MrMaguire2002
Well-Known Member
Yes round 4 is always neutral I think. Corrected.
In any case we have a very low percentage of home games. In both Ulster and Qualifiers.
To beat Monaghan and Mayo both away would a major statement.
Qualifiers 2019
- Thread starter niall1980
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In any case we have a very low percentage of home games. In both Ulster and Qualifiers.
To beat Monaghan and Mayo both away would a major statement.
armaghtimmy
Well-Known Member
Apart from Tyrone away, that's the toughest draw we could have been given. The fact that it was Sean Cavanagh who picked us out of the hat makes it worse somehow!
Mayo, like Monaghan in some ways are a team that have been on the road for a long time, relying on the same players to get them over the line time after time. They've shown signs that they are on a downward slide, but still have quality players all over the field. They have outstanding defenders in their fullback line in Chris Barret, Brendan Harrison and Keith Higgins. However they've shown that they can be got at and Down created a lot of goal chances against them. Lee Keegan, Patrick Durcan and Colm Boyle make a serious impact from half back, especially Keegan Durcan, who can kick two or three points a game. Aidan O'Shea is a powerhouse at midfield, but thankfully Matthew Ruane is out, as he's looked brilliant at midfield. However, Diarmuid O’Connor is playing there now and he's top class. Conor Loftus and Fionn McDonagh are fresh blood and were meant to have had a big games against Down. Jason Doherty, Kevin McLoughlin and Andy Moran make up some serious firepower up front.
I can't say that I'm confident about this one. Mayo at home, with Armagh coming to town, will be really fired up. Defensively we'll be really up against it, as they have score threats from all over the field. I've no doubt that we can match them in a lot of areas, I just worry, that defensively we've looked a bit at sea at times, and coming up against the National League champions, who've been in several All Ireland Finals over the last number of years, maybe a step too far for us this time. We'll have to get our match ups right and get stuck into them from the very off, like Roscommon did, who got into their heads and disrupted their play.
I don't think Chris Barrett or Harrison are outstanding at all, would fancy Jamie and Rian against either of them. The half back line is however a serious threat and our half forward line will have to put a serious shift in. Moran and Mc Loughlins best days are behind them, will still take watching but I believe we have defenders capable. If Down can get at them so can we, make no mistake nobody would have wanted to draw us after the Monaghan performance so lets go there confident and as equals, its 15 v 15. Bookies have the early handicap for the match at 3 points which is fair enough, underdogs tag will suit us
Patrick-Armagh
Well-Known Member
He, Jarlath Óg Burns, Jamie Brennan (and some of the other young Donegal players) and Cathal McShane would probably be the stand out candidates from Ulster. Tom O'Sullivan from Kerry would be another name in the mix. Unreal players. Although I'm not sure at what point you stop being qualified for Young Player of The Year? Is there an age range? Or is based on how many years you've been playing senior count football? So if you were 19 when you break into the senior side, could you win the award a few years later when you are 21?
Big Jim
Well-Known Member
Good job. Was only half watching to be fair. Thanks for the clarification
Ard Mhacha 13
Well-Known Member
13th March 2011.
Big Jim
Well-Known Member
Just watched yesterday's game. Ok well most of it. Alright about 30 minutes if truth be told.
My major observation apart from the boredom was how often now players are using the head injury to stop or disrupt a game.
Look don't get me wrong, I'm fully behind player protection and head injuries are nothing to belittle, but in the name of sweet holy lord (and all those other daft things we say so it is) a player gets dispossessed and a tap on the ankle and down they go clutching their head to stop the flow of the game and the opponent attacking. Jesus the black card was introduced because of cynicism, but this has gotten extreme. If action isn't taken soon it's gonna take over the game completely. I know everyone is afraid to speak out because it'll be controversial, but either I'm awakening or it really is getting more obvious. It's just something I've noticed lately and actually watched the ref fall for it maybe a dozen times or more in yesterday's game and as I said at the start I only watched less than half the game.
If a player goes down holding their head and as clearly happened a number of times yesterday, they get their leg or ankle attended to. it should be a yellow card for deliberately disrupting play or a black card for cynical play acting. I'd even be in favour of retrospective punishment if it's caught on camera and not dealt with properly at the time by the ref.
When I look at the tackles that Jamie or Jamar for example take without going down and don't get as much as a free in their favour the majority of the time and then look at these, it's really embarrassing. That's not to say our lads don't do it, but that's alright so it is!
My major observation apart from the boredom was how often now players are using the head injury to stop or disrupt a game.
