tickets which come from the county board are in 333
All Ireland Qualifiers
- Thread starter William Of Orange
- Start date
Ouch It’s Francie
Well-Known Member
What’s great about the lower Cusak is the bar overlooking the pitch right at at the back!!
RLHB
New Member
Was chatting to the some one from the county bord today, apparently 333 we’re saved for team families / county officials ect then if not sold where released to the public. But who knows !Just checked there and some of the best seats in the house are now available. That is a fucking joke. I spent 45 minutes last week trying to get tickets and worrying that I would end up with none or shite ones. I have kids who are beside themselves with excitement about the game and who raced into the house after school to see if we got tickets and where they were. Section 333 in the lower Hogan has plenty of tickets. Who is at fault here? My bets is the greedy shites in Croke Park. For all that I love about the GAA there are some things I absolutely hate and the money grabbers are #1 in that department.
Below is the view from 333. The seats available are closer to the front so even better than this.
Apologies for the language by the way, it just really pisses me off.
Muckser
Well-Known Member
The seats released are quite simply season ticket holders folks. You had a deadline to buy your ticket and had a option of a friend but where moved if did to seat together. The tickets today where these released season tickets 100%.
Jamie's Coffee
Active Member
Hearing Galway’s only win at HQ since 2001 was a super 8 game v Kerry in 2018
northarmaghgael
Active Member
Match ups will play a big part on Sunday. Who we thinking?
Forker on Comer
Morgan on Walsh
P Burns/C Mackin (if fit) on Finnerty
Crealey on Mcdaid
Sheridan on Conroy
Attacking wise. I’d fancy our lads doing a decent job on any of the Galway defense. Imagine Kelly will go on Rian and Molloy will track Soupy
Forker on Comer
Morgan on Walsh
P Burns/C Mackin (if fit) on Finnerty
Crealey on Mcdaid
Sheridan on Conroy
Attacking wise. I’d fancy our lads doing a decent job on any of the Galway defense. Imagine Kelly will go on Rian and Molloy will track Soupy
GAAJohn
Member
Morgan has enjoyed a more free role this year been very useful breaking the line and going forward, connaire mackin maybe if fit to play could be the man for the job if not then id have morgan picking walsh up forker on comer and mc kay on finnerty. Shutting down conroy will also be key he has been one of the best footballers in ireland this year 6 points from play on his last outing in croker from midfield is some going
Armaghball
Well-Known Member
Hard to call all of those match ups- you’d think Morgan would be the man for Comer physically. Will be interesting to see. Don’t think their defenders match up well against our forwards.
It’s a shame Ciaran Mackin is injured as he’d be the man for Conroy.
Mickey Gormley
Active Member
I thought he maybe had a chance to play?
Armaghball
Well-Known Member
Who knows. Big call though as I honestly couldn’t name anyone who deserves to lose their place from the last day.
northarmaghgael
Active Member
Traffic jams and temperature jumps - Galway's 3-0 lead over Armagh
Galway and Armagh will meet for the fourth time in championship history at Croke Park on Sunday in the All-Ireland quarter-final. It's the Connacht side who hold the aces in this particular rivalry, taking advantage of traffic jams and temperature jumps to eke out a 3-0 advantage.Armagh are late to the party
With Galway and Armagh avoiding each other in the only two pre-qualifier years when they both won provincial titles – 1982 and 2000 – it took until 2001 and the first season of the backdoor for the counties to cross paths in the championship.
It would be a seismic day for both counties, and Galway’s 0-13 to 0-12 win at Croke Park would have a profound impact on both.
For the Tribesmen, the win would be the catalyst for their ninth – and to date last – All-Ireland triumph.
In 2000, wins over New York, Sligo, Leitrim and Kildare saw them reach an All-Ireland final against a Kerry side who had needed two games and a bout of extra-time to get the better of Armagh. The final also needed a second outing with the Kingdom prevailing.
The hangover from that loss looked obvious in Connacht the next season. After a facile win over Leitrim, Galway were heavy favourites against Roscommon in Tuam but their rivals earned their first championship win in the fixture in 11 years thanks to goals from Nigel Dineen and Frankie Dolan.
