Is it time to consider new management?

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
A quick look at the results page and looks like Derrynoose conceded 5 goals in there last 2 games against Clonmore and Collegeland. Obviously can’t say if that’s the keepers fault but maybe those that have seen him can comment.
Ooooops! :oops:
 

Throwball

Well-Known Member
I work with a Derrynoose fella and I think the keepers talents have been embellished slightly. He says he has a great kickout but shot stopping and high ball arent great. Not sure on age. Also, with all due respect to the junior league (we're going there next year after all) the margin between the top 5 and the rest is so big that half-decent goalies can look phenomenal, kickouts-wise. That said, I am also going on second hand information.

In the last couple of years the lad who does nets for Middletown really impressed me. Good shot stopper, high ball and also takes most of their free kicks. Very good keeper

Have to agree on keeper. Have seen Derrynoose play a few times. He has a strong kick and is a very good keeper but not sure he is county level.
 

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
I just heard on the radio That El Presidente Juan Horan has hinted that the back pass to the keeper may be stopped to improve the game. Jaysus it's getting more like soccer all the time now. Sure is a keeper not an integral part of the game anymore?? Our plans to bring the keeper out the field again have been scuppered before we start.

Admin restrict access to this forum immediately. The powers that be are reading it and taking action against us!!!
 

Ard Mhacha 13

Well-Known Member
Just on additional players and keeping those that are there honest, I had a conversation today and heard a lad from Derrynoose is an up and coming keeper with an exceptional kickout.
Supposedly raw as ropes between the posts (he's an outfield forward converted) and again, supposedly, a classy player that could be an option, but apparently his kickouts are unreal. Maybe the best seen at any of our clubs. He can hit it 65 yards to the chest??? I'm told he kicks 45s for fun?

If this is right then he definitely could be worked on if Geezer knew about him - if he was brought in and coached he is definitely worth looking at. I don't think we have a better keeper shot stopping wise than Blaine (Ok he was bad for the first goal but the second one your man hit it off his shin so was a bit of a fluke maybe so it was). Seemingly this lad can strike a ball and not afraid to go short as he played a lot of soccer too - and ain't afraid to do a Beagan and carry the ball out either so he isn't.

Anyone from them there parts add or help deny the rumour? I actually think it could improve Blaine if he was an option.

Seriously do you actually want me to have a heart attack? :eek:
 

niall1980

Well-Known Member
Sorry for the long post, Signing out until next season lol

A lot of positives from this year, i agree with most comments regarding the gk i believe he needs competition aswell as coaching but throughout the leagues doesn't seem to be an outstanding gk from any team. Stick with Hughes hopefully this year experience will help him and he can improve.

Major positives again from this season- Nugent has been very good along with Jamar hall in the half forward. Soupy been outstanding last few games with the direct running style and kicking points from distance. Clarke has had a great year for me every game he has been outstanding. O'neill and Jarly Og what a year for them lads both have been unplayable at times. Full fit Andy back next year is exciting he is one of the best full forwards in ulster for me great ball winner and very hard to mark for defenders. Grugan as i said previous week he is a brilliant playmaker when the game is open he looks an outstanding player struggles with tight defences very good on Saturday decent year. Grimley has so much talent i expect better good against monaghan should be kicking on a bit more football ability is very good.

Defence- Ryan kennedy has had a great year picked up a injury at the wrong time but great breakthrough year. Donaghy is very important to this team team he looks a leader and i still believe if he played 2nd match against cavan we would have been in ulster final. Forker another great year for whatever role he was given. Marked Martin reilly and Conor McManus out of 2 games passing been very good into the forwards he is like the deep playmaker with early balls into forwards which suits our game. Mark shields- Good year always reliable never roasted and gets forwards well always a 7 out 10. Paddy Burns- Injured most of the season played well against mayo hopefully fully fit next year. James morgan- Decent at times needs to realise don't have to win every ball but i always like him on the pitch. McKay- For me a good year apart from Saturday got a hard time but hard player and can easily do man marking roles.


Covered most of the starting players from this season

Give the ratings for everyone now for season went to every game

Hughes- 5
Morgan-5
Mckay-6
Kennedy- 7
Shields- 7
Hughes-7.5
Donaghy-7
Forker-7.5
Jalry Og-9
Grimley-6
Jamar-7
Soupy- 7
Nugent-7.5
Clarke-8.5
O'neill- 9
Andy- 6
Grugan 6
Raffery-5
Burns-5
Ben C- 6

Big years for next season but Questions marks still there
Oisin Oneill
Duffy
Mcquillian

Players to be back involved
Sheridan- Been a miss

Good group of players-
I am assuming you are basing this on the championship only
 

niall1980

Well-Known Member
Aye the problem I have @Eireogatron is that I don't get to nearly as many club games as I'd like and only have second hand to go on, so as ya know you tend to half believe what yer told although he doesn't normally bump players. I can't even say he's from Derrynoose, just that he thought the lad was worth a shot as he had potential, but as before it's an opinion. I did hear about the Middletown keeper alright, but I think he's not keen on county after the way Niall Geoghagan was treated, but again that's "what I was told" and don't know the lad at all. I can't even say I've heard a lot in these north quarters either, except there's quite a few very young potentials for various areas of the field if they stick at.

