All Ireland Qualifiers

Smallball said:

Surely semi final tickets will be distributed through the clubs?

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Sure your discrimating against all the sunny day supporters then, who don't have a club

MrMaguire2002 said:

Glad to see Kernan mention the Monaghan performance last year.

It was one of the best individual displays I have ever witnessed from any player. Very hard to top. I've watched him play for school, club and county and for me it was still the best game he ever played. I reminded him of this a couple of weeks ago - that his best ever performance was in defeat!

You had Rian the forward in the first half and Rian the midfielder in the second.

Clifford, O'Callaghan and even his uncle Oisin are mentioned. Rian has much more to his game than any of them. A far more versatile player.

I've heard people in the past saying "Armagh should leave him inside." For me that's quite simply ignorance. His ability to win ball out the field is one thing - but his vision and foot passing are two immaculate qualities.

I'd say Geezer wouldn't need to give Rian much advice before a game. Let him drift in and out at will. A free role essentially. Because one thing for sure is his footballing brain is second to none.

There is little doubt Rian has plenty of quality around him thank God. But without Rian there is no doubt Armagh wouldn't be in the championship. Any success Armagh have this year and in the coming years will owe a lot to Rian. We won't see another player in the county as good as him for 20 years - so get the best out of him when we have him.

It's just an awful pity that other lad his mother Dora used to bang the windows at isn't flying fit. What an addition he would be to the middle.

But it is what it is. Let's get over Galway on Sunday. Cannot wait for it. And should we beat them - anything is possible.

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Yeah he was unreal that day, nearly dragged us over the line despite our errors.

If you’d Oisin fit around the middle you could maybe leave Rian inside more, as he’ll roast 99% of defenders inside, but as you say his long passing is top class as well.

Diarmi said:

I agree that they have bigger defensive worries than us but I also agree that we could struggle to contain Comer and Walsh, they are two serious footballers. I think it will come down to the intensity of the Armagh tackling and how they press the Galway attack, Galway will not have encountered anything like that this year and could/should be the difference.

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Don't underestimate the Galway defensive strategy, they have 3 Corofin defenders who are all super ball players, two of them past Club players of the year in the past 4 or 5 years. The Glynn lad also captained them to the All-Ireland U20 title two years ago. Daly is an animal and ferrous tackler and Kelly has a massive engine and is very dangerous as a counter attacker. They won't be lateral, they will attack, Walsh will punish indiscipline from frees from both sides. If Comer gets ball in hand he is a wrecking ball. Molloy destroyed Enda Smyth in the Connacht final. They are missing three or four players the fullback with a Cruciate along with attackers Michael Daly and Peter Cooke. The forward unit is very big and mobile with the Tierney lad due a big game, he captained the Sigerson winning team this year and won an All Ireland intermediate title with his club Ougherard a few years ago, he takes the long range frees. It is not long ago they hammered Derry in the league. A confident Galway is a very dangerous opponent.

MrMaguire2002 said:

Glad to see Kernan mention the Monaghan performance last year.

It was one of the best individual displays I have ever witnessed from any player. Very hard to top. I've watched him play for school, club and county and for me it was still the best game he ever played. I reminded him of this a couple of weeks ago - that his best ever performance was in defeat!

You had Rian the forward in the first half and Rian the midfielder in the second.

Clifford, O'Callaghan and even his uncle Oisin are mentioned. Rian has much more to his game than any of them. A far more versatile player.

I've heard people in the past saying "Armagh should leave him inside." For me that's quite simply ignorance. His ability to win ball out the field is one thing - but his vision and foot passing are two immaculate qualities.

I'd say Geezer wouldn't need to give Rian much advice before a game. Let him drift in and out at will. A free role essentially. Because one thing for sure is his footballing brain is second to none.

There is little doubt Rian has plenty of quality around him thank God. But without Rian there is no doubt Armagh wouldn't be in the championship. Any success Armagh have this year and in the coming years will owe a lot to Rian. We won't see another player in the county as good as him for 20 years - so get the best out of him when we have him.

It's just an awful pity that other lad his mother Dora used to bang the windows at isn't flying fit. What an addition he would be to the middle.

