At this year’s Ulster there is five bands and although this competition is important it’s not competitive in all sections. This year the big section is Senior Miscellaneous and it’s the only one that requires a real prediction, so we will quickly go over the other sections.
Firstly I think all bands will qualify for the Ulster, in recent times there’s been a struggle to get bands to go to Fleadh so I just can’t imagine someone being eliminated. In the Junior Flute Maghery has qualified through their participation at the Donegal Fleadh but have chosen not to compete at the Ulster, they will instead focus on their Senior Flute Band who will be at the All Ireland.
In the Pipe Bands Longstone will get through, being the only competitor I couldn’t imagine any other outcome. In the Junior Miscellaneous Cloich Cheann Fhaola will obviously make it through they will gain more than enough points to get through to the All Ireland.
In the only proper competition of the day, the Senior Miscellaneous, we have three bands competing. As I’ve already mentioned I think they will all make it through to Drogheda. But in what order? Well I haven’t seen any of the bands performances at their county Fleadhs so I’m basing this on last year, but I’m sure a lot has changed in all of the bands. I think Ramelton will place first just based on their experience as a miscellaneous band. Then Atticall will come second and Donegal Town will come third but I think they will still make it through with the adjudicators being allowed to place one band extra through in each competition on exceptional circumstances when the third placed competitor is at a high enough standard.
I just think Ramelton will not want a repeat of last year’s Ulster they’ve been improving each year and have a good chance of winning on Sunday. Atticall will really want to beat Ramelton and musically I think they could but Ramelton have a better overall balanced band and that might just get them over the line. But Atticall have gained experience in the Senior Miscellaneous Competition last year and they know what it takes to win Ulster and All Ireland titles so I wouldn’t write them off yet. Donegal town did lose to Ramelton in the Donegal Fleadh so that was factored into my prediction in them placing third, I just think it’s too soon for them the other bands are just one or two steps ahead of them. I think they will have a much better chance in a year or two. But there isn’t much between any of these bands and on the day we don’t know how they’ll perform, I’d be surprised if there isn’t some shocks!
On Sunday we will have live updates and the results as they come in. So if your not in Castlewellan then keep up to-date on our page.
[…] Ulster Fleadh Predictions […]