Club Senior Football Championship 2017

T

Throwball

Well-Known Member
After a sluggish enough first half yesterday's game proved very entertaining. Maghery are a good team. Stefan Forker scored a couple of great points and they showed the long ball in can prove a dangerous weapon. It was Harps year though. In the second half they were a team on a mission and their hunger really carried them though. Lennon got man of match but I thought Vernon was immense. He deserves the medal. Then of course there was the save from Paddy Morrison. As good as it gets.
A great win for the Harps and at long last it looks as if we have a competitive championship again.
 
Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
PatMustard said:
@pablo, yeah you usually hear crowd get excited in the parade, players taking position and before throw in. It was like a library. The beginning of first half the crowd was as lively as it would be before a quarter full ground before a meaningless curtain raiser.
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Maybe with the old forum being closed, it affected the supporters worried that the games will be the next victim of the CB :oops:
 
ragingbull

ragingbull

Well-Known Member
PatMustard said:
@pablo, yeah you usually hear crowd get excited in the parade, players taking position and before throw in. It was like a library. The beginning of first half the crowd was as lively as it would be before a quarter full ground before a meaningless curtain raiser.

As for kids up and down, surely it's up to the parents to ensure they sit in their seats and stop annoying others watching the game. Ok toilet breaks maybe necessary but try doing that at HT or before the match.
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Is this the library, Is this the library, Is this the library, Is this the library...
 
PatMustard

PatMustard

Well-Known Member
Calm1 said:
Maybe with the old forum being closed, it affected the supporters worried that the games will be the next victim of the CB :oops:
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Maybe they all had their mouths taped with an X like recent protests, in protest at the CB.

My gob was taped too. But Mrs Mustard makes me do that before every match.
 
Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
PatMustard said:
Maybe they all had their mouths taped with an X like recent protests, in protest at the CB.

My gob was taped too. But Mrs Mustard makes me do that before every match.
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You don't know how good you got it. I've permanently gotta use the keyboard.

On the games themselves, enjoyable but I honestly thought too that at HT in the Senior game it was done and dusted and then with the opening score, I was sorely tempted to head for an early exit. The long walk back to the car and home for a bite to eat was looking tempting. I was convinced to finish my can of cola (other great sot drinks also available) which became wise advice as I thoroughly enjoyed the remainder of the game and the celebrations. Even got to see myself on the big screen. HIGHLIGHT!!!!
 
A

armaghforsam

Member
Slaughtneil probably favs for senior but think harps play Derrygonnelly which is winnable and then winners of cavan and antrim so probably cavan gaels. 4 or 5 years since they were in ulster. Killevey are better than what they showed on Sunday. But Newbridge are meant to be seriously strong and thumped shercock from cavan. Moy an obvious treat here also as tyrone teams traditionally do well. In junior again I would have to fancy tattyreagh from tyrone. Not sure of junior and senior draws but a possible final for harps
 
C

Corvansback

New Member
We did it.

I don't know about anyone else but the lack of atmosphere was probably nerves from a Harps point of view, seriously never been more nervous in my life than before the game. The outpouring of joy after the final whistle will live with me for a long time.

The first half was real chess match. Our full back line where really on top and prevented any real goal opportunities. Maghery then resorted to long attempts and where successful with several massive scores, although I was happy enough to only give 5 points away - I knew with the strong breeze coming from the cathedral side they wouldn't be able to kick them as easy in the second half. I don't know the stats but we had plenty of possession in the 1st half but Maghery restricted our forwards to feed off scraps. They pushed down the wings and left us to take shots while under pressure or attempt to get through their defence which was not happening. Magherys tackling in the 1st half was a joy to watch for anyone that studies the game although I didn't think they would be able to keep up the intensity for the whole game.
 
bennydorano

bennydorano

New Member
I think there's a genuine realisation that this is a great opportunity for Harps in Ulster. There's no disputing that we are in the handier side of the draw, there's potentially two very tough but winnable games between us and an Ulster Final. Derrygonnelly supposedly very happy with Sunday's result, they came down en masse to run the rule over Maghery.

Partying over and back training tonight. Its a cliche but we're in bonus territory now and we've absolutely nothing to fear or lose.
 
Rufus T Firefly

Rufus T Firefly

Well-Known Member
I was very nervous ahead of the game but thought we would win, as I felt Maghery may have played their final in the second win over Cross. I don't mind telling you though that just after half time, I thought a win was a forlorn hope, as Maghery won the ball from the throw in and went down the pitch to extend their lead with a point. At that moment we were down 6-2, and I had visions of another of our nightmare 1980s 'no shows' in the final, going down in a low scoring game.

All that changed inside a minute when we scored two goals. The first, a brilliant team move from our kickout and ending with a great Minnie McShane finish. The second, a high ball in, batted down into his own path by Ultan Lennon, and crashed to the net from fourteen yards.

