Qualifiers 2018

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Dinny

New Member
What a great draw we got. I believe Roscommon are the strongest provincial loser so it's exactly who we want in the next round. Sean Cavanagh last night described us as a top 8 team so there's no reason why we can't reach the last 8. Roscommon are strong, however remember Down defeated them in the league so if we play the way we played in the last 10 minutes we'll win this one. Ard Mhacha Abu!
 
Rufus T Firefly

Rufus T Firefly

Well-Known Member
Great to get the win on Saturday and it was a win that for a long time looked like a forlorn hope. Thought we started really brightly and raced into a 4-1 lead. However for the next hour or so, Armagh were very poor to be honest. We seem to place a lot of store in the long ball in, but in the first half in particular it simply ended with the ball bouncing out over the end-line - something that I remarked happened a lot in Enniskillen. It's very frustrating to watch. Like many others have said, Clare looked very tidy - strong midfield and some excellent running and support play from deep seemed to cause us problems. An old favourite of mine also came to the fore throughout the game - unforced errors - with easy frees being missed, wrong options being taken, dropped balls etc etc.

When Clare got the goal from the penalty, I really thought our goose was cooked. However, to be fare, despite our many frailties, the players cannot be accused of lacking heart or determination and they responded magnificently in the heat, and up the hill, to provide a barnstorming finish and run out comfortable winners. The loss of the Clare goalkeeper to injury and their number 5 to a black card, were big blows to them and we took full advantage.

Someone said it elsewhere, but it brought me back to that wonderful day in May 1993 against Fermanagh - a very average performance and a Championship exit looking almost certain and then from nowhere a great response to snatch victory, although it was not as seismic as that day. The atmosphere amongst the crowd - the roar for the goals and the 'ARMAGH' chant - are the best I've heard in a long while and were great for lifting the spirits and the team. Tough draw coming up but we're in bonus territory. If the players show the same spirit and determination going forward, then I'll be happy.
 
PatMustard

PatMustard

Well-Known Member
Dinny said:
What a great draw we got. I believe Roscommon are the strongest provincial loser so it's exactly who we want in the next round. Sean Cavanagh last night described us as a top 8 team so there's no reason why we can't reach the last 8. Roscommon are strong, however remember Down defeated them in the league so if we play the way we played in the last 10 minutes we'll win this one. Ard Mhacha Abu!
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Beware of Tyronies bearing compliments.
 
pablo

pablo

Well-Known Member
Rufus T Firefly said:
Great to get the win on Saturday and it was a win that for a long time looked like a forlorn hope. Thought we started really brightly and raced into a 4-1 lead. However for the next hour or so, Armagh were very poor to be honest. We seem to place a lot of store in the long ball in, but in the first half in particular it simply ended with the ball bouncing out over the end-line - something that I remarked happened a lot in Enniskillen. It's very frustrating to watch. Like many others have said, Clare looked very tidy - strong midfield and some excellent running and support play from deep seemed to cause us problems. An old favourite of mine also came to the fore throughout the game - unforced errors - with easy frees being missed, wrong options being taken, dropped balls etc etc.

When Clare got the goal from the penalty, I really thought our goose was cooked. However, to be fare, despite our many frailties, the players cannot be accused of lacking heart or determination and they responded magnificently in the heat, and up the hill, to provide a barnstorming finish and run out comfortable winners. The loss of the Clare goalkeeper to injury and their number 5 to a black card, were big blows to them and we took full advantage.

Someone said it elsewhere, but it brought me back to that wonderful day in May 1993 against Fermanagh - a very average performance and a Championship exit looking almost certain and then from nowhere a great response to snatch victory, although it was not as seismic as that day. The atmosphere amongst the crowd - the roar for the goals and the 'ARMAGH' chant - are the best I've heard in a long while and were great for lifting the spirits and the team. Tough draw coming up but we're in bonus territory. If the players show the same spirit and determination going forward, then I'll be happy.
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Excellent summary of the day Rufus. Was great to hear the chant again and to bring up the old cliché -the crowd was like a 16th man in those last 7 minutes.
Was also frustrated at how nearly we came to playing very well-meaning there were times the lead up play was promising only to be let down by a final fumbled pass or dropped ball. The over hit ball into the forward line was frustrating and yet only was a matter of inches at times from being a class bit of play.
The effort and heart is there and you get a sense that it could really click. What worries me a little is the ease in which Clare found space in the gap between midfield and our half back line to move into the middle to get a score. That was a feature of our failings in the Fermanagh game also.
Credit to the old warriors led the storm-Charlie the main man but also very pleased with drive and bravery the u20 lads showed when coming in. Young Owens had a difficult task coming straight into full back and had trouble with the high bouncing ball on the hard surface. But he will be Ok- the heads never dropped, particularly Grimley who was having bit of stinker but never backed and stood up to the plate when it was needed. Excellent cameo from Rowland-very underestimated footballer and the progress of Burns and McCabe has been excellent. Murnin of course is now getting the deserved recognition as a real quality forward. As my Da would say-the ball sticks to him.
Take a bow Aidan Forker. Got a lot of stick over the years, but the lad is a whole hearted and talented footballer.
 
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Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
PatMustard said:
Is he telling the truth @Calm1 ? #fireupthedelorean
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Just got back from a long trip and weekend for a wedding in Messier 83.

In truth you now know he WAS indeed truthificating. As for the numbers, well I keep those wins to myself. No point in sharing the greed!
 
E

Eireogatron

Well-Known Member
Roscommon may be perceived as the "worst draw" or "strongest side" we could have got but having though about it, I think its a perfect draw fro a number of reasons. Roscommon are a good side but very beatable, they have only had 2 championship games this year - a rout against beleaguered Leitrim and well beaten in the by Galway (4 points in it but they scored 8 times in that match to Galways 16 scores) so there is an argument to say they wont be "battle hardened", whereas we have been able to shake off the Fermanagh debacle and build up a head of steam culminating in Saturdays fightback.

Also, the winners are going to be pitted against the Dubs, Donegal and Tyrone(probably) so if we cant beat Roscommon we dont deserve to be there. If we come through the harder draw we will have earned the right to be there but hopefully drawn some additional confidence for what will be a mammoth task against those sides.
 
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