Armagh Club football & hurling

[Rufus T Firefly]

I don't think there was an awareness around the County of how potent Rangers were going to be prior to the knockout stages of the Senior Championship. They finished the group match against Madden holding on by their finger nails as Madden came looking an equalizer, having just beaten Silverbridge by a point. This was coming on the back of their absence from the County Finals of 2016 and 2017.

When they beat us by ten points in the quarter-final, many were keen to emphasise how inept our display was (and it was) but having watched their fire power up front that night, I was sure they were going to take the title. As BC has pointed out, they have a relatively young team who will take great confidence from that victory.

For us, this season never ever got going. We had a few long term injuries to key players and a number of other important players lost form. Furthermore, our commitment to the County in terms of personnel meant that we could never get a settled team that would have resembled our Championship 15. However ultimately, the main issue for me was that our Championship success of last year sated the collective appetite and that showed in many performances throughout the year. There was not the raw hunger there. If we are to mount a serious challenge in 2019, there is no doubt that key to that will be the attitude of the players and how much they want to get back to the top.   

[David McKeown]

I don't think there was an awareness around the County of how potent Rangers were going to be prior to the knockout stages of the Senior Championship. They finished the group match against Madden holding on by their finger nails as Madden came looking an equalizer, having just beaten Silverbridge by a point. This was coming on the back of their absence from the County Finals of 2016 and 2017.

When they beat us by ten points in the quarter-final, many were keen to emphasise how inept our display was (and it was) but having watched their fire power up front that night, I was sure they were going to take the title. As BC has pointed out, they have a relatively young team who will take great confidence from that victory.

For us, this season never ever got going. We had a few long term injuries to key players and a number of other important players lost form. Furthermore, our commitment to the County in terms of personnel meant that we could never get a settled team that would have resembled our Championship 15. However ultimately, the main issue for me was that our Championship success of last year sated the collective appetite and that showed in many performances throughout the year. There was not the raw hunger there. If we are to mount a serious challenge in 2019, there is no doubt that key to that will be the attitude of the players and how much they want to get back to the top.   

Rufus

I spoke to a few men who would have been involved with the Harps over the years and would be at most matches and the general consensus from them was that the team was suffering a bit from same voice syndrome. Don't know if the players felt that way mind but anytime I saw the Harps this year they struck me as a team more or less going through the motions. Do you think either a change of management or a change of approach would be necessary for next year?

[Rufus T Firefly]

Rufus I spoke to a few men who would have been involved with the Harps over the years and would be at most matches and the general consensus from them was that the team was suffering a bit from same voice syndrome. Don't know if the players felt that way mind but anytime I saw the Harps this year they struck me as a team more or less going through the motions. Do you think either a change of management or a change of approach would be necessary for next year?

Yes, I think there would be an argument for freshening things up, definitely.

[armaghniac]

Although I would agree that Cross hold the aces at the minute I still feel that next season any of Cullyhanna, Ballymacnab , Harps or Maghery could beat them. Maghery had major injuries this year. I was disappointed in Cullyhanna but in Nugent, Duffy and McQuillan, among others, they have some very good players. Nab are short on depth and would be disappointed in this season. Harps had a bad year but have good players and did get to minor final this year so will have others coming through. They might need a change in direction though either through new management or a shake up in tactics. My big hope is that teams go our believing they can win rather than throwing the towel in as they did in the past.

My only observation is that if Clarke does return, and that is never certain, then such a good additional player could turn Rangers from a team others might beat on a good day into one that was very hard to beat.

[brokencrossbar1]

Although I would agree that Cross hold the aces at the minute I still feel that next season any of Cullyhanna, Ballymacnab , Harps or Maghery could beat them. Maghery had major injuries this year. I was disappointed in Cullyhanna but in Nugent, Duffy and McQuillan, among others, they have some very good players. Nab are short on depth and would be disappointed in this season. Harps had a bad year but have good players and did get to minor final this year so will have others coming through. They might need a change in direction though either through new management or a shake up in tactics. My big hope is that teams go our believing they can win rather than throwing the towel in as they did in the past.

My only observation is that if Clarke does return, and that is never certain, then such a good additional player could turn Rangers from a team others might beat on a good day into one that was very hard to beat.

His transfer back has been complete so he will be playing for us next season

[yellowcard]

I think it's a little bit premature to be speculating about another period of Cross dominance just yet although it is easy to make a case for it alright. The reality is that they are heavily dependent on the 2 O'Neills and would not have won a championship without either. They have weaknesses in their full back line and the jury is still out on the new keeper.

