Ulster Championship 2024
- Thread starter ragingbull
- Start date
Big Jim
Well-Known Member
Well that's what happens when Trump is voted in and allowed a free run
Donegal look to build privacy fence around training pitch
The €55,000 embellishment around the perimeter of the training pitch is aimed at keeping prying eyes away from sessions.www.irishexaminer.com
What has Gaelic football become
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
PutTheHighBallInLow
Active Member
Armaghmad00
Active Member
Championship team I'd like to see...
1. Blinne
2. Paddy Burns
3. Aaron mckay
4. Aidan Forker
5. Peter McGrane
6. Greg McCabe
7. Ciaran Higgins
8. Ciaran Mackin
9. Ben Crealey
10. Stefan Campbell
11. Rory Grugan
12. Rian O'Neill
13. Conor Turbitt
14. Andrew Murnin
15. Oisin Conaty
1. Blinne
2. Paddy Burns
3. Aaron mckay
4. Aidan Forker
5. Peter McGrane
6. Greg McCabe
7. Ciaran Higgins
8. Ciaran Mackin
9. Ben Crealey
10. Stefan Campbell
11. Rory Grugan
12. Rian O'Neill
13. Conor Turbitt
14. Andrew Murnin
15. Oisin Conaty
Patrick-Armagh
Well-Known Member
Conor O'Neill and Joe McElroy, two of our best players in the league dropped? Ruthless!
1. Hughes
2. Burns
3. McKay
4. McGrane
5. McCabe
6. Forker
7. Conor O'Neill
8. Ciaran Mackin
9. Crealey
10. McElroy
11. Grugan
12. Rian O'Neill
13. Turbitt
14. Murnin
15. Conaty
We need to have some scorers coming off the bench, so Stefan Campbell could easily start over Rian and have him being sprung from the bench. McCambridge would be in with a shout of starting if Conor O'Neill isn't ready. Otherwise I think this is close to our best team and a version of this has been the one that has started throughout the league. I don't see anyone starting outside of these names.
Peter grimes
Well-Known Member
Ciaran Mackin wouldn’t last 15 mins in that team. He would be dead on his feet having done the running of 6 men. If I was mischievous I could name the other 5 men. The balance of that team is wrong.
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
1.Blaine Hughes
2.Paddy Burns
3.Aaron McKay
4.Aidan Forker
5.Conor O'Neill
6.Greg McCabe
7.Ciaran Mackin
8.Oisin O'Neill
9.Jarly Og Burns
10.Stefan Campbell
11.Rory Grugan
12.Rian O'Neill
13.Conor Turbitt
14.Andrew Murnin
15.Aidan Nugent
2.Paddy Burns
3.Aaron McKay
4.Aidan Forker
5.Conor O'Neill
6.Greg McCabe
7.Ciaran Mackin
8.Oisin O'Neill
9.Jarly Og Burns
10.Stefan Campbell
11.Rory Grugan
12.Rian O'Neill
13.Conor Turbitt
14.Andrew Murnin
15.Aidan Nugent
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Few teams I have seen I think might struggle with defensive side of covering ground/runners.
Might sound a bit negative but putting out our 6 best scoring forwards I don't think is the way forward. Think we would be heavily exposed.
For what it's worth I would go with:
Rafferty
Forker
McCambridge
Burns
McGabe
McGrane
Jarly Og
Mackin
Crealey
McElroy
Grugan
Duffy
Rian
Murnin
Conaty
Leaves plenty of options on the bench to come on and change a game.
Between now and Fermanagh will probably change my mind about this team a dozen times
Might sound a bit negative but putting out our 6 best scoring forwards I don't think is the way forward. Think we would be heavily exposed.
For what it's worth I would go with:
Rafferty
Forker
McCambridge
Burns
McGabe
McGrane
Jarly Og
Mackin
Crealey
McElroy
Grugan
Duffy
Rian
Murnin
Conaty
Leaves plenty of options on the bench to come on and change a game.
Between now and Fermanagh will probably change my mind about this team a dozen times
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
@niall1980 what is it thats funny about that team
For the Fermanagh game, I do not think we will see too many changes or surprises. Given the way they set up, we will need plenty of 'workers' as opposed to 6 scoring forwards.
Blainne ( a certainty)
P Burns
A McKay
P McGrane
G McCabe
A Forker
C O'Neill
C Mackin
B Crealey
J McElroy
J Og Burns
R Grugan
C Turbitt
A Murnin
O Conaty
The old days of lining out 6 backs, 2 midfielders and 6 forwards is long gone.
