Great to get a win against that shower and especially since we hadn’t won in Newry for years. Typical Armagh though never do anything the easy way.
I’ll start with the positives, Rian O’Neill is a serious serious footballer, I’d rate him as our most valuable player already at age 20, a class act. Murnin is going to be some asset if he can stay fit and between those two and Jamie, they’re an inside 3 any county would be glad to have. Jarly Og was very good for a lad making his championship debut although he needs to stop carrying the ball into contact and going down because not every ref is a clueless as that plank today and he won’t always get frees. Aidan Nugent and Kennedy were both impressive as well today and kicked a few nice scores. Soupy did well when he came on as well and thought Shields was very good and should have started. Crealy also deserves a mention won us a few balls when he came on.
As has been said, scoring 2-17 against a packed defence is no mean feat so credit where it’s due, but at the same time conceding so much against a poor side playing with 14 men for half the game is alarming.
I’m not one of the huge McGeeney bashers, but definitely will criticise where I think it’s justified and today there was a lot to be criticised about some tactics and selection today.
Morgan and Shields both definitely should have started, Vernon is a great servant to Armagh but I just don’t see a place for him anymore on the team. Too many of our big name players where anonymous today, Jamie was his classy self at times but was too quiet for long periods as well, Rafferty had a poor game and Grugan had an absolute stinker and should have been taken off far earlier, completely not his day, but both those lads are superb footballers and will be crucial to how far we go this year. Paul Hughes on Johnston was a wrong decision as well imo, he seemed to be too far off him a lot.
Our kickouts where awful today as well, Blaine has been very good for us consistently since coming in, but definitely had an off day today and should have done better for the goals. Don’t know why Murnin wasn’t on in normal time but he’s a nailed on starter for me the next day.
Plenty of positives and plenty to improve on if we want to beat Cavan, well done to all involved a nerve wracking but enjoyable game today.
My team to face Cavan would be
Hughes
Morgan
McKay
Hughes
Shields
Donaghy
Forker
Grimley
Burns
Grugan
Rafferty
Soupy
Jamie
O’Neill
Murnin.
Let the ball into those 3 early and no defence in the country could stand up to that. Harsh on Hall and Nugent not to be starting but those 3 forwards all have the ability to play inside or on the 45 and are all sharp shooters when on form, Oisin O’Neill won’t be far away either.