But it is what it is. Let's get over Galway on Sunday. Cannot wait for it. And should we beat them - anything is possible.

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Jesus Christ I didn't know where you were going with that statement!!!! I'm a slow reader.....

I agree, if you leave Rian inside he likely to be up against the best defender on the opposition team, the full back. Out the field he will have much more freedom to showcase his ability.

Uptheorchard said:

Hill tickets back available on Ticketmaster if anyone still looking.

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Ticketmaster is some craic. Game is sold out it’s not sold out . Would love to know what their sales strategy is when it comes to GAA games and why they seem to release tickets in batches in the led up to games and not just all once, particularly standing tickets

Also seen there that the Clonliffe College park is closed the weekend as well .

Its great to be involved this weekend . I was listening to somebody saying that this should be a regular occurrence for Armagh because of the talent in the team and I agree . I wouldn't say getting to the semi final is a bonus either , well it might be , but this is the first time since 08 I have gone to a quarter final with belief rather than hope .Galway's an excellent team and the commentary by @Championship above is far more detailed than I could produce and shows that they are a very dangerous outfit . But we have to believe that our own strengths can overcome there's , the team has momentum and that's a massive thing in all aspects of life , the fans are fully behind them , I'm hearing reports that 37,500 tickets are been sold to Armagh fans (although how they know this I don't know) but there's one thing for certain we will have the biggest support there on Sunday which must give the players or the management a huge lift .
I'm feeling as nervous as an Ireland Final day and i don't know if that a good or bad thing but I'm going to enjoy the day and take it all in and try not to get carried away with the emotion as it is only a game of football after all .
I think the team know what they have to do and I'm sure they will go full tilt , this is a massive opportunity and I wish them all well . Hopefully on Sunday by the end of the game we will be hearing @PatMustard favourite song again . All we can do as supporters is encourage and keep the faith .Remember there will be ups and downs so lets give the best support we possibly can.

Bring the flags Bring the noise #turncrokerorange

Ard Mhacha Abu !

William Of Orange said:

Also seen there that the Clonliffe College park is closed the weekend as well .

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It's been closed for a few years and will not reopen as a car park facility.

Can we expect the team to be named tonight ?

JoeH said:

It's been closed for a few years and will not reopen as a car park facility.

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Where is handy for parking then?

Armaghball said:

Where is handy for parking then?

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Ballymun,glasnevin, the housing estates up behind the old Quinn's pub, qpark was mentioned previously.

It's not easy to park but do park properly otherwise those clampers will be out
Leave nothing on show in the car.

And in all seriousness if you drop something on the ground watch what you lift. The drug scene in Dublin is unbelievable like a lot of places unfortunately.

northarmaghgael said:

Ticketmaster is some craic. Game is sold out it’s not sold out . Would love to know what their sales strategy is when it comes to GAA games and why they seem to release tickets in batches in the led up to games and not just all once, particularly standing tickets

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It’s a strategy to create a hysteria around tickets. To give people the impression that there’s a shortage of tickets, when there’s actually plenty. And that every Tam Dick and Harry seems to be going, and you’ll be the only one left in the whole county.

What song is that @William Of Orange ?

PatMustard said:

What song is that @William Of Orange ?

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The song they always play when we win …….

Ah, you mean this one @William Of Orange ?

Lot of talk of the match ups and how each defence will try to counteract the star attackers in each side.

It could come down to the supporting cast. If Rian and Soupy get marked out of this then the effort to do has to leave space and ball for others. That should be more comforting for Armagh than Galway

JoeH said:

Ballymun,glasnevin, the housing estates up behind the old Quinn's pub, qpark was mentioned previously.

It's not easy to park but do park properly otherwise those clampers will be out
Leave nothing on show in the car.

And in all seriousness if you drop something on the ground watch what you lift. The drug scene in Dublin is unbelievable like a lot of places unfortunately.

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Great parking offer with Parkrite, make sure and prebook. Click the option for GAA match on the option tab, €9 if prepaid. Parnell car park. Not sure about Irish life.

The more I think about this game the more I think it goes to extra time. Both teams are fairly equal in my opinion. The nerves are starting now, but I know our lads will put the shoulder to the wheel and I'm delighted such a big support is going.