League 2021

[PatMustard]

Ah here, more flegs!! Man you just court controversy, but to run with yer post, I'd fly a south Armagh fleg to welcome the mid bais' to the north! Us nordie nordies lak everyone hi!!

Ok bad example.

Would you wear a North Armagh (or North West Armagh, or North East Armagh, if my evil plan comes to fruition) tracksuit, hoodie, or other merch that the cool people wear?

Can you see people wearing the ‘amalgam merch’ instead of their own clubs merch?

 

[ragingbull]

I am sure there are good players in intermediate and junior teams too. Armagh could do with a regional championship to get the best of these players playing against senior teams.

I can't see the Grange,An Port Mor Tullysaran ever joining up at senior level

 

[ragingbull]

I didn’t realise but there’s about 9 divisional teams in the Kerry senior championship.

Looking at the Armagh club map, we could fit another 5 in, with something like these amalgamations (based on non senior teams this year).

Clonmore, Ballyhegan, Collegeland, An Port Mor, Tullysaran

Sarsfields, Wolfe Tones, St Paul’s, Clan na Gael, Tir na nOg, Éire Og

Middletown, Keady, Derrynoose, Clady, Newtown

O’Hanlon’s, Mullabrack, Lissummon, Belleek, Whitecross, Carrickcruppen, Shane O’Neills

Cullaville, Forkhill, Corrinshego

You would have to include Annaghmore along with that first group of teams you named

 

[Armaghball]

I didn’t realise but there’s about 9 divisional teams in the Kerry senior championship.

Looking at the Armagh club map, we could fit another 5 in, with something like these amalgamations (based on non senior teams this year).

Clonmore, Ballyhegan, Collegeland, An Port Mor, Tullysaran

Sarsfields, Wolfe Tones, St Paul’s, Clan na Gael, Tir na nOg, Éire Og

Middletown, Keady, Derrynoose, Clady, Newtown

O’Hanlon’s, Mullabrack, Lissummon, Belleek, Whitecross, Carrickcruppen, Shane O’Neills

Cullaville, Forkhill, Corrinshego

I like the idea, but probably not much between the stronger intermediate teams and the weaker “senior” teams. Likes of Mullaghbawn, Grange Annaghmore and St Peter’s would get it tight against the likes of Clanns, St Pauls, Shanes never mind adding in the best players from other sides.

 

[PatMustard]

I like the idea, but probably not much between the stronger intermediate teams and the weaker “senior” teams. Likes of Mullaghbawn, Grange Annaghmore and St Peter’s would get it tight against the likes of Clanns, St Pauls, Shanes never mind adding in the best players from other sides.

Yeah, in some clusters there’s 2/3 teams that hover around senior/Intermediate, then mostly junior clubs in another cluster. It’s not ideal, as you would need to base it on local/parish areas.

But it would be worth looking at. Junior/Intermediate players getting a chance to topple the big boys. It can only improve their game playing against better opposition.

 

[M18]

Think Kerry have less senior teams - which would resolve issue of top of 2a being close to some in 1b

However when would this regional championship be played?
At the minute our championships are very well run but don’t have much room for boys training with different teams and matches etc

 

[KilleavyGael]

Surely we have all been to enough armagh games to see that Sheridan offers us nothing either in defence midfield or forward. McGeeney tried him at CHB for a few games and Laois and Westmeath ran straight down the middle at us and he was out hugging the touchiness ffs he was that close to us in the stand he might as well have a seat. Look i played to Co minor standard in the early 90s so never played county senior football he might be a hard worker and all that but as I have said he offers us little in either direction

Sheridan was one of our best players against Clare and solid again against Derry. One of the most dedicated team players we've ever seen in an orange jersey and if he was hugging the sideline you can bet your life it's cos geezer told him to be there. This forum is for more constructive comments than this kind of stuff.

Not saying the man is the second coming of McGrane but our issue isn't playing personnel and the guys putting in 25-30 hours of work every week for free should be at the back of the queue for criticism. I have more serious questions about how we are coached and the physical conditioning.

