Ulster Council secretary Danny Murphy has hailed the prospect of three teams from the province being involved in the quarter-finals of the All Ireland football championship.

Tyrone are already through to the last eight as provincial champions with Antrim and Donegal hoping to join them following their round four qualifier clashes against Kerry and Galway respectively on Saturday.

But while Murphy has underlined what he feels are the enduring virtues of the Ulster Championship, he has expressed concern that some teams, notably Armagh and Derry, did not quite appear to be at concert pitch.

“It’s obviously very encouraging that we have teams still very much in the frame for the ultimate glory,” states Murphy. “Tyrone are worthy Ulster champions but look at the colour and vibrancy that Antrim in particular have brought to the table. I think it is particularly appropriate that in the year in which our Ulster Championship theme was ‘Land of Giants’ one of the sleeping giants of the province should rouse from their slumber to provide such scintillating entertainment.”

And he goes on: “Donegal’s recovery from their early Ulster exit has been impressive to say the least. Don’t forget, too, that Kildare, managed by Kieran McGeeney, are still in there with their sights fixed firmly on the Sam Maguire Cup.”

He acknowledges that the failure of some of the more fancied teams to perform to their optimum levels was a surprise.

“Maybe some teams are in a period of transition and this would perhaps be an explanation for this,” he added.

With 32,000-plus fans having flocked to the provincial final to see an absorbing game and witness the special ceremonies to mark the 125th Anniversary of the GAA which included the formal presentation of the Tyrone side that won the 1984 provincial title, the Ulster Council saw the curtain come down on its flagship competition in spectacular fashion.

With the odds shortening on Tyrone landing back-to-back All Ireland titles, this could yet prove a truly memorable Ulster year.