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I'm looking forward to what I think will be one of the best Ulster Championships in recent years. We have a Tyrone team that started the year flying then had a few hiccups at the end of the league campaign. Are they being written off too early or is Harte holding them back for Championship? Big game between them and Donegal who have been one of the success stories of the season so far. After the turn around of so many players, the young guns have burst onto the scene and it's great to see them play so real fast paced attackinj football. Is it still too early for these young lads or can they keep it going? Monaghan on the other side of the draw also had a successful league campaign and we have finally got to witness what young Jack McCarron can do after his injury problems. They seem to be strong in every line and with a support act up front with McManus they should have serious prospects. Will an extra game in the prelim round hinder or strengthen their chances. These are the 3 to beat. I'm not ruling out the other sides as anything can happen in a one off game in Ulster but can't write a preview for them all. ciaran1988 (Antrim) - Posts: 86 - 06/04/2017 05:36:41 1976307 Link
Replying To ciaran1988: "I'm looking forward to what I think will be one of the best Ulster Championships in recent years. We have a Tyrone team that started the year flying then had a few hiccups at the end of the league campaign. Are they being written off too early or is Harte holding them back for Championship? Big game between them and Donegal who have been one of the success stories of the season so far. After the turn around of so many players, the young guns have burst onto the scene and it's great to see them play so real fast paced attackinj football. Is it still too early for these young lads or can they keep it going? Monaghan on the other side of the draw also had a successful league campaign and we have finally got to witness what young Jack McCarron can do after his injury problems. They seem to be strong in every line and with a support act up front with McManus they should have serious prospects. Will an extra game in the prelim round hinder or strengthen their chances. These are the 3 to beat. I'm not ruling out the other sides as anything can happen in a one off game in Ulster but can't write a preview for them all." The last few years have been between Monaghan , Tyrone and Donegal and can't really see that changing this year . The rest seem some way behind even going on league form although the Ulster championship is known to throw up the odd shock result I'd still think the winners will come from 1 of these 3. No disrespect to Fermanagh but I'd expect Cavan to give Monaghan a good game in Breffni in the quarter but even if we beat them it wouldn't gaurentee an Ulster final appearance. Be blow cold more off than hot.. Awwwwnow (Cavan) - Posts: 1050 - 06/04/2017 10:30:28 1976388 Link
Thought last year was the best championship in a long long time, probably since Armagh and Tyrone we're at their peak. The quality of play wasn't top notch, but both semi finals went to replays and the final went right down to the wire with 2 of the best points you'll see under pressure from Harte and Cavanagh winning it for Tyrone. My money is on Donegal but as pointed out above, anyone can beat anyone in the ulster championship. cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 06/04/2017 10:44:18 1976397 Link
Hard not to be excited after a successful league campaign and the young players seeming to be very comfortable at senior level. We should feel we will get past Antrim to be facing Tyrone more than likely in a semi-final in June. I think Tyrone will be a completely different test from the team that came to Ballybofey last month. I think they'll bring all their championship experience to the pitch and it will be about whether our young lads keep their heads and stick to the things they're good at. We've shown great battling qualities so far this year so when it comes to Championship I'd be hopeful they can handle it. Saying all that I would tip Monaghan for Ulster this year. Much like ourselves they've had a great league and they keep defying expectations. With McManus having help now in the form of McCarron they'll be hard stopped. JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 06/04/2017 11:52:59 1976433 Link
Should be a great Ulster Championship this summer. If all goes to form it looks like Tyrone v Donegal in one semi final. At the start of the year I'd have expected Tyrone to come through that as they looked like a team more on the up while Donegal have lost alot of experienced players, and I thought they'd be going through a period of transition. But I've been very impressed with the young players they've introduced and they've kept on performing to a high level without skipping a beat. As the league wore on I've been more impressed with Donegal than Tyrone but it'll be a tight game regardless should it happen, and I'll have to see the quarter finals first before confidently making a pick to reach the final from that side. As for ourselves, it's not a bad draw seeing as our two toughest opponents are on the other side. But it's always very hard to win Ulster from the preliminary round, and we have two local derbies just to make a semi final. Cavan especially would be very tough and you never get anything easy in those games. Overall I'd be fairly pleased with how we got on in the league, more young players have been blooded and got gametime against the top teams, and McCarron's breakthrough has certainly been the biggest positive. If we can get McManus back to form and fully fit alongside McCarron playing like he is, it would set us up nicely. patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 06/04/2017 12:39:13 1976462 Link
Replying To cavanman47: "Thought last year was the best championship in a long long time, probably since Armagh and Tyrone we're at their peak. The quality of play wasn't top notch, but both semi finals went to replays and the final went right down to the wire with 2 of the best points you'll see under pressure from Harte and Cavanagh winning it for Tyrone. My money is on Donegal but as pointed out above, anyone can beat anyone in the ulster championship." Semi final and final were very good but some the biggest margins in any province in ulster last year so anybody can't win. Monaghan stonewall for final , who they play is up for grabs. Should be donegal as they to be moving the ball well and with great pace and tyrone are short on the scoreboard when it counts. Be interesting to see though when the pressure games come will donegal mgmt revert back to default safery first mode. ctowers (Dublin) - Posts: 99 - 06/04/2017 14:23:05 1976518 Link
