NFL 2018

Rufus T Firefly

Rufus T Firefly

Well-Known Member
Good way to start off the league campaign yesterday with a comfortable win. Thought we made a very positive start, dominating around the middle and taking some excellent long range points with the aid of a strong breeze. Sligo seemed intent on using their full forward Pat Hughes but he was tightly marked by Aaron McKay who had a very good game. Indeed the whole defence was playing well at this stage of the game - tackling and covering that was both determined and disciplined. The one minor issue was Sligo's first point late in the half which was a free that was moved up into a scoring position because of back chat to the ref. That really annoys me.

With the score 10-2 at half time and Sligo with the breeze, I was concerned that shipping an early goal might make a game of it. However we got the opening goal, after great work by Mini McShane who used his speed to break the cover, with the ball being set up for Andrew Murnin to palm to the net. That score - despite coming early in the second half - essentially signaled the end of the match. We dominated for a period thereafter but began to get careless in our play and turned the ball over a number of times and indeed Sligo spurned a couple of good goal chances.

A good way to start the league but there will be clearly tougher obstacles ahead. Next week will be a case in point. However there seemed to be a positive vibe in the attitude of the team despite the number of players who have made themselves unavailable. That was really good to see.

Purely on the basis of what I saw yesterday, Sligo will struggle.
 
B

Ban95

New Member
Aaron McKay has to be one of the most exciting young prospects in Ulster
, hard to believe he came from Droimintee.
 
Ard Mhacha 13

Ard Mhacha 13

Well-Known Member
Good start to the League with a comfortable win against poor opposition, 2 points on the board & a score difference which may benefit us later in the competition.
I felt we were slow to start & thought Sligo were going to have some joy pumping high ball into their full forward, but thankfully we got a few frees scored by Rory which helped us settle into the game & then we started to take control. The midfield were excellent in the first half & we scored a couple of outstanding points from Stephen Sheridan & Ethan Rafferty.
It is rare for a team to be in control of a match from start to finish & we did lose our way slightly in the 2nd half, a few misplaced passes, the goal mouth scrambles, but they boys dealt with the pressure & kicked on again. One of the most pleasing aspects for me was that they did not ease off as the 2nd half continued, they continued to press & go for scores right to the final whistle despite the match having ended competitively early on.
It was nice to see us scoring the goals, we were creating goal chances in the McKenna Cup but were unable to put them away, thankfully we converted 2 yesterday.
Great to get a win at home, a boost to the morale & confidence of the team, but just like the supporters they will know there are tougher matches ahead & will be fully focused on Sunday.
For now though congratulations to Geezer, the management team & the entire squad on a well deserved win :)
 
Ogs lad

Ogs lad

Active Member
Bull - Ethan was through on goal and just had to pop it across to murnin for an open goal, chose to shoot and blasted over. We may have been 8-9 pts to the good at the time but taking a certain goal over personal glory should always be the no1 choice. A tighter game and that could have cost us. That aside he had a rip roaring game though
 
T

Tango

Active Member
Ogs lad said:
Silverbridge to armagh in 32mis allowing for the horrific potholes on the Newtown Rd.
Ladies was a game of two halves, excellent in the first, with the wind but poor against the wind. They cudnt get the ball out, and Tipp punished them. Good to see Kelly Mallon back playing though and she put a good shift in. Was two points in it at the end (2-12 to 2-10) but in reality armagh gifted maybe 1-3 in poor individual errors to allow Tipp to take the game.

Men's game was different fayre. Again we started with the wind and had racked up a 0-10 to 0-02 HT lead. Grugan was the main source of scores early on, with Rafferty and Forker also chipping in.
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Tipp are no bad side, went unbeaten last year and won the intermediate all Ireland, they’ve a few handy players but our ladies should of had the game wrapped up by half time. As you said a few individual errors caused us the game. Great to see Kelly back some of her passes into Aimee were second to none. She took some physical abuse from her marker don’t no how the umpires didn’t bring it to the attention of the ref. Tougher game next Saturday night away to Cavan.
 
PatMustard

PatMustard

Well-Known Member
MrMaguire2002 said:
Smart comments about Jamie Clarke are not needed. He did his county proud last year. It is a pity we are currently without him but he's the greatest talent this county has seen since Marsden.
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Thanks for that, Mrs Marsden.

It's only a bit of craic with JC. I don't think anyone begrudges him living his life how he sees fit. It doesn't mean we cant throw in the odd Latte joke now and again though, at his expense ;)
 
ragingbull

ragingbull

Well-Known Member
MrMaguire2002 said:
Smart comments about Jamie Clarke are not needed. He did his county proud last year. It is a pity we are currently without him but he's the greatest talent this county has seen since Marsden.
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your forgetting about McConville & McDonnell ?
 
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