Paul Clancy (L) and Pádraic Joyce celebrate at Croke Park
A qualifier win over Wicklow got them back to winning ways before they were paired against Armagh with one big name set for an early exit.
With 17 minutes remaining, an out-of-sorts Armagh trailed by seven points, but then they found the spirit that was missing all day and raised seven white flags in a row.
In the 73rd minute and with the whistle in Brian White’s mouth, they went on one last attack to try win the game but Justin McNulty’s attempted pass into the full-forward line was blocked down by Michael Donnellan and the ball was worked to Paul Clancy who clipped over a dramatic winner.
Armagh’s lethargy can be explained somewhat by the logistical pre-match nightmare when the Garda escort failed to show up to take their team bus to the game from a training pitch a few miles away. With bottleneck traffic in the streets around Croke Park, officials were forced to get off the bus to try and clear people out of the way.
Their cause wasn’t helped by having to get ready in a cramped changing room at the Canal End due to the development of Croke Park and the fact it was a double-header with Sligo meeting Kildare in the second game. The Orchard players were out of sync and it ultimately cost them.
The loss meant the end of the road for their managers, Brian McAlinden and Brian Canavan, and in stepped Joe Kernan and the rest, as they say, is history.
Their 2002 All-Ireland triumph saw them take the trophy from Galway’s hands with the Tribe following that Armagh win with victories over Cork, Roscommon, Derry and Meath to conquer Ireland in 2001. They haven’t managed it since.
Sizzling in Salthill
Salthill was sizzling in July 2013. The umpires discarded their white jackets, the crowd took cover in the shade any way they could and Galway turned up the heat further by defying the odds and earning a 1-11 to 0-09 win at Pearse Stadium.
Alan Mulholland’s men being underdogs on their own turf against Armagh may have seemed odd, but the form-lines heading into the game painted two very different pictures.
After a disappointing Ulster loss to Cavan, Paul Grimley’s side had bounced back in emphatic fashion by beating Wicklow by 25 points and Leitrim by 27 – they hit eight goals in the latter of those.
Meanwhile, some Galway fans were claiming it was the worst side they’d seen in all their time following the county.
Their Division 2 campaign had been underwhelming with the side conceding 0-21 to Armagh in round seven, and when Mayo hit them for 4-16 in Connacht it looked like a case of getting the season over and done with.
Their first two qualifier games did little to change such opinions. Michael Farragher’s goal proved crucial in a four-point home win over Tipperary and then Waterford nearly produced a massive shock at Pearse Stadium.
Danny Cummins fists home Galway's goal in 2013
Niall Carew’s men were three points ahead with 15 minutes to go and had a massive wind behind them, but Michael Meehan found the net late on to earn a one-point win for the hosts, saving them from one of their most embarrassing defeats ever.
No surprise then after all that Armagh were tipped to make it through to the next round.
The game didn’t pan out as expected though as Galway led from starting gun to the finish tape with Danny Cummins’ second-quarter goal giving them the required cushion. Donal O’Neill wrapped up Jamie Clarke, a youthful Paul Conroy excelled in the heat and the 5,000-plus crowd – dominated by orange rather than maroon – were denied any sort of frantic finale.
Galway’s season would end in round four the following week as they lost out to Cork by a point – a game memorable for Michael Meehan’s incredible goal from a free off the ground.
Old rivals meet again
Kevin Walsh and Kieran McGeeney had shared the pitch when Galway and Armagh met for the first time in the championship in 2001, and in 2015 they were managing their counties for their round two qualifier at the Athletic Grounds.
The Orchard County were somewhat deflated heading into the game. They had lifted the Division 3 title with a final win over Fermanagh a few months earlier and having pushed Donegal all the way in the 2014 All-Ireland quarter-final, a hum of excitement enveloped the Athletic Grounds when the Tír Chonaill County visited for an Ulster quarter-final clash.
