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The Ulster Senior Football Championship is the inter-county tournament for Gaelic football teams in the province of Ulster in Ireland. It is organized by the Ulster Gaelic Athletic Association and is held in May of each year with the final usually played during the third Sunday of July.
The competition is participated by all nine counties of Ulster and this year’s tournament is the 131st time where the Anglo-Celtic Cup will be won. Unlike the other provinces which have clear favorites, the Ulster Senior Football Championship is considered as the most difficult provincial title to win, given the competition.
The 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship will begin on May 18, 2019 with the quarterfinal match between Cavan and Monaghan.
Below is the full schedule of fixtures for the 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship after the draw held last October 12, 2018:
Quarter-Finals:
- Cavan v Monaghan – Kingspan Breffni – Saturday, May 18. 7.00pm.
- Down v Armagh – Páirc Esler, Newry – Sunday, May 19. 4.00pm.
- Antrim v Tyrone- Venue TBC – Saturday, May 25. 6.00pm.
- Fermanagh v Donegal – Brewster Park – Sunday, May 26. 2.00pm.
Semi-Finals:
- Cavan/Monaghan v Down/Armagh – Venue TBC- Sunday, June 2. 4.00pm
- Tyrone/Derry/Antrim v Fermanagh/Donegal – Venue TBC – Saturday, June 8. 5.00pm.
Final:
- Semi-final winner v Semi-final winner – Venue TBC – Sunday, June 23. 2.00pm.
Last year, Donegal defeated Fermanagh with the score of 2-18 to 0-12 to win the 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship. However, during the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, it was Tyrone who made a run all the way to the Final of the 2018 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Mickey Harte’s boys lost to Dublin in the title game but they are the current football betting favorites to win the 2019 Ulster Senior Championship.
Here are the odds to win the 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship. Odds taken from bet365 as of 5/13/19:
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tyrone | +150 |
| Monaghan | +250 |
| Donegal | +300 |
| Cavan | +1200 |
| Armagh | +1400 |
| Down | +1600 |
| Fermanagh | +3300 |
| Antrim | +1000 |
Tyrone won back to back Ulster Senior Football championships in 2016 and 2017 but lost to Monaghan in the quarter-finals last year. However, Mickey Harte’s boys had a strong outing at the All-Ireland and ultimately beat the Farneymen in the semi-finals and then went on to beat 2018 Ulster Senior Football champions Donegal later that summer. With newcomers like Brian Kennedy and Liam Rafferty plus the continued improvement of Kieran McGeary, Tyrone looks to book a direct slot at the All-Ireland Senior Football quarter-finals by regaining the Anglo-Celt Cup.
Monaghan will always be in the conversation to win the Ulster Senior Football championship with Conor McManus’ star power. With the support of Jack McCarron and Conor McCarthy on the attack, they are threats to win the Anglo-Celt Cup this year. Last year, they beat then-defending champions Tyrone in the semi-finals. However, their smashing defeat at the hands of Fermanagh in the semi-finals could still linger in their heads.
Donegal won the 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship behind talisman Michael Murphy and they will be looking to keep the Anglo-Celt Cup to themselves again. The return of Patrick McBrearty from a serious knee injury that sidelined him for most of the year should be key for manager Declan Bonner. McBrearty has been getting valuable playing time for his club in the past month and he should be ready for the provincial tournament.
Cavan is the winningest county in Ulster Senior Football Championship history with 37 titles although they have not won since 1997. New manager Mickey Graham is seeking to win in his maiden year but they will have a tough task ahead against All-Ireland semi-finalist Monaghan. With key players Dara McVeety, Gearoid McKiernan, Killian Clarke and Martin Reilly all healthy and available for selection, Cavan may have a shot at pulling it off.
Who Wins?
Tyrone’s quarterfinals assignment is against Antrim, a team which they have lost just once in the last 17 years. The odds are definitely stocked against Antrim and if Tyrone wins, they will move on to face the winner of Fermanagh vs Donegal. A possible semi-finals showdown with Donegal should be a test of how good they are.
But Tyrone’s recent form has been good, barely missing a spot in the Division One final. After losing to Kerry and Mayo then figuring in a draw with Roscommon, they turned things around by winning their last four games, including an impressive win over Dublin at Croke Park. I think the crucial match for Tyrone will be in the semi-finals against Donegal but if they pass that test, I think it will be touch and go from there. With momentum and good form, I like Tyrone to win the 2019 Anglo-Celtic Cup. Prediction: Tyrone
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