The above leaves Soupy, 2 O'Neills, Duffy and McCambridge etc to come on in the 2nd half.
However, if we get through this game, and a likely semi against Down, then I would hope for a different team ready and able to start an Ulster final against the likes of Derry or Tyrone.
Blainne ( a certainty)
P Burns
A McKay
P McGrane
G McCabe
A Forker
C O'Neill
C Mackin
B Crealey
J McElroy
J Og Burns
R Grugan
C Turbitt
A Murnin
O Conaty
The old days of lining out 6 backs, 2 midfielders and 6 forwards is long gone.
The above leaves Soupy, 2 O'Neills, Duffy and McCambridge etc to come on in the 2nd half.
However, if we get through this game, and a likely semi against Down, then I would hope for a different team ready and able to start an Ulster final against the likes of Derry or Tyrone.
Armaghniac
Well-Known Member
Armagh's chicken and egg scenario
The contrast between Ulster rivals Derry and Armagh at Croke Park on Sunday was stark, even allowing for the early stage of the year.
Patrick-Armagh
Well-Known Member
Dropping Peter McGrane and Joe McElroy who have been two of our stand out players all season, who have pace and running ability to get around the pitch, playing an entirely new midfield who haven't played a minute there all season (though they play there for club) and starting Aidan Nugent who is clearly off the pace over Oisin Conaty who has been our best player this season, is certainly a bold selection policy!
Last year mcpartlan wasn’t seen until the Antrim game, then got minutes in every game after that. Hopefully we see a similar approach and the team gets mixed up a bit next weekend as we’ll need something to spark a reaction and some positivity in this Ulster campaign.
Realistically all we can hope for against Fermanagh is some fresh players and a positive approach. We won’t know if they figure out there’s no point in having a man sweeping on the 20m line if it leaves a mountain of space at the edge of the D until we meet a more serious opponent.
Realistically all we can hope for against Fermanagh is some fresh players and a positive approach. We won’t know if they figure out there’s no point in having a man sweeping on the 20m line if it leaves a mountain of space at the edge of the D until we meet a more serious opponent.
Team I'd like to see is
B Hughes
P Burns
A McKay
B McCambridge
C O'Neill
A Forker
J og Burns
B Crealy
S McPartlan (won't happen)
S Campbell
R O'Neill
J Duffy/R McQuillan
C Turbitt
O O'Neill
R Grugan (free role to go out and play make)
When all players are fit I'd have James Morgan back in the team instead of burns in cornerback. Morgan and mccambridge are the teams 2 best man markers and with teams showing they can break mass defences down more now I think we need some more man markers, team is harsh on Conaty especially as he has been excellent, I think tiernan Kelly worth a shout too as he has massive potential is a kick out option and can kick a score. This team has kick passers in forker, grugan and Rian, has height in the 2 oneills and the midfield also OG burns and Duffy, and has pace with Campbell, Turbitt, og burns,
B Hughes
P Burns
A McKay
B McCambridge
C O'Neill
A Forker
J og Burns
B Crealy
S McPartlan (won't happen)
S Campbell
R O'Neill
J Duffy/R McQuillan
C Turbitt
O O'Neill
R Grugan (free role to go out and play make)
When all players are fit I'd have James Morgan back in the team instead of burns in cornerback. Morgan and mccambridge are the teams 2 best man markers and with teams showing they can break mass defences down more now I think we need some more man markers, team is harsh on Conaty especially as he has been excellent, I think tiernan Kelly worth a shout too as he has massive potential is a kick out option and can kick a score. This team has kick passers in forker, grugan and Rian, has height in the 2 oneills and the midfield also OG burns and Duffy, and has pace with Campbell, Turbitt, og burns,
Seamy
Well-Known Member
Hughes
Burns
McKay
McCambridge
Forker
McCabe
C.O'Neill
Ciaran Mackin
Crealey
McElroy
Grugan
Duffy
Turbitt
Murnin
Conaty
That's the team I'd hope to see start. Blaine has done absolutely nothing to warrant being dropped and if anything, he's got better as the year has went on.
Burns will be a nailed on starter. Probably his best league campaign to date and an out and out man marker when required. McKay has been a mixed bag but still offers that robustness and size at FB and if McCambridge is fit he's a natural starter there for the same reasons as Burns. Harsh on young McGrane but I do think we've the rose tinted glasses on a small bit due to his goals and general attacking play. He still is a small bit naive as a defender but nonetheless, a great option to have.