The attendance was clocked at 18,186, but plenty of those started to stream towards the exit after just 45 minutes as Martin O’Reilly netted to put Donegal 2-09 to 0-03 ahead. A 10-point qualifier win over Wicklow was deceptive too as the Garden County missed a series of good chances when the game was in the balance and Jamie Clarke punished them with two late goals.
Galway's Gary Sice with Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney in 2015
Galway had lost a tight and bad-tempered Connacht semi-final to Mayo, and a trip to Armagh looked like one of the harder draws on paper.
Armagh, in the defensive era of the McGeeney reign, flooded bodies back in the opening quarter but Galway were still the better side in the first half and led 0-09 to 0-07 at the interval.
Much like in 2013, once they hit the net Armagh’s goose was cooked. Damien Comer fisted home early in the second half when a free dropped short, a replay of 2013 when Cummins fisted home a free that had also dropped short.
Armagh felt that they should have had a penalty late on when Jamie Clarke was taken down, but it wasn't given and Walsh’s side left with a 1-12 to 0-12 win. Like the Orchard County in Ulster, they’d feel the full force of Donegal in round four.
Source : RTE
northarmaghgael
Active Member
Looks to be showers all day Sunday. May pack the poncho
Diarmi
Well-Known Member
BRENDAN CROSSAN
23 June, 2022 01:00
Armagh's Rian O'Neill bags the penalty that effectively killed off Donegal's challenge at Clones
RIAN O’Neill ambled towards the centre of the St Tiernach’s Park pitch, spat into his hands, rubbed them together and eye-balled Jason McGee and Michael Murphy before the ball was thrown up.
No handshakes were offered or required.
O’Neill grabbed Murphy’s attention by issuing a stiff arm into the Donegal leader’s chest – as if to say: this is a new day.
Murphy grinned through his protruding gum-shield, momentarily distracted by the pre-match shove.
But O’Neill was already airborne.
Ben Crealey, Armagh’s towering midfielder, impeded Murphy’s jump for the throw in while also managing to delay McGee for a millisecond.
Crealey will go down as the unsung hero of a majestic move.
McGee still tried to snare O’Neill by wrapping his arms around him; referee Brendan Cawley immediately awarded a free – but the Crossmaglen man had his head up and was scanning.
Boom! He launched an inch-perfect 60-metre ball into the hands of Rory Grugan on the edge of Donegal’s square.
In one sweet movement the Ballymacnab playmaker caressed the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net with his left foot, and one of the most exhilarating moments of the 2022 All-Ireland Championship was conceived.
Despite some first-half turbulence after that early goal, Armagh ran over the top of Donegal.
O’Neill weighed in with a game-winning 1-7, banishing the bitter memory of Ballybofey six weeks earlier.
The mercurial 23-year-old had arrived on the inter-county stage – or at least that was the perception.
“People were saying that Donegal was his break-out game but they’re forgetting what he did against Monaghan last year,” says former Armagh defender and O’Neill’s Crossmaglen team-mate Aaron Kernan.
“He was unbelievable in a game that was going against us.
“He was everywhere. He was hitting his frees, winning his contested ‘marks’ in the middle of the field, putting the long ball in for Conor Turbitt’s goal. Last week wasn’t his break-out game. He didn’t ‘arrive’ against Donegal.
“We lost a couple of county finals [2020 and 2021] and the performances he put in when he was 19 or 20 years of age were brilliant.
“In the Gweedore game [2018 Ulster semi-final], where we just never turned up, he kept us in the game, kicking points left and right foot, winning ball, taking men on. The problem was the rest of us didn’t get up to the level he was at.”
In his debut season with Armagh in 2019, he racked up 3-21 in five Championship games.
In 2020, COVID was many teams’ season wrecker, including Armagh who exited after two Championship games – a win over Derry and a heavy defeat to Donegal in the provincial series.
RIAN and Oisin O’Neill were born into a football-mad family in Crossmaglen. Kicking the ball was in the south Armagh club’s DNA.
O’Neill hasn’t diluted or disowned his footballing roots one iota since breaking into the Armagh set-up.
