Ulster Championship 2024
- Thread starter ragingbull
- Start date
Armaghball
Well-Known Member
Even bigger incentive now.
jpowell100
Active Member
If we don’t win ulster it’s a very similar draw to last year
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
Another visit to Carrick On Shannon
The last 3 times we've played Donegal
2 point win
Draw
1 point loss
Mostly the same players involved. There's nothing between these teams.
Would anyone be surprised with a win either way or a draw? No!!
It's hard to envision how a win can't be envisioned.
As didn’t we miss quite a few in the first half? Or does only the oppositions misses count?
ShiftYa
Well-Known Member
If you’re counting league games towards form for championship may as well count the McKenna cup game also.
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
If Armagh finish 3rd or 2nd in Group A they will face 2nd or 3rd place team from one of the other groups in preliminary quarter final so they could be playing one of Tyrone/Cork/Louth/Monaghan/Meath Mayo/Galway/Roscommon/Cavan no disrespect to Clare they've no chance of getting out of group
Ard Mhacha 13
Well-Known Member
As we fielded our U20s that result is irrelevant.
winsamsoon
Well-Known Member
Very good
MrMaguire2002
Well-Known Member
Read through quite a few of the posts on here since I last visited the forum. Quite diverse views on last Saturday.
The referee seems to be one focal point. For what it's worth I too agree he was truly awful. In the first half he gave Armagh nothing (other than yellow cards). McKay's tackle to win the ball on the stand-side on the line was as good a challenge I've seen to win a ball clean in a hard tackle in a long time.
For the first part of the second half he evened things up a little giving us a soft free here and there.
But the Duffy off the ground call summed up how bad his day was. That call gave Down a free which was pushed forward and an easy score. Armagh had turned it over - were going forward with numbers at pace. That may have been a 4 point swing let alone a 2 point swing. Armagh could then have went on and have won the game comfortably.
Personally, I think it's naive of people saying Armagh's line got it so wrong. I saw 'McGeeney out' by one or two people. Nonsense. Had Armagh got a lead Down would have had to play football. But because Armagh never got a lead in that second half Down could stick to their plan of parking the bus, without having to try to play out. Hold ball when in possession. There's no doubt the pace of Liam Kerr caused problems in the second half on the rare occasion Down tried to play out with their running game. It was a day that Armagh were by no means great. But the Down goals (both of which question the decisions of the officials) meant that Down could stick to their anti-football defensive style. It was a display of 'puke football' at it's finest. But that sadly is the way Gaelic football is going. Teams aren't sent out to win if underdogs or in an anticipated tight affair. It's 'don't lose' rather than win. Hold possession at all costs.
With Down not having to leave their shape - it meant for a really difficult day for Armagh - who in the end did well to kick 13 scores to get over the line. The winning point was a thing of beauty. The ball in from Mackin, the run out in front from Murnin and Duffy on the loop - fantastic score - and glad to see the video posted.
It is worrying - not one of our starting 6 forwards scored from play. The other day was not a game where we needed two midfielders. The way Down set up we could have sacrificed Crealey for another forward.
Rian was the difference between the two teams over the course of the game. He's our one elite footballer - and it took that to win it. Should he stay in midfield this year I firmly believe he'll be picking up an All-Star award come the end of the year. And although he was the best player on the pitch the other day - he has a lot more to offer. Donegal will at times try to play football against Armagh which will in turn give us more space when they do.
I would seriously like to see Jason Duffy starting. I would prefer to see Campbell come off the bench in the final. Both Soupy and Grugan's performances were very similar to their performances against Monaghan last year. If we had the luxury I'd keep both on the bench. They were both anonymous the other day. Forker's ball into Oisin O'Neill for his mark provided an option that didn't appear to be there all game. Yet then we saw a similar attacking ball from Mackin for the winner (referred to above).
If fit, Conor O'Neill an obvious plus, I'd like to see Oisin O'Neill start as well as Duffy and Greg McCabe.
Hard to see Geezer make many (if any) of the above changes at this stage. We all have a fair idea of what Kieran's starting 15 be (give or take one or two) and that's not a criticism.
