Yawn

[ONeill]

I watched it back tonight. Although Galway were slightly the better side, Armagh deserved to win it because they took slightly higher risks when kicking it in.

I know they thought the Mark would help that but it hasn't.

There has to be something about not passing it back when you go over the opposition's 40?

But that might lead to worse congestion.

The only time the crowd made a noise in the first half was when a ball was lumped in.

By what metric do you feel Galway were the better side?  I watched it again this evening and perhaps it's the knowing of the result but I felt Armagh completely controlled the game.

I suppose it's how you see the game, and knowing the result does change things.

Galway had more possession, more scores, more wides, 5 dropped short as opposed to Armagh's none. They just had more everything but didn't take their chances. Two wides by Walsh you'd rarely see. Comer wide.

But you can look at it the other way. Armagh allowed all those and gambled that the lads marking space would break when they get possession and make Galway pay. And they did with 100% accuracy. So I can see why you say Armagh totally controlled the game...without having the ball. That's fair enough.

[David McKeown]

I watched it back tonight. Although Galway were slightly the better side, Armagh deserved to win it because they took slightly higher risks when kicking it in.

I know they thought the Mark would help that but it hasn't.

There has to be something about not passing it back when you go over the opposition's 40?

But that might lead to worse congestion.

The only time the crowd made a noise in the first half was when a ball was lumped in.

By what metric do you feel Galway were the better side?  I watched it again this evening and perhaps it's the knowing of the result but I felt Armagh completely controlled the game.

I suppose it's how you see the game, and knowing the result does change things.

Galway had more possession, more scores, more wides, 5 dropped short as opposed to Armagh's none. They just had more everything but didn't take their chances. Two wides by Walsh you'd rarely see. Comer wide.

But you can look at it the other way. Armagh allowed all those and gambled that the lads marking space would break when they get possession and make Galway pay. And they did with 100% accuracy. So I can see why you say Armagh totally controlled the game...without having the ball. That's fair enough.

Fair enough I was genuinely interested in the different perspective I wasn't having a go.

As you say I thought Armagh largely controlled the match by allowing them the ball in areas where scoring would be difficult. There were, for me at least far fewer instances of me thinking Galway should have scored there than there were of me thinking that's a fabulous point that you wouldn't be expected to make. If anything I thought Armagh missed more better chances but it's all opinion

[Cavan19]

For those of ye into betting....
The 2025 AI odds


https://www.paddypower.com/gaelic-games/all-ireland-football

The bad news is a lot of teams will be looking at the Armagh template of everyone inside your half when defending.
The good news is everyone will be looking at the Galway template of passing the ball across and back and thinking we need to come up with something different.

Is that not what is going on with a lot of teams at the moment anyway?

[Armagh18]

For those of ye into betting....
The 2025 AI odds


https://www.paddypower.com/gaelic-games/all-ireland-football

The bad news is a lot of teams will be looking at the Armagh template of everyone inside your half when defending.
The good news is everyone will be looking at the Galway template of passing the ball across and back and thinking we need to come up with something different.

Is that not what is going on with a lot of teams at the moment anyway?

Every team in the country does it.

[ONeill]

I watched it back tonight. Although Galway were slightly the better side, Armagh deserved to win it because they took slightly higher risks when kicking it in.

I know they thought the Mark would help that but it hasn't.

There has to be something about not passing it back when you go over the opposition's 40?

But that might lead to worse congestion.

The only time the crowd made a noise in the first half was when a ball was lumped in.

By what metric do you feel Galway were the better side?  I watched it again this evening and perhaps it's the knowing of the result but I felt Armagh completely controlled the game.

I suppose it's how you see the game, and knowing the result does change things.

Galway had more possession, more scores, more wides, 5 dropped short as opposed to Armagh's none. They just had more everything but didn't take their chances. Two wides by Walsh you'd rarely see. Comer wide.

But you can look at it the other way. Armagh allowed all those and gambled that the lads marking space would break when they get possession and make Galway pay. And they did with 100% accuracy. So I can see why you say Armagh totally controlled the game...without having the ball. That's fair enough.

Fair enough I was genuinely interested in the different perspective I wasn't having a go.

