National Football League 2024

[Seamy]

On today's viewing, and as much as we know the class he can produce, Rian is off the pace. As was Oisin in his limited cameo. I'd suggest that the 15 that played today are the best 15 at the minute.

Thought TK did well when he came in but I think with the exception of Ross McQuillain, nobody put their hand up for a starting place. And even then, who do you drop?

Crealy had a very productive game in the middle, his best of the year. Would have liked to see Jarly Óg in there for 35 but obviously not moving as well in training as others.

All in all, I think having seen Derry and Dublin come from D2 last year and preform how they did in the AI series, we're in a better position than 12 months ago even though it was D1 ball then.

 

[portadownarmaghfan]

Their silence is deafening.

Sorry, what was that?

 

[Berfaboy77]

Well done Armagh, gr8 to get back the Div 1 for next season. On the night everyone played well, defence has been excellent all season &!Inthought some of our tackling was top drawer. Couple of brilliant dispossessions from Turbitt & Soupy caught the eye. On the night I thought McElroy, McCabe & Turbitt were our star performers. Also thought Kelly & McQuillan make a huge difference when they came on. We definitely have much more strength in depth. I really like the look of our forward unit at the minute. Looking forward to a day out in Croker now !

 

[gael_force_orchard]

First of all congrats to Armagh, there's not a supporter in the county that doesn't want the best for the team. Promoted with a game to spare and job done.

I will be honest though, and this isn't a criticism of Armagh, I was expecting a lot higher of a standard in Division 2 this year. Cavan, Meath, Fermanagh, Kildare all put to the sword fairly easily, albeit Meath put up a small bit of a fight in the first half. Louth we beat though we were clearly undercooked and showed huge grit and determination. Donegal was just a bit of shadow boxing with neither side really too bothered.

A meaningless game now against cork. We are promoted and they are safe, so I don't think there will be any huge intensity in it. Then a final against Donegal. I'd like to see us win the final, I think the league silverware if we can now win it, will give a bit of a boost and we can then focus on group stages of All Ireland. I'd not be concerned about an Ulster title this year as we are in the groups already via the league and we seen how teams in provincial finals were a bit sluggish last year. So the main objective has to be all Ireland groups after the league final.

Well done all. Building blocks in place, can't ask for any more than that.

 

[Armaghball]

First of all congrats to Armagh, there's not a supporter in the county that doesn't want the best for the team. Promoted with a game to spare and job done.

I will be honest though, and this isn't a criticism of Armagh, I was expecting a lot higher of a standard in Division 2 this year. Cavan, Meath, Fermanagh, Kildare all put to the sword fairly easily, albeit Meath put up a small bit of a fight in the first half. Louth we beat though we were clearly undercooked and showed huge grit and determination. Donegal was just a bit of shadow boxing with neither side really too bothered.

A meaningless game now against cork. We are promoted and they are safe, so I don't think there will be any huge intensity in it. Then a final against Donegal. I'd like to see us win the final, I think the league silverware if we can now win it, will give a bit of a boost and we can then focus on group stages of All Ireland. I'd not be concerned about an Ulster title this year as we are in the groups already via the league and we seen how teams in provincial finals were a bit sluggish last year. So the main objective has to be all Ireland groups after the league final.

Well done all. Building blocks in place, can't ask for any more than that.

Agree except for the Ulster title bit. Not much point playing football if you don’t want to win things and we aren’t at a level yet where we’ve a squad with loads of medals in the bank who can afford to turn their nose up at a provincial.

It would be an absolute disaster for us to lose to Fermanagh, Antrim or Down and when we’re in a final we’ve an at least a 50/50 chance against any of the others.

 

[PatMustard]

Sorry, what was that?

Speak up, I can’t hear you.

 

[Naka]

Thought we have been excellent this year save for the Louth game .
Genuinely think there has been an attempt to play on the front foot and move the ball forward at pace which is reaping rewards .
Subs bench last night was seriously strong given the injuries we also had.
For me it’s a pleasant surprise when one is debating who you would drop for Rian and genuinely struggling to come up with a name.
Credit to management now let’s win the Ulster .

 

[Armaghball]

Thought we have been excellent this year save for the Louth game .
Genuinely think there has been an attempt to play on the front foot and move the ball forward at pace which is reaping rewards .
Subs bench last night was seriously strong given the injuries we also had.
For me it’s a pleasant surprise when one is debating who you would drop for Rian and genuinely struggling to come up with a name.
Credit to management now let’s win the Ulster .

