The 2023 renewal of the Ulster Senior Football Championship begins this weekend with the preliminary round clash between Armagh and Antrim.
With the new Championship format in place, the provincial series offers the last chance for teams to secure their place in the Sam Maguire Cup with the finalists from each province guaranteed a place in the 16-team round robin.
Tyrone, Monaghan, Derry, Donegal and Armagh are already assured of their place in the top 16, but Antrim, Cavan, Fermanagh and Down can join them if they reach the Ulster final.
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Failure to do so for the aforementioned quartet will see them compete in the Tailteann Cup later in the summer. The second-tier competition will also be run as a round robin competition after last year’s inaugural running was a straight knock-out.
The Allianz Leagues didn’t go to plan for a number of teams and several counties will be without key players for at least the opening round.
We assess each team’s chances of success as the Ulster Senior Football Championship gets under way.
Antrim
Manager: Andy McEntee
One to watch: Conor Stewart
2022 Championship results: Ulster SFC quarter-final: Antrim 0-10 Cavan 1-20; Tailteann Cup R1: Leitrim 2-14 Antrim 1-12.
2023 League form: Sixth in Division Three
2023 Ulster SFC odds: 150/1
Ulster SFC fixture: v Armagh (Saturday, April 8, 5pm, Box-It Athletic Grounds)
Verdict: It has been a trying few months for new Antrim manager Andy McEntee, but the Saffrons ultimately secured their aim of retaining their status in Division Three.
The highlight was a 1-17 to 2-12 win over eventual champions Cavan in round six. That result came off the back of a 31-point loss to Westmeath while Antrim also blew five and eight-point leads against Down and Fermanagh respectively.
They are still without key defender Dermot McAleese (broken jaw) while Ryan Murray (hamstring) remains a major doubt for Saturday’s opener against Armagh.
The Ulster SFC draw hasn’t been kind to Antrim and they’ll need everything to go in their favour to have a hope of upsetting the odds against the Orchard County.
However, their League performances suggest they have the talent to give the Tailteann Cup a rattle later in the summer.
Armagh
Manager: Kieran McGeeney
One to watch: Conor Turbitt
2022 Championship results: Ulster SFC quarter-final: Donegal 1-16 Armagh 0-12; All-Ireland Qualifiers R1: Armagh 1-16 Tyrone 1-10; All-Ireland Qualifiers R2: Armagh 3-17 Donegal 0-16; All-Ireland SFC quarter-final: Galway 2-21 Armagh 3-18 AET (Galway won 4-1 on pens).
2023 League form: Seventh in Division One (relegated)
2023 Ulster SFC odds: 4/1
Ulster SFC fixture: v Antrim (Saturday, April 8, 5pm, Box-It Athletic Grounds)
Verdict: Relegation from Division One on the final day of the League doesn’t change Armagh’s Championship goals.
The Orchard County are desperate for an Ulster title and haven’t won one or competed in the final since their last success in 2008.
Bounced back after their Ulster exit to Donegal to defeat Tyrone and Donegal in the Qualifiers before losing to Galway on penalties.
Their League performances were solid and they were competitive in every game and ought to have claimed more points than they did.
A move towards a more defensive style of play seems to jar with the array of attacking talent they have at their disposal.
A favourable draw ought to see them at least reach the provincial final.
Cavan
Manager: Mickey Graham
One to watch: Paddy Lynch
2022 Championship results: Ulster SFC quarter-final: Antrim 0-10 Cavan 1-20; Ulster SFC semi-final: Donegal 2-16 Cavan 0-16; Tailteann Cup R1: Cavan 0-24 Down 1-12, Tailteann Cup quarter-final: Cavan 2-16 Fermanagh 0-13; Tailteann Cup semi-final: Cavan 0-20 Sligo 1-14; Tailteann Cup final: Westmeath 2-14 Cavan 1-13.
2023 League form: Second in Division Three, won the final against Fermanagh (promoted)
2023 Ulster SFC odds: 12/1
Ulster SFC fixture: V Antrim/Armagh (Saturday, April 22, Venue TBC)
Verdict: Back-to-back promotions for Cavan will see them compete in Division Two next season. Before that, the Breffnimen will be keen on avoiding the Tailteann Cup by reaching the Ulster final.
They’re lying in the long grass for the winners of Saturday’s preliminary round tie. Should Armagh prevail, they’ll have home advantage against the Orchard County later this month.
