Ulster Championship 2023

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POINTMAN

Well-Known Member
We won by 5 points, and quite comfortably - but little things could have turned the game - Was Ben in the square for his goal? Rian's diving save prevented a goal. Cavan kicked 20 wides.
Add to these we were cleaned out on our own long kickouts in the 2nd half.
So - work to do and things to improve on.
 
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Bringyourboots

Well-Known Member
I thought before the game that the greatest threat would be the new format. It won't be until the season concludes that the best approach is clear but it's inevitable that the management will look to the round robins and will have to find some way of doing the necessary fitness work and rotating players if ulster is on their agenda. No real wonder we were leggy in the 2nd. I suppose though bar Down everyone else is in the same boat.

Watching the game I was pleased how we managed it and in truth thats 2 games in 3rd gear at best. The excellent performers are obvious but on the whole, good team performance with plenty of improvement to come.

Great to get back to back wins, especially away at a tricky venue against a team that had a lot more to lose. Off to Clones; a happy hunting ground during our best years. I hope we do concentrate on trying to win it as momentum could be a bigger advantage in the groups than a week in La Manga.
 
PatMustard

PatMustard

Well-Known Member
William Of Orange said:
I know that wasnt perfect but that's a fantastic win , credit to all involved , i was really worried tonight and by and by apart from the usual wobble (why lads another bottle of just for men tomorrow) , that's a big hurdle crossed , momentum building ..... Turbo have my babies .
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That’s enough Buckfast for one night, Willie o_O

Agree with the rest of that though.
 
Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
POINTMAN said:
We won by 5 points, and quite comfortably - but little things could have turned the game - Was Ben in the square for his goal? Rian's diving save prevented a goal. Cavan kicked 20 wides.
Add to these we were cleaned out on our own long kickouts in the 2nd half.
So - work to do and things to improve on.
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It's really hard to tell from the tele if he was in the square and even the analysts with the benefit of replays couldn't say definitively, but on balance I'd say yes but marginal. That's a square ball regardless, but how many times have those decisions went against us?

Ref is well known for not blowing his whistle and avoids being controversial. Even though he didn't make the big calls with what looked like communication from his officials, he didn't do us any harm, which I'll take any day. Mind you he doesn't ever do us any harm, without being great in any game.
 
PatMustard

PatMustard

Well-Known Member
Crealey’s foot may have been in the square. Hard to tell. Those are the breaks though. Sometimes you get them, other times you don’t.

Next time a close decision doesn’t go our way, we should remember we probably got away with this one.
 
Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
PatMustard said:
Crealey’s foot may have been in the square. Hard to tell. Those are the breaks though. Sometimes you get them, other times you don’t.

Next time a close decision doesn’t go our way, we should remember we probably got away with this one.
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Sorry Patrick, but I did laugh at tha!!!!!

It was that one time I remembered all the times they went against us and thought, "finally got away with one!!!" ;)
 
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Patrick-Armagh

Well-Known Member
Really good win tonight, on a miserable day, away to a Cavan side we have struggled against over the years. First half was excellent. We totally dominated the play and should have had a few more points on the board. Cavan were quite passive, which made it is easier for us. The second half was a different game. We really allowed Cavan to come onto us and we were nowhere near as fluid. We were wiped out at midfield again, which is a worry. Not having a massive ball winner in there makes such a difference. Oisin O'Neill could be that type of player, but unfortunately has been wracked by injuries. Our other midfielders have good qualities - Crealey is very rangy and causes turnovers. McPartlan is rangy as well and can take a score. Grimley when fit is a fine player who can do a lot of everything. But you have to consider that this was only Crealy and McPartlan's second games of the season more or less and haven't played together. This new partnership will take some time to gel. Grimley appears to be injured again which is such a shame. The likes of Rian, Jarly and Campbell can all operate around the middle but aren't out and out midfielders. So we are struggling there at the moment, which could be an issue as the season goes on, against better teams. We were also missing Kelly, Morgan and McCambridge who would usually start, so that should be taken into account.

Turbitt was outstanding in the first half and just looks like an out and out scorer. Having him, Murnin and O'Neill inside would be a real handful for most teams. The conditions also made it very difficult to play open football for the entire game. But the way we backed off and invited pressure is a constant pattern. Cavan hit a serious amount of wides and had a goal clear off the line. Plenty of work to be done between now and the semi final. We've a great chance of making an Ulster Final and should be wanting to win it.
 
PatMustard

PatMustard

Well-Known Member
Big Jim said:
Sorry Patrick, but I did laugh at tha!!!!!

It was that one time I remembered all the times they went against us and thought, "finally got away with one!!!" ;)
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What?! I was being totally serious there, so I was! :mad:

I was just thinking of any future decisions that don’t go our way, and the table lamp that may lose its head. Or my ham sandwiches that might get chucked at officials. (She says she doesn’t even like football, which is the bizarre thing).
 
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The equaliser

New Member
armagh4sammy said:
Great win and key for momentum. Thought forker was excellent today. Jarly og, mackin and mccabe as good half back line as any in the country. One thing I will say is the midfield worries me. Crealy or mcpartlan wouldn't make any of the top 5 midfield and makes me think we need to put one of tk/rian/jarly og in there. Hopefully grimley can come back fit or we can get some minutes out of oisin o'neill. On a side note, the referee is a walt. Should have been 3 black cards (2 on rafferty, 1 on grugan)
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I don't think Jarly Og, Mackin or McCabe would get on any of the top teams half back line,never mind being the best half back line in the country. Jarly Og wasnt great today in my opinion,ran into trouble several times and give away possession,there's not much tricks up his sleeves to be an attacking wingback .
 
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thecritic

Well-Known Member
Great result with plenty to work on. Wouldn't be getting carried away with anything with AI series coming up.
Winning Ulster would be fantastic and I think it's time we just stepped forward and did that - a realistic chance for silverware.
Attacking wise, we have unearthed a proper 'scoring forward' in Turbo. It's been a long time since we've had a man who would consistently give us 4-8 points a game - Stevey McD style. Rian is class but Turbo arguably gives us more as a scoring forward.
I feel that Rian should be at no.9 / no.11 when everyone fit - a class act who we want on the ball regularly.
 
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