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The Best Ulster side of the last 30 years?

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There has been a recognised idea that Ulster has been the most competitive province for a long time now Got me thinking... who do you reckon have been the best side to come out of Ulster over the last 30 years If I had to pick one I'd go for the great 1990's Down team jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 25/07/2016 11:17:32 1889589 Link
Tyrone 2005, managed to beat a great Kerry team in a cracker of an All-Ireland. Worthy champions. Though it was close game I never felt Kerry could have won it that day, in contrast to 2008 when I thought we might have left the game behind us. That's why I'd put them as the best Tyrone side and also the best Ulster side of the last three decades. TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 25/07/2016 11:54:38 1889608 Link
It's Tyrone Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12116 - 25/07/2016 12:03:52 1889615 Link
Replying To jimbodub: "There has been a recognised idea that Ulster has been the most competitive province for a long time now Got me thinking... who do you reckon have been the best side to come out of Ulster over the last 30 years If I had to pick one I'd go for the great 1990's Down team" They were brilliant Jimbo at a time when Ukster was by a mile the strongest province in the country . From the point of view of success and longevity Tyrone and Armagh rank ahead of them but from the point of view of how that Down team played the game I would agree with you and put them top of the pile . Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 25/07/2016 12:10:47 1889619 Link
Replying To jimbodub: "There has been a recognised idea that Ulster has been the most competitive province for a long time now Got me thinking... who do you reckon have been the best side to come out of Ulster over the last 30 years If I had to pick one I'd go for the great 1990's Down team" Tough one because the back door system wasn't introduced until 2001 it's hard to compare teams of the late 80's and 90's verus the 00's. The early 90's is when Ulster football was at the peak of it's powers so Down is a good shout. The fact Tyrone won 3 all Irelands in 5 years is also hard to look past but they did benefit from the qualifiers. Armagh also deserve a mention for winning 7 Ulster Titles in 10 years. That is serious going! Mobot (Donegal) - Posts: 459 - 25/07/2016 12:11:20 1889620 Link
Replying To Mobot: "Tough one because the back door system wasn't introduced until 2001 it's hard to compare teams of the late 80's and 90's verus the 00's. The early 90's is when Ulster football was at the peak of it's powers so Down is a good shout. The fact Tyrone won 3 all Irelands in 5 years is also hard to look past but they did benefit from the qualifiers. Armagh also deserve a mention for winning 7 Ulster Titles in 10 years. That is serious going!" That's exactly why I went for Down I considered that the back door wasn't around and considering how good Ulster was back in the 1990's To come through Ulster and win the AI was a great achievement I wouldn't put Tyrone down but for me winning through the back door isn't as noteworthy, you cant be Champion of all without being champions of your own province, Down did that twice, and Tyrone did it once. jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 25/07/2016 12:25:30 1889633 Link
Down for me, liked the way they played the game seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2141 - 25/07/2016 12:26:25 1889634 Link
Are we talking Hurling or football?? bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 25/07/2016 12:26:44 1889635 Link
Replying To TheHermit: "Tyrone 2005, managed to beat a great Kerry team in a cracker of an All-Ireland. Worthy champions. Though it was close game I never felt Kerry could have won it that day, in contrast to 2008 when I thought we might have left the game behind us. That's why I'd put them as the best Tyrone side and also the best Ulster side of the last three decades." Agree Tyrone all day long beating Armagh twice, Dublin twice and Kerry 3 times to win their All Irelands and Kerry and Armagh were serious teams back then, less so Dublin but still very good on their day - absolutely no argument IMO. IrishGael3 (USA) - Posts: 1092 - 25/07/2016 12:39:17 1889646 Link
Tyrone were beaten in Ulster for two of their AI wins How can that make them the best Ulster team? There's no argument...??? Ehh yes there is! jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 25/07/2016 12:56:37 1889658 Link
the Down team of 2016........oh sorry I thought you said worst ; ) redhanddefender (Tyrone) - Posts: 913 - 25/07/2016 13:00:37 1889662 Link
Replying To IrishGael3: "Agree Tyrone all day long beating Armagh twice, Dublin twice and Kerry 3 times to win their All Irelands and Kerry and Armagh were serious teams back then, less so Dublin but still very good on their day - absolutely no argument IMO." Dublin were very poor at times to boot, overall that was a fairly poor Dublin team Tactically poor against Tyrone time and time again until Gilroy figured it out in 2010 If other teams like Kerry had of copped on to play more defensive setups against Tyrone in the 00's - I honestly don't think Tyrone would have beaten them all those times Tyrone had a system that baffled managers when they first came on the scene jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 25/07/2016 13:02:03 1889663 Link
