ulster teams in the championship outside of the ulster championship pre-qualifier times is the reason for this provincial backing.

It existed before you lot started moaning about the bit of oppression and as stated it's not confined to the 6 counties.
I remember one day Val Kane, crew cut Down player, came to town and even he had mythical status as a whole bunch of us kids crowded outside the B&B waiting to get his autograph and maybe a chance of a penny.

I certainly didnt mean it to sound like it was a 6 county only thing !
I know Cavan,Monaghan and Tir Connaill support Ulster and the six county teams - and vice versa.

What do you mean 'before' Gaelic football wasnt amalgamated 800 odd years ago!

Anyhow, if your point is correct - that just means we band together due to the annual failure of the Ulster champions pre qualifier times.
I suppose since then its just habit, or the reaction to southern media's tendency to roast any ulster sides 'failure' to win the AI in recent years (obv fed up with the transition from whipping boys to competitive).

Also look at munster ruby fans - there were handfuls of these 'fans' up until they started becomming successful - and now being 'munster' transcends being from cork, kerry, limerick....
bandwagon jumpers though !

[MaroonAndWhite]

I have just enough support in me to support my club and my county but not enough to start supporting every other county in my province. I don't mind seeing Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Leitrim doing well but I wouldn't actively be shouting for them. I don't buy this "siege mentality" in Ulster either because of criticism from the Dublin media. No other province has got more brickbats thrown at it down through the years than Connacht but I still don't feel a need to rabidly shout for Mayo or Roscommon although I definitely wouldn't begrudge Mayo say an AI title win.

Seems to me like a lot of it is just basking in reflected glory.

Im living in Mayo now so ill be in O'Briens in Claremorris on Saturday for the minor replay. Ill sup away on a few pints of Guinness and watch the match with the locals. I won't be vocal in my support of Mayo. Neither will I be mouthin if they lose. I take no satisfaction out of Mayo doing poorly (the Rossies are a different story  ).....my primary satisfaction comes from my own county/club successes.

Any success for Connacht should be welcomed as it can only improve the standards and in that respect, I hope Mayo win on Saturday on the grounds that it will be a Connacht 3 in a row at minor level and heightens the possibility that in the next decade we will be having dingers of Connacht Championships rather than the two horse show it currently is......

[Over the Bar]

My support will always go the the Ulster team first, then to the under-dog.  Always has always will.  

Tir Eoghain agus Uladh Abú!!

[5 Sams]

It would be a very Dog in the Manger attitude to with-hold support from a team emanating out of your own province, in the concluding stages of the championship. I can never understand why anyone from Cork should support an Ulster team opposes Kerry, or anyone from Meath support an Ulster team opposes Dublin, yet i have seen this happen. It would be rare for any supporter in Ulster not to give whole-hearted support to the Ulster team from whichever County faced with opponents from another Province. Of course we have a few Dogs in the Manger but they are generally despised

I respect your opinion Pangurban but IMHO that is an awful load of bollix.....substitute the word "rare" in your statement above with "quite common"....then you'll be making sense.

[mylestheslasher]

I have always supported Ulster teams when they have progressed past Ulster. Even Monaghan . To be honest, Meath would be my most "hated" rival in football - never to be supported - even though I was born and bred in the north of Cavan. I don't think it is a 6 county/oppression thing either. A while pack I had some lads from Tyrone down fitting a pump at my house. I got talking to the lad that drove the van about football. He told me that his father used to follow Cavan (when Tyrone got knocked out) back in the days when we won everything. He seen them in All Ireland semis etc. He said his father used to bring back the Cavan newspapers to the people at home as the northern papers wouldn't cover the game. It seems that the clanishness in Ulster goes back along way. Personnally, I don't see anything wrong with it.