To be fair, Maghery responded well and got the next three scores to lead 0-9 to 2-2 but at that stage our tails were up. Ultan Lennon in particular was playing with confidence and his three second half points were all top drawer. However for me the driving force behind our second half display was Charlie Vernon, who gave a performance for the ages. His performance around the middle was one of skill, drive, determination, energy and most important of all leadership. It was like he had a moment to himself where he thought, 'this is my time'. Sensational!!

We could never finish the game off and were guilty of butchering several golden opportunities. That meant that Maghery were always dangerous. Crealey was now 'in around the house' and Aidan Forker was putting bombs into our square from about seventy yards out. It took an absolutely brilliant Paddy Morrison save to keep Maghery out and from there we held on for a deserved victory.

The emotional scenes and celebrations at the end and throughout the rest of the weekend will live long in the memory. Our club badly needed this. Congratulations to all of our players and management, along with a heartfelt 'thank-you'.

I thought we had a great team performance, with all players effective all over the field, with worthy mention of Ultan Lennon, Decky McKenna, Paddy Morrison, Sean Farry, Mark McConville and for me the man of the match, the immense Charlie Vernon.

Can I thank everyone for their congratulations both here and elsewhere. People have been very generous in their responses and I have received some lovely messages from Crossmaglen, Ballymacnab, St Patricks, Middletown and our neighbours Pearse Og, amongst others. It is very decent of people and is much appreciated.

Can I also pay tribute to the Maghery folk who, despite a painful defeat, showed their true class by offering congratulations. Martin Toye, Joe Fox, Brian Nugent, Rocky, John Robinson - not just great Gaels, but great people as well. Respect.

I know there will be a few people for whom our victory will represent a nightmare. Unfortunately though, there will be no words of mine that will give you any comfort at this difficult time.

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Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
Massive congratulations @Rufus T Firefly to all within the club. A great day I'm sure. I seen 27 40ft vehicles with various alcohol brands emblazoned on them with blue light escorts heading in the general Armagh direction on Tuesday morning. Presumably you all drank the bars dry by closing time on Monday and this was an emergency measure :D

In all seriousness though, it has to be fantastic for the likes of Charlie who have surely doubted in darker days previously, that the day might never come in his playing time. It was a tremendous second half effort. Like yourself, after the first score in the second half I felt it was to be a "crap, here we go again with another damp squib of a game for our showpiece in the county!" It wasn't to be. With a squad of heroes and supporters making themselves heard, the lads on the field, the mentors on the line and the game gods combined to produce a thriller. In true champions fashion, Maghery didn't throw in the towel right until the final whistle and indeed made a game of it worthy of a county final. They too deserve the immense praise they received. They brought no shame to the title of "last year's champions". With the rise of Cullyhanna and Ballymacnab also in the mix along with the measuring stick of Crossmaglen, who will hurt from their defeat and come back more determined, our games have come to life again after many years. Clann Eireann will hope to join the party too and I'm sure Sarsfields will believe that they can maybe upset a few with some fine footballers as well.

As a teetotaller, I raise a glass back to you and wish the lads well along with those from Ballyhegan and Killeavy as the journey continues. At least next weekend's dilemma has been averted with your game at 7pm on Saturday in Brewster and Armagh, Sunday for the double header. Great weekend ahead.
 
Rufus T Firefly

Rufus T Firefly

Well-Known Member
Thanks very much @Calm1 .

green flag said:
Just thinking that Phil that great Harps supporter, now sadly passed on, would have got a tremendous thrill out of Sundays result.
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He would indeed @green flag and thank you for remembering him. Most of our family managed to be present and thoughts turned to Dad at the final whistle which made the occasion all the more emotional. Off the top of my head I could think of twenty Harps' families in similar circumstances, so there was a lot of raw emotion at the final whistle across our Club. Indeed @bennydorano told me that his youngster questioned him as to why so many Harps' supporters were crying and he had to explain about what such an achievement meant to so many people.

One life, one Club.
 
A

Armagh52

Member
I thought the kickout by Morrison for the first goal was superb - a real game changer because at that stage in 2nd half harps were having trouble getting past maghery midfield. After that goal went in, you could visibly see the confidence in the harps lads rising and fair play to them, they saw it out.

Well done harps and all the best in Ulster !
 
B

bcb1

Well-Known Member
Rufus T Firefly said:
Thanks very much @Calm1 .



He would indeed @green flag and thank you for remembering him. Most of our family managed to be present and thoughts turned to Dad at the final whistle which made the occasion all the more emotional. Off the top of my head I could think of twenty Harps' families in similar circumstances, so there was a lot of raw emotion at the final whistle across our Club. Indeed @bennydorano told me that his youngster questioned him as to why so many Harps' supporters were crying and he had to explain about what such an achievement meant to so many people.

One life, one Club.
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It’s funny but I recall the same sort of thing in 1996. We hadn’t gone as long as yourselves but it was still a huge outpouring of relief. The old men sitting around with puffy red eyes....memories. You’re father would have been the proudest of them all. It won’t be also again I’d imagine. Historically the strong clubs remain strong....
 
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