“A lot of these things come down to nature versus nurture,” says John McEntee of Crossmaglen.
“Rian has grown up immersed in football. He’s got real confidence in his ability from both sides of the house. His Dad [Gareth] was a fine footballer, won an All-Ireland with ’Cross and played for Armagh and Louth.
“And his mum [Dora, sister of Oisin McConville] is steeped in it.”
In an interview with The Irish News last month, elder sibling by just 18 months, Oisin, remembers the back garden being their battleground.
“Sometimes my mam’s hand would have been sore beating the windows at us,” Oisin says.
“We always played in the same underage teams from U8 right up. At St Colman’s we played MacRory Cup together. I was 7th year and Rian was 5th year. I couldn’t tell you the last time I played a game and he wasn’t involved in it.”
Stylistically, St Colman’s, Newry couldn’t have been a better fit for O’Neill.
“Rian came from a kicking background with Crossmaglen,” says St Colman’s renowned coach Cathal Murray, “and that style of play fitted in perfectly as we’ve always had a strong kicking tradition at the college. He had freedom to go and play football.”
“He’s watched good teams kick the ball in ’Cross,” McEntee says. “It is part of who we are and how we play football, that was his upbringing. So Rian’s natural instinct is to look for the pass. Players are conditioned by a particular style so I would say he was influenced by football at home.”
He won a Dalton Cup in 2012 – beating Omagh CBS in the second year final - but later in his college career he suffered final anguish in the Corn na nOg and Rannafast Cups.
Despite those defeats he was awarded a College Allstar at number 11 in 2015 and was destined for the elite grade.
But a MacRory Cup winner’s medal eluded him.
Hotly tipped to win the St Patrick’s Day showpiece against St Mary’s, Magherafelt in 2017, Murray had an awful sense of foreboding in the opening seconds when Colman’s spurned a goal chance.
O’Neill caught the ball from the throw-in and embarked on an unstoppable run before off-loading to Finn McElroy, but the Down man's drive was well blocked by Convent ‘keeper and Derry’s current number one Odhran Lynch.
Even in defeat that day, O’Neill showed his marquee quality.
“The boys just loved him, they looked up to him and respected him,” Murray recalls.
“He was a real role model not only to his peers but the young ones in the school. Physically, he was so well developed. He trained the way he played – hard, fair and always intense.
“If you needed him at 14 or 11 or midfield he could do any of those roles. He’d be great on kick-outs, could supply the ball inside. Wherever he was needed he was put and he dominated in that position. Rian always got great support from his parents Gareth and Dora.”
23 June, 2022 01:00
Armagh's Rian O'Neill bags the penalty that effectively killed off Donegal's challenge at Clones
RIAN O’Neill ambled towards the centre of the St Tiernach’s Park pitch, spat into his hands, rubbed them together and eye-balled Jason McGee and Michael Murphy before the ball was thrown up.
No handshakes were offered or required.
O’Neill grabbed Murphy’s attention by issuing a stiff arm into the Donegal leader’s chest – as if to say: this is a new day.
Murphy grinned through his protruding gum-shield, momentarily distracted by the pre-match shove.
But O’Neill was already airborne.
Ben Crealey, Armagh’s towering midfielder, impeded Murphy’s jump for the throw in while also managing to delay McGee for a millisecond.
Crealey will go down as the unsung hero of a majestic move.
McGee still tried to snare O’Neill by wrapping his arms around him; referee Brendan Cawley immediately awarded a free – but the Crossmaglen man had his head up and was scanning.
Boom! He launched an inch-perfect 60-metre ball into the hands of Rory Grugan on the edge of Donegal’s square.
In one sweet movement the Ballymacnab playmaker caressed the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net with his left foot, and one of the most exhilarating moments of the 2022 All-Ireland Championship was conceived.
Despite some first-half turbulence after that early goal, Armagh ran over the top of Donegal.
O’Neill weighed in with a game-winning 1-7, banishing the bitter memory of Ballybofey six weeks earlier.
