 We're talking Gaelic games here on Highland radio and looking forward to the weekend's action Clubways there's a massive standout tie. That's not involving any Northwest sides But Kilku the down champions are taking on the dairy dairy gone away from for mana and the Ulster Club senior decider That's coming weekend. Look ahead to that game. I'm joined by Ulster GA journalist Declan Boak. Declan. Good to see you Same New Yorkshire. Thank you. Well Declan, I suppose I'm going to use the pun Is it the best two club teams in Ulster that are going to fight out this decider at the weekend? Good question. There's so many good teams in Ulster. There's so many teams now that say themselves almost as quasi-county teams So, you know if we're talking like that then others might feel You know, they might feel stung by a description like that, but for consistency, right? Okay, like, you know since really I suppose cross now or we ever in big time I think the Guidor to feed to them They're to their defeat to Guidor and in 2018 wasn't Noma was nearly a little bit of a Nail in the coffin that cross and they have to come away and reinvent themselves So you've got Derek only who I don't remember the exact score line now she but the play You know, don't forget like what since 2015 they've won every from on a champ chip apart from last year Well, sorry 2020, which was to I don't know St. Joseph's and there was no Ulster club then but in every year since 2015 they've been in there and I remember their first game there They played slap nail up a known bag and I think it was somewhere in the region of 16 points Like, you know, it was a hammer and I think I think stop me. I scored 4 13 that day the following year They came back because it like that 2015 game was very much man-to-man following year They came back with a completely different defensive structure and they kept the margin to five points And they've just improved and improved and improved like, you know on the last two Ulster clubs I've knocked out throne teams which is really stung Some people in throne because they would always feel that their their champ chip is the best champ chip in all of Ulster I don't know about that. I think it's the most exciting without a doubt most unpredictable But whoever emerges from it, you know, there's a school of thought that they haven't been tested or they've been tested too much Sorry to in order to actually get out of throne You can kind of Look in the flip side of that and say well Derek only, you know that they managed to always time their run or something like that But that's not that I don't believe that's the case because this year they're taken to two replays They had to get a replay to get over Adderick and repeat of the county final and they had they're brought to a replay by Canale You were a common team there and from Anna Kalkou speak for themselves. They're really nice champions Well, they made a 1-1 Ulster title that they were still about there for a long number of years That goes back pre-seeds very only that the final I think in 2013 Against Cross. I think that one went back to time. So they have been there plowing Doing an awful lot putting an awful lot in having serious coaches and You know, they would see the very only would see themselves as a sort of mirror image like, you know, that You know, they had no real tradition up until 95 the one the first championship the one one then in 2005 They won one in 2009 and then they're on this major run And I suppose it's not that they need to strike now and there's had they have their team keeps changing Much like Kalkou, they're a completely different outfit than they were in 2015 and the way that Kalkou are completely different to them and they had Some of their players have gone on and retired Yeah, Marty Kean and all those kind of guys like, you know, they're being gone. So other the two best teams short answer After having brought you around the houses, I think they are and I think it's in we're in for a bit of a I don't know if we're in for a thinker because if you look at the Glen Kalkou game, it was just people would say that was the two best teams but and it was decided really from a short kick out gone wrong and Before you know it like, you know, the ball was in the net your own Johnson scored the goal But that game was kind of full of Jesus It goes back to what your philosophy is in football. They enjoy open stuff and a lot of scores You weren't getting it that day. But what you got was this incredibly tactical Encounter where I looked upon it was almost better for you not to have the ball Because the moment that you had the ball you cross the line Opposition got their their formation their defensive formation in place Very very difficult to break down But the moment that you overturned you turn the ball over then you had a chance that if you could break fast enough Then you might get the score at the end of it. Like, you know So we're in for a battle Well, it will be the traditional Wonderful open football. I don't think so. But you know that you can't deny the two teams are in the final Yeah, two points separated the sides when they met a couple of years ago at the semi-final stage Declan, so we're gonna expect there hasn't been much change in the in the last couple of years Squad wise for the for those two teams. So we're expecting much of the same Could be a very low scored encounter Killed cool. Maybe going into this one as favorites given the fact that they be Glenn Declan fair to say Yeah, and they have that experience of being the defending champions They have more experience during only and them being quite frank like very few