Dr. McKenna Cup 2019

Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
Can't really draw any conclusions as to how we are from that because either we really have made a massive improvement or St. Mary's were really are that poor. I believe the latter at this stage.

Negatives:
We conceded 1-07 against a poor.....sorry, shite team. The goal was really sloppy defence. Any opposition would look at that and say, crowd us and we'll leave massive space unmarked in a panic.
Long range shooting wasn't on display and I'd have liked to have seen how we handled it especially when Rian came on. His shooting is ridiculous when he let's loose
Scoreboard went a bit wonky at the start of the first half.
It was freezing.

Positives:
Some of our passing especially to the chest was sublime.
Tackling was easy to watch although again St. Mary's submission came easy
The game plan seemed to evolve each time St. Mary's got a hold on what was happening. Our pattern changed and went about things different. Hard to put my finger on how often it was done or when, just was a noticeable difference.
5, 6 and sometimes 7 players making themselves available for frees and kick outs even when heavy marked.
Mini McShane is an incredible work horse and not shy of a tackle
Jack Grugan launched himself into the limelight. Just hope it's not a flash and he goes off the boil like Niall Grimley after he got recognised and doesn't seem to be able to reach that level again at the minute
Ross McQuillan is a pleasure to watch tackling and laying off a ball
Jemar Hall deserved more game time and as I've said many times, That lad is really talented and not afraid to commit himself to every move
Jarly Og looks comfortable already and fits in really well
Great to have Campbell back. Pinpoint accurate with passes and worked his socks off covering the field dragging two and sometimes three men leaving gapping holes to create goal chances which others like Jack Gruggan can take advantage of.
Everybody else!

Reality/summation
We're unlikely to get another day like that in "competitive" football so I'm enjoying it for what it is and not what we'd love to believe it was - i.e. it's a step and in the right direction. Still believe a McKenna Cup semi-final is a possibility at this stage.
A top half finish in Division two of the league and maybe (a remote maybe admittedly but after the first 3 games we'll know better) a push for promotion. Maybe not, but let's dream for now!
Even without the strength the new lads have brought, I think we're gonna be in the Ulster semi-final. Not prepared to predict or even think more until the last day of the league and we see how/if we've really progressed.

Bugger that! That's so unlike me. Tinted glasses back on............and after that win today, All Ireland champions 2019 and 2020 beating Dublin 3 times along the way!!!
 
Muckser

Muckser

Well-Known Member
Antrim next and was said yesterday is issue with their ground and possibly will be played in Armagh
 
Muckser

Muckser

Well-Known Member
Oh was also said cross is taking a national league game...anyone else hear anything on that?
 
Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
Muckser said:
Antrim next and was said yesterday is issue with their ground and possibly will be played in Armagh
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Oh wonder what the issue will be. I thought they might use a neutral venue rather than give us home advantage. Was this talk or reasonably reliable? Just thought we were going there because our county Hurling captain and goalkeeper plays outta there.

Was in the company of a St. John's man today at a meeting in Belfast and he was saying that they have got confirmation that their new stand is going to be built and were looking forward to Armagh visiting - and I quote "they bring big crowds so we should get a nice payday from Ulster which will help nicely"
 
Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
PatMustard said:
Here, how did we get on with the new rules on Sunday?
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Broke every goddamn one of them including the speeding within the 20 zone, no eating before 3.35pm and most contentious was calling 'bull names!! - does that make up for me not really knowing what they are yet apart from the 3 passes thingy which I think we broke about 2 or 3 times?? Oh and I didn't see the new mark thing-a-ma-jingy being used/given/called. What else is there?
 
PatMustard

PatMustard

Well-Known Member
Calm1 said:
Broke every goddamn one of them including the speeding within the 20 zone, no eating before 3.35pm and most contentious was calling 'bull names!! - does that make up for me not really knowing what they are yet apart from the 3 passes thingy which I think we broke about 2 or 3 times?? Oh and I didn't see the new mark thing-a-ma-jingy being used/given/called. What else is there?
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As long as nobody fed @ragingbull after midnight, that’s alright :D

Sideline kicked forwards and sin bin 10 minutes.
 
Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
PatMustard said:
As long as nobody fed @ragingbull after midnight, that’s alright :D

Sideline kicked forwards and sin bin 10 minutes.
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Oh yeah. Had forgotten about them'uns.

As far as I remember there was only a few sideline balls (maybe even only one) as I just remember our keeper putting the ball out over the line. They must have did it right because there was no reaction. Definitely no sinny binnys!

On that point and no messing this time, Ciaran Brannigan was ref and I know he had little really to do, but I thought he was actually quite good. Any time he gave a free against us, it was sort of "shrug the shoulders, sure we deserved that" type of decision. He even gave Aidan two consecutive frees. Bit different from his last day out in Louth/Drogheda.
 
N

niall1980

Well-Known Member
Calm1 said:
Broke every goddamn one of them including the speeding within the 20 zone, no eating before 3.35pm and most contentious was calling 'bull names!! - does that make up for me not really knowing what they are yet apart from the 3 passes thingy which I think we broke about 2 or 3 times?? Oh and I didn't see the new mark thing-a-ma-jingy being used/given/called. What else is there?
Click to expand...
One of our points came from an offensive mark according to Twitter
 
Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
niall1980 said:
One of our points came from an offensive mark according to Twitter
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Ah!! Twittererer more observant than me :oops:. To be fair I was bloody freezing, like most I assume and had forgotten about the new rules and sure even one of my previous comments suggests I hadn't taken notice of them all or even know them yet!
 
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