All Ireland Qualifiers
- Thread starter William Of Orange
- Start date
northarmaghgael
Active Member
Would think that but they might be thinking of traffic management and not have the 2 ulster teams and 2 Munster teams on the same day.
Maybe Derry Clare and kerry mayo on Saturday. And Armagh Galway Dublin cork on the Sunday?
Diarmi
Well-Known Member
ARMAGH booked their place in the in their All-Ireland quarter-finals on the crest of a wave after dismantling Donegal in Clones yesterday and Kieran Donaghy wants an orange horde to roar on the team.
The call before yesterday's Qualifier had been for Armagh to build on what they achieved the previous Sunday against Tyrone and the Orchardmen answered it in emphatic fashion with a 10-point victory.
As they prepare for a first All-Ireland quarter-final since they lost to Tyrone in 2017, Donaghy is confident that the wide open spaces of Croke Park should suit the team.
“We played well in Croke Park down there against Dublin in a big pitch,” he said.
“I think a big pitch suits our kicking style. This is what these players train for from the start of the year - to try get to Croke Park. Obviously you've a few chances, a National League final but we didn't make it, and now you have a quarter-final of a Championship and we are in there.”
Donegal beat Armagh by seven points in the Ulster Championship and, despite Rory Grugan's early goal, at one stage in the first half when they kicked six points on-the-trot they briefly suggested they could repeat that. But Armagh never looked back after Rian O'Neill's penalty just before half-time.
“It's not an easy job to back up knocking out the All-Ireland champions,” said Donaghy.
“But our messages were good in the dressing-room. Kieran (McGeeney's) message was very strong with the lads in the dressing-room after last week about: ‘This is just a game and we've got a big game coming next week'.
“Little did we know that we'd get Donegal in the draw and we'd get the biggest of games we could have got. We've got the two toughest draws in the last two and our fellas have responded really well.
“We just need to push on and keep the momentum going. This county is going to get in behind this team now, you saw the crowd that was there today; it was unbelievable. When we were kicking scores there in the second half that kind of crowd can inspire a team and we'd be looking for them in massive numbers in Croke Park in two weeks.”
Armagh half-forward Grugan admitted he was sickened and deflated like never before after the defeat at Ballybofey. But the Orchardmen have been able to harness that hurt and will be a force to be reckoned with at Croke Park.
“Feeling sickened was a feeling we all shared,” said Donaghy.
“We had a good League, a good two Leagues coming out of the back of Covid and it was building up to this game in Ballybofey and you get there and you don't have the performance that you want.
“It was a tough one, we weren't happy with our performance, we didn't do a good job on the line so I was delighted for the bunch that they got their just reward and a bit of a hop of a ball here or there for the work that they have put in.
“You have to give the players some credit for where they were coming home from Ballybofey, how hard it was. What Kieran has instilled in them in the last eight weeks.
“How hard we pushed them in the six weeks after the game, getting ready for Tyrone. I'm delighted for that bunch that they have got their just reward, that they have backed up a good performance last week.
“We had a goal to get back to Croke Park and we're in the draw tomorrow and we're going to be going there in two weeks and the Armagh fans are going to be travelling in crazy numbers and it's a good day for the county.”
From today's Irish News. Good to see that the management recognised that they were poor on the day and made mistakes on the line.
The call before yesterday's Qualifier had been for Armagh to build on what they achieved the previous Sunday against Tyrone and the Orchardmen answered it in emphatic fashion with a 10-point victory.
As they prepare for a first All-Ireland quarter-final since they lost to Tyrone in 2017, Donaghy is confident that the wide open spaces of Croke Park should suit the team.
“We played well in Croke Park down there against Dublin in a big pitch,” he said.
“I think a big pitch suits our kicking style. This is what these players train for from the start of the year - to try get to Croke Park. Obviously you've a few chances, a National League final but we didn't make it, and now you have a quarter-final of a Championship and we are in there.”
Donegal beat Armagh by seven points in the Ulster Championship and, despite Rory Grugan's early goal, at one stage in the first half when they kicked six points on-the-trot they briefly suggested they could repeat that. But Armagh never looked back after Rian O'Neill's penalty just before half-time.