In the HB line, McCabe has been remarkable so far and I think he'd relish the CHB spot. Conor O'Neill was flying prior to injury. I'm concerned with how Forker has been so far this year but you'd hope he'll be a different animal come championship.
MF is our debacle. The two lads I've in are the best for the job. Jarly Og was very good at the weekend but I don't think he's done enough just yet to warrant a starting spot. But that being said, if he does get significant game time in the QF and hopefully a SF he could easily play his way in. Connaire Mackin could do the same if fit.
Grugan has been immense, no further explanation needed and with Joe McElroy he offered attacking prowess along with defensive capabilities when tracking back, having had a great league. I like the selection of Duffy for similar reasons. He's a hard working individual who is not afraid to get the hands dirty and well capable of contributing on the score board.
Turbitt has flattered to deceive against bigger opposition but I think that's as much psychological as anything and will come with time. Murnin is a big game player on the other hand and oozes talent. If we can get quick, early ball in to him we can cause havoc. And again, similar to McGrane, Conaty is still a small bit naive and new but I'd see no reason not to start him come the Fermanagh game.
That leaves Soupy, O O'Neill, R O'Neill, Jarly Og, McGrane, McQuillan, Nugent, TK, Hall, McPartlan, Rafferty, McConville, Grimley, Morgan.
Serious strength and depth on the bench. I do think that Rian and Oisin are definitely still some bit away and haven't shown anything to suggest they should be starting. As good as Soupy has been I do think he's a better impact player off the bench. TK, and McQuillan could slot in for Duffy and Conaty as could Cian McConville and already mentioned Jarly Og above. Morgan's lack of discipline and tendency to pick up black/red cards is enough to put me off having him start. He's still an effective man marker but a lot of injuries and lack of game time could be the cause of that competitive edge dwindling.
When you list the lot out like that it's a hell of squad who should on their day be capable of competing with anyone. Let's just hope on May 12th (provided we beat the next two opponents) we've something to show for it.
Burns
McKay
McCambridge
Forker
McCabe
C.O'Neill
Ciaran Mackin
Crealey
McElroy
Grugan
Duffy
Turbitt
Murnin
Conaty
That's the team I'd hope to see start. Blaine has done absolutely nothing to warrant being dropped and if anything, he's got better as the year has went on.
Burns will be a nailed on starter. Probably his best league campaign to date and an out and out man marker when required. McKay has been a mixed bag but still offers that robustness and size at FB and if McCambridge is fit he's a natural starter there for the same reasons as Burns. Harsh on young McGrane but I do think we've the rose tinted glasses on a small bit due to his goals and general attacking play. He still is a small bit naive as a defender but nonetheless, a great option to have.
In the HB line, McCabe has been remarkable so far and I think he'd relish the CHB spot. Conor O'Neill was flying prior to injury. I'm concerned with how Forker has been so far this year but you'd hope he'll be a different animal come championship.
MF is our debacle. The two lads I've in are the best for the job. Jarly Og was very good at the weekend but I don't think he's done enough just yet to warrant a starting spot. But that being said, if he does get significant game time in the QF and hopefully a SF he could easily play his way in. Connaire Mackin could do the same if fit.
Grugan has been immense, no further explanation needed and with Joe McElroy he offered attacking prowess along with defensive capabilities when tracking back, having had a great league. I like the selection of Duffy for similar reasons. He's a hard working individual who is not afraid to get the hands dirty and well capable of contributing on the score board.
Turbitt has flattered to deceive against bigger opposition but I think that's as much psychological as anything and will come with time. Murnin is a big game player on the other hand and oozes talent. If we can get quick, early ball in to him we can cause havoc. And again, similar to McGrane, Conaty is still a small bit naive and new but I'd see no reason not to start him come the Fermanagh game.
That leaves Soupy, O O'Neill, R O'Neill, Jarly Og, McGrane, McQuillan, Nugent, TK, Hall, McPartlan, Rafferty, McConville, Grimley, Morgan.
Serious strength and depth on the bench. I do think that Rian and Oisin are definitely still some bit away and haven't shown anything to suggest they should be starting. As good as Soupy has been I do think he's a better impact player off the bench. TK, and McQuillan could slot in for Duffy and Conaty as could Cian McConville and already mentioned Jarly Og above. Morgan's lack of discipline and tendency to pick up black/red cards is enough to put me off having him start. He's still an effective man marker but a lot of injuries and lack of game time could be the cause of that competitive edge dwindling.
When you list the lot out like that it's a hell of squad who should on their day be capable of competing with anyone. Let's just hope on May 12th (provided we beat the next two opponents) we've something to show for it.