Ulster Championship 2023

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POINTMAN

Well-Known Member
Wide ball said:
For me Ethan's positives far outweigh his negatives and I think he has been brilliant as a GK but if that had of been blaine Hughes he would of been getting alot more grief imo, I think that Rafferty should continue in nets because he is vital to how we play out from the back and his passing from deep is top notch,
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I agree - so let's be honest
Any other keeper would be getting a lot more criticism for such an error- that goal cost us. But Ethan is getting off lightly because his other/overall play was good, including his scores. If we had another reliable keeper, we could benefit from Ethan around midfield- but Geezers poor management/lack of planning has left us where we are. Just another example of the "inches" that make the difference in the top teams.
 
JoeH

JoeH

Well-Known Member
niall1980 said:
For me this confirms the stories that he was with the team on Saturday and Sunday prior to the game
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I don't think he was with the team but let's take the story that he was:
How on god's earth did those 40 odd people - players and backroom - sit and listen to him knowing what has happened and by his own statements has not denied it. What sort of men are they? Where's the decency ? How do they look their wives/partners/mother's/sisters in the eye after this?

I for one would not be associated with anyone who has done what he's done never mind he in a changing room listening to him.
The temptation to deal with the issue would simply be too great.

This is why I don't think he was there
 
O

Ouch It’s Francie

Well-Known Member
Ard Mhacha 13 said:
Gallagher has stepped down. Derry county Board really have managed to worm their way out of this one :mad:
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I hope I’m not over stepping the mark. Never meant to previously on this subject or a previous post but I suppose I’ve known for some time. This is not the end of the scrutiny that the Derry Co Board will face in my opinion. They will not be allowed to sweep this serious incident under the carpet. There will be an the inquest and questions of accountability in Derry - who knew what, when and why decisions were made? Its going to be tough for well meaning volunteers but it’s never the virus’ fault, it’s the person who had knowledge who let the virus in. It was a car crash waiting to happen.
 
O

Ouch It’s Francie

Well-Known Member
JoeH said:
I don't think he was with the team but let's take the story that he was:
How on god's earth did those 40 odd people - players and backroom - sit and listen to him knowing what has happened and by his own statements has not denied it. What sort of men are they? Where's the decency ? How do they look their wives/partners/mother's/sisters in the eye after this?

I for one would not be associated with anyone who has done what he's done never mind he in a changing room listening to him.
The temptation to deal with the issue would simply be too great.

This is why I don't think he was there
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He was!
 
JoeH

JoeH

Well-Known Member
POINTMAN said:
I agree - so let's be honest
Any other keeper would be getting a lot more criticism for such an error- that goal cost us. But Ethan is getting off lightly because his other/overall play was good, including his scores. If we had another reliable keeper, we could benefit from Ethan around midfield- but Geezers poor management/lack of planning has left us where we are. Just another example of the "inches" that make the difference in the top teams.
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What other keeper is out there in the county?
Ethan brings huge value to the team as he can run into space from defence whilst receiving the ball.
If he was playing midfield that wouldn't happen.
Yes it was a mistake - every person on the pitch made at least one mistake - but that didn't lose us the game. Missed frees and scores from positions where we normally wouldn't miss from, moving a free 20metres when we now know something happened, not giving a free in for over carrying by the Derry goalkeeper, free dropping short (mcguigan I think had one at the same end doing something similar.
Perhaps Campbell on earlier, McQuillan on earlier and we are missing TK, Jemar, Ben didn't play for some reason, Andy was quiet.

Derry had the game won and didn't close it out. We seem to have forgotten that.
Derry are a very good team for sure.

Back to Armagh on the 27th - start with a good win and get ready to play Tyrone.
Read elsewhere that teams that finish second in the group get home advantage in the qualifier game so if we don't finish top aim to finish second .

The squads will be getting seriously tested now - we have the squad to go far.
 
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thecritic

Well-Known Member
I think I said a few weeks back that it would eventually end in tears with RG. Hopefully all gets investigated properly and sorted out - whatever needs to happen.

When do tickets go on sale for WM game? Are we expecting close to a sell-out? Can't see many travelling up from the Midlands. God, they really don't like us Nordies down there, hope we give them a good hiding!
 
JoeH

JoeH

Well-Known Member
thecritic said:
I think I said a few weeks back that it would eventually end in tears with RG. Hopefully all gets investigated properly and sorted out - whatever needs to happen.

When do tickets go on sale for WM game? Are we expecting close to a sell-out? Can't see many travelling up from the Midlands. God, they really don't like us Nordies down there, hope we give them a good hiding!
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Tickets on sale now
 
ragingbull

ragingbull

Well-Known Member
John said:
Why did we not put Murnin back on for extra time. No one is questioning this, why
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Probably cause he wasn't fit enough to come back on, Conaty for Murnin in normal time I didn't get that switch at all for a player that hasn't played no league or championship football so far it was a strange decision
 
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armaghlad

Active Member
armaghtimmy said:
Talk of putting Rafferty into Midfield is crazy. Not because he wouldn't have the talent, but he wouldn't have nowhere near the fitness. The man has stood between the sticks in training and games every night for the last 18 months, what makes you think he could suddenly play the most key position when it comes to mobility and getting around the pitch. Fanciful stuff. He's doing a good job were he is, leave him there. Blaine wasn't the best under the high ball due to his stature, and now we have someone who is, no pleasing everyone!!!!
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Not to mention his mistake for the goal from a high ball. I actually think he had a fairly good game apart from that.
 
ragingbull

ragingbull

Well-Known Member
northarmaghgael said:
See Oisin oNeill still hanging around the squad on match days. Does anyone know when he’s expected to come back in again? Bar ballybofey last year I can’t mind the last time he played a game for either club or county.
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I don't get why he's part of the squad when's he has long term injury
 
Rufus T Firefly

Rufus T Firefly

Well-Known Member
huggy2002 said:
Cahir O'kane writing in Irish news today has a great article, he details all the fine margins that happened in the match, he said Armagh are still in a good place and said in his view they are on a par with Derry going into the Riund Robin games.
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It's a very good article and does indeed highlight the very fine lines at play here. I've been mulling over some of these fine lines in my head, and in discussions with others, since the match, although I still cannot bring myself to watch it. That said, I'm not so sure Cahir's conclusion - that Armagh are still in a good place - stands up.

