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Peter Sweeney

Peter Sweeney's Blog

Peter Sweeney is the Gaelic Games Correspondent with the Irish Daily Star Newspaper. He is a regular on television and radio and even though he isn't any good he still tries to play Gaelic football.

  • 19 Jul 2010

    The Ulster Provincial Championship

    THIS time last year Tyrone left Ulster full of hope and as provincial champions. Fast forward 12 months and they have hung on to the Anglo Celt Cup for the first time since 1995-’96 and they look to be in even better nick. read more

    THIS time last year Tyrone left Ulster full of hope and as provincial champions.

    Fast forward 12 months and they have hung on to the Anglo Celt Cup for the first time since 1995-’96 and they look to be in even better nick.

    But it’s best to remember that in between these two domestic triumphs they were blown away by Cork in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final.

    The Rebels are the biggest, strongest and most athletic team that Gaelic Games has ever produced and they were able to tear Tyrone’s defensive blanket to shreds in the first half.

    And once they had Alan O’Connor sent off before the break they were happy to settle into their own pattern of containment, with the then-All-Ireland champions unable to come up with any answers.

    So, has anything changed since then?

    Well, Tyrone certainly look better equipped for the challenge and what’s sure is they still exist inside the Big Three. If they are to end up beaten this summer it will take Cork or Kerry to do it.

    On the three occasions they have come into the Championship defending Sam Maguire they have struggled, with last year’s semi-final showing by far the best they have managed.

    So Mickey Harte’s veterans have had a season to get their hunger back and that can be no bad thing.

    The older stagers such as Conor Gormley, Ryan McMenamin and Brian Dooher all look to be in good fettle and they are all injury free. If Stephen O’Neill can keep himself right between now and September it would be a massive boost.

    Joe McMahon is playing his way into Footballer of the Year territory with his displays of pure footballing ability as spare man in defence and Sean Cavanagh appears to be winding himself up for a few big days at Croke Park – the arena he loves best.

    The spread of scorers Tyrone had in the Ulster final – ten of the starting team in all – is simply incredible and shows that this team is packed with ball players and the threat comes from everywhere.

    Added to that Harte has found a few new gems like Cathal McCarron and Peter Harte.

    Tyrone haven’t gone away, you know.

    *PS The days of Ulster being considered the strongest of the four provinces in football are behind us.

    On Saturday Armagh and Derry bombed against Leinster opponents and Tyrone strolled to victory in the final over a Monaghan team who only managed seven points across the 70 minutes.

    Of course, it remains competitive and will always be a tough province to win but it is no longer head and shoulders above the rest.

Home Away Date Time Venue
Mayo Dublin 11.02.2012 12:00  
Cavan Longford 11.02.2012 12:00  
Kerry Armagh 11.02.2012 12:00  
Waterford Kilkenny 11.02.2012 12:00  

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Home Score Away Score Date Venue
Clare 1-17 Waterford 0-12 05.02  
Kilkenny 1-01 Wicklow 3-25 05.02  
Leitrim 0-09 Limerick 1-09 05.02  
Armagh 0-10 Cork 1-07 05.02  

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