Yeah hard to say who loses their place- Conor O’Neill and Mackin obviously dropped out yesterday presume through injury.

 

[Peter grimes]

We have played a very settled team throughout the league. For the second year in a row we have a very kind championship draw.

I can’t see us taking too many risks in the championship so the cork match is the opportunity to give a few boys a run out. Higgins is the obvious deputy for McKay and he has had very little opportunity so I would give him a chance next week. The O’Neill bros, Duffy and Nugent could all do with a start. Boys like McCabe and Forker could do with a rest so maybe McQuillan could step in there.

We are straight through to the group stages, we shouldn’t have to extend ourselves very far to reach an Ulster final. The second Donegal match has the significance of silverware but also is a genuine test, with hopefully a big match atmosphere. I am not getting too carried away with our march through a poor Division 2. Donegal, the Ulster final and the all Ireland series are the real challenges. We have done what has been asked of us thus far. Time to go that bit further.

The cork game is there to be used for our own purposes. It’s not about the result.

 

[POINTMAN]

Some people above not worried about winning an Ulster title?
Are you mad? Other than the All Ireland, this would be biggest trophy we could win!

Go win Ulster - then see how far we can go in the All Ireland. We have a very strong squad and lots of players who can come in and keep the team at the level we need, so let's go for it.

 

[Armaghball]

Some people above not worried about winning an Ulster title?
Are you mad? Other than the All Ireland, this would be biggest trophy we could win!

Go win Ulster - then see how far we can go in the All Ireland. We have a very strong squad and lots of players who can come in and keep the team at the level we need, so let's go for it.

Yeah could see through it if we’d won 7 or 8 Ulster in the last decade and were at a level of wanting to stay fresh for the all ireland- but we’ve the nicest draw we could have wished for in Ulster and once in a final it’s there to be won.

 

[Armaghball]

Will the Cork game be on gaa go or anything? Bit of a spin for a dead rubber.

 

[Armaghball]

Blaine

McGrane
Higgins
Shields

McQuillan
McCambridge
Jarly Og

Grimley
McPartlan

Jemar
Rian
Duffy

Nugent
O O’Neill
McConville.


Won’t happen but would like to see a team like that start the next day- give the older lads a rest and keep them fresh for the bigger days plus get gametime into the Cullyhanna men and O’Neills and few others who haven’t played much.

 

[Muckser]

Would be no harm try another keeper as Magill could use experience.

I would imagine a mixed team over the 2 weeks.

Its hard to know how serious Donegal or us would take either game. The job was promotion the trophy doesn't matter. Will we risk injury etc its just about fitness now but momentum could come into it who knows.....

 

[Armaghniac]

When you see a team like the proposed above, which has some very effective players, it is clear that we have good panel depth. This may be important as the season goes on.

 

[Armaghball]

I’d say we’ll go full strength or close to it in croker.

Wouldn’t be against Magill getting a game in Cork either.

 

[Armagh_paul]

Will the Cork game be on gaa go or anything? Bit of a spin for a dead rubber.

Do teams not have to play for finishing spots to determine their involvement in AI? Unless they get to a provincial final they could miss out on their position.

Cork have to play Kerry in a Semi-Final
Cavan I really do not see them making an Ulster final appearance.
Meath are already there so it frees another space.
Louth could potentially be in the final as they play Carlow/Wexford win that and they get either Kildare/Westmeath/Wicklow

 

[Armaghball]

Do teams not have to play for finishing spots to determine their involvement in AI?

Are they not more or less guaranteed? They can’t finish any less than 5th and Meath are already in Sam no matter what.

Dead rubber for us anyway.

 

[Armagh_paul]

Are they not more or less guaranteed? They can’t finish any less than 5th and Meath are already in Sam no matter what.

Dead rubber for us anyway.

After looking at it it probably doesn't matter as much - would need some unexpected results but it is possible someone in D2 could lose their place.

Nobody is going to want 6th place in D2.

But yeah, for us it means nothing. As much as I like Cork I would like to see us win, winning has to become a habit for us and hopefully Cork put it up to us, it could be a valuable lesson in closing out games.

The famous words of Patches O'Houlihan 7 time ADAAA All-Star and ADAA champion

 

[POINTMAN]

For comparison purposes - Derry have their first choice 15 playing against Mayo. Interesting to see how they play and how they get on.