Just to recap our season so far
Dublin vs Armagh - What many of us thought was a shock result. Yes Dublin were perhaps under-strength but it is the first real competitive game of the season and they have the talent more so than any other county. Dublin's name alone in the last couple of years wins it for them but there have been cracks in this team for the last year. Anyhow, that is not our problem, that is is the cycle of sport, you have a period of greatness but it has to end sometime. From previous seasons we have been very exposed at the back, our defence was terrible and opposition could run at us and score points and goals. We put in a performance we all knew the team was capable of and won. The defence were incredible restricting Dublin to shooting from range and they could not penetrate the defence but did manage to score a fortuitous goal. Our goals were well taken and could have had more - did Duffy mean the lob? As Armagh fans we want to say yes but we really do not know.
Armagh vs Tyrone - Up against the All Ireland Champions and in past meetings a team we always seem nervous against playing (NFL 2021). Armagh dismantled Tyrone in the first half in exactly the same way they did against Dublin. Unlike Dublin, there was always a feeling Tyrone would get their foot back in and keep pressing on. Tyrone exposed a weakness in the Armagh team and that is pressing up on the goal kicks. Time and time again were were losing and every time they would get a point and constantly conning the referee for frees. Old habits of losing composure when we have such a big lead start to show through again and we didn't look like we had an answer to Tyrone attacking us constantly and with high intensity. However, we managed to hold out and win. The team starting to look like they are making progress but still there are major issues that need to be address.
Armagh vs Monaghan - Monaghan might be on the downward spiral in terms of age but they have a ton of experience in their team. They will play in a way that will frustrate you and grind you down. They are definitely a team you need to get a few point ahead of so they are unable to do this. Monaghan should have had the game won against us at the end of the first half but you could argue we were missing quite a few goal chances in that game so it evens itself out. Whilst Monaghan were happy to play we were abysmal and even with such a poor performance we were able to drag ourselves back into the game and against 14 men. Thanks to a referee who missed the ball crossing the line it is a game that was there to be won but instead ended up with a draw. Monaghan are a tricky team to play against, they get a lead and they are going to make you work hard to get back at them.
Armagh vs Mayo - I never got tot see this game but based on what has been said there is a problem with composure when in the lead in the dying embers of a game. Our team in the 00's were constantly beating teams in the last 10 minutes of games it is where legs become weary but then the fittest team takes over. I don't think we are unfit we just have a serious lack of experience in the team. Realistically we only have Campbell, Grugan, Morgan and Forker who can settle the team. Losing tight matches has become a bad habit and we need to learn to live with the pressure towards the end of games.
Armagh vs Kildare - Like the Monaghan game the conditions were horrible but we seemed to learn something from it. Kildare were very similar to ourselves against Monaghan, little fight and not interested in the game. We didn't make that same mistake twice and the players rallied and put some scores on the board and managed to keep themselves motivated...dare I say it but they seemed to enjoy themselves a bit more. I don't feel Kildare offered us much of a challenge and that is not to say they are not a good team but the conditions certainly didn't help. We never looked like losing this game and it would have been easy just go 2 behind and give up but we didn't and reaped the rewards for it.
Two games left and division one status is secured. Some want us to go on and try and get to the league final whilst some are in favour of preparing for the championship. The game against Kerry will give us more of an indication of where we are at. Mayo only just lost to them and we only just lost to them. It depends on what Armagh management and players want to do now...keep building the confidence, gain experience of playing under pressure etc or just use the games as preparation?
In January we were targeting Monaghan, Kildare and Donegal for points to stay in the division. Who would have thought we would take all points on offer from Dublin, Kildare, Tyrone and Draw with Monaghan. Where we did drop points it was our undoing that caused it. Come the championship I would hope to see these problems being less apparent and take on the best of Ulster to see where we really stand.