What Next? What Will Constitute Success in 2022?

[Diarmi]

The dust has settled a bit on the scenes from Saturday. The hurt is starting to diminish so inevitably one starts to look to next year. So;
Does the current management setup stay? Are we likely to see any retirees? Are there any players out there that should be tried? What will constitute success in 2022? Is staying in Division 1 enough or should we be aiming to be in the shake up at the latter stages? Is an Ulster final appearance enough or do we now need a victory? If there are Super 8s, is not getting there a failure? Where are we in the rankings, country wise?

 

[Armaghball]

Staying in Division 1 is a must. I’m not going to say an Ulster win or a final is a must because we could draw Tyrone or Donegal in the first round and go out by a point in an epic game. Getting close to those 2 if we did meet though is a must as is tightening up at the back, obviously. Draw dependent I’d like to think we’ll be in the AIQF/super 8’s or whatever concoction they dream up next.

 

[gael_force_orchard]

I honestly feel that the club structure is now slightly hindering armagh football. I could be wrong on this, and ive no idea what is happening in other counties, but my own club played 6 games last year and a championship game. So 7 games in senior club football. This year we will play only 8 league games and see what happens in championship. So there hasnt bwwn enough club football played for county players to get game time, or for club players to stake a claim for county. As I mentioned, its likely the same situation in all counties, though after this year the club scene and number of games needs looked at again.

The schools game is something else that needs looked at, St Pats Armagh got to 2 Mac Rory semi finals a few years back, but that was against the norm and its years since they done anything at schools level. St Ronans had a decent run but again against the norm of what armagh schools normally achieve. I think that 2, 3 or 4 full time schools coaches are needed for the armagh schools to start sowing the seeds correctly at underage level. I know that a number of schools potentially cover both armagh and down counties, and st ronans have a fair contingent from Antrim, an off the cuff suggestion maybe for Armagh, Antrim and Down to pitch together for 4 full time coaches to specifically target the large Macrory teams of St Pats, St Ronans, the Abbey (think a few armagh lads in there) Bessbrook etc. I dont even know if thats feasible or if armagh could afford a fulltime coach to target St Pats, St Ronans and Bessbrook. Either way, we are really missing a trick here.

Moving forward, and as harsh as it sounds, a decision on management should be taken as soon as possible so the existing management team or a new team can take in as much football as they need or want to in the remainder of this season.

I will finish on this, i think success for this team is maintaining division 1 status next season. Who knows what way the draw for championship goes, ulster is a minefield, and 12 months is a long time in football. Apologies this turned into a long winded musing

 

[JoeH]

Staying in div 1
Good ulster run + backdoor
Blood more 1st team players

Our club scene is a mess a underage and needs sorting. Too many teams playing in some divisions
Club scene is good at adult level

We do need more but in to development squads and a real link between minor and u20 at inter County level

We need to learn to coach in our underage leagues and win at championship

 

[Peter grimes]

If a successful county team is what you are after then the adult club game is far from the top of the list of factors you have to get right.

Put it this way, if an unheralded player shone in the club game could they step directly into the inter county game? It would be a rare occurrence in my opinion. More likely that player could be brought into the training panel and after a minimum of a year and probably longer of county training they could be blooded. That is the difference between club and county.

County teams are largely made up of players who have have come through the county age group set up and play very little club football.

Maximising success at the county level is a question of the underage production line of talent and the coaching/conditioning set up in and around the county panel. These are the things that have to be got right.

Clubs play an important role but (as regards the senior county team) it’s chiefly in the underage coaching and development. If we are unhappy with the quality of coaching then that should be a focus.

After that it’s over to the coaching team to the coaching team.

There should be a review of the manager and his set up every year.

From the outside it’s very difficult to say which member of the coaching team contributes what and how good they are at it. Suffice to say that defensive issues need addressing. For those who think our defenders are not up to snuff I would add that the conditioning of the existing players might be something to look at if we conclude that there isn’t another set of better defenders waiting in the wings.

 

[gael_force_orchard]

If a successful county team is what you are after then the adult club game is far from the top of the list of factors you have to get right.

Put it this way, if an unheralded player shone in the club game could they step directly into the inter county game? It would be a rare occurrence in my opinion. More likely that player could be brought into the training panel and after a minimum of a year and probably longer of county training they could be blooded. That is the difference between club and county.

County teams are largely made up of players who have have come through the county age group set up and play very little club football.

Maximising success at the county level is a question of the underage production line of talent and the coaching/conditioning set up in and around the county panel. These are the things that have to be got right.

Clubs play an important role but (as regards the senior county team) it’s chiefly in the underage coaching and development. If we are unhappy with the quality of coaching then that should be a focus.

After that it’s over to the coaching team to the coaching team.

There should be a review of the manager and his set up every year.

From the outside it’s very difficult to say which member of the coaching team contributes what and how good they are at it. Suffice to say that defensive issues need addressing. For those who think our defenders are not up to snuff I would add that the conditioning of the existing players might be something to look at if we conclude that there isn’t another set of better defenders waiting in the wings.

Whilst I agree with some of what you are saying, I feel it overlooks the late developing player, or a player that has maybe been overlooked at u20 or u17 level. The point on conditioning is extremely valid. I would also argue that the stronger the club scene in any county the more likely it makes a smooth transition to county level, again though, the seeds need sown at underage level and coaching as the players we have now at club level, are mainly the players we will have for the next few years.

 

[Peter grimes]

The late developing player is always welcome but do the account for more than 10% of players? If not would you base your set up on them?

 

[Savo01]

Our Minor and U-20 set up seems to be in a mess. 2009 since we last won an Ulster Minor, 2014 since we were last in a Final. I was at the Donegal game this year and geez the conditions were poor but our shooting was woeful. Some of "Star's" money should have been spent on him doing shooting drills with them. As for U-20, 2007 since we won a Final and 2018 since we were last in one. That's 2 underage finals in 12 years, not good enough.

 

[Throwball]

Our Minor and U-20 set up seems to be in a mess. 2009 since we last won an Ulster Minor, 2014 since we were last in a Final. I was at the Donegal game this year and geez the conditions were poor but our shooting was woeful. Some of "Star's" money should have been spent on him doing shooting drills with them. As for U-20, 2007 since we won a Final and 2018 since we were last in one. That's 2 underage finals in 12 years, not good enough.

To be fair the under 17 management was only appointed a few months before championship

 

[Pete Mcgrath]

I am free, you will need to get me before kildare do !!