I guess I'm shocked more lads from the St. Ronan's team last year aren't being touted as potentials. I think Antrim looked at all the St. Mary's lads from what I gather or at least invited them along.
There were a couple of St Ronans ones on the U20 team anyway
 

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
There were a couple of St Ronans ones on the U20 team anyway
Hadn't considered that Niall if I'm honest. Just assumed they would be too old for the U20s, but with one or two exceptions, few are doing anything meaningful which is a shame really. St. Pats Armagh, Bessbrook and St. Colman's all had decent Armagh talent as well this past few years with only really Rian coming through as a high profile player from MacRory, so maybe it's because they're not so high profile, I'm reading it wrong.
 

stapler

New Member
Quite a lot of the best St Ronans players are from Antrim. Irish News listed maybe 5 of them on the Antrim U20 team including Loughran Leneghan and Mulholland. Maybe half of the St Ronans lads at least on county panels.
 

Pat Cully

Well-Known Member
What about Ethen Rafferty in goals good under high ball, big kick out and could kick the long distance free kicks although his effort on Saturday wasn’t great I’ve seen him kick some long frees before. Also a big presence between the posts
 

Eireogatron

Well-Known Member
Can't see Ethan fancying that. Also, what if he's a terrible keeper lol? Not saying it's not feasible btw.

Looking at the modern day keeper, stopping goals is still massive. If blaine saves one of their goals (should have done better for both imo) and Clarke doesn't make that fantastic save against Jamie, we win.

Many keepers play outfield for their club but they all have a goalkeeping background, Morgan for Dungannon Swift's etc
 

ragingbull

Well-Known Member
What about Ethen Rafferty in goals good under high ball, big kick out and could kick the long distance free kicks although his effort on Saturday wasn’t great I’ve seen him kick some long frees before. Also a big presence between the posts
That's exactly why he plays midfield!
 

Pat Cully

Well-Known Member
We need to try something! I don’t like the short kick outs. Paul hearty used to kick it 70 yards down the field so if you lost the kick out you’ve still got 2 thirds of the team behind the ball. Plus giving the other team a free kick out is beyond me what happened to taking responsibility for your man at the kick out?
 

Seamy

Well-Known Member
As I posted in the Mayo v Armagh Thread, our own club man Gerry McGarvey would be a decent candidate to challenge between the sticks. He's a Midfielder come GK.
Extremely strong kickouts and good under a high ball. Shot stopping not his #1 attribute but not the worst I've seen by any stretch. Most would remember him from the Armagh Minor Campaign in 05 and Abbey CBS. Was fantastic out the field but crippled with injuries. Only thing is he's getting married this year and hasn't kicked a ball for us, so not sure where the interest lies.

I named two others in my previous post also, one being the enigma that is Sean O'Hanlon. Has been in and around the mix under Geezer but I think he took himself off the panel. A great shot stopper but not entirely sure what his kickouts are like, someone may be able to shed some light on him/this!?

Burns from Forkhill a good keeper from what I saw against us a few years ago in intermediate. Long and accurate kickouts and strong shot stopper. Believe he plays Senior Club football in Dublin with Fenton's team. Had a club all star at one stage as a GK in the Dublin Senior Championship. Should be a Bridge man though like the cousins

I'm safe to assume age is a factor with McEvoy from Dromintee. What a keeper he was too.

All this being said, I still rate Blaine very very highly. For a fella who's not overly tall, he can fairly get up for a high ball. Has pulled off some great saves too and just wasn't at his best this year. Cast your mind back to Armagh Kildare in Croker and he was actually singled out by The Sunday Game for the quality of his kickouts that day. That doesn't disappear over night to be fair.

Competition is healthy though and breeds hunger for sure, it would only strengthen Blaine's game!
 

Eireogatron

Well-Known Member
Very different game now Pat to be fair.

Hearty was maligned at times as well for launching it over the sideline (not my criticism, just highlighting it's a universal thing with keepers)

Totally agree with giving the other team the kickout, baffles me. It's an "arse about face" way of counteracting keepers with accurate long kickouts by hoping they go very short and you're able to push up to stop the opposition crossing your 45. Only problem is that by conceding the kickout you give a natural overlap.

Personally, I love a well worked short kickout, but by that I mean a keeper clipping it to chest 45/50 yards out, not 12 yard to the full back! That was the original cluxton/durkan mode that set off the era of the keeper positively influencing the game imo. Beggan and the current Donegal keeper Patton are superb at it and it's great to see (beggan doesn't even use a cone). Unfortunately it's been bastardised by overthinking and the powers that be look like they are going to press ahead with the "lump up the middle" by hook or by crook.

Going off topic now but if you watch TG4 gold, the era of man for man and the high fielding midfielder has been greatly exaggerated in its quality for the spectator by certain lobbyists. Restricting the keepers influence (talking about a soccer-esque pass back rule now) is a joke
 

Bo Darville

Active Member
What are/were the thoughts on Annaghmore Goalkeeper McNiece? I’ve always thought he was a decent option. Good shot stopper.
 
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