2009 Dr. McKenna Cup

Dr. McKenna Cup
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Antrim manager Liam Bradley (left) with Armagh manager Peter McDonnell (right) at the launch of the 2009 competition
Action from the 2009 group game between Cavan (blue) and Queen's University Belfast (green)
Action from the 2009 group game between University of Ulster, Jordanstown (UUJ) (blue) and Fermanagh (green)
Action from the 2009 semi-final between Queen's University Belfast and Down (red)

The 2009 Dr. McKenna Cup was a Gaelic football competition played under the auspices of Ulster GAA. The tournament was won by Donegal, their first McKenna title since 1991. They defeated Queen's in the final, after extra-time, with goals from David Walsh and Ryan Bradley.[1] Donegal were captained by Rory Kavanagh.[2] Queen's had earlier knocked out title holders Down with a six-point win.[3] They were also the first university side to reach the final.[4]

Format

A group-based format was used, with the twelve teams divided into three groups of four. Each group included a University team, and three inter-county teams. Each team played three matches, with two points acquired for a win, one for a draw, and no points for a loss. The winner of each group, plus the best runner-up, qualified for the semi-finals, and the winners of the semi-finals played each other in the Final at Casement Park in February.[5] format was used, with the twelve teams div

Draw

The draw for the 2009 McKenna Cup was made in the Armagh City Hotel, Armagh on Wednesday 11 November 2008.[6] The competition will start on the weekend of 3 and 4 January 2009.[6] In addition to weekend matches, some games will be played midweek, so the competition is completed before the start of the 2009 National League in early February.[7] Television broadcaster TG4 has pledged to screen a minimum of four live games from the competition.[6] The winners of Group B will play the winners of Group C in the semi-finals, while the Group A winners will face the best runners-up of the three groups.[6]

Group A Group B Group C
University of Ulster, Jordanstown (UUJ) St Mary's University College Queen's University of Belfast
Fermanagh Tyrone Armagh
Derry Monaghan Antrim
Donegal Down Cavan
Semi-finals

Group A winner versus Best runner-up

Group B winner versus Group C winner

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Donegal 2-12 Queen's University 0-11 (AET)". RTÉ Sport. 25 January 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
  2. ↑ "Kavanagh set to captain Donegal". RTÉ Sport. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  3. ↑ "Queen's University 1-17 Down 1-11". RTÉ Sport. 22 January 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  4. ↑ Woods, Ciaran (23 January 2009). "Class of '09 comes good!". Gaelic Life. p. 7.
  5. ↑ "Big guns kept apart in McKenna Cup". RTÉ Sport. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Heaney, Paddy (12 November 2008). "Cup has winning mentality". The Irish News. p. 64. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  7. ↑ "Champions to face off in McKenna Cup". Hogan Stand. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2008.