Allianz Football League 2022 Division 1
- Thread starter Diarmi
- Start date
Armagh_paul
Well-Known Member
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
Armagh will be in the black kit Sundays game
RIAN O’Neill is the kind of footballer that makes you feel good about the game. On Saturday night in Croke Park, he provided a glowing reminder that the marquee footballer is not extinct and that the game still whispers of infinite possibilities.
Former Armagh defender Justin McNulty posted on social media two video clips simultaneously – one from the 2002 All-Ireland final, showing Stevie McDonnell hitting an instinctive point on the turn; the other showing Rian O’Neill planting the ball in Dublin’s net last Saturday evening.
The video clips lauded two sublime finishers of the game, cut from the same cloth, while the post also saluted the long, diagonal ball which Armagh turned into an art form in the ‘Noughties’.
Call it dogma or straightforward self-belief, but while the entire country over the last number of years were refusing to kick the ball in - bar Kerry perhaps - Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh team never lost faith in the diagonal pass – a tactic copyrighted by giants of the game such as Joe Kernan and Dessie Ryan.
It was a tactic ‘Geezer’ was a fanatical disciple of. But, of course, Armagh’s attacking play has had to become more nuanced – more runners, knowing when to run, the off-loads, the angles of the off-loads and width.
Clearly, Armagh are making incremental improvements evidenced by their ceaseless and somewhat arduous climb back to Division One, as well as their mauling of Dublin last weekend.
At the risk of bursting Armagh’s balloon this week, no match analysis would be complete without acknowledging Dublin’s ramshackle display.
Akin to the post-Fergie years at Manchester United, Dublin were so far off it you immediately wondered just how great a leader Jim Gavin actually was - and that perhaps the runaway train an entire nation feared for a decade was always going to run out of steam once the Brogans, the Michael Dara McAuleys, the Cian O’Sullivans, the Philly McMahons, the Stephen Cluxtons and Kevin McManamons got too old.
The All-Ireland Championship has definitely opened up. It has become a proper, authentic, winnable race again. How many teams can actually count themselves as contenders will become clearer towards the end of this season’s National League.
In 2017, Tyrone were a speck in the distance to Armagh. That’s no longer the case.
One of the main reasons why Armagh have moved up the pecking order is because of players like Rian O’Neill.
On the burnt field of Pairc Esler last summer against Monaghan, O’Neill produced a truly awesome display.
He made a few basic errors too that day but the great thing about him was he didn’t care.
He didn’t care about the stats or the possessions-lost column. Mistakes and all, he was still brilliant.
He kept rolling the dice against Monaghan, kept taking risks and kept backing himself.
In Pairc Esler last July and in Croke Park last Saturday night, there was one prevailing thought above all others.
Who coached this young man? What advice did they drill into him when he was 10-years-old?
Was their coaching a light-touch approach? Did they teach him not to be afraid of missing?
If they did, he has absolutely retained that fearlessness.
Whatever his underage coaches and mentors did, they gave him every chance to be the best that he can possibly be.
O’Neill does things on a football field that have been coached out of other young players; those who don’t take risks, who are too mindful of the possessions-lost column and who follow the rules.
It’s like an underage coach trying to encourage the dribbler to pass the ball more when in actual fact it’s these precious skills that must be nurtured and protected because when big games are in the balance in 10 years’ time, the dribbler will be the difference.
How Rian O’Neill was coached as a kid is the reason why his star is soaring on the inter-county stage right now and why Armagh look a better bet.
Justin McNulty’s video clips provided a reminder of the rich potential associated with the long, diagonal pass and the spontaneous nature of forwards like Stevie McDonnell and Rian O’Neill.
In his pomp, McDonnell was a joy to watch for Armagh.
No forward in the history of Gaelic football relied more heavily on his marker being touch-tight so he could use them to spin away and shoot. All he needed was a quarter of a yard. He was just a devastating attacker.
Off balance, right foot, left foot - McDonnell was oblivious to the safe off-load or recycling the ball.
Where O’Neill and McDonnell are similar – if not identical – is their disdain for playing the percentages, ignoring the parameters of the scoring zones and always backing themselves to be the difference.
Once a player has full confidence in their game, the stage they're on is totally irrelevant.
When Rory Grugan kicked an inch-perfect pass into O’Neill in the 19th minute, the Crossmaglen man could've off-loaded to Ciaran Mackin but instead he swivelled and found the target.
When he accepted Aidan Nugent’s long diagonal four minutes later, you just knew the ball would end up in the net. This is exactly the devil-may-care, uncomplicated element that has been missing in Armagh's play.
His 25th minute point from a ridiculous angle and distance needed Hawkeye but only a handful of players in the game would have attempted it.
Elemental to this Armagh team is the leadership of players like Rory Grugan and Aidan Forker and the solid base they help provide.
Players like them and the Orchard County in general have been crying out for someone like Rian O’Neill in order to reach the next level.
But the privilege stretches far beyond Armagh. The game itself is enriched by the presence of the languid Crossmaglen man.
