Sean Og
Well-Known Member
Nope, not for me, a bit of Down pain is always enjoyable.
Allianz Football League 2022 Division 1
- Thread starter Diarmi
- Start date
gael_force_orchard
Well-Known Member
That was a bloody good win in those conditions. I thought we played quite well also. We forced kildare to take pot shots with the wind in the first half yet we worked scoring positions better in the second. Hard to pick players out after a good win, but i thought both Tiernan Kelly and Ciaran Mackin were excellent. I also thought Mc Cabe and Forker had excellent games in the backine. A word on Joe McQuillan. That refereeing perfomance cannot be laughed at or juat brushed aside by the powers that be. It was absolutely shocking. Another poster said borderline cheating,I will go one further, he was match fixing, he gave 6 easy easy easy soft scoring frees against us tonight that i juat cant fathom and gave us nothing. It was blatant cheating. He is a disgrace to the gaa.
Patrick-Armagh
Well-Known Member
We dug out a very good win on a horrible night and showed some guts, which was pleasing. Has Ethan Rafferty beaten out Blaine Hughes as our number one? I felt more comfortable with him in goals to be honest (not that Hughes has done anything massively wrong) and thought that his kick outs were excellent for the most part. Defensively we looked really solid. Daniel Flynn and Jimmy Hyland are top class forwards and we marked them out of it. Forker, Morgan, McKay all excellent. Ciaran Mackin is a total work horse. Where has this guy come from?! Has he been in and around the panel for a few years because I can genuinely say that his name has never stuck with me. Now I can't see us playing without him. His energy, fitness and bravery are remarkable. Ben Crealey covers massive amounts of ground and really looks like he could be a top class player. Who would have thought that Oisin O'Neill and Niall Grimley wouldn't have been our starting midfield going into Championship?
What also impressed me was that there were a number of changes to the team and players getting starts that haven't had much game time or starts like Murnin, Morgan and O'Hanlon and there was no drop off in quality. McGeeney has built a deep squad of players, that is lacking in some areas, but you can see that the team are giving it their all to maximise their potential. Some weeks it won't be enough and we will lose matches (ones where we are in a winning position), make mistakes in games that cost us and we can come on here and have a moan, myself included. But I don't think anyone can question the depth of the squad we have, that the team are playing well and McGeeney and his staff have gotten us back to the top level of football.
We've secured our Division 1 status, we have Kerry coming to town next week and we have the chance to get to a league final. We are in a good place at the moment, there's lots still to come from the team, lets enjoy it and not get carried away.
What also impressed me was that there were a number of changes to the team and players getting starts that haven't had much game time or starts like Murnin, Morgan and O'Hanlon and there was no drop off in quality. McGeeney has built a deep squad of players, that is lacking in some areas, but you can see that the team are giving it their all to maximise their potential. Some weeks it won't be enough and we will lose matches (ones where we are in a winning position), make mistakes in games that cost us and we can come on here and have a moan, myself included. But I don't think anyone can question the depth of the squad we have, that the team are playing well and McGeeney and his staff have gotten us back to the top level of football.
We've secured our Division 1 status, we have Kerry coming to town next week and we have the chance to get to a league final. We are in a good place at the moment, there's lots still to come from the team, lets enjoy it and not get carried away.
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DOUGIE
Member
Ciaran was in the "B team" recently but he's made midfield his own now,raised my eyebrows when he started against Dublin but by God he's not out of place, absolute machine
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
Thomas Niblock on twitter
Just finished commentating Armagh v Kildare. This weekend there will be no post-match interviews. Players are all on effective strike over row with GAA & players expenses. Big issue moving forward- with more to come
It hasn’t been a positive week for GAA administration
Just finished commentating Armagh v Kildare. This weekend there will be no post-match interviews. Players are all on effective strike over row with GAA & players expenses. Big issue moving forward- with more to come
It hasn’t been a positive week for GAA administration
Armagh_paul
Well-Known Member
It is amazing how well we controlled that game. The passing wasn't perfect in those conditions but the better we get at managing games we are soon going to be the complete package
JoeH
Well-Known Member
The GPA hierarchy have their own interests and always have. Other articles say the GPA walked away from talks - did they?
The media guys have their own interests
The losers in this are those who like to hear from players and managers in the social and print media. These are the people who buy the tickets to watch the games. The same ticket money that helps to pay expenses I'm sure.
Do ticket prices have to go up?
Do we have all the information?
I'm pretty sure we haven't conceded a goal yet? That is some record and there are major improvements defensively including a bigger man in goals. Kerry will test all of that but we are in a good place right now and credit has to go to Geezer who has gathered a good team around him and a big squad.
William Of Orange
Well-Known Member
Next weeks game against Kerry will be really interesting, Kerry have probably the strongest forwards in the division (arguably) .However it’s interesting that like ourselves the strength of the team is seen as their forward unit they haven’t conceded a goal yet and Paddy Tally has them organised into a unit .We also have been strong defensively , the only goal we conceded has been against Dublin which was a freaky fluky goal and we haven’t given away any goal chances of substance .Listening to Spalline Kerry have the league , Munster and the All Ireland wrapped up so I’d like our boys to send them down the road with their tails between their legs with a few things to think about .
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Excellent result and the most important thing is there’s room for improvement. 1/3 of the team changed with no drop off. Kildare in a solid place with a few top class forwards and they didn’t really threaten. Division 1 secured and the possibility of a league final. I wouldn’t be beating the door down about that as building to the championship match s more important as there’s an Ulster for the winning. I’d be of the opinion to put a similar team out against Kerry to see how that result goes. If we make the league final well and good, but I’d be playing a shadow team against Donegal no matter what.
