Is there going to be a changing of the guard in Ulster? Donegal and Monaghan will surely experience a natural lull now? Who apart from Tyrone can take over?

sportsfan14 (USA) - Posts: 281 - 10/08/2015 17:58:25    1767495

Donegal might not drop too far, they have had some serious Minor and U21 talent as past 5 years, albeit they were constantly U21 runners up for 3 or 4 years running. I think Donegal and Tyrone will be the top 2 for the next few seasons, although the province in general is very strong and that trend will continue.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 10/08/2015 18:05:53    1767502

There'll be no All Ireland in Ulster for at the next decade that's what's next. Competitive Ulster championship but no stand out teams I'm afraid

JJ1 (Kildare) - Posts: 547 - 10/08/2015 18:06:12    1767503

As a whole it's the strongest however this year no Ulster team has been good . I'd expect us to come good in about 1-2 years as we have some excellent footballers aged between 17-20 .

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 10/08/2015 18:16:37    1767506

Donegal will be there or there abouts no doubt. Tyrone are obvious contenders now, especially with their u21s coming through. Cavan could surprise many. Armagh couldnt possibly be as bad as they were this year, but I dont know if they have it to win ulster either.

Beyond ulster is another story. I think that Mayo, Dublin and Kerry are set to dominate the game for some time. Whether you want to see them as being representative of their provinces is another question. All 3 are so far ahead of their fields in their provinces, you could be forgiven for saying that they are above the provincial structures at this stage.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 10/08/2015 18:32:27    1767519

Donegal will probably have a few retirements and we will have a couple too, but not wholesale changes so I expect both to be very competitive as far as Ulster is concerned. And of course Tyrone will be very confident, a young team coming and this year's championship run will do them the world of good. It's strange for a Tyrone team under Harte to go this long without winning Ulster so they'll be looking to put that right.

So I think Ulster will be open enough with one of those three teams the likely winners, but as always in Ulster there's a few more teams who will fancy their chances of causing an upset and winning it out. Alot depends on the draw obviously.

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 10/08/2015 18:39:02    1767527

As already pointed out Donegal have alot of good players coming through so I don't think they will be dropping too much. Cavan have potential but there does seem to be failure so far so transfer underage talent to senior level. Tyrone the other obvious contenders. To suggest no Ulster AI winner for 10 years is nonsense.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2779 - 10/08/2015 18:47:55    1767532

Do Ulster lads think there will be a change of tactics , obviously if Tyrone go further then obviously not .
However the tactics required to get out of Ulster may not yeild to many AI on top of that other teams adapting , or is it a case of same tactics new legs ?

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 10/08/2015 18:55:14    1767541

JJ1 your knowledge of youth football in Ulster must be immense, please enlighten us more on what you predict will happen between now and 2025

benched (Tyrone) - Posts: 534 - 10/08/2015 19:02:54    1767552

Damothedub
County: Dublin
Posts: 2676

1767541
Do Ulster lads think there will be a change of tactics , obviously if Tyrone go further then obviously not .
However the tactics required to get out of Ulster may not yeild to many AI on top of that other teams adapting , or is it a case of same tactics new legs ?

I can't see there being any change in tactics, especially not now that the likes of Kerry, Dublin, Cork and even Mayo are playing defensive styles of varying degrees too.

Tyrone and Donegal certainly have the talent pool to win All Ireland's or certainly challenge for them over the next 5 seasons, I think Monaghan have enough talent to do serious damage in the next couple of years, and 1 or 2 new players could possibly push them to the next level. Donegal too need to make necessary changes now, so they can revive their high Intensity game.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 10/08/2015 20:07:36    1767603

Several counties will be in the mix and who comes to the fore will be down to severa factors.

Tyrone, Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan all have had recent underage success to varying degrees. Monaghans problem is that they dont have anyone consistent along with McManus in the forward line. One forward is not enough, good and all as he may be. However, Cavan dont even seem to have one good forward. Tyrone and Donegal have an edge in that they do produce enough forwards to make them competitive most years.

Derry and Armagh would be right up there too if they got in good managers.

