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