That said, they obviously have a good production line of talent coming through and if they can add Clarke and Cian McConville into that full forward line I can't see anyone beating them next year.

As others have suggested, Cullyhanna would be the next best in terms of talent but they have been nearly men for too long now and may have missed their best chance this year. Maghery are an ageing side and Clann Eireann are typical of a town team who struggle to keep their players as they move out of the underage system. Below the top 4/5 teams there is not a great deal of depth in Armagh club football.

[BIGONE]

Maghery on the hunt for new management I hear?

[rory]

Have Armagh changed their age groups for this year?  U14 is now U14.5 etc.  Heard that and was wondering if it is coming in.  Does it mean U16 is U16.5 and Minor is U18.5?

[brokencrossbar1]

Have Armagh changed their age groups for this year?  U14 is now U14.5 etc.  Heard that and was wondering if it is coming in.  Does it mean U16 is U16.5 and Minor is U18.5?

That's correct Rory. Seems to be following the school years now the way it is up to U12

[rory]

Have Armagh changed their age groups for this year?  U14 is now U14.5 etc.  Heard that and was wondering if it is coming in.  Does it mean U16 is U16.5 and Minor is U18.5?

That's correct Rory. Seems to be following the school years now the way it is up to U12

Personally, I think this is the best way to go.  Fellas get to play with their school year all the way up instead of being split every other year from their peer group and it means that Minors have that extra half year to play at that level (instead of old 7th years having to play adult football)

Although, how does this fit in with the current Croke Park thinking that U17 should be Minor.  Armagh are basically going in the opposite direction.  I've never been a fan of the U17 thing.  I look at some lads who would be moving in to adult football after U17 and think they'll be lost as they haven't matured physically to deal with it and will probably quit.  I know counties are meant to have U20 leagues to keep these kind of boys going, but I can't see those leagues working as a lot of clubs will have 18, 19 and 20 year olds playing for their adult teams and the U20 teams would struggle for numbers. 

Think this is a great decision by Armagh.

[Harold Disgracey]

Waiting on confirmation from Croke Park that they approve the changes, hopefully it'll be given this weekend. As someone whose birthday is on 31st December these changes are long overdue!

[armaghniac]

Waiting on confirmation from Croke Park that they approve the changes, hopefully it'll be given this weekend. As someone whose birthday is on 31st December these changes are long overdue!

You'll still be overage though!

[brokencrossbar1]

Waiting on confirmation from Croke Park that they approve the changes, hopefully it'll be given this weekend. As someone whose birthday is on 31st December these changes are long overdue!

You'll still be overage though!

My brother was born on the 1st January!  He was a big hallion as well so it was great for him to be able to push the smaller kids around

Have Armagh changed their age groups for this year?  U14 is now U14.5 etc.  Heard that and was wondering if it is coming in.  Does it mean U16 is U16.5 and Minor is U18.5?

That's correct Rory. Seems to be following the school years now the way it is up to U12

Personally, I think this is the best way to go.  Fellas get to play with their school year all the way up instead of being split every other year from their peer group and it means that Minors have that extra half year to play at that level (instead of old 7th years having to play adult football)

Although, how does this fit in with the current Croke Park thinking that U17 should be Minor.  Armagh are basically going in the opposite direction.  I've never been a fan of the U17 thing.  I look at some lads who would be moving in to adult football after U17 and think they'll be lost as they haven't matured physically to deal with it and will probably quit.  I know counties are meant to have U20 leagues to keep these kind of boys going, but I can't see those leagues working as a lot of clubs will have 18, 19 and 20 year olds playing for their adult teams and the U20 teams would struggle for numbers. 

Think this is a great decision by Armagh.

While i agree with you in this the difficulty I see is that once the teams go out of Armagh then they lose players.  For instance, the Cross minor team that won this years will only lose 1 player from that team for next years Armagh championship.  If they won the county though they would lose a further 3-4 players for the St Pauls competition.  The same will happen with teams that win at u16 and the McGirr tournament.

[Jimmy]

I think Tyrone tried to go the under 14/16/18 and a half a while back and it was turned down by Croke Park. The rule book defines the year from the 1st January and they weren't allowed to go against it. Rule 6.17 if anyone is that interested.

[Harold Disgracey]

Some good news, the motion was approved.