By Joe Brolly MY son Niall says the GAA should sell tickets for the last ten minutes of games. The rule makers are incompetent and have been unable to do their job, so the spectacle has been ruined. Most games only begin these days when the 60th minute mark is passed. The new 10 minute […]
GERARD O’KANE: A final of the highest quality
I COULD easily be writing this column and replacing the words Derry and Armagh such was the paper-thin difference between the sides on Sunday past. Nearly 100 minutes of action could not separate the two teams and it eventually came down to the lottery that is penalties. Without going into the whole debate of the rights […]
Preview: Derry must match the Orchard need
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
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 […]
Orchard make one change for Ulster final
KIERAN McGeeney has made one change to his starting team ahead of Sunday’s Ulster final against reigning champions Derry. Stefan Campbell has been added to the starting line up, replacing Jemar Hall at centre half forward. Campbell was used as an impact sub against Down, losing his starting place to Rian O’Neill, and came off […]
KEVIN CASSIDY – Armagh need early goals if they’re end Ulster drought
NORMALLY we get to digest games and look back upon them, but given the nature of this year’s championship structure the games just keep coming thick and fast week after week. Last weekend went pretty much as we thought it would with Galway and Kerry running out convincing winners and lifting their provincial crowns. Both […]
Armagh sweating on fitness of key players
Armagh are sweating on the fitness of a number of key players ahead of Sunday’s Ulster final with reigning champions Derry. Kieran McGeeney’s men ended a 15-year wait to reach the decider when they overcame Down by ten points in the semi-final. But it came at a cost as three key players, Ben Crealey, Ciaran […]
Grimley set for spell on the sidelines
NIALL Grimley looks set to miss out on the rest of Armagh’s championship campaign having recently picked up a knee injury. Gaelic Life understands that Grimley damaged his knee (MCL) in training and will be sidelined for 10-12 weeks. The knock isn’t as bad as first feared, but with the reduced championship window, Grimley is […]
KEVIN CASSIDY – Gallagher will be setting his sights on the ultimate prize
BEFORE we get into Tuesday’s draw for the new-look All-Ireland series that’s coming down the tracks, let’s touch on last weekend’s games. Let’s start here in Ulster and as a neutral I was a little disappointed just how one-sided both games were. Derry, while at times little sloppy in the second half, totally outplayed and […]
Ulster SFC preview: Armagh are further down the road
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 […]