They fared well for large periods of last year’s Ulster SFC semi-final loss to Donegal and bounced back well to reach the final of the inaugural Tailteann Cup.
Westmeath’s win in the final has given them a ticket to the Sam Maguire round-robin and, should Cavan fail to make it to the provincial final, they’ll be one of the favourites for the second-tier competition once more.
Capable of taking out a higher-ranked team in Ulster, but unlikely to repeat their heroics of 2020.
Derry
Manager: Rory Gallagher
One to watch: Eoin McEvoy
2022 Championship results: Ulster SFC quarter-final: Tyrone 0-10 Derry 1-18; Ulster SFC semi-final: Derry 3-12 Monaghan 0-17; Ulster SFC final: Derry 1-16 Donegal 1-14 AET; All-Ireland SFC quarter-final: Derry 5-13 Clare 2-8; All-Ireland SFC semi-final: Galway 2-8 Derry 1-6.
2023 League form: First in Division Two, lost final to Dublin (promoted)
2023 Ulster SFC odds: 13/8
Ulster SFC fixture: v Fermanagh (Saturday, April 15, Brewster Park, 5pm)
Verdict: Ended a 24-year wait to lift the Anglo Celt Cup and have since won the pre-season Dr McKenna Cup and clinched promotion to Division One for next season.
The fact that Derry are the outright favourites to retain their Ulster title ahead of the teams who competed in the top flight this season is telling.
The Oak Leafers are, undoubtedly, the team to beat. They are overwhelming favourites to defeat Fermanagh in the first round and that would set them up against the winners of Tyrone and Monaghan in the semi-final.
Both sides lost to Derry in the provincial series last year and won’t lack for motivation this time around.
The emergence of full-back Eoin McEvoy has been a real plus for Rory Gallagher, but the injury to Conor Glass in last Sunday’s Division Two final loss to Dublin is a concern.
The games will come thick and fast this summer while there remains uncertainty as to what role, if any, Ciaran McFaul will have in the Derry squad.
Donegal
Manager: Aidan O’Rourke (interim)
One to watch: Daire Ó Baoil
2022 Championship results: Ulster SFC quarter-final: Donegal 1-16 Armagh 0-12; Ulster SFC semi-final: Donegal 2-16 Cavan 0-16 Ulster SFC final: Derry 1-16 Donegal 1-14 AET; All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers R1: Armagh 3-17 Donegal 0-16.
2023 League form: Eighth in Division One (relegated)
2023 Ulster SFC odds: 15/2
Ulster SFC fixture: v Down (Sunday, April 23, Páirc Esler, 2pm)
Verdict: To say all is not well in Donegal would be something of an understatement.
GAA managers rarely resign mid-season, so Paddy Carr quitting prior to the conclusion of the Allianz Football League campaign was an extraordinary turn of events.
Clearly, there are bridges to be mended behind the scenes, but Donegal have little time to feel sorry for themselves as their Ulster SFC opener against Down is fast approaching and they are guaranteed at least three further games in the Sam Maguire Cup.
Donegal’s relegation from Division One wasn’t a surprise and the challenge for Aidan O’Rourke and Paddy Bradley is to try and galvanise the panel against all odds, although the recent departure of Ryan McHugh is another huge blow.
They’ll hope captain Paddy McBrearty can return to action sooner rather than later, but it would be a surprise if Donegal’s fortunes improve in the short term.
Down
Manager: Conor Laverty
One to watch: Andrew Gilmore
2022 Championship results: Ulster SFC quarter-final: Monaghan 0-23 Down 2-7; Tailteann Cup R1: Cavan 0-24 Down 1-12.
2023 League form: Third in Division Three
2023 Ulster SFC odds: 20/1
Ulster SFC fixture: v Donegal (Sunday, April 23, Páirc Esler, 2pm)
Verdict: Narrowly fell short in their bid to bounce straight back to Division Two with Sean Quigley’s dramatic late winner in Ederney coming back to haunt the Mournemen.
The loss of Barry O’Hagan so early in the season was a huge blow for Conor Laverty, but Down always have the ability to cause an upset in the Championship.
In many ways, their Ulster SFC quarter-final is set up perfectly for them with Donegal coming to Páirc Esler seemingly in disarray.
However, Down will be keen to tighten up their defence ahead of their Championship opener.
