Tyrone full-back Ronan McNamee says he will sorely miss Colm Cavanagh if, as expected, the All-Star midfielder is ruled out of the Ulster SFC opener against Monaghan.

It’s a lovely April evening in Strabane and big Mattie McGleenan, with the craggy looks of a 40’s movie star is just after arriving for the launch of the Ulster Championship.

Connacht Senior Football Championship quarter-final: London v Sligo (tomorrow, 3.

Stay 'Out In Front' with The Irish News As the clock ticks down to another thrilling Ulster Senior Football Championship, The Irish News sports team are getting into `Championship Ready' mode.

Matchbox Connacht Senior Football Championship quarter-final New York v Leitrim (tomorrow, Gaelic Park, 7.

BBC Northern Ireland has confirmed that the highly-anticipated Ulster Championship clash between Tyrone and Monaghan on May 20 will be shown deferred rather than live.

GAA president John Horan heads north tomorrow to officially open Portglenone’s new £1million sports facilities, marking a huge milestone in the history of both Roger Casement’s GAC and Geraldine’s camogie club.

SOME line-up for ‘Championship Ready’ isn’t it? A three-time All-Ireland winner from Tyrone, an Armagh legend, a Down Allstar, Hogan Cup winners, Paddy Drummond Cup winners, Sigerson Cup winners, current county players… Then, bringing up the rear, you’ve got the three amigos from The Irish News, waaaahaaay out of their depth.

SOMETIMES the GAA must feel they can’t do right for doing wrong.

All stake-holders in Derry football must work together to drag the county out of a crisis, according to Karl McKaigue.

SUNDAY evenings meant two things in the O’Kane household: Nutella sandwiches and wildlife programmes on BBC2.

ARMAGH’S progress this year in spite of their turnover of players across the winter has impressed Aaron Kernan, but he feels their time in the Ulster SFC might not come for a while yet.

WINTER 2003 was a horrid time.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has insisted the involvement of his players in a hectic schedule of club games in the lead-up to the Ulster Championship is a risk worth taking.

UNLESS Armagh’s lone Ranger Paul Hughes regains full fitness by May 19, the Orchardmen will take the field against Fermanagh without a representative from the Crossmaglen for the first time in a Championship game in 22 years.

THROUGHOUT Brian Canavan’s time in the Armagh dugout, Crossmaglen were the best club side in Ireland.

OWEN Mulligan doesn’t think any of the current Tyrone forwards would make it onto the All-Ireland winning teams that he starred in.

A FEW weeks ago, on one of the last dark evenings of the longest, coldest, wettest of winters, the knock came at the front door.