Who will stop Tyrone?

So who will stop Tyrone? Nobody, I hear you say. Can anyone really think that Antrim can do the needful? I don't think so.

In other words, Mickey Harte's side will walk away with the Ulster Championship after a 12-month break.

And, it must be frightening other counties as they are still a long way off hitting top form.

The last time another county managed to get their hands on the Anglo-Celt Cup was Derry back in 1998 but the Oak Leafs were well and truly put in their place in the first semi-final.

Most people though, will be delighted that Antrim have finally reached their first Ulster final since 1970.

While Tyrone have their massive support for the 19 July, every other county will be rooting for the Saffrons as they attempt to achieve the impossible.

ANTRIM

Manager: Liam Bradley Ground: Casement Park Last year: Lost to Cavan in preliminary round Antrim website

They just cannot stop winning can they? Not satisfied wtih defeating Donegal in the first round, they deservedly saw off Cavan in the semi-final.

So far Saffrons' boss Liam Bradley has got his tactics absolutely spot on with the way the team was so well organised in their two games to date.

But it is more than just tactics. Antrim are a fairly young team with a young captain in Paddy Cunningham and have come through the ranks together and the spirit and unity is carrying them through.

Obviously Tyrone will go in as massive favourites, but Antrim must have sown one or two seeds of doubt. They may go down to Clones from their Belfast HQ as rank outsiders, but they will not give anything away.

They have come this far, and they seem to have enjoyed, so what about a little bit more!

STAR MAN: Michael McCann.

Results
Donegal 0-12 1-10 Antrim
Antrim 0-13 1-07 Cavan

ARMAGH

Manager: Peter O'Donnell Ground: Athletic Grounds, Armagh Last season: Ulster Championship winners Armagh website

What a disappointment for Armagh boss Peter McDonnell to watch his side crash to Monaghan in the first round of the qualifiers.

Yes, he was shorn of several of their hitherto marquee players because of retirement - Oisin McConville, Paul McGrane, Francie Bellew and Patrick McKeever - but one would have thought they would be crashing out before their season had begun.

Is it because the players are not inspired by the manager, or are the players now in the limelight, just not able to produce the goods?

Whatever it is, the drawing board beckons for McDonnell and company, and hoping the early exit will stir things up in the Orchard County.

Results
Tyrone 2-10 1-10 Armagh Monaghan 0-13 0-12 Armagh (aet)

CAVAN

Manager: Tommy Carr Ground: Breffni Park Last season: Lost by four points to Armagh in the first round Cavan website

Unfortunately for Tommy Carr's side they just did not turn up for the semi-final against Antrim.

They may have thought their luck was in when they ended up with the Saffrons in the semi-final.

However, the Antrim men were just so much more hungrier than Cavan who kicked too many wides at important stages of the game.

Their top scorer Seanie Johnston just did not get a look in as Antrim had him well marshalled throughout the game. However, Cavan are a better team than they showed in defeat, and a fairly good run in the qualifiers could compensate for missing out in the Ulster final.

STAR MAN: Seanie Johnston.

Results
Cavan 0-13 1-09 Fermanagh Antrim 0-13 1-07 Cavan

2009 squad: Ronan Flanagan (capt), James Reilly, Fintan Reilly, Paul Brady, Michael Brides, Rory Dunne, John McCutcheon, Keith Fannin, Michael Hannon, Padraic O'Reilly, Dermot Sheridan, Nicholas Walsh, Lorcan Mulvey, Raymond Cullivan, David Givney, Larry Reilly, Martin Reilly, Eddie O'Reilly, Jason O'Reilly, Sean Johnston, Michael Lyng, Cian Mackey, Eugene Keating, Martin Cahill, Sean Brady, Eoin Smith, Barry Watters, Gearóid McKiernan, Thomas Reilly.

DERRY

Manager: Damian Cassidy Ground: Celtic Park, Derry Last season: Beaten by two points by Derry at semi-final stage Derry website

Derry boss Damian Cassidy was not a happy camper when Tyrone laid waste to his side at Casement Park.