The mercurial 23-year-old had arrived on the inter-county stage – or at least that was the perception.
“People were saying that Donegal was his break-out game but they’re forgetting what he did against Monaghan last year,” says former Armagh defender and O’Neill’s Crossmaglen team-mate Aaron Kernan.
“He was unbelievable in a game that was going against us.
“He was everywhere. He was hitting his frees, winning his contested ‘marks’ in the middle of the field, putting the long ball in for Conor Turbitt’s goal. Last week wasn’t his break-out game. He didn’t ‘arrive’ against Donegal.
“We lost a couple of county finals [2020 and 2021] and the performances he put in when he was 19 or 20 years of age were brilliant.
“In the Gweedore game [2018 Ulster semi-final], where we just never turned up, he kept us in the game, kicking points left and right foot, winning ball, taking men on. The problem was the rest of us didn’t get up to the level he was at.”
In his debut season with Armagh in 2019, he racked up 3-21 in five Championship games.
In 2020, COVID was many teams’ season wrecker, including Armagh who exited after two Championship games – a win over Derry and a heavy defeat to Donegal in the provincial series.
************
RIAN and Oisin O’Neill were born into a football-mad family in Crossmaglen. Kicking the ball was in the south Armagh club’s DNA.
O’Neill hasn’t diluted or disowned his footballing roots one iota since breaking into the Armagh set-up.
“A lot of these things come down to nature versus nurture,” says John McEntee of Crossmaglen.
“Rian has grown up immersed in football. He’s got real confidence in his ability from both sides of the house. His Dad [Gareth] was a fine footballer, won an All-Ireland with ’Cross and played for Armagh and Louth.
“And his mum [Dora, sister of Oisin McConville] is steeped in it.”
In an interview with The Irish News last month, elder sibling by just 18 months, Oisin, remembers the back garden being their battleground.
“Sometimes my mam’s hand would have been sore beating the windows at us,” Oisin says.
“We always played in the same underage teams from U8 right up. At St Colman’s we played MacRory Cup together. I was 7th year and Rian was 5th year. I couldn’t tell you the last time I played a game and he wasn’t involved in it.”
Stylistically, St Colman’s, Newry couldn’t have been a better fit for O’Neill.
“Rian came from a kicking background with Crossmaglen,” says St Colman’s renowned coach Cathal Murray, “and that style of play fitted in perfectly as we’ve always had a strong kicking tradition at the college. He had freedom to go and play football.”
“He’s watched good teams kick the ball in ’Cross,” McEntee says. “It is part of who we are and how we play football, that was his upbringing. So Rian’s natural instinct is to look for the pass. Players are conditioned by a particular style so I would say he was influenced by football at home.”
He won a Dalton Cup in 2012 – beating Omagh CBS in the second year final - but later in his college career he suffered final anguish in the Corn na nOg and Rannafast Cups.
Despite those defeats he was awarded a College Allstar at number 11 in 2015 and was destined for the elite grade.
But a MacRory Cup winner’s medal eluded him.
Hotly tipped to win the St Patrick’s Day showpiece against St Mary’s, Magherafelt in 2017, Murray had an awful sense of foreboding in the opening seconds when Colman’s spurned a goal chance.
O’Neill caught the ball from the throw-in and embarked on an unstoppable run before off-loading to Finn McElroy, but the Down man's drive was well blocked by Convent ‘keeper and Derry’s current number one Odhran Lynch.
Even in defeat that day, O’Neill showed his marquee quality.
“The boys just loved him, they looked up to him and respected him,” Murray recalls.
“He was a real role model not only to his peers but the young ones in the school. Physically, he was so well developed. He trained the way he played – hard, fair and always intense.
“If you needed him at 14 or 11 or midfield he could do any of those roles. He’d be great on kick-outs, could supply the ball inside. Wherever he was needed he was put and he dominated in that position. Rian always got great support from his parents Gareth and Dora.”
Diarmi
Well-Known Member
Continued...
Those who know him say he’s quite a reserved character. “Quiet as a mouse”, says Kernan. “He'll certainly not overpower any conversation.”
