With the start of the Dr McKenna Cup and the new season just
over a month away what are your hopes for your county in the
competition?? Are there any new players that you feel should
be given a chance by your county?? While some counties will
use the competition to blood players is winning a good habit
to get into an early stage??

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1712 - 27/11/2013 11:05:35    1518314

Its a good warm up for the League R & B, which in turn is a good warm up for the championship, so yes, in effect the preparation for the Championship effectively starts in January.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 27/11/2013 12:43:03    1518361

Thats true Brend it is good preparation for the league.
Some players that play in January wont be near the first
team come May or June though??

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1712 - 27/11/2013 12:50:08    1518367

I think this competition is similar to clubs playing pre-season friendlies by trying out some of the better reserves from last year etc. Every team will know what they get from experienced players so I'd expect every team will feature a good number of new faces.

From a Donegal point of view, we used the U21 team in this competition last year and it really didn't work so I'd think it will be about 5 new faces every game with 10 or so of the regular panel. I wouldn't be panicking if we got beat in these games but would like to see some new faces performing well. If we find two or three new faces for the league panel then it was a good competition.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 27/11/2013 13:16:25    1518379

With a trip to the lions den ahead in May,former Down players
are beginning to answer the SOS call!!! Fitzpatrick, O'Hagan
and Maginn are now back and McComiskey is also expected back.

Coulter is also staying on for another year also.

Marty, Caolon Down need you back home by late May?? Are you
listening?? lol

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1712 - 28/11/2013 14:36:43    1518753

Tir Chonnaill do you think Donegal will bounce back
this year??They are still an excellent team but
the humbling natureof the Mayo defeat might have left mental scars??
Donegal fans are supporting the team in massive numbers these
days??

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1712 - 28/11/2013 14:50:39    1518763

Red and Black
I think Donegal will improve dramatically this year. Last year we were just plain flat. I remember going to Brewster Park last year for the first Mc Kenna Cup game, fog everywhere and bloody froze to see the U21's play in the competition. The senior team were only back from holidays the night before. Celebrations were still in full swing!! The same thing happened in the first game of the league against Kildare when the lads were just back in the country from the second holiday and we got beat but no alarm bells!! My alarm bells went off in the game against Mayo, Mayo played poorly that day in Castlebar but still beat us. We were starting to look tired and making very basic mistakes, talk of injuries were starting to come out and fellas not putting 100% into things, Frank Mc Glynn was on the verge of taking himself off the panel so things weren't just right. JMG got a lot of stick for his comments on the league but I don't for one minute believe his comments to be anything other than a shield for an under performing team ahead of the Tyrone game. In the championship we blew out in the Tyrone game and after that were a shadow limping through until Mayo put us out of the misery.

This year the players are better rested, the younger players have a year more experience, the older players are all back on board and there will be a few additions. The county board and JMG have come to an agreement over scheduling of club games. If we keep all our main players injury free we can go a long way this year but even without a few of the key players I'd expect us to be far more competitive than last year. You won't see much of a change in the McKenna Cup but I think you will see a far more organised and competitive Donegal side in this years league to try and build momentum to the championship.

IMO the biggest task we have is to find a No.11 that can play in that position, ala Michael Hegarty used to do, if we do then we have a full forward line to do enough damage to win Ulster and after that who knows!!

What do you think about Downs prospects?

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 28/11/2013 16:38:55    1518851

R & B,

Have you all the zimmer frames ready?

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 28/11/2013 17:29:15    1518887

I think Donegal will be close this year I think
either Derry or Donegal will win Ulster.

Its very hard to assess Down Tir Chonaill.They
are like a box of chocolates you never know which
one you are going to get.They were terrific against
Derry in the first round last year, decent against
Donegal in the semi final last year and then poor
against Derry in the rematch.

They are getting a few key players back (zimmer
frames and all Cavan Slasher lol) and the ambush
in Omagh is being planned by James McCartan.While
Tyrone are slight favourites but there is always a
big game in this Down team.I wouldnt be surprised
if Down beat Tyrone and then came unstuck against
Monaghan.Neither Tyrone or Down have a great chance
of winning the Ulster Championship from the preliminary
round.

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1712 - 28/11/2013 17:50:10    1518903

REDANDBLACK30
County: Down
Posts: 194

1518903 I think Donegal will be close this year I think
either Derry or Donegal will win Ulster.

Its very hard to assess Down Tir Chonaill.They
are like a box of chocolates you never know which
one you are going to get.

I reckon we will see Donegal refreshed in 2014, they are possibly the strongest all round team in Ulster in my opinion. Their entire half back line was decimated in 2013, with Thompson, McGlynn and Lacey all being Injured for long periods. Considering they are possibly one of the best half back lines in the country, It was a huge blow. Possibly the most natural sweeper in the country Mark McHugh was also In & out with Injury.

Down have a talented team, and an excellent manager in James McCartan. If Down were a tad more consistant, they would be serious contenders for Ulster. I know they have lost a lot of players, but they always produce very talented footballers. I'm looking forward to a Down v Tyrone tustle this season.