His coaches should also be proud.
Former Armagh defender Justin McNulty posted on social media two video clips simultaneously – one from the 2002 All-Ireland final, showing Stevie McDonnell hitting an instinctive point on the turn; the other showing Rian O’Neill planting the ball in Dublin’s net last Saturday evening.
The video clips lauded two sublime finishers of the game, cut from the same cloth, while the post also saluted the long, diagonal ball which Armagh turned into an art form in the ‘Noughties’.
Call it dogma or straightforward self-belief, but while the entire country over the last number of years were refusing to kick the ball in - bar Kerry perhaps - Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh team never lost faith in the diagonal pass – a tactic copyrighted by giants of the game such as Joe Kernan and Dessie Ryan.
It was a tactic ‘Geezer’ was a fanatical disciple of. But, of course, Armagh’s attacking play has had to become more nuanced – more runners, knowing when to run, the off-loads, the angles of the off-loads and width.
Clearly, Armagh are making incremental improvements evidenced by their ceaseless and somewhat arduous climb back to Division One, as well as their mauling of Dublin last weekend.
At the risk of bursting Armagh’s balloon this week, no match analysis would be complete without acknowledging Dublin’s ramshackle display.
Akin to the post-Fergie years at Manchester United, Dublin were so far off it you immediately wondered just how great a leader Jim Gavin actually was - and that perhaps the runaway train an entire nation feared for a decade was always going to run out of steam once the Brogans, the Michael Dara McAuleys, the Cian O’Sullivans, the Philly McMahons, the Stephen Cluxtons and Kevin McManamons got too old.
The All-Ireland Championship has definitely opened up. It has become a proper, authentic, winnable race again. How many teams can actually count themselves as contenders will become clearer towards the end of this season’s National League.
In 2017, Tyrone were a speck in the distance to Armagh. That’s no longer the case.
One of the main reasons why Armagh have moved up the pecking order is because of players like Rian O’Neill.
On the burnt field of Pairc Esler last summer against Monaghan, O’Neill produced a truly awesome display.
He made a few basic errors too that day but the great thing about him was he didn’t care.
He didn’t care about the stats or the possessions-lost column. Mistakes and all, he was still brilliant.
He kept rolling the dice against Monaghan, kept taking risks and kept backing himself.
In Pairc Esler last July and in Croke Park last Saturday night, there was one prevailing thought above all others.
Who coached this young man? What advice did they drill into him when he was 10-years-old?
Was their coaching a light-touch approach? Did they teach him not to be afraid of missing?
If they did, he has absolutely retained that fearlessness.
Whatever his underage coaches and mentors did, they gave him every chance to be the best that he can possibly be.
O’Neill does things on a football field that have been coached out of other young players; those who don’t take risks, who are too mindful of the possessions-lost column and who follow the rules.
It’s like an underage coach trying to encourage the dribbler to pass the ball more when in actual fact it’s these precious skills that must be nurtured and protected because when big games are in the balance in 10 years’ time, the dribbler will be the difference.
How Rian O’Neill was coached as a kid is the reason why his star is soaring on the inter-county stage right now and why Armagh look a better bet.
Justin McNulty’s video clips provided a reminder of the rich potential associated with the long, diagonal pass and the spontaneous nature of forwards like Stevie McDonnell and Rian O’Neill.
In his pomp, McDonnell was a joy to watch for Armagh.
No forward in the history of Gaelic football relied more heavily on his marker being touch-tight so he could use them to spin away and shoot. All he needed was a quarter of a yard. He was just a devastating attacker.
Off balance, right foot, left foot - McDonnell was oblivious to the safe off-load or recycling the ball.
Where O’Neill and McDonnell are similar – if not identical – is their disdain for playing the percentages, ignoring the parameters of the scoring zones and always backing themselves to be the difference.
Once a player has full confidence in their game, the stage they're on is totally irrelevant.
When Rory Grugan kicked an inch-perfect pass into O’Neill in the 19th minute, the Crossmaglen man could've off-loaded to Ciaran Mackin but instead he swivelled and found the target.
When he accepted Aidan Nugent’s long diagonal four minutes later, you just knew the ball would end up in the net. This is exactly the devil-may-care, uncomplicated element that has been missing in Armagh's play.
His 25th minute point from a ridiculous angle and distance needed Hawkeye but only a handful of players in the game would have attempted it.
Elemental to this Armagh team is the leadership of players like Rory Grugan and Aidan Forker and the solid base they help provide.
Players like them and the Orchard County in general have been crying out for someone like Rian O’Neill in order to reach the next level.
But the privilege stretches far beyond Armagh. The game itself is enriched by the presence of the languid Crossmaglen man.
His coaches should also be proud.
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
Can't believe it be over 2 years since I've been to a game in the athletic grounds 
GAAJohn
Member
That time of the week again...
