Dr. McKenna Cup 2019

I

Influx

Well-Known Member
Strength in depth increased for sure this year and subsequent serious competition for places can only be good for the Division 2 campaign. Given two big scores to date, almost guaranteed a semi-final berth before Farney clash.
 
Muckser

Muckser

Well-Known Member
Scoring difference should see us through even if Monaghan win. They played a very week team today
 
P

Patrick-Armagh

Well-Known Member
Ogs lad said:
Kennedy is gonna be our full back for years to come hopefully. Rock solid
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Aaron McKay will have something to say about that! Which reiterates an other point made here; there is serious competition for places. Oisin and Rian O'Neill, Patrick Burns, Niall Grimley, Charlie Vernon, Andrew Murnin and Gregory McCabe are just a few of the names that spring to mind that were either on the bench today or not playing at all. Everyone of them could have started today and you wouldn't have felt the team were weaker for it.

We scored well (aided by some shocking goal keeping in the first half), had some good combination play and had some really encouraging performances around the pitch. Great to see Stefan Campbell back and playing so well. Connaire Mackin and Jarlath Og Burns were impressive. Aidan Forker has really developed into a fine footballer without the hard man act that got him in trouble. But my God Antrim are bad. What's the long term goal for them? It must be very difficult to get players to buy in and commit so much when it's as bad as that. Lord knows we've known some dark days and had some truly awful performances, but that just seems to be the norm every year for Antrim.

The kick pass rule totally runs opposite to the very thing it's trying to achieve. You see guys kicking it short distances because they aren't sure what number of hand pass they are on, so if in doubt kick it. Quick hand passing combinations in the final third, with players running off the shoulder, opening teams up and cutting through the blanket defence is made redundant to some extent as players are having to turn back to kick to someone or take a forced shot.

Monaghan will be a really good test to see where we are and to get us ready for the National League, where we will be playing the standard of team we've been wanting for so long now.
 
Muckser

Muckser

Well-Known Member
Patrick-Armagh said:
Aaron McKay will have something to say about that! Which reiterates an other point made here; there is serious competition for places. Oisin and Rian O'Neill, Patrick Burns, Niall Grimley, Charlie Vernon, Andrew Murnin and Gregory McCabe are just a few of the names that spring to mind that were either on the bench today or not playing at all. Everyone of them could have started today and you wouldn't have felt the team were weaker for it.

We scored well (aided by some shocking goal keeping in the first half), had some good combination play and had some really encouraging performances around the pitch. Great to see Stefan Campbell back and playing so well. Connaire Mackin and Jarlath Og Burns were impressive. Aidan Forker has really developed into a fine footballer without the hard man act that got him in trouble. But my God Antrim are bad. What's the long term goal for them? It must be very difficult to get players to buy in and commit so much when it's as bad as that. Lord knows we've known some dark days and had some truly awful performances, but that just seems to be the norm every year for Antrim.

The kick pass rule totally runs opposite to the very thing it's trying to achieve. You see guys kicking it short distances because they aren't sure what number of hand pass they are on, so if in doubt kick it. Quick hand passing combinations in the final third, with players running off the shoulder, opening teams up and cutting through the blanket defence is made redundant to some extent as players are having to turn back to kick to someone or take a forced shot.

Monaghan will be a really good test to see where we are and to get us ready for the National League, where we will be playing the standard of team we've been wanting for so long now.
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Excellent post and agree great options. In sure however we might rest lots midweek as 3 games in week lots if likely semi in Donegal next week
 
Ard Mhacha 13

Ard Mhacha 13

Well-Known Member
Patrick-Armagh said:
Aaron McKay will have something to say about that! Which reiterates an other point made here; there is serious competition for places. Oisin and Rian O'Neill, Patrick Burns, Niall Grimley, Charlie Vernon, Andrew Murnin and Gregory McCabe are just a few of the names that spring to mind that were either on the bench today or not playing at all. Everyone of them could have started today and you wouldn't have felt the team were weaker for it.

We scored well (aided by some shocking goal keeping in the first half), had some good combination play and had some really encouraging performances around the pitch. Great to see Stefan Campbell back and playing so well. Connaire Mackin and Jarlath Og Burns were impressive. Aidan Forker has really developed into a fine footballer without the hard man act that got him in trouble. But my God Antrim are bad. What's the long term goal for them? It must be very difficult to get players to buy in and commit so much when it's as bad as that. Lord knows we've known some dark days and had some truly awful performances, but that just seems to be the norm every year for Antrim.

The kick pass rule totally runs opposite to the very thing it's trying to achieve. You see guys kicking it short distances because they aren't sure what number of hand pass they are on, so if in doubt kick it. Quick hand passing combinations in the final third, with players running off the shoulder, opening teams up and cutting through the blanket defence is made redundant to some extent as players are having to turn back to kick to someone or take a forced shot.

Monaghan will be a really good test to see where we are and to get us ready for the National League, where we will be playing the standard of team we've been wanting for so long now.
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Add in Paul Hughes to those you've already mentioned, another great addition.
 
Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
Muckser said:
Scoring difference should see us through even if Monaghan win. They played a very week team today
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That Ulster Council guy at the gate on the way out of the back was telling a journey that he was told that's Armagh through to the semis. I'm not sure how that works because if Monaghan beat us we'd be looking at second place. I know we've scored well so we'd be in a good position, but what if Monaghan were to hump us completely. Possible and admittedly not very probable, but still a chance.

I like @Patrick-Armagh 's round up above especially the take on the hand pass. Everyone seems so confused with the new rules. There was quite a vocal debate beside us when we went down to 14 with the argument around "it must have been a red card because we only used 5 subs" There was no telling him it was back to five with the 'sin bin" now in play. Some people just won't listen.

We are where I sort of thought we would be at this stage even though the scores have been much higher. Pleasing and interesting. Wednesday will definitely show what we need to do if Monaghan play a strong enough team. I saw on twat that they were very understrength today. Taking us seriously and resting a few?? Doubt it.

Just as a side note, I'd also like to mention of mini McShane and Jamar Hall. Two tiny players with heart and enthusiasm. If it wasn't for soups scoring, mini was in the running for MOTM. Super from both. A lot of our tackling in defence was sublime. Niall Grimley hit a super free when he came on to suggest he has shaken off his "not so good form" from last year and I thought Stephen Sheridan put in a great shift. The only let down was the goal we conceded. Very sloppy and could have been stopped if we hadn't have had the foot off the pedal waiting for the final whistle. But if that's the only negative, then we've moved forward. Roll on next Sunday for a semi-final and then a break before the drive to Kildare.
 
Ard Mhacha 13

Ard Mhacha 13

Well-Known Member
Calm1 said:
That Ulster Council guy at the gate on the way out of the back was telling a journey that he was told that's Armagh through to the semis. I'm not sure how that works because if Monaghan beat us we'd be looking at second place. I know we've scored well so we'd be in a good position, but what if Monaghan were to hump us completely. Possible and admittedly not very probable, but still a chance.

I like @Patrick-Armagh 's round up above especially the take on the hand pass. Everyone seems so confused with the new rules. There was quite a vocal debate beside us when we went down to 14 with the argument around "it must have been a red card because we only used 5 subs" There was no telling him it was back to five with the 'sin bin" now in play. Some people just won't listen.

We are where I sort of thought we would be at this stage even though the scores have been much higher. Pleasing and interesting. Wednesday will definitely show what we need to do if Monaghan play a strong enough team. I saw on twat that they were very understrength today. Taking us seriously and resting a few?? Doubt it.

Just as a side note, I'd also like to mention of mini McShane and Jamar Hall. Two tiny players with heart and enthusiasm. If it wasn't for soups scoring, mini was in the running for MOTM. Super from both. A lot of our tackling in defence was sublime. Niall Grimley hit a super free when he came on to suggest he has shaken off his "not so good form" from last year and I thought Stephen Sheridan put in a great shift. The only let down was the goal we conceded. Very sloppy and could have been stopped if we hadn't have had the foot off the pedal waiting for the final whistle. But if that's the only negative, then we've moved forward. Roll on next Sunday for a semi-final and then a break before the drive to Kildare.
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The goal could also have been prevented if the linesman had given the correct decision of an Armagh ball!!! :mad: Even the Antrim player laughed as he too new the decision had gone the wrong way.
 
Big Jim

Big Jim

Well-Known Member
Ard Mhacha 13 said:
The goal could also have been prevented if the linesman had given the correct decision of an Armagh ball!!! :mad: Even the Antrim player laughed as he too new the decision had gone the wrong way.
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I heard someone saying that as they were leaving right enough, but to be honest I hadn't seen it. I was more annoyed that we conceded it regardless of any other bad decisions. It reminds me of the penalty against Sligo a few years back that cost us another year in D3. We should have had the ball stopped out the field. Game was over, fair enough, but the scoring difference could be getting us to a semi-final. If that score cost us I'd be more annoyed at the players than an official. On those mind you, I thought the ref was ok today. Few silly things, but nothing to worry much about (did notice himself and Geezer exchanging phone numbers early on and him telling Geezer to mind his language). Maggie Farrelly was a bit fussy on the line telling Paddy McKeever off for encroaching even though it was a break in play.
 
Ard Mhacha 13

Ard Mhacha 13

Well-Known Member
Calm1 said:
I heard someone saying that as they were leaving right enough, but to be honest I hadn't seen it. I was more annoyed that we conceded it regardless of any other bad decisions. It reminds me of the penalty against Sligo a few years back that cost us another year in D3. We should have had the ball stopped out the field. Game was over, fair enough, but the scoring difference could be getting us to a semi-final. If that score cost us I'd be more annoyed at the players than an official. On those mind you, I thought the ref was ok today. Few silly things, but nothing to worry much about (did notice himself and Geezer exchanging phone numbers early on and him telling Geezer to mind his language). Maggie Farrelly was a bit fussy on the line telling Paddy McKeever off for encroaching even though it was a break in play.
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Funny I was just having a discussion with my Dad about that penalty incident tonight. I said "how many penalties have you seen for a jersey tug since that one?" Reply "none" Consistency, consistency, consistency.
 
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