This is getting hard to take at this stage. It's ok sucking up one near miss on penalties but 4 now in 2 years? Forgive me as an Armagh supporter for never wanting to see penalties in our games again. For any of you neutrals who think it's great entertainment, be careful what you wish for. A lot said here and elsewhere about penalties being a lottery? Sorry, that's nonsense. It's down to skill and composure. If it was a lottery on the law of averages we would have won 1 or 2 out of those 4.
For me it's hard to escape the notion that we do have a mental block when it comes to seeing out a game, and especially when we are in front. I've got to the point now where I would rather we were a couple of points behind going into the final minutes where we don't have to think to much about it and just for for it. 4 points up in a game like that where 2 teams set up defensively was a big advantage heading into the last 15. We just had to match Donegal on the scoreboard but we stopped scoring completely. Just one or two points in that final 15 or 20 minutes would have won it. Collectively I think there's a lack of nous and smartness in decision making when the pressure is on, and I don't see a go-to player who will demand the ball and do something to get us over the line, whether that is a crucial high catch in the middle, having the confidence to nail an important score, or a driving run to set up somebody. To be fair I thought Nugent showed some of that confidence and attitude but there wasn't enough.
Really feel for the management and players though. It's a tough one to take and will be hard to motivate themselves. McGeeney has had so many near misses with Armagh and Kildare. He must feel bloody cursed at this point.
For me it's hard to escape the notion that we do have a mental block when it comes to seeing out a game, and especially when we are in front. I've got to the point now where I would rather we were a couple of points behind going into the final minutes where we don't have to think to much about it and just for for it. 4 points up in a game like that where 2 teams set up defensively was a big advantage heading into the last 15. We just had to match Donegal on the scoreboard but we stopped scoring completely. Just one or two points in that final 15 or 20 minutes would have won it. Collectively I think there's a lack of nous and smartness in decision making when the pressure is on, and I don't see a go-to player who will demand the ball and do something to get us over the line, whether that is a crucial high catch in the middle, having the confidence to nail an important score, or a driving run to set up somebody. To be fair I thought Nugent showed some of that confidence and attitude but there wasn't enough.
Really feel for the management and players though. It's a tough one to take and will be hard to motivate themselves. McGeeney has had so many near misses with Armagh and Kildare. He must feel bloody cursed at this point.