If it’s possible to provide an answer with 10 words, O’Neill will give you nine.
You’ll never hear him ranting and raving or banging tables before games either.
“I’d consider him to be confident but he doesn’t strike me as someone who is arrogant or obtuse,” says McEntee.
Following their soul-sapping Ulster defeat up in Ballybofey two months ago - where O’Neill didn’t score - the Armagh camp consoled themselves with the fact that they were still only two wins away from an All-Ireland quarter-final berth at Croke Park.
They recovered brilliantly and breezed past defending All-Ireland champions Tyrone and gained revenge on bogey team Donegal in the Qualifiers and now face Connact champions Galway this weekend.
Armagh are one of the most talked-about teams left in the Sam Maguire race, probably due to the fact it’s eight years since they last breached the latter stages.
With their fascinating ascension comes more scrutiny, particularly for the leaders of Kieran McGeeney’s team.
Joe Brolly maintains Rian O'Neill has a bit to prove to be regarded as a great player
So just how good is Rian O’Neill?
It depends who you ask.
For Gaelic football pundit Joe Brolly, O’Neill still has some road to travel to reach the gold standards of the modern-day greats of the game, but feels he has the rich potential to do so.
“You’ve got a player here who has everything – pace, power, athleticism, two feet, kicking it off the ground,” Brolly says.
“So the question is, why is he not a David Clifford? Why is he not playing like that because his level of ability is extraordinary, well beyond your normal, very good county footballer. He’s still young.
“Clifford embraced his talent very young and immediately accepted the responsibility that comes with being a great footballer, i.e. ‘I will win this f***ing game for my team. That is my role. My role on the pitch is to be the deciding factor. I will be a Brian Fenton, a Con O’Callaghan, or a Ciaran Kilkenny. I will not play passively…’
“But he is not fully embracing the responsibility that comes with his talent. I think we’ve seen it in glimpses…
“Players like David Clifford and Con O’Callaghan always perform in ‘the clutch’ [of games] and have guided their team to victory and turned games around.
“Rian has now had a couple of good games – not great games given the nature of his ability but he must constantly accept responsibility and constantly perform in ‘the clutch’ because that’s what his ability deserves. I believe he can be a great player and he can guide his county to great things…”
Brolly adds: “Put it this way, if Rian O’Neill scores a goal on Sunday, it’s highly likely Armagh will beat Galway because of the huge lift that will give the crowd.
“What Galway will want is Rian playing out around the middle area of the field, picking up the ball and laying it off. Of course he can pass a ball and all of that. My point is that he must lead his team now because he has the ability to do it.”
Weighing up Brolly’s lofty Clifford comparison, Kernan feels O’Neill offers Armagh things Clifford doesn’t offer Kerry and that his Crossmaglen team-mate has always been totally unfazed by pressure.
“Rian can hit 1-7 inside but he’ll win turnovers in the middle of the field whenever we’re desperate to win a ball,” Kernan says.
“He will be back in his own square fetching ball over his goalkeeper’s head.
“David Clifford can’t do that. Or if he can, I’ve never seen him doing it. Also, look at the team David Clifford is on – I know they haven’t won an All-Ireland – but his whole team are probably on a different plane to where Armagh are at right now.
“Now, if Armagh keep going the way they’re going and add in a few players, we might be able to leave Rian inside all the time.
“Sometimes we look at people through different glasses.
“Rian is a player people come to see play. We’re blessed to have someone of his ability in Crossmaglen and Armagh at the moment.”
What’s irrefutable, however, is how Rian O’Neill has radically changed the dynamic of Geezer's Armagh team.
With him in their ranks, they’re a more self-assured unit.
Kernan likens O’Neill to his uncle Oisin and how ‘Cross always felt “safe” when the 2002 All-Ireland winner was on the field.
McEntee adds: “In a lot of the top teams, you’ve plenty of players who are very, very good. In that Armagh squad, there are a lot of excellent footballers – players who might not be great inside but are good at half-forward or wing-back.