Although optimistic for the final, I think it will end up a draw. If not it'll be a point or two either side of it. I certainly wouldn't bet against the dreaded penalties deciding the destiny of the Anglo-Celt Cup for the second year running.
One thing for sure - for the purist on Saturday past in Clones - football won.
The referee seems to be one focal point. For what it's worth I too agree he was truly awful. In the first half he gave Armagh nothing (other than yellow cards). McKay's tackle to win the ball on the stand-side on the line was as good a challenge I've seen to win a ball clean in a hard tackle in a long time.
For the first part of the second half he evened things up a little giving us a soft free here and there.
But the Duffy off the ground call summed up how bad his day was. That call gave Down a free which was pushed forward and an easy score. Armagh had turned it over - were going forward with numbers at pace. That may have been a 4 point swing let alone a 2 point swing. Armagh could then have went on and have won the game comfortably.
Personally, I think it's naive of people saying Armagh's line got it so wrong. I saw 'McGeeney out' by one or two people. Nonsense. Had Armagh got a lead Down would have had to play football. But because Armagh never got a lead in that second half Down could stick to their plan of parking the bus, without having to try to play out. Hold ball when in possession. There's no doubt the pace of Liam Kerr caused problems in the second half on the rare occasion Down tried to play out with their running game. It was a day that Armagh were by no means great. But the Down goals (both of which question the decisions of the officials) meant that Down could stick to their anti-football defensive style. It was a display of 'puke football' at it's finest. But that sadly is the way Gaelic football is going. Teams aren't sent out to win if underdogs or in an anticipated tight affair. It's 'don't lose' rather than win. Hold possession at all costs.
With Down not having to leave their shape - it meant for a really difficult day for Armagh - who in the end did well to kick 13 scores to get over the line. The winning point was a thing of beauty. The ball in from Mackin, the run out in front from Murnin and Duffy on the loop - fantastic score - and glad to see the video posted.
It is worrying - not one of our starting 6 forwards scored from play. The other day was not a game where we needed two midfielders. The way Down set up we could have sacrificed Crealey for another forward.
Rian was the difference between the two teams over the course of the game. He's our one elite footballer - and it took that to win it. Should he stay in midfield this year I firmly believe he'll be picking up an All-Star award come the end of the year. And although he was the best player on the pitch the other day - he has a lot more to offer. Donegal will at times try to play football against Armagh which will in turn give us more space when they do.
I would seriously like to see Jason Duffy starting. I would prefer to see Campbell come off the bench in the final. Both Soupy and Grugan's performances were very similar to their performances against Monaghan last year. If we had the luxury I'd keep both on the bench. They were both anonymous the other day. Forker's ball into Oisin O'Neill for his mark provided an option that didn't appear to be there all game. Yet then we saw a similar attacking ball from Mackin for the winner (referred to above).
If fit, Conor O'Neill an obvious plus, I'd like to see Oisin O'Neill start as well as Duffy and Greg McCabe.
Hard to see Geezer make many (if any) of the above changes at this stage. We all have a fair idea of what Kieran's starting 15 be (give or take one or two) and that's not a criticism.
Although optimistic for the final, I think it will end up a draw. If not it'll be a point or two either side of it. I certainly wouldn't bet against the dreaded penalties deciding the destiny of the Anglo-Celt Cup for the second year running.
One thing for sure - for the purist on Saturday past in Clones - football won.
Last edited:
Rory Curran
New Member
How about a rule change that stops Goalkeepers from crossing the 21 yard line. Would this stop the back pass, ans encourage teams to press out on teams holding procession in midfield?
Ard Mhacha 13
Well-Known Member
Agree with most of your post & a brilliant post it is to but it was Ciaran Mackin who put the ball in to Andrew Murnin who then laid it off to Jason Duffy for the winning point, Greg McCabe didn't play on Saturday.
MrMaguire2002
Well-Known Member
My mistake! Well spotted. Had McCabe in my head as I wanted to mention him as a potential starter. Thought Ciaran Mackin was excellent at 6. Will edit post now!
JoeH
Well-Known Member
Why introduce such a rule?
Hitting frees, penalties not permitted then?
Instead of thinking of restricting player movement why not think about rewarding skills
ArmaghMartin
Active Member
Anyone hear who started for us last night in the challenge game against the Dubs?