ULSTER CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL Armagh v Down Sunday, Clones, 4pm By Niall Gartland THEY say that a week is a long time in politics and the very same maxim could be applied to the dog-eat-dog world of inter-county football. It wasn’t long ago that Armagh were being written off as a contender to the big prizes […]
Armagh unchanged for Down clash
KIERAN McGeeney has named an unchanged starting team for this weekend’s semi-final showdown with rivals Down. The same 15 that overcame Cavan in the Ulster Championship quarter-final will line out in Clones on Sunday afternoon. That means there’s no Rian O’Neill in the starting line-up as the Crossmaglen attacker has been named on the bench. […]
STEVEN POACHER – The new Down way
DOWN teams have always historically been associated with a certain type of football: fast ball, kick-passing, good scoring forwards, playing on the front foot – some people would describe it as swashbuckling. The rise of Down started with their 1960 All-Ireland football win, Down had a level of team-play never seen before at Croke Park, with even […]
Derry name squad for semi-final clash with Monaghan
By Michael McMullan DERRY manager Rory Gallagher has named an unchanged team for Saturday’s Ulster SFC semi-final clash with Monaghan (5pm) in O’Neill’s Healy Park. There is a return for Oisin McWilliams who missed the last four games with a fractured bone in his leg. Skipper Conor Glass and Chrissy McKaigue have been named after […]
FEATURE: Diarmuid Scullion – a foot in either county
Derry man Diarmuid Scullion has coached in his own county and is in his fourth year with Scotstown seniors where he now lives. Michael McMullan asked him about both counties and their development. BORN in Bellaghy, Diarmuid Scullion has a different blue jersey on this radar. Married to Bernie, he has lived in her native […]
MATCH PREVIEW: Champions’ favourites tag will be tested to the max by Monaghan
Ulster SFC semi-final Derry v Monaghan Saturday, O’Neill’s Healy Park, 5pm By Michael McMullan RYAN O’Toole. What a man. The Scotstown defender’s wonder strike shot the Farney County into Saturday’s repeat of last year’s semi-final and another clash with reigning champions Derry. As a story, it will take some beating in Ulster this summer. Advertisement […]
Tommy Freeman – caution won’t win the day for Monaghan
By Niall Gartland FORMER Monaghan star Tommy Freeman says they need to use their pace and quality up front if they’re to cause the downfall of reigning Ulster champions Derry this weekend. The Oakleafers have a solid defensive structure that rarely coughs up big scores in the bear-pit of Ulster Championship football, but it was […]
No major injury concerns for Armagh says McKeever
By Shaun Casey ARMAGH have no major injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s semi-final showdown with arch-rivals Down says Orchard coach Ciaran McKeever. Armagh welcomed Andrew Murnin, Conor O’Neill and Jarly Óg Burns back into the starting line up as they saw off Cavan with five points to spare, with all three having missed the preliminary […]
Ending Ulster losing streak helped Derry momentum change says Rogers
By Michael McMullan IT took 24 years for the Anglo Celt Cup to make a return to Derry and Brendan Rogers feels ending their losing streak in Ulster was huge for the group’s development. The Oakleafers put their title on the line against Monaghan in Saturday’s semi-final, a repeat of last season’s last four won […]
Johnston good to go for Armagh showdown
By Michael McMullan RYAN Johnston will be ready for action when Down take on rivals Armagh on Sunday in Clones (4pm) insists assistant manager Marty Clarke. The Kilcoo star kicked 0-3 in a Man of the Match performance against Donegal on Sunday before being replaced after an hour and didn’t look to be moving too […]