This how I see it going .

All the people saying Cavan for ulster must be on something as there really is nothing to back this claim up. Last year they played armagh and after being tipped as dark horses for ulster last year they were very poor. One of the worst attacking displays iv even seen play against armagh. Monaghan have probably the most in form forward in ireland and will easily get through them and again coast through a poor fermanagh team who in the league final armagh beat easily playing with a man down for 3/4 of the game.

Think donegal will beat tyrone with home advantage helping. Just feel tyrone smaller forwards will sttuggle against the big defence of donegal and in the end i feel donegal will come out stronger with murphy kicking long range points.
After that as much as i would like armgah to beat donegal i think we may come up short again. It will again be a very tactical team with little room for forwards to express themselves.Armaghs lack of a long range freetaker is something holding them back as the top teams usually gain about 3 points a game whweras teams without a good freetaker will miss out. This could give them the edge.

Down and derry ... dont have a clue. derry ???? Down are a team who when get momentum can rack up scores at will but there defence can let them down. Both teams will use the blanket defence so this will help downs defence out but do derry have the forwards to beat them? Toss up id say but will go for down due to some of the class forwards such as poland , laverty and o hare.

ps fermagh should just about edge antrim with mc closkey.

sumleftboot (Armagh) - Posts: 24 - 08/05/2015 13:20:26    1721523

sumleftboot
County: Armagh
Posts: 18

1721523 This how I see it going .

All the people saying Cavan for ulster must be on something as there really is nothing to back this claim up. Last year they played armagh and after being tipped as dark horses for ulster last year they were very poor. One of the worst attacking displays iv even seen play against armagh.

Could Cavan's poor attacking display last year be put down to their star forward Martin Dunne having his arm/elbow broke in the pre-match brawl between Armagh and Cavan?

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 08/05/2015 13:49:56    1721533

sxckev
County: Mayo
Posts: 31

1721331
I definitely think Cavan have a great chance at claiming ulster. Good side of the draw. I seen Monaghan in McHale Park, they are not very good. If they don't fight and srgue with them I think they will win cause they have better footballers

I think Cavan have a fair chance too. However, I would not base my thoughts on Monaghan after their abysmal performance against Mayo in this year's league. We did you a favour by pressing self-destruct that day. I wouldn't really use the league as a conclusive measure of where teams are at. If I did I might saw Mayo are poor too because I saw them in McHale park, against Monaghan, failing to score the simplest of chances and only really pulling away when it was 13 v 15. I watched them against Tyrone, in McHale park, comprehensively beaten and watched them get thrashed by Dublin in…..McHale park.

I believe we are the better side than Cavan and overall second to Donegal in the shake up for the province. We have better players than Cavan almost everywhere but Cavan will be relishing knocking the wind from our sails. Everyone in Ulster knows that any one of 7 teams could do it (sorry Antrim and Fermanagh). Even the bookies know this.

Funny the gap between ourselves and Donegal is small enough in Ulster but when the Anglo Celt is settled and it's time to face up to non-Ulster opposition we are good distance back. The same goes for the rest of the province.

seanfinn (Monaghan) - Posts: 360 - 08/05/2015 15:29:54    1721575

Joe_Bloggs
County: Tipperary

Anybody think Roscommon to win Connaught are worth a nibble at 3/1?

While I don't fancy them myself they are definitely the value bet at 3/1 when you consider Galway, who would have to play Mayo in the semi, are a similar price. Roscommon meet london (1/12) then Sligo (they will probable be 1/2 for that) and then Mayo or Galway. So having them at 3/1 with them almost guaranteed to be in the final is good odds if you fancy them, personally I will be backing Galway on a match by match basis

mhunicean_abu (Monaghan) - Posts: 1045 - 08/05/2015 15:55:37    1721584

Could Cavan's poor attacking display last year be put down to their star forward Martin Dunne having his arm/elbow broke in the pre-match brawl between Armagh and Cavan?

You say that as if someone from armagh injured him. Video evidence shows dunne punching an armagh player and injuring his hand. I still believe he wouldnt have made a massive difference that day as he doesnt play as well when he's up against a blanket defence due to his stature .They would have needed 4/5 more top forwards that day but i feel cavan are being hyped here and alot of posters are tipping them to reach an ulster final but im not sure where these thoughts are coming from. Monaghan are a distance ahead of them.

sumleftboot (Armagh) - Posts: 24 - 08/05/2015 17:02:14    1721611

sumleftboot
County: Armagh
Posts: 19

1721611 Could Cavan's poor attacking display last year be put down to their star forward Martin Dunne having his arm/elbow broke in the pre-match brawl between Armagh and Cavan?