“Every good team needs a bit of high quality about it, a cut above the rest – and Rian fits that brief.”
From an Armagh perspective and indeed neutrals all around the country, Croke Park beckons for one of the best footballers to emerge from the Orchard County in a generation.
Those who know him say he’s quite a reserved character. “Quiet as a mouse”, says Kernan. “He'll certainly not overpower any conversation.”
If it’s possible to provide an answer with 10 words, O’Neill will give you nine.
You’ll never hear him ranting and raving or banging tables before games either.
“I’d consider him to be confident but he doesn’t strike me as someone who is arrogant or obtuse,” says McEntee.
Following their soul-sapping Ulster defeat up in Ballybofey two months ago - where O’Neill didn’t score - the Armagh camp consoled themselves with the fact that they were still only two wins away from an All-Ireland quarter-final berth at Croke Park.
They recovered brilliantly and breezed past defending All-Ireland champions Tyrone and gained revenge on bogey team Donegal in the Qualifiers and now face Connact champions Galway this weekend.
Armagh are one of the most talked-about teams left in the Sam Maguire race, probably due to the fact it’s eight years since they last breached the latter stages.
With their fascinating ascension comes more scrutiny, particularly for the leaders of Kieran McGeeney’s team.
Joe Brolly maintains Rian O'Neill has a bit to prove to be regarded as a great player
So just how good is Rian O’Neill?
It depends who you ask.
For Gaelic football pundit Joe Brolly, O’Neill still has some road to travel to reach the gold standards of the modern-day greats of the game, but feels he has the rich potential to do so.
“You’ve got a player here who has everything – pace, power, athleticism, two feet, kicking it off the ground,” Brolly says.
“So the question is, why is he not a David Clifford? Why is he not playing like that because his level of ability is extraordinary, well beyond your normal, very good county footballer. He’s still young.
“Clifford embraced his talent very young and immediately accepted the responsibility that comes with being a great footballer, i.e. ‘I will win this f***ing game for my team. That is my role. My role on the pitch is to be the deciding factor. I will be a Brian Fenton, a Con O’Callaghan, or a Ciaran Kilkenny. I will not play passively…’
“But he is not fully embracing the responsibility that comes with his talent. I think we’ve seen it in glimpses…
“Players like David Clifford and Con O’Callaghan always perform in ‘the clutch’ [of games] and have guided their team to victory and turned games around.
“Rian has now had a couple of good games – not great games given the nature of his ability but he must constantly accept responsibility and constantly perform in ‘the clutch’ because that’s what his ability deserves. I believe he can be a great player and he can guide his county to great things…”
Brolly adds: “Put it this way, if Rian O’Neill scores a goal on Sunday, it’s highly likely Armagh will beat Galway because of the huge lift that will give the crowd.
“What Galway will want is Rian playing out around the middle area of the field, picking up the ball and laying it off. Of course he can pass a ball and all of that. My point is that he must lead his team now because he has the ability to do it.”
Weighing up Brolly’s lofty Clifford comparison, Kernan feels O’Neill offers Armagh things Clifford doesn’t offer Kerry and that his Crossmaglen team-mate has always been totally unfazed by pressure.
“Rian can hit 1-7 inside but he’ll win turnovers in the middle of the field whenever we’re desperate to win a ball,” Kernan says.
“He will be back in his own square fetching ball over his goalkeeper’s head.
“David Clifford can’t do that. Or if he can, I’ve never seen him doing it. Also, look at the team David Clifford is on – I know they haven’t won an All-Ireland – but his whole team are probably on a different plane to where Armagh are at right now.
“Now, if Armagh keep going the way they’re going and add in a few players, we might be able to leave Rian inside all the time.
“Sometimes we look at people through different glasses.
“Rian is a player people come to see play. We’re blessed to have someone of his ability in Crossmaglen and Armagh at the moment.”
What’s irrefutable, however, is how Rian O’Neill has radically changed the dynamic of Geezer's Armagh team.
With him in their ranks, they’re a more self-assured unit.
