Weekend GAA Preview

This weekend sees the return of county action after the long, cold Winter in the form of the provincial competitions around the county. In Ulster we have the Dr McKenna Cup to keep us entertained.

The match prices are as follows:

5/6 UUJ 7/1 Fermanagh 11/10

4/6 QUB 7/1 Cavan 11/8

2/5 Down 15/2 St Mary’s 2/1

1/2 Tyrone 15/2 Donegal 15/8

1/3 Derry 15/2 Monaghan 15/8

4/9 Armagh 15/2 Antrim 15/8

 

The big two universities could get their competitions off to a flyer on Saturday night against Fermanagh and Cavan respectively. Jordanstown and Queens already have the pre Christmas Ryan Cup tournament under their belts and have been training all Winter so will be flying fit in preparation for the Sigerson Cup next month. On the other hand the county sides have had a Winter training ban to adhere to though whether they did or not is another question. The university sides are packed with county players.

Queens can call on the likes of Peter Graham (Antrim), Luke Howard (Down), James & Charlie Kielt and Joe O’Kane (Derry). Cavan are missing their star forward Seanie Johnston which could be the difference in the end in this match. Queens have a good record in the McKenna Cup recently having made the final in 2009 and come in to this on the back of reaching the Ryan Cup final before Christmas having beat Jordanstown along the way.

Jordanstown have a good squad as well with players such as Donal Morgan, Conor McManus (both Monaghan), Colm Murney (Down), Brendan Donaghy, Eugene McVerry (both Armagh), Cailean O’Boyle (Antrim) and Joe Diver (Derry). Cavan have really fell to the bottom of the pile in terms of Ulster lately and Jordanstown should have the fitness and class to beat them here. They normally nick at least one win a year in the McKenna Cup having beat Armagh last year in the group stages.

Derry look a certainty against a depleted Monaghan side which has seventeen players missing from the panel who reached the Ulster final last summer. They are missing Dermot McArdle, Gary McQuaid, Vincent Corey, Eoin Lennon, Tommy or Damien Freeman, Rory Woods and the Hughes brothers Kieran and Darren as well as many others. New manager Eamon McEneaney has his work cut out for him to mould a winning team out of so many newcomers. John Brennan also takes his first match for the county after years of being linked with the job. He has named a strong Derry panel with lots of experience and they should have enough to beat the new faces for Monaghan.

Recommendations:

Jordanstown 5/6

Queens 4/6

Derry 1/3

The treble pays £40.74 for £10 but we will give 7/2 for this treble at the weekend in Tommy French Bookmakers.

 

Last year’s winning captain Kevin Cassidy of Donegal.

 

Outright prices for the McKenna Cup:

Tyrone 5/2
Down 5/1
Donegal 5/1
Derry 11/2
Armagh 11/2
Monaghan 8/1
Antrim 12/1
Cavan 12/1
QUB 14/1
UUJ 16/1
Fermanagh 16/1
St Mary's 33/1