Should they fail to reach the Ulster final, they’ll enter the Tailteann Cup and will be keen to improve on last year’s showing after losing to Cavan in the first round.
Down remain a work in progress under Laverty, but at least they are now moving in the right direction.
Fermanagh
Manager: Kieran Donnelly
One to watch: Ultan Kelm
2022 Championship results: Ulster SFC preliminary round: Tyrone 2-17 Fermanagh 2-10; Tailteann Cup R1: Fermanagh 1-12 Longford 0-12; Tailteann Cup quarter-final: Cavan 2-16 Fermanagh 0-13.
2023 League form: First in Division Three, lost final to Cavan (promoted)
2023 Ulster SFC odds: 66/1
Ulster SFC fixture: v Derry (Saturday, April 15, Brewster Park, 5pm)
Verdict: At the start of the League, Fermanagh were just 5/4 to be relegated to Division Four.
Yet, after a string of stellar showings and a few last-gasp victories, the Erne County will be playing Division Two football next season after securing promotion alongside Cavan.
The challenge for Kieran Donnelly’s side is to keep that momentum going into the Championship, but they drew the short straw last Autumn when they were pitted against defending champions Derry for their Ulster opener.
It is hard to make a case for Fermanagh, albeit they’ve shocked Derry in the Championship before, and they’re likely to be one of the first teams confirmed for the 2023 renewal of the Tailteann Cup.
On the basis of their League form, they should be among the leading contenders for that competition.
Ultan Kelm, Josh Largo Ellis, Aidan Breen and Darragh McGurn will be a handful for any defence while the mercurial Sean Quigley continues to pop up with big scores for Fermanagh.
Monaghan
Manager: Vinny Corey
One to watch: Micheál Bannigan
2022 Championship results: Ulster SFC quarter-final: Monaghan 0-23 Down 2-7; Ulster SFC semi-final: Derry 3-12 Monaghan 0-17; All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers R1: Mayo 1-13 Monaghan 0-12.
2023 League form: sixth in Division One
2023 Ulster SFC odds: 11/1
Ulster SFC fixture: v Tyrone (Sunday, April 15, O’Neills Healy Park, 4pm)
Verdict: Monaghan pulled off yet another final day victory to preserve their Division One status - this time defeating eventual champions Mayo in Castlebar.
That result sent Armagh to Division Two along with Donegal while the Farney can look forward to a tenth successive season in the top flight next season.
Odds of 11/1 to win the Anglo Celt Cup might seem a bit on the generous side for a Division One outfit, but they’ll have to do it the hard way if they are to win their first provincial title since 2015.
They face Tyrone in the first round and, should they overcome the Red Hands in Omagh, potentially defending champions Derry in the last four.
Monaghan will benefit from the return to fitness of Conor McManus, but it is hard to judge their League form.
Their vital win was against a Mayo team already in the Division One final and they were well beaten by both Galway and Tyrone in the latter rounds and they’ll struggle to reverse the form with the Red Hands in the Championship.
Tyrone
Managers: Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher
One to watch: Ruairi Canavan
2022 Championship results: Ulster SFC quarter-final: Tyrone 0-10 Derry 1-18; All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers R1: Armagh 1-16 Tyrone 1-10.
2023 League form: Fourth in Division One
2023 Ulster SFC odds: 11/4
Ulster SFC fixture: v Monaghan (Sunday, April 15, O’Neills Healy Park, 4pm)
Verdict: After four games of the Allianz Football League, Tyrone had just two points and were at the foot of the Division One table.
Their 10-point hammering to Mayo in Castlebar suggested that their All-Ireland hangover from last season had continued into 2023.
Yet, somehow, the Red Hands turned their season around in stunning fashion with a hat-trick of deserved wins over Kerry, Monaghan and Armagh.
Their Championship prospects look much brighter and they’ll have designs on reaching the latter stages of the campaign in the new round-robin format.
They’ll have Ruairi Canavan and Conor Cush available for the opening clash against Monaghan after the U20s were surprisingly beaten by Down while the emergence of Cormac Quinn and Joe Oguz were further positives from the League campaign.
Michael McGleenan was also unleashed for the closing stages of the Armagh game and looks set for some game time this summer.
Tyrone will be favourites to edge Monaghan in the quarter-final, but the real acid test could come with a potential semi-final against old foes Derry.
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