“It's not an easy job to back up knocking out the All-Ireland champions,” said Donaghy.
“But our messages were good in the dressing-room. Kieran (McGeeney's) message was very strong with the lads in the dressing-room after last week about: ‘This is just a game and we've got a big game coming next week'.
“Little did we know that we'd get Donegal in the draw and we'd get the biggest of games we could have got. We've got the two toughest draws in the last two and our fellas have responded really well.
“We just need to push on and keep the momentum going. This county is going to get in behind this team now, you saw the crowd that was there today; it was unbelievable. When we were kicking scores there in the second half that kind of crowd can inspire a team and we'd be looking for them in massive numbers in Croke Park in two weeks.”
Armagh half-forward Grugan admitted he was sickened and deflated like never before after the defeat at Ballybofey. But the Orchardmen have been able to harness that hurt and will be a force to be reckoned with at Croke Park.
“Feeling sickened was a feeling we all shared,” said Donaghy.
“We had a good League, a good two Leagues coming out of the back of Covid and it was building up to this game in Ballybofey and you get there and you don't have the performance that you want.
“It was a tough one, we weren't happy with our performance, we didn't do a good job on the line so I was delighted for the bunch that they got their just reward and a bit of a hop of a ball here or there for the work that they have put in.
“You have to give the players some credit for where they were coming home from Ballybofey, how hard it was. What Kieran has instilled in them in the last eight weeks.
“How hard we pushed them in the six weeks after the game, getting ready for Tyrone. I'm delighted for that bunch that they have got their just reward, that they have backed up a good performance last week.
“We had a goal to get back to Croke Park and we're in the draw tomorrow and we're going to be going there in two weeks and the Armagh fans are going to be travelling in crazy numbers and it's a good day for the county.”
From today's Irish News. Good to see that the management recognised that they were poor on the day and made mistakes on the line.
William Of Orange
Well-Known Member
They could do that the two headline games are Kerry v mayo and Galway and us so we are bound to be kept apart however traffic management and the GAA normally dont do logic.
William Of Orange
Well-Known Member
see Kieran Donaghy does all the media stuff the last few weeks Geezers giving it the wide birth .
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
I knew we’d get Derry Dublin Kerry Galway! I just knew it.
We have nothing to fear. Plus, we need revenge for 2001.
We have nothing to fear. Plus, we need revenge for 2001.
he'll be grand, top level player he'll be able to nail a free with a bit of guff being thrown at him
Have to agree reference the booing. It is a bit classless tbh. We should be better than that!
understand showing a bit of class and all but no harm where here to win bit of badness has to be done
Not too serious
Active Member
The minor semi finals are also on. Mayo play Kerry and Galway play Derry. You would expect the same counties minor and seniors to play on the same day at the same venue.
The Dark Knight
Active Member
Great feeling to get a win over Donegal, mentally needed it as 2010 since the last championship win over them and lots of defeats by them since.
Set the bar high this last decade and a credit representing ulster they where / are.
Genuinely thought each of the starting 15 yesterday played terrific, couldn’t fault one of them. Unbelievable day for players, management, supporters, real feel good factor. We’ve a serious unit here and Croke park in 2 weeks times to turn the place orange and white. Ard Mhacha Abu
Set the bar high this last decade and a credit representing ulster they where / are.
Genuinely thought each of the starting 15 yesterday played terrific, couldn’t fault one of them. Unbelievable day for players, management, supporters, real feel good factor. We’ve a serious unit here and Croke park in 2 weeks times to turn the place orange and white. Ard Mhacha Abu
Armaghball
Well-Known Member
Triple header with minors then?
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
You’d think so, but this is the suits we’re dealing with here.
Stop the booing - little effect on good players and turns other counties against us. Do not stoop to low levels - support the team with pride and win/lose with dignity.
William Of Orange
Well-Known Member
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
I know, my therapist said that too.Your an awful man for the grudges Patrick , wouldnt like to do too much too you .
I suppose it’s not revenge really. We were late into the ground that day, and had to rush to get out on the pitch. It obviously affected our performance. Even so, we drew level but Galway won it with a late score. It’s another one that got away.
Football does leave scars, and not just physical ones.
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
Cork vs Dublin should be played in thurles