Fermanagh have come on well under Peter McGrath and will be hard to beat while he remains in charge.
Down seem to be in the doldrums even though they are in Division 1 next year.
Antrim are the sleeping giants who are unlikely to wake up.

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 10/08/2015 20:22:05    1767618

Is it true that Derry minor player Conor Glass is off to Oz? There is one player Derry could build a team around. Serious talent.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2779 - 10/08/2015 21:45:58    1767708

Damothedub
County: Dublin
Posts: 2676

1767541 Do Ulster lads think there will be a change of tactics , obviously if Tyrone go further then obviously not .
However the tactics required to get out of Ulster may not yeild to many AI on top of that other teams adapting , or is it a case of same tactics new legs ?

That's a very good point, Ulster teams would like a change of tactics to adapt a more free flowing, man to man game. We want to resurrect retro football, you mark your man and that's it. This allows for exciting attacking displays and albeit shocking defending. We cannot change the tactics to the way we'd like to play the game because of the constant use of the blanket defence by other counties outside the province such as Dublin, Kerry and Corks and the like. These teams, use the blanket and there is no point playing man to man.

TyroneLegend78 (Tyrone) - Posts: 52 - 11/08/2015 09:04:18    1767750

we are overdue an Ulster for sure, I think if Donegal goes back a few notches then we have a good chance.

TyroneLegend78 (Tyrone) - Posts: 52 - 11/08/2015 09:06:16    1767751

Under the present system Ulster teams will find it increasingly difficult to win an AI.

This year Donegal played 5 games against Div 1 or Div 2 opposition just to reach the QF. This war of attrition resulted in a number of players carrying knocks that took the edge off their performance, couple that with the punishing schedule & the final result was inevitable.

The front runners from other provinces, in contrast, had fewer games against poorer opposition & are fresh & ready to peak now.

This isn't a moan against Mayo, I wish them well & hope they go all the way, I just think that as things stand it will be difficult for Ulster teams to feature for the foreseeable future.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 11/08/2015 09:07:50    1767752

panamasam first ive heard. Id assume he will be starting against kerry but I could be wrong

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 11/08/2015 09:13:47    1767753

The province is in a healthy state reflected in the league status of most of it's counties. 4 of the non-Ulster counties in Division 1 are very strong as well. Ulster will win some of those clashes and non-Ulster counties will win some of those clashes. It's just the nature of tough competition on both sides.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7821 - 11/08/2015 10:34:38    1767817

I don't think he is leaving immediately Doire but I did hear/read somewhere that Conor Glass was Aussie rules bound but I stand to be corrected on that one. He should have been involved with the seniors this year imo. As for the Ulster Championship a couple of changes could make a difference. Firstly teams that played in the years previous preliminary round or Ulster Final would be exempt from having to play in the preliminary round the following year. In Donegal's case it does not help starting players who are clearly not fit or carrying an injury i.e. Karl Lacey. So that is much of a management issue rather than the system.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2779 - 11/08/2015 10:51:43    1767844

Cheers Big Sacks you've just cheered me up no end there!!

And just when i had forgotten we had county teams.

On a serious note im detecting from a few rumours that we finally seem to have hit rock bottom and there may be a clear out of the dead wood come County Convention, so fingers crossed!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 11/08/2015 11:00:46    1767856

The following was in a good article today in the Indo "Ulster's champions have the highest attrition rate at All-Ireland quarter-final stage with Tyrone beaten in 2001, 2007 and 2010, Armagh falling down in 2004, 2006 and 2008 and Monaghan's defeats in 2013 and this year bringing the figure to eight".

Not sure how other Monaghan fans feel or even Donegal fans as both teams made the final this year and are now both out but teams going all out to win Ulster in highly intense matches are at risk of burn out before heading to Croke Park. I mean would Tyrone have played as well on Saturday if they had been in the Ulster Final particularly having played the games Donegal did. Being a small county Monaghan have to rely on the same players in each match and the options are limited. Think something needs to be looked at in terms of leveling the playing field a bit as teams winning other provincial titles are a lot fresher when it comes to the business end of the championship.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1798 - 11/08/2015 12:24:26    1767958