Fair play for Ulster football

Madam, - It seems to me that the comments of your usually excellent reporter, Tom Humphries, concerning the standard of Gaelic…

Madam, - It seems to me that the comments of your usually excellent reporter, Tom Humphries, concerning the standard of Gaelic Football in Ulster were largely unmerited (Sports, August 25th).

There is no doubt that the Tyrone/Kerry game was poor entertainment but he should not forget that Kerry as well as Tyrone were defensively minded, having conceded four goals to a very ordinary Roscommon team in the quarter-finals.

Neither should he forget that one of the best encounters in the championship so far was the drawn Ulster final and that Tyrone have scored 17 points or more in five of their seven matches.

In fact they played brilliant football in thrashing a Fermanagh side which had demonstrated quality football in overwhelming Meath and in a close victory over Mayo.

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Donegal provided excellent entertainment in the two matches against Galway, who were highly fancied for the title. Armagh demonstrated that Kerry were an overrated side by easily beating Limerick who had run Kerry very close in a dull Munster final. Armagh also played excellent football in spells in their defeat of Laois and committed the unpardonable sin of outplaying your reporter's beloved Dublin.

Ulster football has overcome many past difficulties, especially off the field, and the current success of that province deserves acknowledgement rather than begrudgery. Myopia should be the affliction of the committed fan only. - Yours, etc.,

EDMUND QUIERY, Corvally Court, Bangor, Co Down.