You say that as if someone from armagh injured him. Video evidence shows dunne punching an armagh player and injuring his hand. I still believe he wouldnt have made a massive difference that day as he doesnt play as well when he's up against a blanket defence due to his stature .They would have needed 4/5 more top forwards that day but i feel cavan are being hyped here and alot of posters are tipping them to reach an ulster final but im not sure where these thoughts are coming from. Monaghan are a distance ahead of them.

I agree that Monaghan are well ahead of Cavan in rankings and experience, however I also know Cavan are more than capable of causing a massive upset. They are lacking firepower, but are still a well organised outfit.

Last year I would have put Tyrone well ahead of Armagh prior to that Qualifier game, and Armagh caused an upset and it really spurred them on. I also thought the little tiff before throw in swung the game against Cavan in Armagh's favour, regardless of how Dunne got hurt.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 08/05/2015 19:22:09    1721650

Joe_Bloggs
County: Tipperary

Anybody think Roscommon to win Connaught are worth a nibble at 3/1?


Good enough odds, I would fancy a flutter at that.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 08/05/2015 19:24:33    1721651

monaghan will have to have a very uncharacteristic day at the office to allow cavan win. I think that monaghans route to the ulster final this year, and indeed 2 years ago, is one that will not be stopped. They will be fresh and ready, whoever they play, and I think they are a short price, 5/2 or 9/4 to win ulster.

Tyrone or Armagh will be looking for revenge against them, but the road is tough. Derry or Down would be looking to break a very long barren spell and if we get to the ulster final, monaghan woould be licking their lips, as they love playing us. It will hinge a lot on injuries or rather no injuries.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 08/05/2015 19:59:53    1721665

seanfinn
County: Monaghan
Posts: 78

I believe we are the better side than Cavan and overall second to Donegal in the shake up for the province. We have better players than Cavan almost everywhere but Cavan will be relishing knocking the wind from our sails. Everyone in Ulster knows that any one of 7 teams could do it (sorry Antrim and Fermanagh). Even the bookies know this.

Funny the gap between ourselves and Donegal is small enough in Ulster but when the Anglo Celt is settled and it's time to face up to non-Ulster opposition we are good distance back. The same goes for the rest of the province.


Disagree entirely Sean.

Man for man, there is little or nothing between Monaghan and Cavan. Apart from McManus, we're evenly matched. He is going to be key for Monaghan on the day.

I believe the Cavan team is a lot weaker than the sum of its parts. That's due to the fact that the manager sticks with this rigid defensive philosophy which does more damage than good. We only average 11 points a game, if this is not addressed then yes, we'll be beaten.

However, Our midfield is comfortably better than yours. We'll see what the Hughes lads win over Gearoid,(who was injured in 2013) very very little I'd imagine. I think we'll see a lot of short kickouts from Beggan.

Up front however is chalk and cheese. We are toothless in attack, we have an impotent forward line, and not enough of our half forwards/half backs chip in with scores. We all know what McManus can do, but I can see Rory Dunne doing a job on him, I've seen him curtail players like Cavanagh and Donaghy before, loves marking the big name player.

Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1071 - 09/05/2015 10:39:23    1721705

I really think the most competitive province is bunkum. Its between Donegal and Monaghan with Donegal winning it,

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/05/2015 11:59:02    1721718

seanfinn
County: Monaghan
Posts: 78

Funny the gap between ourselves and Donegal is small enough in Ulster but when the Anglo Celt is settled and it's time to face up to non-Ulster opposition we are good distance back. The same goes for the rest of the province.

I agree that the gap between Monaghan and Donegal is fairly small.

With regards playing non-Ulster outfits, Tyrone are a side who would pose a serious threat to anybody in the rest of the country.

The more Monaghan play big games in Croke Park, the more comfortable they will become. Once that happens, they will find their feet and start to take bigger scalps.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 09/05/2015 13:05:26    1721730

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 7377

1721718 I really think the most competitive province is bunkum. Its between Donegal and Monaghan with Donegal winning it,

It's not that simple, and the likes of Cavan could beat Monaghan. And Tyrone, Armagh, Derry or Down could manage to overcome Donegal.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 09/05/2015 13:08:12    1721732