McKenna Cup 2024

[Fuzzman]

Mackers at first I thought yeah Mickey was just being stubborn but when you think of it from the players point of view. Most of them want to make the county squad or starting team and they know its highly competitive. They are the ones busting their ass week in week out training like professional players these days so do you not think it should be there choice.
A young player like McAliskey got his chance last year in the McKenna cup and that ended up in getting more chances later in the summer. With the league so important now to stay in the top division young players know that if they get into Mickey's plans early in the year then they've some chance of proving to him they're worthy of playing in the league & hopefully championship.

Mickey is hard man to change his mind and so making a good first impression is important for most of these players. I would imagine if you asked players like McAliskey and McKenna to line out for their colleges they'd be none too happy as they'd be thinking they won't be getting on in league matches then later.

[mackers]

Fuzz, do you not think that exact same predicament is reflected in the other 31 counties in Ireland?  Why should Tyrone's situation be any different to any of the other counties in Ireland?
I think that MH's theory is, and he has gone on record as saying that, he's only in the McKenna Cup to win it.  The other managers only use the McKenna Cup to try out players and they use it as a set of challenge matches.  MH is quoted in today's Irish News complaining that different games in the same group have different throw in times. Does he really think that someone from Donegal will be sitting in Omagh radioing Jim McGuinness to let him know how many more points they need to score to qualify out of the group?
Tyrone posters will say that this sort of attitude has led him to a lot of success, fair enough, but his perspective on the McKenna Cup could actually end up ruining it. 
My view is that the other 8 inter county managers and the university managers have bought into a different spirit within the McKenna Cup.
For every player that would rather play for their county there is one that would rather play for their university.  I was talking to one guy who is on a county panel (not an established member by any means) and he was glad of the opportunity to play for his college as this was his last year there.  There have been numerous players quoted in the papers with the same attitude.  Leaving it up to the players would be very unfair to them.

[regal]

Armagh are 3/1 with the bookies tonight. If Kieran Toner is fit it would give armagh a big lift. I would be happy enough if Jamie Clarke spent the evening wrapped up somewhere warm (Sallys?) as it's hard to see the benefit in playing him?

[mackers]

Kieran Toner is reported not to be fit.  Jamie Clarke may need a game before the league, he hasn't played much football since last July.

[laceer]

Are armagh TV showing the match?

[omagh_gael]

Ty 2-05 Ar 0-02. Some things never change ;-)

2-09 to 0-04 ht

[Captain Obvious]

Bad night for Armagh, better to happen now than the league.

[JP]

Ah shite give us some sympathy and blow the whistle :/

[omagh_gael]

4-12 to 0-05

[Milltown Row2]

Ah shite give us some sympathy and blow the whistle :/

Kick them when they are down, Armagh if same position you'd be saying the same, some hammering though. Not missing too many

[JP]

Least the game offers definitive proof that playing 7 fowards with 2 attacking half backs does not work.

Just in case anybody doubted it.

[Aaron Boone]

I just checked Paddy Power live betting and Armagh were +24 on the handicap!

[omagh_gael]

FT Ty 5-16 Ar 0-07. Tyrone very wasteful in front of goal, something to work on before semi.

[BennyCake]

Fcuk sake! I'm emigrating.

[EC Unique]

Could never tire at hammering the apple munchers.