After a year of inter-county football action, Shaun Casey runs his eye over the Ulster teams… Antrim The Good – A run to the Tailteann Cup semi-finals and an outing in Croke Park signals a decent first season in the hotseat for former Meath boss Andy McEntee. It was his native county that ended the […]
DECLAN McCOY: Still an imperfect system
May 20, 2023
AS I write this I have a sense of déjà vu. Another big game for Armagh and another heart-breaking penalty shoot-out defeat. I’m just back from a coffee with Aaron McKay and he was so disappointed he let me pay (again!). I would suggest the next time instead of penalties we should have a supporter […]
PATRICK MORRISON: Don’t pay the penalty
May 20, 2023
By Patrick Morrison WITH the shortened seasons now in full effect, the GAA have implemented rules to ensure that championship games finish on the same day (except finals). They have instructed teams that if they are level after full time, then extra time will be played to find a winner. This is no new concept in […]
Derry drew on their Ulster final experience
May 19, 2023
By Michael McMullan THE experience of 2022 and dealing with the noise in Clones stood to Derry as Sunday’s Ulster final insists manager Ciaran Meenagh. Without the use of a Maor Foirne, running on to give instructions, Meenagh expressed how difficult it was to get messages on to the players as Sunday’s Ulster final morphed […]
All-Ireland trail now in Derry’s sights says Rogers
May 18, 2023
By Michael McMullan BIDDING for the county’s All-Ireland title will definitely be long-term thoughts when Derry return to training insists Ulster final goalscorer Brendan Rogers. Winning the McKenna Cup was the first target. Tick. Next, it was righting the wrongs of their 2022 promotion failure. Tick. Then it moved on to retaining their Ulster title. Tick. “Tuesday […]
Rogers hails shootout hero Lynch after Clones drama
May 16, 2023
By Michael McMullan DERRY’S Ulster final goalscorer Brendan Rogers was full of praise for penalty shoot out hero Odhrán Lynch after Sunday’s pulsating Ulster final. The Oakleafers made history after retaining the Anglo Celt Cup for the first time since 1976 with Lynch making three top drawer saves. Rogers offered a polite chuckle when asked […]
McFaul winners shots Derry to back-to-back Ulster titles
May 14, 2023
Ulster SFC final Derry 1-15 Armagh 0-18 AET (Derry win 3-1 on penalties) By Michael McMullan CIARAN McFaul was the Derry hero with his winning penalty in a dramatic shootout at the end of a pulsating extra-time on Sunday at a packed St Tiernach’s Park. Advertisement Goalkeeper Odhrán Lynch saved penalties from Rian O’Neill, Aidan […]
Preview: Derry must match the Orchard need
May 13, 2023
Ulster SFC Final Derry v Armagh Sunday, Clones, 4pm (Live on RTÉ and BBC) By Michael McMullan THE last time these two jostled in the championship, it was the Covid year and Armagh’s 0-6 to 0-2 lead at the first water break had Derry chasing a game a second half gale wasn’t able to help […]
Ulster final: Derry v Armagh – The key areas of Sunday’s showdown
May 13, 2023
Compiled by Michael McMullan HOT SHOTS DERRY – Shane McGuigan McGUIGAN has bagged over a third of Derry’s scores this season and is getting even more comfortable turning onto his right side to leave defenders guessing. One of the best forwards in the game, he has the cut of a player with an inner goal […]
Ulster has been our sole focus says Derry stalwart McKaigue
May 12, 2023
By Shaun Casey CHRISSY McKaigue was just a youngster coming onto the scene when Armagh last won the Ulster Championship, getting their hands on the Anglo Celt for the seventh time in ten years during a golden period of Orchard County dominance. McKaigue came off the bench and scored a point as Derry crashed out […]