 

[OneofTwo]

Sheridan was one of our best players against Clare and solid again against Derry. One of the most dedicated team players we've ever seen in an orange jersey and if he was hugging the sideline you can bet your life it's cos geezer told him to be there. This forum is for more constructive comments than this kind of stuff.

Not saying the man is the second coming of McGrane but our issue isn't playing personnel and the guys putting in 25-30 hours of work every week for free should be at the back of the queue for criticism. I have more serious questions about how we are coached and the physical conditioning.

Well said!

 

[GAAMAD]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, both positive and negative. I agree with the Sheridan debate. He isn't good enough at this level. Doesn't even stand out in Junior football.

 

[Eireogatron]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, both positive and negative. I agree with the Sheridan debate. He isn't good enough at this level. Doesn't even stand out in Junior football.

Doesn't stand out in junior?? Regardless of whether you think he should or shouldn't be on the county panel, this is absolute nonsense

 

[Too Long Ref]

I have more serious questions about how we are coached and the physical conditioning.

Totally agree with this part.

 

[Armaghball]

Doesn't stand out in junior?? Regardless of whether you think he should or shouldn't be on the county panel, this is absolute nonsense

He stands out for his athleticism obviously from being with the county, but skill wise? Far far better players on show in Junior. Jemar was the only county player on that Forkhill team who actually looked county standard.

 

[gar]

This year could have been a good time to experiment with a Kerry style championship. Allowing teams to amalgamate and compete in a senior championship format giving players a sample of football at a higher level would have been a good insight into how this might improve the standard

. One of the ways to improve our standards within the county is for players to compete at a higher level. It was mooted at one stage but not delivered and we now have the problem of how to sort this year leagues and start 2021 leagues but that’s another story .

I have been saying for a long time that our football needs a root and branch examination. For me it’s not only those playing in the current leagues but what are we like at under 20s, under 17s and further. What’s our school teams like. Any signs of progress there. Our coaching at club level needs looking at but above all getting coaches into every primary school . Spending resources wisely. , are the dev squads fit for purpose. These are the questions we need to be looking answers for. I would def acknowledge some of the excellent work being done at primary and secondary school , at club level and in the dev squads. but is it enough , is it good enough? Armagh now enter Div 1 , we need new players and sadly from what I have seen I’m not sure they are out there. Yes there are of course players out in the leagues as mentioned but are these players good enough to keep us in div 1 in the short term and make us realistic challengers over the next number of years. At the moment I hope our Div 1 journey isn’t like the man who saw an elephant at the top of a tree . Wonders how the f**k it got up there but knows it won’t be long in coming down.

 

[Throwball]

I have to admit @gar that development squads have me in a bit of a quandary. On the one hand I can see the benefit of taking the better players and improving their coaching so they become better players. On the other hand does it give these players a sense of superiority, is improving a couple of players in a number of clubs going to increase the overall standard. Also who decides which players get picked. As can be seen with the debates on here one person's superstar is another's donkey. Then there is the fact that we dont know which players will stick with the game, who are the late developers. It also goes against the inclusiveness the GAA is meant to promote.

Is there a way that coaches can be coached to be better coaches? Should the ' development squad' coaches go around the county taking sessions at different clubs to help bring the overall standard up? In other words is it better to improve the overall standard slightly at underage than improve the standard of a few by quite a bit?

As we criticise our county manager and others one point I would like to make. A few years ago I went to a number of coaching evenings run by Ulster Council. The one major thing I took away was when he said if he was taking the same sessions in Tyrone or Monaghan there would be at least twice as many there! What right have we to criticise when we wont put our shoulder to the wheel.

 

[ragingbull]

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-40084163.html All Ireland Finals in July

 

[Big Jim]

@gar I remember recently (within the last year - 18 months) watching a video with a leading light from Cork (I wish I could remember his name, but I'm fairly sure he was a known high level GAA strategist) and he was talking about development squads and value for money training, continuity of ideas and training standards. He was making the argument that kids - dealing directly with those 14-18 are getting training at various sources with "no" standardisation of skills and general exercises across the board. Potentially a young lad "could" train with his school, development/county squad, club and even possibly across two codes (hurling and football) without any consideration to a joined up approach. In terms of time and finances this is a lot of expenditure, with the lad's mind pulled in several directions. He was suggesting that concentrating on schools would be a much more advantageous approach as potentially many clubs would have their lads in a particular school. Sure one or two would slip through the cracks, but at least a platform could be set for continuity with a better value return on investment. It may not be viable, but made me think it was an idea worth thinking about.