Manatees ever find themselves being labeled or tipped up as favorites and that won't concern during on me They'll be happy enough. I think that in general within teams that never bothers anybody That like, you know This is the first time that a firm on a team have been in most of club final since the gales and a skill gales were in 2002 And before that they were in the final in 99 So no, it won't bother them, but it's probably fair I and but at the same time very gone they will look at well hold on here You know from where we're heavy favorites here in the first game when we took that dexter time we won that and I'm not sure who was being tipped against clannard probably harps. All right, but then no Yeah, look, it's a label that people put on it and that's all it is Yeah, then the score three early goals in that game against clannard No No, because kids who are just too too sharp to ever defensively and For as good as clanner and our there was a serious brawn as common like, you know their first title in in decades and so on like and you know, I As very gone they found out in 2015 us to Trump can be very punishing sure enough They made a comeback after Steve McGullum was sent off But they just left themselves too much to do at that point But I don't see that happening against because who have too many good markers at the back They're too organized. They're they just wouldn't be hit for the they've never have been hit for quick goals in succession And it just won't happen again. So what what do you have to do then to beat kill coon? Good question. I'm cheapers. Um, and I Suppose I'm just trying to think back to when they were beating like and what happened to them with them I just think you have to hang in with them. Hey, even at that You don't kill coo or damn good. Like, you know, they don't tend to blitz teams like even their their championship been down against a Hopefully I'm not getting the names wrong, but I think they played Oh we call the team up and The Guinness Brothers and castle Castle not castle one It'll come back to me, but like, you know, I think they played one point. That was a tight one Burn was a tight one in the final. Hey, you know, they don't They don't they're a bit like stop Neil or like, you know, half a decade ago We're right there winning games by one or two points I think maybe If a team or that's way structured, we always say if you get a good run on them if they get a good first half I've looked at conditions and the conditions are pretty mild So it won't be that like they're facing into a big wind and either half But if you get up on them with three points by halftime, then kill coo are gonna have to come out They're gonna have to go a wee bit more man for man. Hey, and that might that might be the plan I do know during on and looking at them this year There's an evolution of their style and she and Ward They'd be familiar to your listeners like was work with donning all miners and a drew He has them playing a big high press whereby You know, I remember at one stage in the county final and from Anna and a skill You know simply couldn't get over the half-high line. They couldn't manage it because during on they are big big units And kilku maybe aren't just don't match up that way physically to them So I think if they can just push hard And try and keep kilku fenced into their own half that might be the way they'll go Yeah, well kilku as we said our our favorites for this one if they were to come through our kilku Maybe in a better position a better position team to represent ulster and challenging for an all-earned club title I I don't know. I don't know. Um, I just funny. I just was looking at gaelic life this morning and Kevin cast a was was talking about this very thing and he says first ulster then Ireland is is the headline on this uh on his pace and he kind of thinks that um Whoever will come out Will be a serious representative for ulster And I mean it all depends and the other teams that emerge from the from the provinces like Peersons are a defensive doubt. He came of outfit. Like really what you're getting into at this stage. I know is there's no duds There's no gimmies. There's nothing like that. Like, you know kill mccud would be very focused like a month after what happened them against monolata in the tail end when 2018 They'll be desperate to win an all-earned club with this team just with sort of age profile and so on so Look when you get to that stage like car fins no longer A proposition they were like they're they're obviously gone. We've got pearsons from the scumman And uh, you've got kill mccud coming out of there. So Look at it all depends on how they match up then after that. Yeah Um, okay, then let's go to the mechanic cup and we'll sort of stay in it for mana theme It's taken on dairy on sunday dairy need to one by six points Um, if they're to top that section c ahead of monohan and secure a semi-final spot Would you be confident that rory gallagher said can do that or can for mana put it up to them? I don't think for mana. I'll put it up to them. I think that dairy will get at least six points And I say that for a number of different reasons the pled dairy last year and um They they they pled dairy up an own bag last year and dairy give them out. They ran straight through them. Um, I know that the Haven't spoken to people that were there for dairy monohan the first game that dairy were like monohan players So who weren't actually playing then on sunday against for mana said to me look this team were absolutely flying like, you know They weren't even at mechanic up pace. They weren't there. They were more or less like a beginning