As you say I thought Armagh largely controlled the match by allowing them the ball in areas where scoring would be difficult. There were, for me at least far fewer instances of me thinking Galway should have scored there than there were of me thinking that's a fabulous point that you wouldn't be expected to make. If anything I thought Armagh missed more better chances but it's all opinion

Is it possible to believe that Armagh had to play that way because they simply couldn't get control of the ball around midfield?

Did Armagh set out to play like that, or were they forced into it because they couldnt get ball in hand?

I know Armagh did what they had to do but I thought Galway's kicking was the losing of it.

[Sportacus]

For those of ye into betting....
The 2025 AI odds


https://www.paddypower.com/gaelic-games/all-ireland-football

The bad news is a lot of teams will be looking at the Armagh template of everyone inside your half when defending.
The good news is everyone will be looking at the Galway template of passing the ball across and back and thinking we need to come up with something different.

Is that not what is going on with a lot of teams at the moment anyway?

Every team in the country does it.

A lot of the teams who will be disappointed with their season don't do it to the extent Armagh do.

[David McKeown]

I watched it back tonight. Although Galway were slightly the better side, Armagh deserved to win it because they took slightly higher risks when kicking it in.

I know they thought the Mark would help that but it hasn't.

There has to be something about not passing it back when you go over the opposition's 40?

But that might lead to worse congestion.

The only time the crowd made a noise in the first half was when a ball was lumped in.

By what metric do you feel Galway were the better side?  I watched it again this evening and perhaps it's the knowing of the result but I felt Armagh completely controlled the game.

I suppose it's how you see the game, and knowing the result does change things.

Galway had more possession, more scores, more wides, 5 dropped short as opposed to Armagh's none. They just had more everything but didn't take their chances. Two wides by Walsh you'd rarely see. Comer wide.

But you can look at it the other way. Armagh allowed all those and gambled that the lads marking space would break when they get possession and make Galway pay. And they did with 100% accuracy. So I can see why you say Armagh totally controlled the game...without having the ball. That's fair enough.

Fair enough I was genuinely interested in the different perspective I wasn't having a go.

As you say I thought Armagh largely controlled the match by allowing them the ball in areas where scoring would be difficult. There were, for me at least far fewer instances of me thinking Galway should have scored there than there were of me thinking that's a fabulous point that you wouldn't be expected to make. If anything I thought Armagh missed more better chances but it's all opinion

Is it possible to believe that Armagh had to play that way because they simply couldn't get control of the ball around midfield?

Did Armagh set out to play like that, or were they forced into it because they couldnt get ball in hand?

I know Armagh did what they had to do but I thought Galway's kicking was the losing of it.

All fair points. I don't agree with them but I can see where you are coming from.

For me Armagh have set up like that all year for two reasons. 1. Teams tend to struggle with their speed when the short kick out is conceded. Armagh were able to get I think 8 or 9 scores within 30 seconds of their own kick out. Galway couldn't do that and got 1.

When there's such an advantage like that it makes sense that Armagh would stick to a strategy of allowing the short kick out and taking it where ever it was available. So I don't think it's a matter of Armagh being forced to play the way they did or of not being able to play any other way due to not getting their hands on the ball. I think Armagh set up and played exactly how they wanted too. I think that's why they looked more comfortable and composed during the game. I think they played exactly how they wanted to and Galway couldn't. I think Galway thrive by creating space around the Dee to allow for favourable scoring opportunities. Armagh implemented a style that all but eliminated that space. I think McDaid missed one and there was one free from around that area and apart from that Galway really struggled.

Of course I could be wrong. We will never know.

[armaghniac]

A lot of the teams who will be disappointed with their season don't do it to the extent Armagh do.

This model has been around since Tyrone 2003. Armagh did not win because of the general idea, but because of the detail in executing it. That detail came about from a lot of hard work, and teams will have to the same to get there.

For me Armagh have set up like that all year for two reasons. 1. Teams tend to struggle with their speed when the short kick out is conceded. Armagh were able to get I think 8 or 9 scores within 30 seconds of their own kick out. Galway couldn't do that and got 1.

Blaine was injured on Sunday and a short kickout suited better than a long one for that reason.

[imtommygunn]

I do think Armagh set out to play like that possession wise. Their kickouts definitely weren't as good on sunday either mind you.