Replying To ctowers: "Semi final and final were very good but some the biggest margins in any province in ulster last year so anybody can't win. Monaghan stonewall for final , who they play is up for grabs. Should be donegal as they to be moving the ball well and with great pace and tyrone are short on the scoreboard when it counts. Be interesting to see though when the pressure games come will donegal mgmt revert back to default safery first mode." As they look to be* ctowers (Dublin) - Posts: 99 - 06/04/2017 14:56:37 1976536 Link
it's Donegal's this year. Preliminary Round: Monaghan beat Fermanagh Quarter-Finals: Monaghan beat Cavan, Armagh beat Down, Donegal beat Antrim, Tyrone beat Derry Semi-Finals: Monaghan beat Armagh, Donegal beat Tyrone Final: Donegal beat Monaghan. s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 06/04/2017 19:50:09 1976657 Link
Replying To s goldrick: "it's Donegal's this year. Preliminary Round: Monaghan beat Fermanagh Quarter-Finals: Monaghan beat Cavan, Armagh beat Down, Donegal beat Antrim, Tyrone beat Derry Semi-Finals: Monaghan beat Armagh, Donegal beat Tyrone Final: Donegal beat Monaghan." That's how I see it going too. If I was to pick 1 game that could change there it's ourselves beating monaghan. But knowing Cavan, we'd probably lose to Armagh then. cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 06/04/2017 20:46:15 1976685 Link
Wish everyone in this province luck, Connaghct, Leinster and Munster are farces and counties will already be planning for quater and semi final from these provinces. Yee are starting with massive disadvantages others counties don't have. My considered opinion that many Ulster sides are amongst the best in the country but don't have the advantage of other top counties in easier provinces. TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 06/04/2017 21:21:37 1976694 Link
Ulster is overdue a surprise victory - I can't really think of any in the last 5 years at least. Derry are unlikely to provide a shock with so many players missing but the Down/Armagh game is a big derby and the winners will get such a boost it may help them cause a semi-final surprise. Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 06/04/2017 21:25:15 1976696 Link
Replying To Soma: "Ulster is overdue a surprise victory - I can't really think of any in the last 5 years at least. Derry are unlikely to provide a shock with so many players missing but the Down/Armagh game is a big derby and the winners will get such a boost it may help them cause a semi-final surprise." Ulster winners 2013 Monaghan beat Donegal. Div 3 beat the all Ireland and Ulster champions. There are a few other big results too. Tyrone losing to Monaghan in 2014 is another. I can't see anyone touching Monaghan on their side of the draw this year. Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 06/04/2017 21:47:11 1976702 Link
Replying To Soma: "Ulster is overdue a surprise victory - I can't really think of any in the last 5 years at least. Derry are unlikely to provide a shock with so many players missing but the Down/Armagh game is a big derby and the winners will get such a boost it may help them cause a semi-final surprise." Monaghan in 2013 was definitely a surprise. Donegal were AI Champs going for 3 in a row in Ulster. Meanwhile we looked like a team on the slide before Malachy came in, with back to back relegations. patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 06/04/2017 21:51:19 1976705 Link
Replying To Donegalman: "Ulster winners 2013 Monaghan beat Donegal. Div 3 beat the all Ireland and Ulster champions. There are a few other big results too. Tyrone losing to Monaghan in 2014 is another. I can't see anyone touching Monaghan on their side of the draw this year." Fair enough about the 2013 final, I didn't have it down as such a big surprise I suppose because it was the final. Don't think you can say Monaghan as defending champions beating Tyrone in 2014 can be called a big shock though. Im thinking more of the other 6 beating one of the big 3, it's been a while and despite all 6 having a disappointing league campaign I think there may be a surprise this year. Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 06/04/2017 22:39:03 1976720 Link
Think it's a Donegal v Monaghan final with Donegal winning - Tyrone have defo dropped down the pecking order with their dour style and weak offensive line. IrishGael3 (USA) - Posts: 1092 - 06/04/2017 22:53:44 1976724 Link
I think it's between monaghan and Donegal? One of these two will be Ulster champions border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 894 - 06/04/2017 23:02:43 1976726 Link
Don't rule out a Cavan shock. They got results against both Kerry and mayo in the league. We didn't. Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 07/04/2017 01:01:15 1976743 Link
Replying To Donegalman: "Don't rule out a Cavan shock. They got results against both Kerry and mayo in the league. We didn't." Cavan could well make the final given they are on the easier side of the draw, but I couldn't see them winning out against the Tyrone or Donegal.The forward power just isn't there. If David Givney was back for the championship then maybe. MadgeKing (Cavan) - Posts: 493 - 07/04/2017 11:00:17 1976808 Link
Darren Hughes ruled out for 12 weeks. Will be a big miss in the middle of the park for Monaghan ciaran1988 (Antrim) - Posts: 86 - 13/04/2017 19:13:55 1979196 Link
Replying To TheUsername: "Wish everyone in this province luck, Connaghct, Leinster and Munster are farces and counties will already be planning for quater and semi final from these provinces. Yee are starting with massive disadvantages others counties don't have. My considered opinion that many Ulster sides are amongst the best in the country but don't have the advantage of other top counties in easier provinces." Ulster might be competitive,but filled with very poor teams,2017 four league champions came from Leinster(1)Connacht (1)Munster (2),teams who drop a division Munster (0)Leinster(1)Connacht (1)Ulster(4),last year's all semi finals Munster(2)Leinster (1)Connacht (1)Ulster (0),its easy to make a poor championship look competitive, outside of Tyrone, Donegal and monaghan its full of very poor teams,the problem in Munster is you have a brilliant Kerry team,cork,Clarke and tipp same level,example Clarke and tipp beating ulster teams,in Connacht mayo are the third best team in the country but galway and Roscommon would beat six out of nine ulster counties,Leinster is a bit like Munster Dublin are the best team in country,but you would have 2-3 Leinster teams ahead of the six poor ulster teams.Very easy to dismiss the other championships without looking at the facts cityman73 (Limerick) - Posts: 775 - 13/04/2017 20:22:33 1979214 Link