 

[h754136]

Does the number of clubs in the county play a role in the quality of coaching available at juvenile level?

A credible argument can be made that we have too many clubs for the size of the county. This has the effect of diluting the playing talent pool, resulting in weaker playing standards across the board.

Perhaps it also stands to reason that the coaching talent pool will also be diluted across the 44ish clubs currently on the go. There are only so many good men and women to go around on a Sunday morning when the u8s are dropped off across the county.

This probably isn’t the main reason for the slow down in talent production in the county, but it may be a contributing factor. Especially if later on the development squad system isn’t working as it should to level up emerging talent from across the spectrum of club backgrounds.

I don’t suppose too many clubs are going to volunteer to go out of existence, but maybe if a few look to be heading that way in the coming years it shouldn’t be fought too hard - provided, of course, that a convenient neighbouring club exists for the refugees.

Just some thoughts - feel free to rip to shite if I’m talking nonsense.

 

[KilleavyGael]

He stands out for his athleticism obviously from being with the county, but skill wise? Far far better players on show in Junior. Jemar was the only county player on that Forkhill team who actually looked county standard.

Worth remembering that if Grimley was fit, its between himself, Oisin Oneill and JO Burns for two midfield slots. Unlikely that Sheridan would be featuring too much. He's an experienced back up and thats probably fine.

Also I've watched a lot of junior league football with our 2nds and I definitely haven't seen the 'far, far better players on show' - not saying they aren't there but I ain't seen them at that level.

 

[bcb1]

Does the number of clubs in the county play a role in the quality of coaching available at juvenile level?

A credible argument can be made that we have too many clubs for the size of the county. This has the effect of diluting the playing talent pool, resulting in weaker playing standards across the board.

Perhaps it also stands to reason that the coaching talent pool will also be diluted across the 44ish clubs currently on the go. There are only so many good men and women to go around on a Sunday morning when the u8s are dropped off across the county.

This probably isn’t the main reason for the slow down in talent production in the county, but it may be a contributing factor. Especially if later on the development squad system isn’t working as it should to level up emerging talent from across the spectrum of club backgrounds.

I don’t suppose too many clubs are going to volunteer to go out of existence, but maybe if a few look to be heading that way in the coming years it shouldn’t be fought too hard - provided, of course, that a convenient neighbouring club exists for the refugees.

Just some thoughts - feel free to rip to shite if I’m talking nonsense.

There certainly is an argument to be made for that but then how do you amalgamate teams? I think to be honest 36 clubs would be plenty, 12 at each division, with a greater focus for ‘spare’ players on a stronger reserve league.
The reality though is that you won’t get clubs to amalgamate as there is far too much history and parish pride there.

 

[Throwball]

Does the number of clubs in the county play a role in the quality of coaching available at juvenile level?

A credible argument can be made that we have too many clubs for the size of the county. This has the effect of diluting the playing talent pool, resulting in weaker playing standards across the board.

Perhaps it also stands to reason that the coaching talent pool will also be diluted across the 44ish clubs currently on the go. There are only so many good men and women to go around on a Sunday morning when the u8s are dropped off across the county.

This probably isn’t the main reason for the slow down in talent production in the county, but it may be a contributing factor. Especially if later on the development squad system isn’t working as it should to level up emerging talent from across the spectrum of club backgrounds.

I don’t suppose too many clubs are going to volunteer to go out of existence, but maybe if a few look to be heading that way in the coming years it shouldn’t be fought too hard - provided, of course, that a convenient neighbouring club exists for the refugees.

Just some thoughts - feel free to rip to shite if I’m talking nonsense.

There is a bit of an anomaly in this at underage were some smaller clubs do amalgamate to get children games. On the other side you have bigger clubs who have too many players for one team but maybe not enough for 2. You also have coaches who prefer winning matches at a young age to developing better players. There are no easy solutions to any of this.