of championship pace like they're they're Extremely motivated. Um, they've got a massive year ahead of them like in terms of their development And they just want to get into division one that's feeding down into their approach now far enough They couldn't shake off monohan. They'll be extremely Disappointed with dad for having drawn 12 each last friday Um, I think that the for mana team by cairn donnelly's admission the new manager There's been a few evenings there where there's only been about 15 training because of covet He said the team that pled there and monohan literally all had covet over the autumn and winter And like they're only really recovering. He was impressed with their stamina Having said that he only used one substitution Um, you're allowed unlimited substitutions in the mechanic cup as you know, like, I mean, how many did donnelly god have them nine? Wasn't it the other night? Yeah. Yeah So like the only substitution was larkin mcstaffer was taken off from brandon horn and the 44th minute for fromana And people would be quizzing that but maybe there's a reason behind it Maybe the high levels of covet in the squad, but they're also feeds down into the level of trend. They've been able to do All the preparation. So look, I just know I just I see there is as one in that I do like the fact that it's in rushley I think that's just a wee thing that makes just just annoy a few people like, you know, taking it to the far end of the county and so on But um, but like it's like everything else. It's a club that have gone out very ambitiously He went and got themselves a second pitch in the stand and all the rest and sometimes you see counties Rewarding clubs like that and bringing them a kind of cup fixture used to be the national league was spread around the grounds to ashing You remember that like, you know, that that that is largely by I think there was a more or less An informal rule that, you know, you basically host Your your elite national league games and in grounds that are fit to do it. I know you're blessed and donnelly god You're able to go to body shaman latter candy and body buffet Damn, but that's in formata more or less. It all takes place in brooster park. But um, but no, I look anyway Darryl Darryl get through there. I should imagine Okay, speaking of sides traveling, uh, donny gollar off to poor clan own Looking at google maps. I've never been in at my life deklin, but it seems to be a fantastic pitch and have a fantastic surface and And that's just about it. So it is but uh, Antrim is the opposition pulled off a bit of a shock beating down during the week in the other group game Deckman boners expect and maybe three or four of us regulars back into the to the lineup Which means they'll be filled in the stronger side than last week But you would expect donny gollar to come out with a comfortable victory I don't know. Um A divani inclination like is is is michael morphe going to be fit there's right Michael morphe is not going to be there. Ryan mccue is not going to be there Maybe the likes of jimmy brennan is is going to come back into the fall But there is Of the regulars that that will be back But it's outside the the remit of michael morphe and ryan mccue just yet. They're going to be More returning in the league and probably in the latter part of the league quite possibly deklin before we see the likes of michael morphe again and But it is going by Well, what deklin is saying is going to be a stronger side and I would say it absolutely will be and all the rest but uh, and there's nail McGee, there's been no announcement of a retirement there or anything No announcement of a retirement but nail is part of the fold and don't be surprised if Okay, well then once Qualify it all with yes, there may be more raggers and jimmy mccrennan is absolutely a big help to anyone He's he's an excellent player, of course, but I just think that donny golll The the tech because of ryan mccue and michael You're cast your mind back to a couple of years ago That played was a carry in a backdoor in a super eights game Or was it like I thought a crook park was in crook park My impression of that game was that it was basically ryan mccue and megal morphe against carry They played them by themselves almost like you know any of the big moments that donny golll have It's normally those two guys involved and like, you know the like of big games say for example in 2020 when they played Torrone up and by we found that real rotten knight like a shawm pattern back. That's another huge huge one You know, it was neil mcgee completely connor mccenna came into that game was You know, he was getting all the plaudits because he had he had put together two incredible performances Especially the one down castle bar against mayo and neil mcgee just completely wrapped him up for the first half And well neil had to go off injured at halftime the damage was nearly done on connor at that point So and looking at antrum And the mcginnelly stable neil shawm kelly are very ambitious for this group of players They got their year under their belt. They're in a much better position. No matter what they're at now Portland known as one of those places that is sort of in the Look, you know, people are gonna balfast people might object But you know the southwest antrum area is a huge focal area always was And that's sort of like that might bring a big out crowd there to portland known And while, you know, don't it all will obviously have the reputation all that you look you're you're a member of friday night for me the best player in the pitch was tony mcclannan, but Not taken away anything away from his