Look don't get me wrong, I'm fully behind player protection and head injuries are nothing to belittle, but in the name of sweet holy lord (and all those other daft things we say so it is) a player gets dispossessed and a tap on the ankle and down they go clutching their head to stop the flow of the game and the opponent attacking. Jesus the black card was introduced because of cynicism, but this has gotten extreme. If action isn't taken soon it's gonna take over the game completely. I know everyone is afraid to speak out because it'll be controversial, but either I'm awakening or it really is getting more obvious. It's just something I've noticed lately and actually watched the ref fall for it maybe a dozen times or more in yesterday's game and as I said at the start I only watched less than half the game.
If a player goes down holding their head and as clearly happened a number of times yesterday, they get their leg or ankle attended to. it should be a yellow card for deliberately disrupting play or a black card for cynical play acting. I'd even be in favour of retrospective punishment if it's caught on camera and not dealt with properly at the time by the ref.
When I look at the tackles that Jamie or Jamar for example take without going down and don't get as much as a free in their favour the majority of the time and then look at these, it's really embarrassing. That's not to say our lads don't do it, but that's alright so it is!
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
@Big Jim yeah that head injury thing is frustrating , so it is.
Subsequent punishment maybe, but teams know you have to stop in event of head injuries, so nothing you can do at the time. It is effective, stops momentum, gives team a breather etc.
Although that is better than players grabbing opponents up from the ground by the shirts, because they think they’re faking injury. Now, that’s something I feel very strong about. In no circumstances should that happen. That could lead to serious injury.
Subsequent punishment maybe, but teams know you have to stop in event of head injuries, so nothing you can do at the time. It is effective, stops momentum, gives team a breather etc.
Although that is better than players grabbing opponents up from the ground by the shirts, because they think they’re faking injury. Now, that’s something I feel very strong about. In no circumstances should that happen. That could lead to serious injury.
Big Jim
Well-Known Member
Absolutely with you on the last bit too and it's not something I'd like seen taken lightly, but it's more those cases where they hold their head and the ref stops the game. Then they get a sponge to the knee or ankle etc. That's when the ref SHOULD step in and issue a card, simply because it's now obvious they didn't have a head injury.
I'm no doctor and I'm sure most refs and officials aren't either, but if a linesman/umpire have clearly seen that someone was maybe tripped, it should be imperative that it is reported and if they then have their leg etc looked at and the medic also does a "nudge nudge, wink wink, let me check your vision" test there must be consequences. It's clearly cheating. We must have action taken when there is a clear high or head level tackle, but we must also then be aware that cheats will use this. As you say "teams know you have to stop in event of head injuries" and this is why it's now deployed, but I fear it'll become like the boy who cried wolf.
Because it's "normal" the ref will let play continue in a genuine case until the next foul because "Ryan 'Ricey' McMenamin" is always at that!! Some innocent player that is genuinely hurt and then there'll be a knee jerk. Because it's becoming more frequent, now is the time to let players know it has been spotted and and is being monitored.
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
It’s going to be very hard to police all incidents though. Even if we had VAR, we can’t be stopping play to see if a player really did get a knock on his head, as that will delay the play too.
Having a stop clock is probably the nearest you’ll get to fairness. Anytime there’s a stoppage, time stopped. So at least the exact 70 minutes are played.
Having a stop clock is probably the nearest you’ll get to fairness. Anytime there’s a stoppage, time stopped. So at least the exact 70 minutes are played.
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
Big Jim
Well-Known Member
Hmmmm! Yeah that's possible, but then no-one thought the cynical dragging down would be dealt with. Now where is my mate Joe's number? Either that or we're all gonna have to turn to the sniper beside us and tell them to "put that bloody thing away!!" Ah the good auld days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ard Mhacha 13
Well-Known Member
His Uncle did the cupping the ear thing after a goal, it didn't seem to affect his performances/career.
Personally I have no issue with how he celebrates, I'm just hoping he has lots to celebrate.
sweetleftfoot
Member
I agree. The lads only a cub and enjoying his football. Lads work very hard in training (and from what i hear after a conversation with a former cross manager that nobody works as hard as Rian in training) and they deserve to celebrate how they want. As stated above lets hope we see his celebrations in Castlebar Saturday night.
MrMaguire2002
Well-Known Member
He's a young lad at 20 years of age enjoying himself and enjoying playing for his county.
Heaven forbid.
armaghtimmy
Well-Known Member
Those Mayo ones have infiltrated the other thread god damit. Such a shame that Clarke, ONeill, Burns, Forker, Shields and Donaghy all got injured last night at training and will miss this weekend 
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
Those Mayo ones have infiltrated the other thread god damit. Such a shame that Clarke, ONeill, Burns, Forker, Shields and Donaghy all got injured last night at training and will miss this weekend
I heard 20 players have walked... literally. McGeeney wouldn’t give them a can of Coke and a bag of Tayto on the bus home, so they got off and walked from Middletown.
(Luckily these Mayo boys don’t know about the brackets thing, so they don’t know I was lying me hole off there!
)