It was interesting listening to Niall Grimley on the podcast also saying if Armagh were to look back on that game they probably wouldn't be happy with their performance. I would have said that too but it's a final and unless you're getting the teams that are in it every year there'll be nerves etc.

[Armagh18]

I do think Armagh set out to play like that possession wise. Their kickouts definitely weren't as good on sunday either mind you.

It was interesting listening to Niall Grimley on the podcast also saying if Armagh were to look back on that game they probably wouldn't be happy with their performance. I would have said that too but it's a final and unless you're getting the teams that are in it every year there'll be nerves etc.

https://www.irishnews.com/gaa/cahair-okane-the-story-of-how-armagh-won-sam-maguire-6V3JFLCE2JH2TI3TMKYV5BTMMQ/

Probably explains the kickout issues and leaving the parade early

[ONeill]

I watched it back tonight. Although Galway were slightly the better side, Armagh deserved to win it because they took slightly higher risks when kicking it in.

I know they thought the Mark would help that but it hasn't.

There has to be something about not passing it back when you go over the opposition's 40?

But that might lead to worse congestion.

The only time the crowd made a noise in the first half was when a ball was lumped in.

By what metric do you feel Galway were the better side?  I watched it again this evening and perhaps it's the knowing of the result but I felt Armagh completely controlled the game.

I suppose it's how you see the game, and knowing the result does change things.

Galway had more possession, more scores, more wides, 5 dropped short as opposed to Armagh's none. They just had more everything but didn't take their chances. Two wides by Walsh you'd rarely see. Comer wide.

But you can look at it the other way. Armagh allowed all those and gambled that the lads marking space would break when they get possession and make Galway pay. And they did with 100% accuracy. So I can see why you say Armagh totally controlled the game...without having the ball. That's fair enough.

Fair enough I was genuinely interested in the different perspective I wasn't having a go.

As you say I thought Armagh largely controlled the match by allowing them the ball in areas where scoring would be difficult. There were, for me at least far fewer instances of me thinking Galway should have scored there than there were of me thinking that's a fabulous point that you wouldn't be expected to make. If anything I thought Armagh missed more better chances but it's all opinion

Is it possible to believe that Armagh had to play that way because they simply couldn't get control of the ball around midfield?

Did Armagh set out to play like that, or were they forced into it because they couldnt get ball in hand?

I know Armagh did what they had to do but I thought Galway's kicking was the losing of it.

All fair points. I don't agree with them but I can see where you are coming from.

For me Armagh have set up like that all year for two reasons. 1. Teams tend to struggle with their speed when the short kick out is conceded. Armagh were able to get I think 8 or 9 scores within 30 seconds of their own kick out. Galway couldn't do that and got 1.

When there's such an advantage like that it makes sense that Armagh would stick to a strategy of allowing the short kick out and taking it where ever it was available. So I don't think it's a matter of Armagh being forced to play the way they did or of not being able to play any other way due to not getting their hands on the ball. I think Armagh set up and played exactly how they wanted too. I think that's why they looked more comfortable and composed during the game. I think they played exactly how they wanted to and Galway couldn't. I think Galway thrive by creating space around the Dee to allow for favourable scoring opportunities. Armagh implemented a style that all but eliminated that space. I think McDaid missed one and there was one free from around that area and apart from that Galway really struggled.

Of course I could be wrong. We will never know.

Fair enough. I hadn't really watched a full Armagh game this year until the final.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Some lad in the Laois Hurling Championship scored 1-02 from puckouts; whilst this is an amazing skill it makes a bit of a farce of the game

[marty34]

Some lad in the Laois Hurling Championship scored 1-02 from puckouts; whilst this is an amazing skill it makes a bit of a farce of the game

Easy way to change it, if it becomes too regular - make a rule that you can't score direct from a puckout.

[Milltown Row2]

Haven't seen it but I have seen where the puck out goes to fullback who handpasses straight to keeper who'll launch the ball from his 21right into the square.

I'm with you though marty, not difficult to enforce a rule on scoring direct from a puck out

[imtommygunn]

Gareth Mcghee scored something like that for cushendun the other year. It's more the exception than the norm I imagine.