2020 McKenna cup

T

Throwball

Well-Known Member
Am I on my own thinking they are playing Rian O'Neill where he should be played. He can set up scores, score from over 50 yards and has the pace and strength to link play. With everyone fit we have Jamie, Murnin, Turbitt, Duffy, Rafferty plus a few others who can star in the full forward line - and they will be even better if Rian and Grugan supply good ball.

On another note I have to say that young O'Neill from Killeavy played quite well over the 2 games. Furthermore Mcconville and McElroy went off at a time when you could have rolled a dice to take a defender off there was that little difference between them.
 
N

niall1980

Well-Known Member
Throwball said:
Am I on my own thinking they are playing Rian O'Neill where he should be played. He can set up scores, score from over 50 yards and has the pace and strength to link play. With everyone fit we have Jamie, Murnin, Turbitt, Duffy, Rafferty plus a few others who can star in the full forward line - and they will be even better if Rian and Grugan supply good ball.

On another note I have to say that young O'Neill from Killeavy played quite well over the 2 games. Furthermore Mcconville and McElroy went off at a time when you could have rolled a dice to take a defender off there was that little difference between them.
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I get where people are coming from regarding Rian but he can play anywhere and we have plenty to play in the full forward line.

I would have liked to have seen more of Comiskey the last two games.
 
I

Influx

Well-Known Member
gael_force_orchard said:
With Donegal not fielding this Sunday what are the chances that Armagh will be given a reprieve to play Monaghan in the semi final. Surely better having 4 teams in the semis than having monaghan with a walk over to the final.
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Thought it might be a good idea but I reckon thoughts have already turned to Cavan and the first outing of the league. Would politely decline is asked to enter the semi-final at this point
 
G

gael_force_orchard

Well-Known Member
Influx said:
Thought it might be a good idea but I reckon thoughts have already turned to Cavan and the first outing of the league. Would politely decline is asked to enter the semi-final at this point
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Poss right on that one. Biggest benefit would be match fitness ahead of league. But really only a fortnight away now anyway so maybe best just leaving it
 
JoeH

JoeH

Well-Known Member
gael_force_orchard said:
With Donegal not fielding this Sunday what are the chances that Armagh will be given a reprieve to play Monaghan in the semi final. Surely better having 4 teams in the semis than having monaghan with a walk over to the final.
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Donegal will field.
They're bound to be carrying a panel of 35-40 people
If 13 are unavailable that leaves 22-27
Allow for 5 injuries so that's 17-22 players.
It does highlight the issue of the calendar. Theres been 11 games so far in the McKenna cup.
If theres on average 1000 paying attendees per game thats over £100k lifted by the ulster council.
No way they're going to give that financial income up.
 
L

Left Right Out

Member
Don’t want to be negative at all, but I see the following nullifying any serious progress this year. We are like that foreign sports team Arsenal in that everyone knows that the main problem with them as with us is our defence and defensive strategy. Year after year, for too many now, we don’t seem to be able to address the defensive weaknesses that we have. Need to settle on a capable full back for starters. A crucial position, and one where we need to look at who the best club fb and given them a run, or take one of our established defenders (Shields perhaps?) and get them bedded in. Don’t put square pegs in round holes. But we need a capable defender that hopefully won’t get turned, and if they do, has a bit of pace or defensive know how to deal with those situations. Secondly, year after year we talk about our poor tackling ability. Will this be addressed ever? Some silly pushing fouls again last night. Corner backs are specialist positions, especially now with advanced marks. So we need defenders with pace to get in front, and spring to ether break the ball or take cleanly - but with less of a tendency to foul. It was evident that we missed Brendan last night, but we need to be planning for when he is not here. At 34 he is in the twilight of his career, even accepting that he playing very well. In the wing half back positions we sometimes have a tendency to choose athletes that can run all day, but perhaps either don’t have the defensive attributes or do not see the defensive duties as their main role. I would prefer to have 6 players that can defend first and foremost. And ideally players that defend for their club. As for goalkeeper, we are not spoilt for choice within the county, so the two to the fore at present are as good as we have available, by we don’t seem to be able to implement the kickout strategies that other teams seem to be able to work. Was disappointing to see Cathair McGeary warming up for so long last night but not get a proper runout. I see him and some of the new younger squad additions as players who could address some of our defensive frailties. We can’t keep reverting to a small number of defenders, who regrettably , and for whatever reason haven’t been able to solve the issue to date. I say this as a supporter who appreciates the honesty and efforts of our players. The effort required to be a county footballer seems phenomenal from an outsider looking in. So for the lads that have put that effort in I have the utmost respect. However, it is sometimes a “lesser” footballer that may make a system work. A bigger focus needs to be put on building a defensive unit. Rant over.
It is only when we sort a defensive system and a defensive unit that we can see our riches at midfield and attack win games for us. And we have some shining lights at present in this department! Previous posters on that forum since last night’s game have primarily waxed lyrically about our midfield and attack, and I agree wholeheartedly that this is something to be excited about. A total of 3-13 is fabulous, and to be welcomed, but we also need to win games. Whole heartedly support this team but would love to see the defence sorted and having a really solid unit.
 