Hughes
Burns
Forker
McKay
Mackin
Rowland
J Og Burns
Mackin
Grimley
TK
Grugan
Soupy
Duffy
O Neill
Nugent
Grimley for Crealey just down to Crealey still more than likely being injured after his knock last week although I would give the nod to crealey if he is available, soupy in for jemar thought soupy done very well when he came in last week. The strength in depth armagh now have is the strongest in a number of years, mc cabe soupy grimley turbitt and mc quillan all on the bench last week along with murnin morgan and oisin o neill to still come back who will be three serious additions
Hughes
Burns
Forker
McKay
Mackin
Rowland
J Og Burns
Mackin
Grimley
TK
Grugan
Soupy
Duffy
O Neill
Nugent
Grimley for Crealey just down to Crealey still more than likely being injured after his knock last week although I would give the nod to crealey if he is available, soupy in for jemar thought soupy done very well when he came in last week. The strength in depth armagh now have is the strongest in a number of years, mc cabe soupy grimley turbitt and mc quillan all on the bench last week along with murnin morgan and oisin o neill to still come back who will be three serious additions
William Of Orange
Well-Known Member
Hughes
Paddy Burns
Forker
McKay
Connaire Mackin
Rowland
J Og Burns
Ciaran Mackin
Grimley
TIernan Kelly
Grugan
Hall
Duffy
Rian O Neill
Nugent
My team would be the following ,The team picks its self really after last week , I think Stefan has a better impact on the bench and gives us an option along with Turbitt and others which we will undoubtedly need as Tyrone's bench will have a big impact . Again if Crealy is fit I would start him as well . Jemar is a better starter than impact sub for the work he does during the game and normally runs himself to the ground and I think this type of game will suit him .
Paddy Burns
Forker
McKay
Connaire Mackin
Rowland
J Og Burns
Ciaran Mackin
Grimley
TIernan Kelly
Grugan
Hall
Duffy
Rian O Neill
Nugent
My team would be the following ,The team picks its self really after last week , I think Stefan has a better impact on the bench and gives us an option along with Turbitt and others which we will undoubtedly need as Tyrone's bench will have a big impact . Again if Crealy is fit I would start him as well . Jemar is a better starter than impact sub for the work he does during the game and normally runs himself to the ground and I think this type of game will suit him .
Armagh_paul
Well-Known Member
Have to praise Hughes again for his kick-outs last weekend. He really has gone from a liability to being a huge asset, he did get a lot of stick on here (from myself included) but is dictating the matches. Wouldn't blame him for the Dublin goal last week as it was quite an unfortunate goal but his kick outs have been gold.
Crealey is a really good player and what an option to have after last weekends performance. However, this might be me but when Grimley and Jarly are both playing they have a huge impact on the team.
The forwards pick themselves. Despite being the only forward not to score last weekend I would stick with Hall over Campbell. Hall would probably be one of the first names to put on the team sheet for playing a team like Tyrone. I like Campbell as he has been there through it all, his experience could be valuable in the latter stages of the game vs Tyrone. He might not start this weekend but there are a few games in mind where Campbell will start as there will be much more physical battles ahead.
Crealey is a really good player and what an option to have after last weekends performance. However, this might be me but when Grimley and Jarly are both playing they have a huge impact on the team.
The forwards pick themselves. Despite being the only forward not to score last weekend I would stick with Hall over Campbell. Hall would probably be one of the first names to put on the team sheet for playing a team like Tyrone. I like Campbell as he has been there through it all, his experience could be valuable in the latter stages of the game vs Tyrone. He might not start this weekend but there are a few games in mind where Campbell will start as there will be much more physical battles ahead.
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William Of Orange
Well-Known Member
Can't believe it be over 2 years since I've been to a game in the athletic grounds
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
Did someone steal your ladder, and now you’re having to pay in?Can't believe it be over 2 years since I've been to a game in the athletic grounds
DOUGIE
Member
I asked that question before, the only reason is when it comes to a championship game you're all seated together
JoeH
Well-Known Member
From last week's team I can see the defence staying the same, changes in midfield and possibly half forward line and full forward line to remain the same.
Ben Crealey will be a big miss if he's not available - a tall, very strong and hard working midfielder.
The half forward line worked exceptionally hard last week. Probably will stay the same as the three of them must have covered the most distance of all players.
It could be horses for coarses so let's see. One thing we have is a bench that arguably should/could start and they will have a huge say in the game.
Exciting times ahead...
Ben Crealey will be a big miss if he's not available - a tall, very strong and hard working midfielder.
The half forward line worked exceptionally hard last week. Probably will stay the same as the three of them must have covered the most distance of all players.
It could be horses for coarses so let's see. One thing we have is a bench that arguably should/could start and they will have a huge say in the game.
Exciting times ahead...
Jamie's Coffee
Active Member
Are ticket’s available on the day or only online beforehand??
Armaghniac
Well-Known Member
The new thing is that they are only online, but possibly right up to the game, there will be a big crowd but probably not 17,000.
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ragingbull
Well-Known Member
You will see people going like me who haven't been at a game since Covid broke out
Armaghniac
Well-Known Member
There will be dozens of people with Covid at this game.