performance as gold But that was rory burns the downkeeper kicked about three kickouts in a row Which he just gobbled up like consecutively which caught the eye I think that's going to be tight. I think that is going to be very tight. I don't see a comfortable win for donny god I Would imagine there'll be two points three points max in that one And either way either like you know because antrum could be very motivated to take Haven't talked the scalp and donny god are down as they would see it There'll be mad keen to do something against donny god Hopefully gets a good crowd. Hopefully we get a good game and hopefully it's not raining Declan because going by google maps. There's not even a stand in in portland. Oh, and so there's no but actual playing Yeah, look it looks top class. So it does the playing surface Well, we'll see we'll see how it goes this weekend By the way, there's live commentary of that game on highland on our website Highland radio dot com from the 130th throne on saturday also on saturday to run against our ma to run just starting to find The feet again after after the holiday Heavy defeat against cavern A lot were predicting the cavern would want it given the throne Rory back a couple of days and to be feeling a totally different change side But did you expect the 15 point hammer and declin? No, I don't think anyone would ever expect that because Even in the past throne have always put that huge store and mechanic up and Haven't said that at all team holidays would have been well before it like, you know And done and dusted in in in october november even early december like team hollies were done and dusted Putting boys out to play 48 hours after you landed Is it very difficult to ask another thing is about that? You know heart always Like obviously mickey hearts record and mechanic up was sensational, but he always said There's an interesting thing about that is you cannot put lads in for their w Unless they have experience around that and in each line heart would only really make a tweak in each line So, I mean, you know, you had a midfielder God forgive me a camera, but joe goose was making his debut in midfield Young lad just out of his teens from oracle care and like, you know, that's a big ass Then coming up against seasoned players and cabinet their seasoned outfit Your other players they're for sure, but like they had a lot of sort of two or three changes in each line And um, it's very hard. It's very hard to get them It's very hard to get a wee bit of traction like that when you're just suffered like and you know matted only, you know, you've no sort of You know, just they're just missing too many to be taken seriously, you know for that game and I think that Logan and do her they'll be balling with that like they'll not be happy with that result whatsoever because they just don't like to see Tron beating by that sort of margin So I can see them putting out a seriously strong team I can see a lot of harsh words being said this week like I can see a lot of boys being told right It all ends now the the the fluffy stuff around winning all and that's all over like they I've got the hand at the throne they partied And they spoke and the shared sake not secrets, but the shared their experience better than We have seen a team doing for many many years You know when the dubs wanted there would be a few different interviews here and there But they would have been very picky because like they had such a flippin Officious manner about them in terms of you know media engagement But the throne panel all spoke brilliantly about their journey Uh, I I thought it was magnificent because then it could sort of put a public face in that team that had been missing for so long But I would say now After that came it'll be the the the shutters we pulled down on this team and we're gonna see a different outfit Yeah, so our ma's gonna expect the wrath of taroon then come saturday afternoon I still think that our ma might might get something out of this like you know, they You know, they're always keen like one matter what time of year they play taroon like they'll be looking to take chunks out of them And they just you know, they don't They never have a challenge game or a friendly game against throne. It's gonna be skin and hair flying It'll be an interesting one for anyone to go along to see. All right, but Like even certain things going on in our ma this year Like you saw jareth burns played the ulster quarterfinal in hurlin first club camlock And scored two goals from midfield Maybe he maybe he played too well because then he was missing for the ulster semi final and the final And he obviously didn't play the twin game there that they lost against fallen gales over in brown at the weekend So I would say there's a lot of Back-to-brass tags for them too Yeah, that's the deck ones always. It's good to see you and uh good to talk to you Enjoy enjoy the ball at the weekend final shout on kylku dairy gonley. Who you going for? dairy gonley Just because it happened. I'd just like to see a senior ulster club coming back to formana for the first time um, I think it would do marvels for a Think of it do wonders for for the for the image for for the esteem of club football in that county And but it wouldn't I would like to say that but I mean sort of heart-ridden head kind of job, but you know if you're looking at Purely football experience all the rest you'd probably be tipping kylku anyone sense would be keeping tipping kylku But I might just stick me in that guy here. Okay, you're saying you're not sensible then deck I Thanks for joining us. Enjoy the ball. Thank you. Good luck. Bye