G

gael_force_orchard

Well-Known Member
Left Right Out said:
Don’t want to be negative at all, but I see the following nullifying any serious progress this year. We are like that foreign sports team Arsenal in that everyone knows that the main problem with them as with us is our defence and defensive strategy. Year after year, for too many now, we don’t seem to be able to address the defensive weaknesses that we have. Need to settle on a capable full back for starters. A crucial position, and one where we need to look at who the best club fb and given them a run, or take one of our established defenders (Shields perhaps?) and get them bedded in. Don’t put square pegs in round holes. But we need a capable defender that hopefully won’t get turned, and if they do, has a bit of pace or defensive know how to deal with those situations. Secondly, year after year we talk about our poor tackling ability. Will this be addressed ever? Some silly pushing fouls again last night. Corner backs are specialist positions, especially now with advanced marks. So we need defenders with pace to get in front, and spring to ether break the ball or take cleanly - but with less of a tendency to foul. It was evident that we missed Brendan last night, but we need to be planning for when he is not here. At 34 he is in the twilight of his career, even accepting that he playing very well. In the wing half back positions we sometimes have a tendency to choose athletes that can run all day, but perhaps either don’t have the defensive attributes or do not see the defensive duties as their main role. I would prefer to have 6 players that can defend first and foremost. And ideally players that defend for their club. As for goalkeeper, we are not spoilt for choice within the county, so the two to the fore at present are as good as we have available, by we don’t seem to be able to implement the kickout strategies that other teams seem to be able to work. Was disappointing to see Cathair McGeary warming up for so long last night but not get a proper runout. I see him and some of the new younger squad additions as players who could address some of our defensive frailties. We can’t keep reverting to a small number of defenders, who regrettably , and for whatever reason haven’t been able to solve the issue to date. I say this as a supporter who appreciates the honesty and efforts of our players. The effort required to be a county footballer seems phenomenal from an outsider looking in. So for the lads that have put that effort in I have the utmost respect. However, it is sometimes a “lesser” footballer that may make a system work. A bigger focus needs to be put on building a defensive unit. Rant over.
It is only when we sort a defensive system and a defensive unit that we can see our riches at midfield and attack win games for us. And we have some shining lights at present in this department! Previous posters on that forum since last night’s game have primarily waxed lyrically about our midfield and attack, and I agree wholeheartedly that this is something to be excited about. A total of 3-13 is fabulous, and to be welcomed, but we also need to win games. Whole heartedly support this team but would love to see the defence sorted and having a really solid unit.
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Absolutely agree with what you are saying here. I was a theme I mentioned a bit last year in that we always get blown for the same type of foul and poor tackle type. Its been evident for the best part of a decade. I think an element of this may also be down to the changing names in our back line. We haven't settled on a backline for a long time now and we never seem to name the same 6 in two consecutive games.
 
Jamie's Coffee

Jamie's Coffee

Active Member
JoeH said:
Donegal will field.
They're bound to be carrying a panel of 35-40 people
If 13 are unavailable that leaves 22-27
Allow for 5 injuries so that's 17-22 players.
It does highlight the issue of the calendar. Theres been 11 games so far in the McKenna cup.
If theres on average 1000 paying attendees per game thats over £100k lifted by the ulster council.
No way they're going to give that financial income up.
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Well they won't field because they've already withdrawn from it.
 
Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
gael_force_orchard said:
With Donegal not fielding this Sunday what are the chances that Armagh will be given a reprieve to play Monaghan in the semi final. Surely better having 4 teams in the semis than having monaghan with a walk over to the final.
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Good idea I guess in principle, but can't happen. It's not in the rules. They just state (wording may be wrong) if a [team] fails to fulfil a fixture they may be thrown out of the competition and/or face a financial penalty. It's not stated in any GAA by-laws that a team may be replaced at any stage.

Not sure I'd want to be involved this way anyway. Plans made for Sunday involving family. Can't face another night in intensive care!
 
A

Armaghball

Well-Known Member
Big Jim said:
A fun evening out and I tend to agree with the posts above about the performance. Strange January evening in that it wasn't particularly cold so added to the occasion. Best laugh of the night though was the attendance figure 5125? I always thought the main stand held between 5k and 6k. It was crammed and must have been at least another 1.5k around the ground. Must be near tax time.

I agree too that the ref wasn't the worst. Barry Cassidy is a strange one alright. You feel he's completely against you and then suddenly you get a penalty and wonder what it's for - taking it all the same. What a super strike and well taken set piece. There were absolutely some strange decisions, but let's be fair, both ways.

Them'uns have some really shitty and vile supporters (I won't mention the ones we have....ooooops). Best was possibly the one behind us describing us as (and I clean this up for the kids) "trashy bastards following a forth tier team with headless management and thugs from cleaners to county board. Can't even respect Ulster's finest and Ulster champions!" Oh how we laughed. Totally devastated to see him get "clipped" after the game. We really are thugs :p

On the fields our thuggery continues. Imagine having the gall to actually try and score against the Ulster Champions. They really don't like it when a weak team put it up to them. Imagine the best in Ulster and one of the top two in the country only being able to beat a fourth tier team by 3 points!

We really do have some superb talent on show in spurts. It's certainly not the time to get anxious nor ahead of ourselves. Look at who wasn't playing last night or only had a cameo and the league looks achievable. That game is now over and it's only two short weeks until the serious build up to championship begins. For the first time in quite a few years our selectors will be thinking who to leave on the bench. We're not the force we were in 1999 - 2008 ish and I doubt (if I'm honest) we ever will be again, but my flat belief continues. It's 15 v fifteen on any given [sun]day so at least we have nothing to fear. I'd genuinely be in the camp of preferring to win against "the best" in the championship than right now. If I remember correctly, they gave us a hammering in McKenna a few years years back which we avenged a little later in the qualifiers.

Anyway, great lads in the squad and a few trips with family and friends is what this is about. Real life is where we worry. This is only fantasy. Roll on 25th January and Cavan in Armagh. Looking forward to the parade...............if only!
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How many does the AG actually hold? Wikipedia says 18500? Some crowd there last night anyway.
 
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