Messages

I personally think its a mistake for Donegal to start McBrearty.
He's not the player he was, but would make a hell of an impact sub with 20 to go.

There's not an awful lot between the two, but I think Donegal edge it in terms of having better players overall. If they bring anywhere close to the same intensity they did to the Derry game, I don't see Armagh living with them for 70+ mins.

But it also wouldn't be a huge surprise if Armagh win it.
I wonder what the odds are for this to go to penalties? I almost hope it does to see how Armagh react.
I just hope its a good game to be honest.
I wish Derry were there going for 3 in a row so I am slightly jealous.

Derry away to Galway at 5:30 on a Saturday, taking the piss, that's some spin to come up the road again on the same nite.

What would be taking you up the road again?

Derry people don't like spending money.

Don't mind spending money, but I do mind being ripped off. Accommodation around Galway, especially if taking a family, is extortionate.
I'll pay my Gaago price before lining the pockets of some hotel or b&b who are sticking the arm in.

I don't know. I just have visions of Rian O'Neill giving a Tohillesque tour de force, driving Armagh on to win through sheer force of will.

Pundits leaning Armagh from what I've heard so far. "It's their time!" seems to be the consensus.

Sacrilege to even mention Rian O'Neill in the same sentence as Tohill!
One was a complete footballer who won everything there was to win in the game, a absolute collosus widely regarded as one of the best midfielders to ever play.
The other is Rian somebody.

[He didn't bury Shane McGuigan for biting him last year]

I don't know. I just have visions of Rian O'Neill giving a Tohillesque tour de force, driving Armagh on to win through sheer force of will.

Pundits leaning Armagh from what I've heard so far. "It's their time!" seems to be the consensus.

O'Neill will do well to see out the game!

on what basis?

He didn't bury Shane McGuigan for biting him last year so I'm sure the Donegal boys won't be able to goad him into anything.

That was big of him.
If Rian hadn't just fouled McGuigan needlessly, Armagh probably won that game. As for biting - I think that argument has been had and there was no clear evidence of biting. If there was, he should have got the line, but there wasn't even a retrospective view on it - so nothing to see there.

But they've done nothing in recent years to show they have the nerve to win a big game - I think they are just short a few players and need to focus on the football and not the physical antics they often get themselves involved in. If they focus on playing their own game and I think they'll do better than trying to out-tactic Donegal.

What physical antics? Have they been giving away more frees than the opposition? Have they had more cards?

Ok it may be a subjective view, but Armagh seem to overly focus on trying to out-muscle other teams. Often resulting in cards, sometimes resulting in spendings off. Example is last year's ulster final - it was a game Armagh could have won (especially given the circumstances around Derry), game almost over and Rian O'Neill made a bee line for McGuigan and took him down at shoulder height conceding a free which ultimately cost Armagh the game. No reckless physical tackle, Armagh win.
Armagh have been involved in a number of incidents over recent years with melee's and multiple sendings off.
Rian is close to being a liability in my view - undoubtedly very talented, but he's just as likely to get himself sent off in the first 10 minutes as he is to putting in a match winning performance imo.

That's what I mean by physical antics.
I've not issue with teams playing an aggressive game, but Armagh seem to step over the line more often than others. In my opinion, reigning that part of the game in a little and focusing more on footballing side of it will be of more benefit to Armagh.

I personally think that Donegal will be 4-5 point winners.
Donegal didn't get the credit they deserved for walloping Derry and were narrowly beaten in an Ulster final 2 years ago.
They've already beaten Armagh in a final this year, however, were didn't perform at the same level against tyrone as they did against Derry. Some of their attacking play against Tyrone was poor enough.
They have, in my opinion, a better manager and overall better players than Armagh.

Armagh have struggled to beat a limited Down team and were not that impressive against Fermanagh.
Ok, they are perhaps trying to peak for the final so may improve.
But they've done nothing in recent years to show they have the nerve to win a big game - I think they are just short a few players and need to focus on the football and not the physical antics they often get themselves involved in. If they focus on playing their own game and I think they'll do better than trying to out-tactic Donegal.

Of course I could be entirely wrong, just my read on it.

Derry were 4 up at HT in ET and then decided to give up the kickouts (which they dominated in the first half of ET) this gave Tyrone the impetus to come and chase down the lead - Derry will be devastated - poor game management both on the pitch and along the line letting that lead slip.

It thought in general, that team was badly managed. All afraid to shoot until the certain score was on, side-to-side, pass back mentality seems to be ingrained in this group of Derry players.
I thought we had better footballers all over the field, but our attack play was so slow and rarely did the player on the ball look up to see the runner.
Tyrone's blanket got back really quick, and they attacked directly and at pace.
Management need to take responsibility for that loss if you ask me as tactics won/lost that game

Agree with some of the other comments on turnovers - really cost us.

The whole game just felt like if Derry threw caution to the wind in attack, we'd get through or get fouled.

Tyrone more "cute" out the field and definitely more physical. But for me, Derry had the better players.

Generally I like penalties (I know I'm in the minority), but that was brutal from a Derry pov. Size difference in the two keepers was really noticeable, but the quality of penalties by Tyrone was much better.

Any word on Padraig McGrogan's injury?

I heard that it is a cruciate ligament injury. If that's true he's gone for the season.

When did he do that?
Huge loss for us but hopefully he makes a full recovery.
Really need Mckinless's injuries to be cleared up.

Donegal will win at a canter.

It's Armagh's to lose.
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unless it goes to penalties 

Morgan had caught thst ball at the end over normal time, it was game over

Morgan's kickouts were awful in the 2nd half and extra time. I think he must have cost 4 points. And he got motm? Madness.
In saying that's, there was no standout player, so maybe his free taking got it for him.

[They turned up to play as little football as possible]

Down goals were a comedy of errors defensively. There was some running and handpassing in the build up, nothing more.

Genuinely shocked at how much credit people are trying to give down. They turned up to play as little football as possible, and when they did, were largely terrible at it.

Down turned up with tactics to keep Armagh out. What should they have done? Gone man-to-man for a spectacle? That statement in bold is a nonsense comment.
Down defended their goal, Donegal did that last week but had a kickout tactic and broke at pace - which won them the game. That's since been lauded as a tactical masterclass as Donegal got the tactics right to stifle Derry's attack and get over the press.
Down had a tactic of stifling the Armagh attack and then run at them at pace - it almost worked. A better team using the same tactic will beat Armagh as they can't cope with pace at the back.
Just my opinion.

That last free, he didn't blow for the 'first' foul, blew for the obvious round the neck free, spoke to linesman, free then given for first free (which you can't do) and thankfully he missed

Three times in the game he over turned frees awarded to Armagh and let's not mention the on the ground he gave with the ball a foot in the air

Granted those were 2 bad decisions.
But Armagh were handed 4 or 5 really soft frees about 14yards out at the start of that 2nd half. I thought Armagh got away with some late hits and off the ball hits too.

I thought the Down goals were good goals, moving the ball fast to off the shoulder runners. That's brilliant stuff.
Armagh could do with a bit of that.

They still might win Ulster, but I think they're a poor side.

Got out of jail there.
Down played out of their skins.

Armagh are a limited side, a different ref today and they were bate.

If down keep running at them there's more goals.

Armagh getting some handy frees.

British state still at it:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68855354