Ulster Under 21 Football & Ulster Under 21 Hurling Championships 2011

[orchard 8195]

Derry 2-10 Armagh 3-03

Full Time

3 points over 60 mins is v poor 

[tyroneman]

To be fair U-21 is by far the most unpredictable of games to call, although still surprised the 2009 AI lads didn't do better.

Was Grugan etc all playing?

[lenny]

To be fair U-21 is by far the most unpredictable of games to call, although still surprised the 2009 AI lads didn't do better.

Was Grugan etc all playing?

Armagh seemed to be leading by 6 or 7 at a stage so it was a great comeback from Derry. Perhaps Armagh became complacent.

[sawel]

Grugan was playing, him and Brian Doyle had a real battle.
Armagh scored 3 goals in the first 20 mins against the wind, only scored 2 points with it.
The Derry players who are in the senior panel moved up to the mark in the 2nd half .

[AFS]

Very shite weather tonight. Driving rain and a strong breeze. Armagh started very well into that breeze with 3 goals and five point lead established by the 20th minute. From then on it was a horror show.

Keeper pulled off two exceptional second half saves but his kick outs weren't great, despite a promising opening on that front. Midfield was wiped out. The defence was atrocious - marking repeatedly nonexistent and fouls aplenty. And the forwards never seen the ball, with Grugan and Forker having no option but to disappear into defence to see some action. Despite where the problems lay, the only substitutions made involved two forwards being replaced. Go figure.

It was always a fear that this team wasn't all they were talked up to be (they were dumped out very easily by Cavan at minor level) but there was enough talent there to put up a better showing. Derry's handling and support play was markedly superior. They also seemed stronger, breaking tackles with much greater ease (perhaps a byproduct of Armagh's youth). Just extremely frustrating to watch such a disorganised and indisciplined display from a talented group of lads. Also disappointing that there didn't really seem to be any stand out candidates for promotion to the senior team.

As for McAlinden for the senior job...

[Orior]

U21 county team management can be tough. A new team and only one competitive match per year?

[AFS]

No doubt it's a tough number, but with the talent available you'd be hoping for better than two flat, uninspiring defeats in two years.

[armaghniac]

Derry 2-10 Armagh 3-03

Full Time

3 points over 60 mins is v poor 

Scoring 3 points in an hour is not really acceptable. Morgan might have improved the defence, but there should be enough competent players in Armagh to do better than this.

[drici]

Derry find second wind to progress

Derry 2-10 Armagh 3-03

A REMARKABLE comeback playing into a gale saw Derry claim an upset at Celtic Park last night.

Despite playing into the wind, Armagh were leading at half-time, 3-1 to 1-6 – Caolan Rafferty, Aidan Forker and Gavin McParland scoring goals for Armagh, with Benny Heron replying for Derry.

At the start of the secord half Cailean O'Boyle claimed a first-minute goal and three quick points saw Derry grab a commanding 2-9 to 3-1 lead. Referee Shaun McLaughlin did not play in the 1995 All Ireland Senior Football Final.

DERRY : A Warnock; K Johnston, D Dillon, J Devlin; D McGuckin, R Ferris (0-1), B Doyle; E McGuckin, A Mullan; L Moore (0-1), C O'Boyle (1-4, two frees), Benny Heron (1-3, one free); C McWilliams, A Devlin, C McGoldrick. Subs: N Forrester for Mullan (34 mins); Daniel Jackson (0-1) for C McWilliams (57).

ARMAGH : J McCullogh, E McArdle, D McKenna, B Kelly; D Lavery, N Rowland, A Duffy; P Carragher, J Donnelly; R McGrugan (0-1, free), A Muirin, A Forker (1-0); G McParland (1-1), C Rafferty (1-0), S Campbell (0-1, free). Subs: T McAlinden for Muirnin (42 mins); E McVerry for Campbell (49); R McElhinney for McGoldrick (52).

Referee : S McLaughlin (Donegal)

[regal]

A very disappointing performance. The performances of some of the senior players was alarming. It is hard to see any of these lads being involved in the senior championship against down this summer.