The Oak Leaf boys looked to be running into some sort of form when they saw of Seamus McEnaney's side in the first round despite being reduced to 14 men midway through the second half when Fergal Doherty received a second yellow.

But how they missed the go-forward play and industry of Doherty against Tyrone. Their victory over Monaghan was a physical affair which caused a few rebukes, but the fallback was that they just allowed Tyrone to boos them about.

Cassidy made no excuses for what happened, other than to say that his side played to win. Against Tyrone, the game plan went out the window.

STAR MAN: Fergal Doherty.

Results
Derry 1-10 0-10 Monaghan

Derry 0-7 0-15 Tyrone

DONEGAL

Manager: John Joe Doherty Ground: MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey Last season: Lost by two points to Derry in opening round Donegal website

So it came to be, Donegal huffed and puffed their way into up to the back door after a dismal display which saw them lose by a point to Antrim at Ballybofey.

Now new manager John Joe Doherty now has the unenviable job of restructuring the Donegal into a force again.

Playing at home against traditionally poor travellers Antrim afforded Donegal some hope of rekindling their fortunes but Doherty's charges just lacked conviction and the apparent will.

At least they showed a bit of their fighting spirit when they defeated Carlow in the qualifiers. However, there is some work yet to do.

STAR MAN: Christy Toye.

Results
Donegal 0-12 1-10 Antrim Donegal 2-13 1-6 Carlow

2009 Squad: Shane McGuckian, Barry Gillis, John Deighan, Sean Marty Lockhart, Kevin McGuckian, Dermot McBride, Niall McCusker, Kevin McCloy, Carlos McWilliams, Joe Keenan, Gerard O'Kane, Brian Og McAlary, Chrissy McKaigue, Paul Carton, Barry McGoldrick, Sean Leo McGoldrick, Patsy Bradley, Fergal Doherty, Joe Diver, James Conway, Enda Muldoon, Gavin McShane, Paul Murphy, Enda Lynn, Brain Mullan, Paul Young, Barry McGuigan, James Kielt, Cailin O'Boyle, Eoghan Brown, Eoin Bradley, Mark Lynch, Seamus Bradley, Paddy Bradley, Danny Mulholland.

DOWN

Manager: Ross Carr Ground: Pairc Esler, Newry Last season: Armagh defeated Down by four points in the semi-finals Down website

What a disappointing start to the 2009 Championship for Down. Beaten at the first hurdle by Fermanagh in a game they had by the scruff of the neck, but failed to cross the finish line.

Manager Ross Carr took a risk in playing Brendan Coulter but it back-fired as the usually livewire forward looked to be on half power with a hamstring injury. That defeat in the NFL final to Tipperary was obviously not a one-off performance.

At least they managed to get back to winning ways albeit against London in the qualifiers. But Carr, who wants to continue as manager, will have have to work hard to inspire his side to go further in the competition.

STAR MAN: Dan Gordon.

2009 squad: Aidan Carr, Ambrose Rodgers, Brendan Coulter, Brendan McArdle, Brendan McVeigh, Ciaran McGovern, Colm Murney, Conor Garvey, Conor Maginn, Damien Rafferty, Dan Gordon, Daniel Hughes, Darren O'Hanlon, Declan Rooney, Gareth Johnston, Hugh Davey, Jack Lynch, Jamie O'Reilly, Joe Ireland, John Boyle, John Fegan, Kevin Duffin, Kevin McKernan, Luke Howard, Martin Cole, Michael Magee, Michael McAlister, Paul McCumiskey, Paul Murphy, Peter Fitzpatrick, Peter Turley, Ronan Murtagh, Ronan Sexton, Stephen Kearney, Brendan Loughran, Liam Doyle.

Results
Fermanagh 0-13 0-10 Down Down 1-16 1-7 London

FERMANAGH

Manager: Malachy O'Rourke Ground: Brewster Park, Enniskillen Last season: Beaten 1-11 to 2-8 in final by Armagh Fermanagh website

Losing to Cavan in the first round was bad enough for some around the Lakelands, but crashing out in the first round of the qualifiers to Wicklow could have big repurcussions at Fermanagh.

