I DID say last week that I expected Donegal to be crowned Ulster champions but I didn’t quite predict that they would do so in such dramatic fashion. I expected the game to be ultra-defensive. I know though both teams set up like this, but the quality of the scores taken was unbelievable by both […]
Colm McFadden: The buzz is back in Donegal
May 16, 2024
By Michael McMullan DONEGAL selector Colm McFadden knows a thing or two about Ulster finals. The St Michael’s clubman kicked four points when they ended a famine to land the county’s fifth Ulster title in 2011. His final act of that Clones showpiece was the final nail hammered into Derry. As the clock ticked towards […]
Mirror image: The tactical breakdown of what to expect at Clones
May 10, 2024
By Steven Poacher THIS Sunday we have an Ulster final that is a repeat of the Division Two National League final that saw Donegal defeat Armagh 0-15 to 0-14 in a passive enough encounter that only sprung to life with 15 minutes to go. It had looked as if Donegal were going to canter to […]
Paddy Burns: We want to win it for Geezer
May 9, 2024
By Shaun Casey THIS season marks Kieran McGeeney’s 10th in charge of his native county and also his 40th involved in the inter-county game. McGeeney first pulled on an Armagh shirt at u-14 level in 1984 and has given a lot to the cause since then. ‘Geezer’, as he’s more affectionately known, helped Armagh end […]
KEVIN CASSIDY: Armagh and McGeeney need this Ulster title
May 9, 2024
WAY back when the draw was made, I would say that most of us expected Armagh to be in the final, but not a lot of people would have banked on Donegal navigating their way through to this year’s decider. Looking at both teams, Armagh did what they had to in order to reach the […]
JOE BROLLY: The children of Donegal
May 5, 2024
SON: Dad, why did you name my sister Jolene? Dad: Because your mother loved the song Jolene. Son: Thanks Dad. Dad: No problem, Jimmy’s Winning Matches. Advertisement On Sunday in Celtic Park, Gavin Devlin was spied on top of the stand on the gantry, carefully watching Donegal as they wore down Tyrone. “A week too […]
KEVIN CASSIDY: On Red Alert
May 3, 2024
THERE is a lot of talk at the moment with the lack of competitiveness in most of the provincial championships. This conversation is certainly something that cannot be aimed at the Ulster Senior Football Championship. After the way they dismantled Derry, Donegal went into last week’s semi-final as raging hot favourites. And, anyone who knows […]
KEVIN CASSIDY: Tyrone could still have their say
May 2, 2024
THERE is a lot of talk at the moment with the lack of competitiveness in most of the provincial championships. This conversation is certainly something that cannot be aimed at the Ulster Senior Football Championship. After the way they dismantled Derry, Donegal went into last week’s semi-final as raging hot favourites. And, anyone who knows […]
Shane O’Donnell delighted with achieving goal
May 2, 2024
By Michael McMullan TWO years after making his championship debut in a win over Armagh, Shane O’Donnell will be hoping his second taste of Ulster final action is a winning one. O’Donnell’s two points weren’t enough to stop Derry edging Donegal in an extra-time arm wrestle in Clones to land a first title in 24 […]
MATCH PREVIEW: A big ask for Tyrone
April 27, 2024
ULSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL Donegal v Tyrone Sunday, Celtic Park, 2pm By Niall Gartland THE punishing runs from deep, the disciplined defending, the economy in front of goal and the cutaway shots of Jim McGuinness on the sideline – last Saturday’s unexpected mauling of Derry was like booting up the time machine and setting the dial for to the […]