In yesterday defensively we did very well. The system is working and the fitness seems to be up to the required level. Of all the players who have really stood up Rowland has really impressed me. He just gets about things in a very understated way and plays above his ‘ability’. Morgan had one of his better games yesterday in a long time. The whole discipline of the system was excellent.
Rafferty in nets is a mixed bag. His kickouts are working generally well but some of his forays out the field are a worry. The key to a sweeper keeper is that they know when to go and not to go. He seems to take an extra solo a lot….he really should be coming out to create the extra man to allow an outfield player to make the break instead of him making the break. A couple of times he over played it and against the likes of Kerry or Mayo that’s a goal scoring risk.
In MF Mackin is a revelation. He is the ‘John Toal’ of the team. The water carrier, the work horse, he will allow the better footballers do their stuff. And he is a tidy player himself. Knows his limits and plays to the max of that. That’s so important for a player to know what he can or cannot do and not try something he cannot do.
The forwards didn’t click as well as they can but given the conditions I wouldn’t worry about that. While the likes of Rian may not have been in the scoring zone he was very effective in general play. His play for Duffy’s late point was a perfect example of that. When you look at the likes of Soupy and Duffy coming off the bench and contributing to the scores that’s very encouraging. A special shout for Kelly. He is a proper player. Size, strength, a lovely left foot and a great engine.
Overall the management have got a great system working and deserve great credit. Players playing in a proper system which is working. We have closed the gap to the top and are genuinely in the mix. Kerry are strong but are not as far away as Dublin were for years so I think there’s a genuine chance for 4-5 teams to win the big one. We are in that mix
In yesterday defensively we did very well. The system is working and the fitness seems to be up to the required level. Of all the players who have really stood up Rowland has really impressed me. He just gets about things in a very understated way and plays above his ‘ability’. Morgan had one of his better games yesterday in a long time. The whole discipline of the system was excellent.
Rafferty in nets is a mixed bag. His kickouts are working generally well but some of his forays out the field are a worry. The key to a sweeper keeper is that they know when to go and not to go. He seems to take an extra solo a lot….he really should be coming out to create the extra man to allow an outfield player to make the break instead of him making the break. A couple of times he over played it and against the likes of Kerry or Mayo that’s a goal scoring risk.
In MF Mackin is a revelation. He is the ‘John Toal’ of the team. The water carrier, the work horse, he will allow the better footballers do their stuff. And he is a tidy player himself. Knows his limits and plays to the max of that. That’s so important for a player to know what he can or cannot do and not try something he cannot do.
The forwards didn’t click as well as they can but given the conditions I wouldn’t worry about that. While the likes of Rian may not have been in the scoring zone he was very effective in general play. His play for Duffy’s late point was a perfect example of that. When you look at the likes of Soupy and Duffy coming off the bench and contributing to the scores that’s very encouraging. A special shout for Kelly. He is a proper player. Size, strength, a lovely left foot and a great engine.
Overall the management have got a great system working and deserve great credit. Players playing in a proper system which is working. We have closed the gap to the top and are genuinely in the mix. Kerry are strong but are not as far away as Dublin were for years so I think there’s a genuine chance for 4-5 teams to win the big one. We are in that mix
Ard Mhacha 13
Well-Known Member
Dublin scored a fortuitous goal against us.
gael_force_orchard
Well-Known Member
Nice to be able to sit down today to watch this afternoon's games and not have a care in the world on how the results go.
Dominic Mckeag
New Member
Have been living in Kerry for a year and a half was looking forward to seeing the orchard support coming down here to play Kerry but alas it’s in the athletic grounds they haven’t a clue about Armagh football here we knew that Armagh were on the up but they surprised how well the team is playing and the strength of the bench we have.rest assured I’ll sing the praises of the team and supporters every chance I get already have got everyone in work despising Tyrone will give them plenty of stick when we beat Kerry next week
gael_force_orchard
Well-Known Member
Id love to give Kerry a good beatin next week then play a second string against Donegal and leave us right for championship
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
I do want Monaghan to beat Donegal & Dublin to beat Tyrone
gael_force_orchard
Well-Known Member
Id be happy with that as well bull
William Of Orange
Well-Known Member
This saving ourselves for Donegal in Ulster …. Obviously the championship is the priority but I think I am right in saying we have been in 4 div 1 League finals in our history winning one , we might be waiting a while for another chance and we should go full tilt at it .
I get that but we have a greater chance in my opinion if winning Ulster than anything. If we beat Donegal we have a great chance to make the final. We are definitely on the easier side of the draw and really should be making the final if we beat Donegal. You have Tyrone, Derry, and Monaghan bating lumps out of each other on the other side so you’d hope to be on a better place than any of them. Tyrone will have to make it from the Preliminary match to the final which is a rare event. I’d fancy them to beat Fermanagh but for Derry to beat them as Gallagher will be focusing solely on that game. I’d much prefer an Ulster Championship than a League title.
Could we win both? Possibly but if I were a betting man I know where I’d place my money on.
Armagh_paul
Well-Known Member
I get that winning breeds success but that has not been the case in the league or with winning titles. The main thing is keeping the lads grounded and winning a league title might give us that air head mentality like the wins against Dublin and Tyrone did. Don't like the idea of risking injuries either.
Murnin has only just returned so it would be good for him to have a few competitive games without having to go full tilt and get ready for the championship. Turbitt and Oisin O'Neill haven't had a lot of game time either. So there are still players who need to play. Donegal won't get a chance to play against our first choice team, they don't get to develop a plan. That goes for us too. We have just over a month to fix a few problems in our game including kick outs, making the defensive setup even more dynamic, get players up to fitness and even fitter and we can do all of this because we cannot get relegated.
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