With Kerry, Dublin and Mayo MOST likely to win their respective provinces who do you think will win ulster? I think Cavan will reach the final from their side and my best guess from the other side of the draw is the winner of Derry v Down as each have a lot to prove and I think the winners of Tyrone and Donegal will be mentally wrecked after their game and lose to Armagh setting up Derry/Down for a final spot V Cavan

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 07/05/2015 10:58:19    1721102

Donegal v Monaghan final. They are streets ahead of the others

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1133 - 07/05/2015 11:05:18    1721110

Anything can happen in the royal rumble of the Ulster Championship :-)

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 07/05/2015 11:11:02    1721112

I think Donegal are head and shoulders above the rest in Ulster with Monaghan the closest to them. The only things that would beat Donegal is fatigue/jadedness and injuries to key players..Murphy, Gallagher and yes McBrearty.

I'd say Tyrone, Derry, Down would be the next tier with Armagh and Cavan the next....Sorry Fermanagh and Antrim but think this is probably a realistic banding/stratification

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 07/05/2015 11:15:45    1721117

Antrim - you've seen it here first..... :-)

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 07/05/2015 11:21:15    1721122

DoireCityFC
County: Derry
Posts: 94

1721102
With Kerry, Dublin and Mayo MOST likely to win their respective provinces who do you think will win ulster? I think Cavan will reach the final from their side and my best guess from the other side of the draw is the winner of Derry v Down as each have a lot to prove and I think the winners of Tyrone and Donegal will be mentally wrecked after their game and lose to Armagh setting up Derry/Down for a final spot V Cavan.

Someone has been on the waccy baccy in Derry methinks!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 07/05/2015 11:21:54    1721124

Tyronetim
County: Tyrone
Posts: 1238

1721117
I think Donegal are head and shoulders above the rest in Ulster with Monaghan the closest to them. The only things that would beat Donegal is fatigue/jadedness and injuries to key players..Murphy, Gallagher and yes McBrearty.

I'd say Tyrone, Derry, Down would be the next tier with Armagh and Cavan the next....Sorry Fermanagh and Antrim but think this is probably a realistic banding/stratification

I wouldn't have Fermanagh that far down the line, I can see them causing problems for some of the bigger fish this year, McGrath has done a great job there.....

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 07/05/2015 11:33:01    1721131

Anything can happen, etc etc etc

Donegal out in front and if they are anywhere near their top level then they should win without much fuss.

Monaghan, Tyrone, Derry, Down, Cavan, Armagh could maybe win it if one of them catches Donegal on a bad day, a la Monaghan in 2013.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13718 - 07/05/2015 11:40:18    1721133

Richie - he has I can't deny that but it's a really small pool of players and when then pressure came on against Armagh all the old habits returned. Hope i'm wrong they shook things up 2003-4

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 07/05/2015 12:04:26    1721141

Richieq
County: Meath
Posts: 2057

1721131 Tyronetim
County: Tyrone
Posts: 1238

1721117
I think Donegal are head and shoulders above the rest in Ulster with Monaghan the closest to them. The only things that would beat Donegal is fatigue/jadedness and injuries to key players..Murphy, Gallagher and yes McBrearty.

I'd say Tyrone, Derry, Down would be the next tier with Armagh and Cavan the next....Sorry Fermanagh and Antrim but think this is probably a realistic banding/stratification

I wouldn't have Fermanagh that far down the line, I can see them causing problems for some of the bigger fish this year, McGrath has done a great job there.....
_______________________
You are right Richie, but Fermanagh will always be hampered by having a smaller pool of players to chose from. That said on any one day they are capable of putting in a big performance.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 07/05/2015 12:05:22    1721143

My selfish hope is that tyrone or armagh get donegal on an off day and then derry drawing either of those sides (that we can beat) in the semi. not that wacky!

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 07/05/2015 12:10:42    1721150

Sorry but I don't buy this whole thing of Donegal being way out in front in Ulster and the only chance the rest of us have is that they have an off day.

Yes, they deserve respect for being the dominant team over the last 4 years and reaching the AI final last year. But from our own perspective, if we can get over the banana skin of Cavan in the first round and reach the final then I'd be confident of winning Ulster, whoever comes from the other side. Donegal have it all to do to emerge from that side as it is, but if I was putting money down I'd still back them to come through it.

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 07/05/2015 12:12:26    1721152

Complete balls to say Donegal are a distance in front, also complete balls to say it is between Donegal and Monaghan - if either of these sides win it they will meet strong resistence along the way - Ulster often tends to have teams put together strong Championships when not overly fancied at the beginning.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 07/05/2015 12:13:45    1721153

The winners of Donegal v Tyrone are favourites for me.With home advantage id give Donegal the nod.I wudnt be dismissive of Derrys chances.They will be hurting from their league results and what better way than enjoying a good run in the champuonship to make up for it.Monaghan v Cavan winners have a fighting chance also.I dont give much hope for Fermanagh,Antrim or Down.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 07/05/2015 12:21:21    1721158

I agree with patk that Donegal have it all to do to even reach the Ulster final. In fact Donegal can't really look past Tyrone who are more than capable of going to Ballybofey and winning. I would expect Monaghan to make the the Ulster final without too much trouble but not sure who they will meet in that final. It really is a lottery.

I would expect the All-Ireland semi-final line-up to be Dublin V Mayo and Kerry v Ulster winner.

JimTheLegend (Donegal) - Posts: 247 - 07/05/2015 12:34:39    1721169

Only one winner in Ulster this year and that's Ulsterman he's 9 teams involved in that province so he can't lose all the best Ulsterman your a winner in all our eyes pal.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 07/05/2015 12:36:18    1721170

The championship is competitive but the favourites generally win it. Since 1998 Armagh Tyrone and more latterly Donegal have dominated (With Monaghan bucking it against a jaded Donegal side in 2013).

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 07/05/2015 13:02:16    1721187

Donegal are the best side and should win.
They do have the tough side of the draw tho so the best bet would be Monaghan, they have the better route to the final and may be fresher than their eventual opponent

GAAHattrick (Dublin) - Posts: 278 - 07/05/2015 13:26:20    1721203

Ulster is as predictable as the other provinces, Donegal miles ahead, next Monaghan. And the final will be Monaghan v Donegal barring a shock. And Donegal to win it unless they have a off day same applies to Kerry Dublin and mayo.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/05/2015 13:39:58    1721213

Paddy Power odds for the Ulster Championship:

Monaghan 9/4
Donegal 7/2
Armagh 9/2
Derry 13/2
Cavan 15/2
Tyrone 9/1
Down 10/1
Fermanagh 20/1
Antrim 40/1

turkeyplucker (UK) - Posts: 137 - 07/05/2015 13:45:11    1721216