I think he underestimates the crushing blow that Clones last Sunday was for Armagh. That match was the culmination of not just months of training, but I'd argue years of progression from Division 3 football, painful and fruitless Championship campaigns, to get a team that was ready to go toe-to-toe for a major honour. Across that progression, many of our great players of the modern age have been getting older and are now reaching veteran status. Will they get another opportunity like that on Sunday? Maybe; maybe not. I hope I'm wrong, but that felt like one wonderful opportunity that was let slip.

I feel Armagh needed that victory a lot more than Derry did and the defeat itself, and the nature of it, will have dealt a major blow to the team. If they can come back from this and progress to an All Ireland Quarter-final, then they will have performed brilliantly. However it will be a big challenge.
 
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Armaghball

Well-Known Member
JoeH said:
Tickets on sale now
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Rufus T Firefly said:
It's a very good article and does indeed highlight the very fine lines at play here. I've been mulling over some of these fine lines in my head, and in discussions with others, since the match, although I still cannot bring myself to watch it. That said, I'm not so sure Cahir's conclusion - that Armagh are still in a good place - stands up.

I think he underestimates the crushing blow that Clones last Sunday was for Armagh. That match was the culmination of not just months of training, but I'd argue years of progression from Division 3 football, painful and fruitless Championship campaigns, to get a team that was ready to go toe-to-toe for a major honour. Across that progression, many of our great players of the modern age have been getting older and are now reaching veteran status. Will they get another opportunity like that on Sunday? Maybe; maybe not. I hope I'm wrong, but that felt like one wonderful opportunity that was let slip.

I feel Armagh needed that victory a lot more than Derry did and the defeat itself, and the nature of it, will have dealt a major blow to the team. If they can come back from this and progress to an All Ireland Quarter-final, then they will have performed brilliantly. However it will be a big challenge.
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Definitely a massive opportunity missed the other day and will be hugely mentally draining. All the lads can do is bottle that hurt and use it to drive them on. There is definitely a lot more to come from this team and plenty of life left in those veterans yet ;).

Derry were being talked up as All Ireland contenders, we took went toe to toe with them and got to a draw after extra time and should really have had it won. Galway being talked about as the same, look how close we came there less than 12 months ago as well and while they have improved since I firmly believe we have as well.

Dublin and Kerry are probably a bit ahead of everyone but we were a kick of a ball away from a result down in Kerry and the Dubs are looking good but are a shadow of the great team from a few years ago.

While we’re definitely not among the favourites to do anything this year, we should have absolutely no fear of any team and trust me no one will be relishing the thoughts of having to play us.

2 weeks now to get the minds and bodies right after that battle and heartbreak on Sunday, a winnable game against Westmeath at home to get us back on track and anything is possible.

I’ve been saying it for a long while now but the only team that can beat Armagh are Armagh themselves, think back to Galway last year, Kerry and Galway games this year and the game on Sunday- we certainly weren’t outclassed at all and were only beaten by our own mistakes at key moments. Well able to mix it with the best of them and I think if we can get over the line in a big game where it is in the melting pot in the last few minutes it would do wonders for this team.
 
pablo

pablo

Well-Known Member
Rufus T Firefly said:
It's a very good article and does indeed highlight the very fine lines at play here. I've been mulling over some of these fine lines in my head, and in discussions with others, since the match, although I still cannot bring myself to watch it. That said, I'm not so sure Cahir's conclusion - that Armagh are still in a good place - stands up.

I think he underestimates the crushing blow that Clones last Sunday was for Armagh. That match was the culmination of not just months of training, but I'd argue years of progression from Division 3 football, painful and fruitless Championship campaigns, to get a team that was ready to go toe-to-toe for a major honour. Across that progression, many of our great players of the modern age have been getting older and are now reaching veteran status. Will they get another opportunity like that on Sunday? Maybe; maybe not. I hope I'm wrong, but that felt like one wonderful opportunity that was let slip.

I feel Armagh needed that victory a lot more than Derry did and the defeat itself, and the nature of it, will have dealt a major blow to the team. If they can come back from this and progress to an All Ireland Quarter-final, then they will have performed brilliantly. However it will be a big challenge.
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I'm afraid thats my feeling as well.
I found this defeat really hard to take and probably still need a day or so to get over it before commenting, so I do apologise for the gloomy tone of this post. But I think Rufus expressed exactly why Sunday really hit me in the stomach. I am proud of the effort and passion given by the team and while we can debate the merits/debits of tactics on the day-by and large I do think management got it right. But we left that one behind, and it truly was a case of inches. I worry about the effect of another heartbreaker on the team. I think for the younger squad members, they will learn from this and become more and more battle hardened. But for the older servants-the cumulative effects of this following our recent relegation must take its toll. Maybe I underestimate the resilience of those guys-but they have been through a long, yo yo journey over the years and must wonder if the small margins will ever fall in their favour. It will be a considerable test of management to pick them off the floor for futher battle-but we do have the management to do that. I hope that Westmeath at home-while not to be underestimated, will be a good game to get things up and running but honestly, guys like Forker, Grugan and Campbell must have hearts like Lions to keep going.
 
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