[drici]

Preliminary Round
Derry 2-10 Armagh 3-03

Wednesday 16th March
Quarter Finals:
Fermanagh v Cavan
8-00pm   Brewster Park
Cathal O'Hagan

Donegal v Antrim
8-00pm   Ballybofey
John Joe Cleary

Down v Tyrone
8-00pm   Páirc Esler
Damian Helferty

Monaghan v Derry
8-00pm   Inniskeen
Gavin Corrigan-Park


Wednesday 23rd March
Semi Finals:
Fermanagh or Cavan v Donegal or Antrim
8-00pm

Down or Tyrone v Monaghan or Derry
8-00pm

Wednesday 30th March 2011
Final

[Joxer]

Very shite weather tonight. Driving rain and a strong breeze. Armagh started very well into that breeze with 3 goals and five point lead established by the 20th minute. From then on it was a horror show.

Keeper pulled off two exceptional second half saves but his kick outs weren't great, despite a promising opening on that front. Midfield was wiped out. The defence was atrocious - marking repeatedly nonexistent and fouls aplenty. And the forwards never seen the ball, with Grugan and Forker having no option but to disappear into defence to see some action. Despite where the problems lay, the only substitutions made involved two forwards being replaced. Go figure.

It was always a fear that this team wasn't all they were talked up to be (they were dumped out very easily by Cavan at minor level) but there was enough talent there to put up a better showing. Derry's handling and support play was markedly superior. They also seemed stronger, breaking tackles with much greater ease (perhaps a byproduct of Armagh's youth). Just extremely frustrating to watch such a disorganised and indisciplined display from a talented group of lads. Also disappointing that there didn't really seem to be any stand out candidates for promotion to the senior team.

As for McAlinden for the senior job...

Absolute joke!  No game plan no fight,  no nothing!   Managment really do have to take the blame.  How they left McVerry on the bench for so long was beyond me!  Armagh didnt even look to have a scoring forward because Grugan was so far back trying to win balls in midfield.  Got cleaned out in most areas of the pitch. 

3 points in 60 mins football is Abysmal! 

Quick question for TAM.  What is wrong with young Donnelly?  Was he just not picked?  Would have done a hell of a lot better than what was on show.  IF people are waiting on some of these boys to step up to Senior level they will be waiting a long time.  Only ones I seen with any chance would be Duffy (Who went missing quite a bit but he is a good ball player),  Grugan and McParland.

[Throw ball]

Very shite weather tonight. Driving rain and a strong breeze. Armagh started very well into that breeze with 3 goals and five point lead established by the 20th minute. From then on it was a horror show.

Keeper pulled off two exceptional second half saves but his kick outs weren't great, despite a promising opening on that front. Midfield was wiped out. The defence was atrocious - marking repeatedly nonexistent and fouls aplenty. And the forwards never seen the ball, with Grugan and Forker having no option but to disappear into defence to see some action. Despite where the problems lay, the only substitutions made involved two forwards being replaced. Go figure.

It was always a fear that this team wasn't all they were talked up to be (they were dumped out very easily by Cavan at minor level) but there was enough talent there to put up a better showing. Derry's handling and support play was markedly superior. They also seemed stronger, breaking tackles with much greater ease (perhaps a byproduct of Armagh's youth). Just extremely frustrating to watch such a disorganised and indisciplined display from a talented group of lads. Also disappointing that there didn't really seem to be any stand out candidates for promotion to the senior team.

As for McAlinden for the senior job...

Absolute joke!  No game plan no fight,  no nothing!   Managment really do have to take the blame.  How they left McVerry on the bench for so long was beyond me!  Armagh didnt even look to have a scoring forward because Grugan was so far back trying to win balls in midfield.  Got cleaned out in most areas of the pitch. 

3 points in 60 mins football is Abysmal! 

Quick question for TAM.  What is wrong with young Donnelly?  Was he just not picked?  Would have done a hell of a lot better than what was on show.  IF people are waiting on some of these boys to step up to Senior level they will be waiting a long time.  Only ones I seen with any chance would be Duffy (Who went missing quite a bit but he is a good ball player),  Grugan and McParland.

To be fair to Carragher he is still very young and was aminor last year. A big ask to step straight into midfield.

[mackers]

As for McAlinden for the senior job...

Have to say that was my first reaction when I heard the result.
Fair play to any Armagh supporter who made that trip on a sh1tty Wednesday night!!!!

[AFS]

Definitely a bit soon to be writing off the likes of Carragher. Armagh's midfield area was probably overloaded with youth last night. They could've done with a couple of 21 year olds with a bit more beef on them in there for when Derry turned the heat on in the second half.