BY the time this column is published, county managers up and down the country will be like the referee from the original Gladiators show, John Anderson, roaring: “Gladiators, are you ready?!” This is exactly what will be echoed across the changing rooms during the final inter-county sessions on Thursday and Friday of this weekend. After a […]
By Michael McMullan JIM McGuinness has named the Donegal team for Saturday’s NFL opener against Dublin in Croke Park (5pm) Nine of the team have been retained from the starting lineup from the quarter final. Donegal still await the return of Shaun Patton, Michael Murphy and Oisín Gallen, while Ciarán Thompson is a long-term absentee […]
By Michael McMullan ARMAGH have named their team for this Sunday’s NFL opener with Monaghan in Clones. Blaine Hughes starts between the posts with Aaron McKay and Tiernan Kelly listed in the heart of their defence. Belleek’s Callum O’Neill will be partnered by Andrew Murnin. Advertisement Conor Turbitt, Oisin Conaty and Oisin O’Neill are key […]
By Michael McMullan THE Down camp are excited about this weekend’s return to top-flight hurling but manager Ronan Sheehan is aware of the challenge ahead. The Down manager says they will be favourites for relegation and underdogs in all their games, beginning on Saturday afternoon in Carlow. Sheehan also feels even though they beat Kildare […]
By Michael McMullan ANTRIM manager Mark Doran is planning without key defenders Peter Healy and Ronan Boyle ahead of the National League campaign that gets up and running on Sunday. The Saffrons welcome Carlow to Cargin as they begin a promotion bid after last season’s relegation from Division Three. Doran, in his first year at […]
By Michael McMullan DERRY manager Ciarán Meenagh feels his side must find a balance in focus this weekend as their league campaign gets underway against Meath. With Páirc Tailteann under repair, the Royals have nominated Croke Park for their home games. Saturday’s opener (3pm) has been in the Derry sights since the fixtures came out, […]
Antrim are under the management of Mark Doran and will be taking aim at a promotion bid. Michael McMullan takes a look at their main focus… HOW do you build a house? Lay the foundations. Then lay one brick at a time. Keep on laying, add the mortar, then keep on laying. Hours pass and […]
Shaun Casey assesses the Mourne County’s hopes for the road ahead DIVISION Three isn’t exactly the scene Conor Laverty and Down wanted to experience again any time soon, but that’s where they find themselves as the 2026 National League approaches. The Mourne men competed exceptionally well in Division Two last season, picking up six-points in […]
County teams have a McKenna Cup campaign to feel their way into 2026. Michael McMullan ponders over the Ulster teams’ targets. ANTRIM NEW manager Mark Doran will have one clear focus and that is to get the Saffrons back out of Division Four after last year’s relegation. He has experience of inter-county backroom teams and […]
FORMER Ulster GAA players Jude McAtamney and Charlie Smyth have missed out on their clubs’ rosters ahead of the new NFL season, although it doesn’t mean that they will make their exits. Mayobridge man Smyth was Down’s goalkeeper in their 2021 Ulster u-20 winning team, while McAtamney, from Swatragh, was a long-range free-taker when Derry […]
