legendzxix
County: Kerry
Posts: 3312

1618148
I wouldn't say anyone is measuring Ulster based on the teams knocked out so far. With the Ulster championship being so competitive though there is an expectation Ulster teams will be more battle hardened for the qualifiers. Tyrone v Armagh and Donegal v Monaghan next week should be some of the fiercest battles of the summer.

Apart from Derry, the other 3 Ulster teams were not major shocks. In fact Fermanagh, Antrim and Cavan are the bottom 3 in Ulster.
EXAMPLE:
1. Nobody expected Fermanagh to beat Laois, especially after superb Laois performance against Dublin.
2. Antrim and Limerick are similar level outfits, Antrim raised performance in their Ulster SF with Donegal was never going to carry through to the Qualifiers. Plus home advantage probably swung it for Limerick.
3. Cavan have looked flat this year, and Roscommon have kicked on and seriously Improved. While the normally defensively tight Cavan losing by such a margin was a shock, the fact that they lost to their big underage rivals in recent years was not a shock.

In Derry's case, Losing a major battle against Donegal on home turf was a major blow. Especially in a season which there was a genuine belief that an Ulster title was a real possiblity. Key players departed for the USA and I think Derry just struggled to get motivated for a Qualifier game against Longford.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 13/07/2014 12:18:44    1618163

From the start of the year I would have though Donegal, Monaghan and Tyrone were Ulster's best chance of reaching the All-Ireland quarter-finals and that would still be the case. Cork, Kerry, Mayo would have been in the last eight along with Dublin and Meath/Kildare. It still looks like Dublin's to win with not much to choose with some others.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 13/07/2014 13:09:01    1618188

Whatever about Ulster teams and getting beat by teams down south, one thing caught my attention today ::pat Spillane /CO Rourke seem to have their last four more or less sorted ::Dublin/Kerry/Mayo /Donegal. Now from a few months back Donegal would not have been on their list We'll see what happens today /next Sunday , might gives us a better indication where teams are

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 13/07/2014 13:22:52    1618198

Well Donegal did win the All-Ireland in 2012. Monaghan still have it all to prove. No surprise at all that most are predicting a Donegal v Dublin semi-final. Lot of football to be played though.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7882 - 13/07/2014 15:28:54    1618254

How them ulster tems going
If we do win next weekend I hope we play ulster finalist losers

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 13/07/2014 15:38:37    1618265

That'll suit Monaghan or Donegal just fine Rossie.

Cleatus (Donegal) - Posts: 125 - 13/07/2014 16:07:55    1618306

Nothing to fear

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 13/07/2014 16:17:04    1618314

Think previous Rossies poster is getting ahead of himself. We beat a poor Cavan team yesterday and whoever we get next week we will have to be at our very best. I for one will be taking nothing for granted with whoever we get, we are still v young and v naieve at times.

moros (Roscommon) - Posts: 1082 - 13/07/2014 16:19:09    1618316

Kildare beat Down by 10 points. The first 5 Ulster counties now knocked out, have been at the hands of non-Ulster opposition. At this rate it's probably just as well Tyrone and Armagh drew each other. Ulster will have 1 representative of a possible 7 in Round 3A or 3B.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7882 - 13/07/2014 16:22:12    1618318

Ulster will still probably have 3 teams in the quarters, after having 4 last year.

joeteor (Donegal) - Posts: 218 - 13/07/2014 16:26:24    1618319

All three Ulster counties left are capable of winning the All-Ireland. Of that there is no doubt. It's just intriguing that for a highly rated championship, 5 teams have been knocked out so soon by counties of other provinces.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7882 - 13/07/2014 16:30:57    1618322

Tyrone out. Armagh beat them by 3

muckla (UK) - Posts: 366 - 13/07/2014 16:38:21    1618327

Tyrone were never capable of winning this All Ireland, the good teams have absolutely no fear of them and thats what they rely on as much as anything else these days. Monaghan beat themselves v Tyrone last year.

joeteor (Donegal) - Posts: 218 - 13/07/2014 16:42:47    1618335

legendzxix
County: Kerry
Posts: 3321

1618322
All three Ulster counties left are capable of winning the All-Ireland. Of that there is no doubt. It's just intriguing that for a highly rated championship, 5 teams have been knocked out so soon by counties of other provinces.

No I strongly disagree, only Donegal and Monaghan have a realistic hope of winning an All Ireland this year. Neither Armagh or Tyrone have it or will have that ability this season.

And to be honest, only Dublin have a realistic chance outside of those two.

Mayo just don't have it this year, and todays victory really reinforced that thinking in my mind. If they can beat Kerry, they will possibly proceed to an All Ireland final, in what should be a handy run.

Kerry beat a poor Cork side, and will likely reach an All Ireland final on that side of the draw if they can beat Mayo. But make no mistake, they will not beat Dublin, Donegal or Monaghan. They could probably take Mayo in Croke Park, but thats as far as it will go.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 13/07/2014 16:49:12    1618343

Is it fair to say that Armagh are 3rd in the Ulster pecking order ahead of Tyrone?

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7882 - 13/07/2014 16:51:57    1618348

Surprising result but Sean Cavanagh can hardly be expected to carry Tyrone every time they play. Period of transition for them now. Disappointing result for Down at home.Monaghan and Donegal will hopefully be in the last eight no matter what happens next week.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1803 - 13/07/2014 16:57:30    1618355

Surprised that Down took such a hoking at home but there you go. Also surprised to see Armagh beat Tyrone, thought Tyrone while on the way down would have had a bit of sting left in them though playing with 14 men did not help. Certainly poor outcomes for the two aforementioned Ulster teams.

It still does not change a great deal in terms of what we are looking at this year though I did think draw dependent that Tyrone had a strong chance of being in the Quarter Finals. It still appears that Dublin might not meet a lot of resistance and what resistance is out there will still come in the form Kerry, Mayo, Donegal and Monaghan.

Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, Mayo, Dublin, Monaghan and Donegal to make up 7 of the 8 quarter finalists. Other place will be the winners of Meath and whoever they play and will be draw dependent but you could probably close your eyes and point as it will just be a case of who performs on the given day.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 13/07/2014 16:59:31    1618357

What this AI has shown me is there are a couple of very good counties and a lot of mediocre ones who, on their day, can win against each other. Then you have the also rans like ourselves who very occasionally pull off a shock.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 13/07/2014 17:00:29    1618359

Tyrone were never capable of winning this All Ireland, the good teams have absolutely no fear of them and thats what they rely on as much as anything else these days. Monaghan beat themselves v Tyrone last year.

Eh Tyrone were better last year though, reached the league final and gave Dublin a good match, Cavanagh had the year of his life and Tyrone were far better organised.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 13/07/2014 17:16:13    1618373

Here is what I am taking from it. It is all on the day, 2 weeks is a long time in gaelic football, and if your team go in the back door, it is bad news. I think that the idea that your team is doing badly based on the realitive performances against a certain county and comparing the results as a yardstick as to where you are at is very misleading. If your team were flying at training and lost by a point, the same team 2 weeks later are not going to be nearly as interested., thus allowing another team have a realistic chance against them.

Todays results were unexpected. Armagh must be delighted, but they would have raised their game to play tyrone in a massive way. Whereas all tyrone had in their locker was disappointment and injuries.

Kildare really surprized me winning away to down. I think that this result is going to put the cat among the pigeons, armagh and kildare are dangerous now.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 13/07/2014 17:17:14    1618374