By Michael McMullan AFTER the final two provincial showdowns, the search for the Sam Maguire Cup begins this weekend with a full picture of what is coming down the tracks. Reigning champions Armagh face a tough title defence after Saturday’s extra-time defeat put them in a difficult group with last year’s beaten finalists Galway, Dublin […]
Newcomer Quinn hungry for more success
By Niall Gartland TYRONE U20 footballer Matthew Quinn has tasted success on the big stage for the first time with their provincial final win over Donegal, and he’s confident that there could be more to come. The Dungannon lad is in his first year as part of the U20 set-up, and he’s shown no signs […]
UPDATED: The search for Sam
By Michael McMullan AFTER last weekend’s Munster and Connacht finals, there is a clearer picture ahead of the All-Ireland series. Reigning champions Armagh and Ulster champions Donegal now know exactly what they face when they dust themselves down after Saturday’s showdown in Clones. Galway’s win over Mayo puts them into a tough group with Dublin, […]
JOE BROLLY: Wise up Marty
THERE used to be a county court judge in the North who did not like hearing complicated cases, a sensible man who liked to get home early in the day. Once, I had an equity civil bill in front of him, neighbours fighting over a ten foot square of land at the bottom of their […]
Armagh make one chance for Kerry trip
By Michael McMullan ARMAGH manager Kieran McGeeney has made one change for Saturday’s trip to Tralee as the All-Ireland champions take on Kerry in the penultimate league encounter (Tralee, 5.30pm). Ben Cealey has been listed with the injured Ross McQuillan out of the squad having featured in all their previous games. There is also a […]
JOE BROLLY: A Saturday in Castlebar
ON Saturday I got a lift to the Mayo game with a lad from Ballina. As we got close to MacHale park, two hours early, there were parking spaces everywhere. “There’s one,” I said. He drove past it. “There’s another one.” He drove past it. “I don’t know how to reverse Joe,” he said. “How did […]
Down embracing pressure as promotion comes into view
By Shaun Casey WITH Division One hurling at their fingertips, there will be a pleasant mix of nerves and excitement in the Down changing room this weekend, but there’s a difference in pressure and anticipation says boss Ronan Sheehan. Like all the other weekends the Mourne men have played in so far this season, they’re only […]
O’Hare seeking another Red Hand triumph over the Kingdom
By Barry O’Donnell LINING up in direct opposition to the fabled green and gold colours of Kerry this Sunday should bring back happy memories for Shea O’Hare. Last May the Kingdom were the opposition when the Tyrone u-20s sealed a magnificent All-Ireland title in Portlaoise, with the dynamic Ardboe wing-back one of the undoubted stars […]
KEVIN CASSIDY: Kerry v Donegal should have been televised
THE games keep coming and there is no sign of the entertainment slowing down any time soon. Due to the Kerry v Donegal game being postponed, we had just one Division One game to look at last week. Firstly, can I say that, in this day and age, we should be able to see all games […]
JOE BROLLY: Everyone’s a winner
ARMAGH had played their first game against Galway as though the old rules still applied, in line with a school of thought that was popular before the league started that the new game only required a tweak of the old one. As one inter-county coach said to me, “We think we can still make do with […]