Tyrone..three All Ireland's in 5 year's for a county that never won Sam was incredible. They did have a great team though and Manager. They may go all the way this year too. yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11229 - 25/07/2016 13:05:17 1889665 Link
The back-door point is a good one, but for me it's still Tyrone 2005. I still maintain the level themselves and Armagh were operating at that year has never been matched. cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 25/07/2016 13:11:52 1889668 Link
Has to be Tyrone with 3 all Ireland's grimgormley (Antrim) - Posts: 60 - 25/07/2016 13:12:43 1889669 Link
The Tyrone team of the noughties was an exceptional side. They had everything. Pace, power, skill, belief, a fantastic manager. It's unfortunate they were only able to win one All-Ireland as Ulster champions.They had more than enough quality to win all 3 as Ulster champions. For me the Down team of the early 90's would be Ulster's finest in the past 30 years. Of course I'm bias, but also very proud of that teams achievements. Ulster was immensely strong during this period. I've no doubt that if Derry had beaten Down in '94 they would've went on to win the All-Ireland. From 1991 to 1994 the Sam Maguire Cup didn't leave Ulster, some achievement. MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 25/07/2016 13:16:22 1889673 Link
Replying To jimbodub: "Dublin were very poor at times to boot, overall that was a fairly poor Dublin team Tactically poor against Tyrone time and time again until Gilroy figured it out in 2010 If other teams like Kerry had of copped on to play more defensive setups against Tyrone in the 00's - I honestly don't think Tyrone would have beaten them all those times Tyrone had a system that baffled managers when they first came on the scene" What do you mean? Surely the fact that they brought something new to the game sets them out as a great team. I think it was more to do with the group of players we had. This was a mix of under 21s who won 3 all Irelands in a row with the greatest player who ever played the game. I am obviously biased and wouldn't answer but your reasons for knocking them, which you are seem a bit bizarre. If these teams were all so poor at the time why couldn't Armagh win more all Irelands or any other counties? redhanddefender (Tyrone) - Posts: 913 - 25/07/2016 13:17:36 1889676 Link
The Derry team from 92-94 were a serious outfit. There was no backdoor then so it is hard to judge. Donegal pipped them in 92 and won the All Ireland. Probably the best championship game ever played was in 94 when a late Down goal put Derry (Defending Champions) out in Round 1. Down went on to lift Sam, I wonder if we would have seen a rematch between them 2 later down the road, had there been a back door. Tyrone won 3 All Irelands with a different system than what the great Ulster teams had in the 90s. Without downplaying Tyrones success, they could not win their province for 2 of them, had Derry for example had the back door, maybe they could have added to it. For me though for Down to win two Ulster titles and add two All Irelands in the space of 4 years, during Ulster's strongest era with no second chance, makes them in my opinion the best Ulster team in 30 years. sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 25/07/2016 13:17:40 1889677 Link
Replying To jimbodub: "Dublin were very poor at times to boot, overall that was a fairly poor Dublin team Tactically poor against Tyrone time and time again until Gilroy figured it out in 2010 If other teams like Kerry had of copped on to play more defensive setups against Tyrone in the 00's - I honestly don't think Tyrone would have beaten them all those times Tyrone had a system that baffled managers when they first came on the scene" Ok by your rationale lets wipe out the Dublin 25 wins because if teams had have figured out how to beat them then they wouldn't have won - what a ridiculous argument. Back to the point during the noughties Dublin genuinely did believe they could win an AI but constantly got overturned by Tyrone on the big stage - but they were a good team and possibly could have done something if they got over Tyrone. IrishGael3 (USA) - Posts: 1092 - 25/07/2016 13:27:56 1889685 Link
Replying To sam1884: "The Derry team from 92-94 were a serious outfit. There was no backdoor then so it is hard to judge. Donegal pipped them in 92 and won the All Ireland. Probably the best championship game ever played was in 94 when a late Down goal put Derry (Defending Champions) out in Round 1. Down went on to lift Sam, I wonder if we would have seen a rematch between them 2 later down the road, had there been a back door. Tyrone won 3 All Irelands with a different system than what the great Ulster teams had in the 90s. Without downplaying Tyrones success, they could not win their province for 2 of them, had Derry for example had the back door, maybe they could have added to it. For me though for Down to win two Ulster titles and add two All Irelands in the space of 4 years, during Ulster's strongest era with no second chance, makes them in my opinion the best Ulster team in 30 years." sam1884 I absolutely agree jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 25/07/2016 13:48:04 1889696 Link