Well that's the league done and dusted for another season and onwards to the championship. What are your thoughts on this years Ulster Championship??
Donegal won it last year and we're not shaping up too badly this year either but playing in Div 2 isn't a real indicator as the majority of last years super 8 teams were in Div 1.
Of all the teams in Ulster it looks like Tyrone have added a new dimension to their play and that was clear against Dublin. They played a lovely brand of football that night and shows they have that in addition to their hard running game. Lots of their players are getting to their peak now and are a physically strong side. If they can keep Peter Harte and Mattie Donnelly free from injury I wouldn't rule them going very close to Sam never mind Ulster.
The jury is still out on Monaghan and if they are better than last year. Mc Manus is a joy to watch and they seem to have some company for him now up front but I'd worry about their defence.
Fermanagh were all guns blazing in the league and this is a common thing from a Rory Gallagher team. They will cause Donegal all sorts of problems in Enniskillen but I feel Donegal will have too much for them and their season will fizzle out.
Cavan have a big game in them but I can't see them troubling the top teams.
Armagh have improved immensely and I expect them to be the team to cause a shock or two this year. Some very good talent coming through and with most teams reverting back to a more traditional game I think this will suit Armagh as they never really went away from the kicking game.
I didn't see anything from Derry last week to make me believe they will be anywhere close in Ulster again this year and neither will Antrim or Down.
We're building nicely but not playing in division 1 this year will have an impact. I expect us to beat Fermanagh but think our younger players aren't physical enough yet to deal with Tyrone who I expect will take car of Derry easily. I do think however we will have enough to make the super 8's.
I predict Tyrone for Ulster

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 01/04/2019 21:30:22    2177106

I think, thank god we're in Leinster.

Game of Thrones is handier.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 01/04/2019 21:52:57    2177114

I reckon Tyrone will win Ulster too, hope we get to the super 8's at least, we are a work in progress, great potential for the future though.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2747 - 01/04/2019 22:02:07    2177119

Think Tyrone will walk ulster with Armagh being the surprise package. Hope am wrong but I can't see us making a big impact in terms of going close to.winning it. We have on paper great chance of making final but our defence struggled badly in the league v lucky to stay up mainly due to our midfield being so poor so I can see us struggling for big parts of games and conceding bigger scores than last year. On plus side we have added options in attack and we will end up needing these. First day out in breffini will be a dog fight so not looking beyond that.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1799 - 01/04/2019 22:02:36    2177120

Preliminary
Tyrone v Derry

Quarter Finals
Cavan v Monaghan
Down v Armagh
Fermanagh v Donegal
Antrim v Tyrone

Semi Finals
Cavan v Armagh
Donegal v Tyrone

Final
Armagh v Tyrone

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 01/04/2019 22:29:37    2177138

I'd like to see Cavan cause a surprise this year but for me it is Tyrone or Donegal. Very competitive province all the same.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 02/04/2019 02:07:07    2177164

FootblockREF (Monaghan) - Posts: 563 - 02/04/2019 07:45:50    2177172

Not going to play up or down our chances. We could beat Tyrone. They could beat us. Then there is Monaghan. Always a bananaskin from the field too. Armagh are capable of an upset as are cavan. Down or Derry likewise fernanagh. The bookies most likely have it right. To conclude, it's wide open

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 02/04/2019 09:03:45    2177179

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 02/04/2019 10:22:00    2177194

It is wide open. I do think Monaghan will get to the final handy enough.

Tyrone vs Donegal (if both get there, which I think they will) will be tight, a bit like last year, Tyrone got over the line in last 15 mins. Tyrone were fitter but Donegal will another year of S&C and experience so should even it up. Neil McGee and Paddy McGrath could both be starting in the full back line, I think Tyrone could expose this. McBearty and an on form Murphy scares the be Jesus out of me. Il go for a 3 point Tyrone win.

Tyrone vs Monaghan final. Tyrone to win by 6. Monaghan have a lot of miles in the legs and haven't blooded enough younger players.

Probably completely wrong but that's my 2 cents

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 02/04/2019 10:32:51    2177198

It's Tyrone's to lose. Nothing more to say here... :P

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9133 - 02/04/2019 10:39:49    2177200

One thing is for sure nobody outside of Monaghan, Tyrone or Donegal will win it.

Monaghan have made a habit of been caught cold so it won't be a huge surprise if that happens again. but would expect all 3 to make the supers 8's as long as the draw is kind. There's always the chance of a potential Monaghan v Donegal/Tyrone R4 qualifier

The loser of the Tyrone Donegal game will have most to lose as they'll go into the 2nd round of the qualifiers and their is going to be some good teams lurking before making the super 8's.

JDF (Galway) - Posts: 322 - 02/04/2019 11:28:59    2177218

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 02/04/2019 11:32:34    2177219

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1799 - 02/04/2019 11:55:10    2177227

Tyrone favs for me. I think from a Donegal perspective we a year or two off Tyrone. However I think we have the best set of attacking players in the province who on our day can beat anybody. Therefore as a betting man I will be keeping my money in my pocket

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2781 - 02/04/2019 12:08:06    2177231

I think that Monaghan will win Ulster despite the advances that Tyrone have made (although Tyrone will make the Super 8s and could be a big threat there). Can't see a real challenge coming from any of the other counties.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 02/04/2019 12:30:19    2177237

I'm excited about the potential of this Donegal team but I really fear Tyrone in all honesty. They're the type of team that could really punish how open our defence has been this year with their direct running and the new element of attack they've brought this year.

On the day we are of course capable of beating them but I think they're on a mission somehow.

That's assuming we'll beat Fermanagh in their own backyard which is no guarantee!

But very excited to see what we can do on the dry, hard pitches this summer and hopefully with Paddy back and firing like he was last year.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 02/04/2019 12:49:17    2177243

Tyrone could win the Ulster Championship but beyond that I really don't know what they're capable of. As has been mentioned here before in the last decade the only non-Ulster team they've beaten in Croke Park QFs and onwards is Roscommon. In that period they've failed to beat Dublin, Kerry, and Mayo, having played 6 games against them between QFs, SFs, and an All-Ireland Final.

greatpoint (USA) - Posts: 427 - 02/04/2019 13:47:20    2177268

Ulster could well be the most entertaining provincial championship this year.

Monaghan play quick incisive football,
Donegal bedded some really good players last season and made Div 2 look easy this year,
and are rightfully back in Div 1.
Armagh easy on the eye with some real talent coming through , and of course
Tyrone who are simply playing to their strengths now with a kicking game to add to the running one .

Vishred (Mayo) - Posts: 303 - 02/04/2019 14:08:20    2177276

In the early rounds:
Tyrone to skittle Derry and Antrim.
Donegal to give an outdated Fermanagh system a bit of a hiding

Cavan to nick a dour one against Monaghan- no logic to it but it is overdue and Monaghan hate being heavy favourites
Armagh likewise to eke out a win against Down, based on pure doggedness.

Semi final wins for Armagh and Tyrone.

A procession in the final- Tyrone by 7+
Their achievement will promptly be written off but they won't care one bit

MadgeKing (Cavan) - Posts: 493 - 02/04/2019 15:19:18    2177303