Brian McIvor started Derry in the right direction in 2013, but they need to keep building. Derry faded late on against Cavan in the qualifier this season which dissapointed me greatly. Division 1 2014 will be a big step up, and a big task to dance with all the big guns. Great preparation for the Donegal match though. Time to bring Paddy Bradley back though, and Eoin needs to commit too.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 01/12/2013 16:35:33    1519516

From a Tyrone point of view Ulster does not look as strong as usual and a good Dr McKenna Cup can help some of the younger players make a push for the first team. As last year staying in Division one and making the last eight of the All-Ireland would be a good season. Antrim have to get promoted out of Division Four look for a championship win against a higher ranked side. Armagh Great expectations with the arrival of McGeeney but I think they will just about survive in Division Two and pull up no trees in the championship. Cavan On the up but like Antrim they must get out of their division in the National League and unlikely to match last years last eight in the All-Ireland. Derry Will struggle to stay up in Division One and may be looking at an early championship exit. Donegal Can they recapture the form of 2011/2012 I think they will do well with players up front like McFadden and Murphy taking them to another Ulster Final. Down May face the backdoor early on and could be grouped with some top sides in the early stages. Fermanagh Decent manager could get the best out of these players who did well in the league under Peter Canavan may be easier on the eye under McGrath. Monaghan I think they will be promoted from Division Two and can have another good run in the championship.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1792 - 01/12/2013 18:39:42    1519575

So Mickey Harte is at it again with the college players.
Could the rule just not be set in stone that you can't play college players.
What is point of Joe Keenan job if Harte just ignores him and picks away!

VODAFONE (Fermanagh) - Posts: 80 - 23/12/2013 10:58:01    1526143

Completely disagree with Harte's stance on College players - Tyrone has a massive pick, let the lads go and get game time with their colleges and use it to give fella's a chance at county level who could possibly make it.

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 23/12/2013 11:07:04    1526148

GetOverTheBar
County: Tyrone
Posts: 877

1526148 Completely disagree with Harte's stance on College players - Tyrone has a massive pick, let the lads go and get game time with their colleges and use it to give fella's a chance at county level who could possibly make it.
_______________________
I agree with that too, its cresting ill feeling and is not necessary on the greater scheme of things.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 23/12/2013 11:16:08    1526152

I disagree with Harte's decision to pick the university players especially established county players as Tyrone are building negativity from the start of the year. That said, the McKenna cup was dead in its feet until Harte took over Tyrone. Harte has consistently picked strong teams unlike some other counties. Given the choice would players rather get a shot at establishing themselves in the county team or play for their university. Has anyone considered what the players want?

MB1 (Tyrone) - Posts: 360 - 23/12/2013 13:58:08    1526197

Good enough game today between Donegal and Tyrone with Tyrone deserving their 3 point win. The conditions were pretty poor but the two teams made light of them in the first half especially and it was a fairly open and decent game of football. It was dejavu as Morgan again saved a penalty from Murphy but there was no stopping his next effort.

From a Donegal point of view some of the new faces played well, Mac Nialis and O Connor showed well and O Connor will only be better in better conditions. The Brick had the best game I've seen from him in a while. Murphy was very good but from what I seen was fairly lucky not to see red for the hit which earned him a yellow. One negative from the game was that I thought Mc Guinness should have emptied the bench and give more lads a run out. The heavy pre-season training definitely took its toll on Donegal in the second half and they looked more tired as the game went on.

Tyrone impressed me with their tight man to man defence. They managed to get a hand into the tackle regularly. They had a fairly young team out and you could see that they were much fresher in the second half and won at their ease. Mickey Harte will be the happier manager when you think Donegal had a stronger team out than Tyrone but its early days and a good run out for both teams in the opening game of the season.

On another side note was the black card and I must say it was a far less cynical game that last years game between these two teams. Kavanagh did get a black card for a late tackle but I honestly think he went to block the ball and his momentum carried him into the player. I was in the No camp for the black card but maybe now I'm on the fence.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 05/01/2014 17:55:09    1527912

Great result for Tyrone to beat Donegal whilst missing most of the top players. A few of the newer players looked very good. But Tyrone have usually did well in Mc Kenna cup and not always transferred that to the Championship so lets hope this time its different.

As regards the Black Card seems the referees might be afraid of giving a Black Card to the famous players. Obviously for it to work this year it needs to be dished out to all players even the famous ones.

tyroneed (Tyrone) - Posts: 753 - 05/01/2014 21:01:07    1528014

Tyrone for Sam;o)

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 06/01/2014 09:23:24    1528046

Good win for our lads.

P.Mus (Cavan) - Posts: 386 - 06/01/2014 11:01:11    1528078

tyroneed
County: Tyrone
Posts: 347

1528014 Great result for Tyrone to beat Donegal whilst missing most of the top players. A few of the newer players looked very good. But Tyrone have usually did well in Mc Kenna cup and not always transferred that to the Championship so lets hope this time its different.

As regards the Black Card seems the referees might be afraid of giving a Black Card to the famous players. Obviously for it to work this year it needs to be dished out to all players even the famous ones.

I think Tyrone were lucky not to have a man sent off for Kneeing Martin O'Reilly in the head while he was down on all 4's on the ground. Under GAA rules, a player should be sent off for Injuring another using eith

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 08/01/2014 15:51:05    1529048