Following that win against Down in the preliminary round a lot of optimists expected the Ernemen to push on. But alas, it was not to be with successive defeats at Breffni and against a 13-man Wicklow side.

Manager Malachy O'Rourke looked to have got his tactics wrong both times, and the old chestnut of not putting points on the board when the chances arose, again proved to be their downfall.

STAR MAN: Martin McGrath.

2009 squad: Chris Breen, Ronan Gallagher, Niall Bogue, Hugh Brady, Rory Foy, Shane Goan, Paul Johnston, Michael Jones, Damien Kelly, Shane Lyons, Ryan McCluskey, Shane McDermott, Tommy McElroy, Barry Owens, Peter Sherry, Ryan Carson, Liam McBarron, Martin McGrath, James Sherry, Pat Cadden, Enda Ferris, Daryl Keenan, Ryan Keenan, Daniel Kille, Mark Little, Eamon Maguire, Ciaran McElroy, Shane O'Brien, Ciaran O'Reilly.

Results
Fermanagh 0-13 0-10 Down Cavan 0-13 1-09 Fermanagh Wicklow 0-17 1-11 Fermanagh

MONAGHAN

Manager: Seamus McEnaney Ground: St Tiernach's Park, Clones Last season: Went down by four points to Fermanagh in first round Monaghan website

Monaghan might have been very disappointed with themselves after losing to Derry in the opening round of this season's campaign.

But they would have got a surge of adrenalin after they dispensed with defending Ulster Champions Armagh in the opening round of the qualifiers.

Seamus McEnaney's side will now go forward with confidence into the second round of the qualifiers after slogging it out toe-to-toe with the Orchardmen before forcing out victory in extra time.

STAR MAN: Paul Finlay.

Results
Derry 1-10 0-10 Monaghan Monaghan 0-13 0-12 Armagh (aet)

TYRONE

Manager: Mickey Harte Ground: Healy Park, Omagh Last season: Beaten by a single point by Down following first round replay Tyrone website

THE All-Ireland champions simply have to turn up to win the Ulster Championship. Well, that's what they are saying.

They are still not yet the smooth-running machine of last season, but they are nevertheless going along without too many problems as they waltzed into the final.

But as what happens to teams, one or two injuries could transpire to turn their season upside down.

Joe McMahon looks like he will miss the final, but Stephen O'Neill, despite dislocating his thumb, could yet play, and is likely to.

However, their squad is big and talented, and one of two players missing will not make that much of a difference.

STAR MAN: Sean Cavanagh.

Results
Tyrone 2-10 1-10 Armagh

Derry 0-7 0-15 Tyrone

2009 squad: Aidan Cassidy, Brian Dooher, capt, Brian McGuigan, Cathal McCarron, Ciarán Gourley, Colin Holmes, Colm Cavanagh, Jonathan Curran, Colm McCullagh, Conor Gormley, Damian McCaul, Davy Harte, Dermot Carlin, Enda McGinley, Gareth Devlin, Jason McAnulla, John Devine, Joseph McMahon, Justin McMahon, Kevin Hughes, Martin Penrose, Martin Swift, Michael McGee, Niall Gormley, Owen Mulligan, P J Quinn, Pascal McConnell, Philip Jordan, Raymond Mulgrew, Ryan McMenamin, Ryan Mellon, Sean Cavanagh, Sean O'Neill, Shaun O'Neill, Stephen O'Neill, Tommy McGuigan.

LAST YEAR'S RESULTS

Preliminary round
Antrim 1-14 1-19 Cavan
Match report First round
Fermanagh 2-8 0-10 Monaghan
Match report Donegal 1-12 1-14 Derry
Match report Tyrone 2-8 2-8 Down
Match report Replay: Down 1-19 0-21 Tyrone
Match report Cavan 0-13 0-17 Armagh
Match report Semi-finals
Fermanagh 1-11 1-9 Derry
Match report Down 0-11 1-12 Armagh
Match report Final
Fermanagh 1-11 2-8 Armagh
Match report