By Michael McMullan THERE have been fewer goals in this season’s provincial championships but over twice as many in the opening round of the All-Ireland SFC group stages since last season. There has been the expected overall rise in scoring with the inception of the new rules. The biggest difference has been in Ulster where last […]
Now that the Ulster Championship has been and gone, Michael McMullan looks at the key men on show. Here is his selection. 1 Ronan Burns (Down) RONAN who? That’s what most people outside Down were asking when the u-20 ‘keeper stepped into the number one jersey. Hailed by manager Conor Laverty as the best shot […]
By Michael McMullan THERE have been less goals in this season’s provincial championships with an expected overall rise in scoring with the inception of the new rules. The difference has come in Ulster wjere last year’s tally of 17 dropped to 10, albeit three games in 2024 went to extra-time with this season’s final the […]
Niall Gartland charts the counties who have traditionally fared best on the provincial front Kerry (86 Munster titles) LEADING the way with the most provincial titles of any county is – no big surprises here – Kerry. While Cork were dominant in the early stages of the competition, winning six Munster titles in the 1890s, it wasn’t long […]
By Michael McMullan AS Saturday’s Ulster final ticked into the final seconds of extra-time, Jim McGuinness could only look on. His hands were tied. It was down to the players. All his cards were on the table. After a glance at the clock, he fixed his eyes on Stephen McMenamin and Finnbarr Roarty as they […]
For the fourth year in a row, the Ulster final served up extra-time as Donegal and Armagh stood tall all the way to the last second. Michael McMullan took a walk through Ulster football’s Mecca… SATURDAY in Clones was absolutely magic. You could see it, feel it and almost taste it. As for the football […]
By Michael McMullan CIARÁN Moore was one part of the St Eunan’s duo to shoot Donegal to their 12th Ulster title but he found it hard to put his crucial extra-time goal into context. Replaced by Eoin McHugh in the second half or normal time, Moore returned for Jason McGee in extra time and kicked […]
John Toal knows exactly what Kieran McGeeney and Jim McGuinness bring to the table. Shaun Casey writes… ON Saturday afternoon, at the start of this season’s Ulster Championship final, Kieran McGeeney will lock eyes and shake hands with Jim McGuinness for the tenth time in his managerial career. Across tenures with Kildare and his native […]
Ulster SFC final Armagh v Donegal Saturday, Clones, 5.25pm By Michael McMullan IF we get half of the drama of last year’s final, Clones will be rocking on Saturday evening as two heavyweights slug it out once again. The margins were small. When Jemar Hall decided to drop off Odhrán Doherty to defend the middle, […]
By Michael McMullan DONEGAL have named their team for Saturday’s Ulster final with Armagh, a repeat of last year’s final and the last hurdle in their title defence. It’s an unchanged starting 15 from their win over Down with Caolan McGonagle and Mark Curran added to the bench after spells with injury since their win […]