Kernan likens O’Neill to his uncle Oisin and how ‘Cross always felt “safe” when the 2002 All-Ireland winner was on the field.
McEntee adds: “In a lot of the top teams, you’ve plenty of players who are very, very good. In that Armagh squad, there are a lot of excellent footballers – players who might not be great inside but are good at half-forward or wing-back.
“Every good team needs a bit of high quality about it, a cut above the rest – and Rian fits that brief.”
From an Armagh perspective and indeed neutrals all around the country, Croke Park beckons for one of the best footballers to emerge from the Orchard County in a generation.
Armaghball
Well-Known Member
Good read. Agree with both Kernan and Brolly re the Clifford comparisons- think Rian has similar ability and skillset to Clifford. Two special, special players- Rian just needs to show it more consistently. Kernan is 100% right though you’ll not see Clifford catching ball on the edge of his own square or winning turnovers or marks around the middle too often like Rian will.
I think if Rian plays to his full potential Sunday we win the game.
Diarmi
Well-Known Member
Yep, he is that type of player.
Big Jim
Well-Known Member
Folks that are wondering about parking can try this link. I can't vouch that there are any spaces still available, but I've just booked on it a little while ago. It's €22 without the link and only €9 using it
https://www.q-park.ie/en-gb/gaa/
https://www.q-park.ie/en-gb/gaa/
Mickey Gormley
Active Member
Yea if he could play id prob let sherdian start first half against conroy and maybe bring in Mackin 2nd half. Obviously depending on performance some boost for armagh if Ciaran Mackin can get back on the field. You wouldnt imagine with the nature of his injury his fitness would be massive affected obviously his match fitness wouldnt be at it and possibly rusty. Be worth a punt at some stage if fit
Ard Mhacha 13
Well-Known Member
Hi everyone. I received the message below on Twitter & thought this might be a good place to share it, so if any of you use Twitter or Facebook (that rules you out @PatMustard 
) you know what to do tomorrow:
Calling on all Armagh fans. A few admins of Armagh twitter pages have joined forces and come up with an idea.
We want to try and get an Armagh Twitter storm trending this Friday night (24th) in support for the team heading to Croke Park on Sunday for the Quarter final v Galway.
As the fans we have a vital role to play in order to push these men over the line and give them as much confidence and belief as possible.
So here's the plan..
On Friday evening at 6pm, we want you to change your profile picture Orange. We want you to tweet a photo of the Armagh Logo, share photos of your house with Orange and white flags or bunting. Basically we want you to turn twitter orange. These are the hash tags we would like you to use on Friday.
#TurnCrokerOrange
#TurnTwitterOrange
#ArdMhachaAbu
If your on Facebook, you are welcome to do it on there aswell using the hashtag #TurnFacebookOrange
If you could send this to 5/10 friends/Armagh fans privately, and ask them to do the same, between now and 6pm Friday we will be very grateful.
Let's get behind them and #TurnTwitterOrange
#TurnCrokerOrange
Go raibh maith agat
⚪️
) you know what to do tomorrow:Calling on all Armagh fans. A few admins of Armagh twitter pages have joined forces and come up with an idea.
We want to try and get an Armagh Twitter storm trending this Friday night (24th) in support for the team heading to Croke Park on Sunday for the Quarter final v Galway.
As the fans we have a vital role to play in order to push these men over the line and give them as much confidence and belief as possible.
So here's the plan..
On Friday evening at 6pm, we want you to change your profile picture Orange. We want you to tweet a photo of the Armagh Logo, share photos of your house with Orange and white flags or bunting. Basically we want you to turn twitter orange. These are the hash tags we would like you to use on Friday.
#TurnCrokerOrange
#TurnTwitterOrange
#ArdMhachaAbu
If your on Facebook, you are welcome to do it on there aswell using the hashtag #TurnFacebookOrange
If you could send this to 5/10 friends/Armagh fans privately, and ask them to do the same, between now and 6pm Friday we will be very grateful.
Let's get behind them and #TurnTwitterOrange
#TurnCrokerOrange
Go raibh maith agat
⚪️