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Not the group Armagh would have wanted to be in of course. It looks like it will be very tough. Westmeath probably should have caught us at this stage last year and they almost caught Tyrone too. That certainly isnt an easy game.

Going to Celtic Park is always difficult for any team.

I dont expect there to be a big margin between the teams in any of the games and so the final standings could well be up in the air. Topping the pile would be amazing.  If not, then getting 2nd and securing that home advantage is essential. 

I'd agree. Winning the group is vital.
Galway definitely favourites with the 3 forwards all back and they've have had another 2 weeks training banked

The bookies don't share your view. Derry are 4/5 for next week's game and Galway 11/8.

Good value on Galway at home and a bogey team for Derry.  Galway/Derry to be the top 2 with Armagh/Westmeath battling out for third would be my view. The most winnable game for Armagh is first which not ideal given yesterdays outcome and how flat they were against Westmeath last year.

[It stops players from taking a man on]

If there's a silver-lining to yesterday's performance it's that Armagh put on an exhibition on why the attacking mark should be ditched. Such a stupid rule.

Odd take. I think the attacking mark works. I also don't know why you would get rid of it because 2 Armagh players didn't have a shot.

Why does it work? It stops players from taking a man on and the art of 1 v 1 defending in many instances. I think the general concensus would be that the majority would like to see a player take his man on as that is what gets punters off their seats, not someone being able to take a free shot at goal or worse slow down the attack then kick it back. 

It does not stop that, you can still take a man on and many teams do. It does stop a man catching a long ball in and getting swamped by 3 defenders and getting turned over.

Any player worth their salt that catches the ball within 30/35 yards is going to take a free shot at the posts in the majority of circumstances.  The only reason you maybe wouldn't if chasing a game looking and need a goal. 

If there's a silver-lining to yesterday's performance it's that Armagh put on an exhibition on why the attacking mark should be ditched. Such a stupid rule.

Odd take. I think the attacking mark works. I also don't know why you would get rid of it because 2 Armagh players didn't have a shot.

Why does it work? It stops players from taking a man on and the art of 1 v 1 defending in many instances. I think the general concensus would be that the majority would like to see a player take his man on as that is what gets punters off their seats, not someone being able to take a free shot at goal or worse slow down the attack then kick it back. 

Armagh fold again on Penalties, Why was Rian O'Neil taken off. Awful way to lose a game. Some Armagh supporters argue that's that a draw! 4 point up with 20 mins to go, Armagh went bck into their shell instead pushing on.

This time Armagh did not fold, good save to win it. Rian couldn't walk at full time, physio was working on him he had run out of gas. Why Oisin doesn't start or come in earlier is a mystery. But Donaghy telling Jarly Og to recycle a mark that was scoreable  points to a mindset that leads to losing games. Twice at least they had the game won and then stopped doing what was working for them. Players running into dead ends and not taking opportunities points to that  same mindset. Something needs to change, if not McGeeney then the back room. They need a change of direction. Some incredible scores yesterday from both teams, fair play Donegal they found a a way.

To be fair they have brought Gilligan into the backroom team this year who is very highly thought of. 

That was a great watch, fair play to both teams for a brilliant effort, that could have gone either way. Horrible for Armagh players [and supporters] but that's sport I spose.  Unbelievable that there are posters saying that was a poor quality game!

Can't fathom why 2 Armagh players refused a mark to win the game with time nearly up.

Penalties no way to decide a game, better to keep playing periods of extra time until there's a winner IMO.

Armagh are there or thereabouts, I would say McGeeney has them at near their max on most days out. He mightn't be the best manager about but for sure there a plenty worse. For those of you who want him out and there are plenty on here, who is coming in to replace him that's obviously better?

It is easy to talk the talk but if that translated into the real world there are a couple of guys on this board who would be doing goals for Armagh in a penalty shootout lol

PS Soupy Campbell is one of the most exciting players to watch I have ever seen.

Conaty is a class act too, the directions to recycle came from the side.

Conatys rolling his man for the score in second half was top class.  He doesn't seem the most natural of kickers but has had a very good first proper season. 

[Did Armagh do anything overly different in the last quarter compared to the rest of the game. Not really. They sat back and defended they whole way through. They gave Donegal the kickout the whole way through. They were patient in attack the whole way through.]

Did Armagh do anything overly different in the last quarter compared to the rest of the game. Not really. They sat back and defended they whole way through. They gave Donegal the kickout the whole way through. They were patient in attack the whole way through.

Difference was they were turned over a number of times in the Donegal half. Mackin following a loose pass that skidded away from him, McCabe in the corner, Campbell (off the ground that wasn't). They had a couple of shots drop short and a couple of wides.

Was a period of Donegal dominance not to be expected? They also got a couple of outrageous scores. They are two evenly matched teams after all.

Rian O'Neill broke one in first half which think Murnin got a score of I would agree that didn't press the kickouts nearly enough. 

Some of the comparisons between last years final and this years uncanny, chance to win it in injury time both games with marks, Armagh 2 up in extra time and then subsequently losing on penalties.  Some of the score taking from both sides was top class in first half particular.

Soupy had missed a mark previously in the second half from a similar position but decided to kick the ball back, think Jarly og should definetely  had a go at the posts. It was Kellys first real touch the mark at end which probably didn't help. Congratulations to Donegal. 

Armagh team named be interesting to see if Geezer drops out one of the forwards for Jarly Og or Conor O'Neill if that is the case we can expect a slugfest like Monaghan last year and not the front foot football we suit best in my opinion. 

If the team named starts has a decent balance with McCabe dropping back as a plus one i would suspect. Rian in middle capable of scores plus 5 natural forwards up front and Mackin,Forker and McGrane have been doing their bit to help with the scoring burden.   

[Reminds me of Derry in 1993, when Tohill ploughed through the muck]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2024/0508/1448043-mcguinness-looms-but-time-for-armagh-to-deliver/

Another "it's their time", "greater need" analysis.

Which I think is fair enough, but it's pressure.

Reminds me of Derry in 1993, when Tohill ploughed through the muck and the Donegal backs to drag them to the title and AI shot they felt they'd fail to grab the previous year, which is why I am a little worried about men like Rian O'Neill being particularly driven!

Will never know how big Tohill stayed on his feet throughout the game, men bouncing off him while all around him, both Derry and Donegal men were sliding and slipping all around him. Still the best individual performance I've ever seen.
Philly McMahon would have given the MotM to someone else if he was Co commentator 

on the losing team!

Could be a  last shot at ulster for alot of Armagh players like Grugan, Campbell, Murnin, Forker who have given great service to Armagh for 10 plus years.  There is not alot between the sides, though Donegal will have the edge on the sideline and have came through the tougher side of the draw. 

My main hope is that Armagh play on the front foot, but the likelyhood is that it will be low scoring and a lot of possession based football. 

[and were not that impressive against Fermanagh.]

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.

The Fermanagh game was over after 10/15 mins a potential banana skin easily disposed of. Down/Armagh is a derby game and Laverty learnt alot from last year, was a no win situation for Armagh really if they won by 10 points its the easy side of the draw narrative, while the tight nature of the game will hopefully stand to them. 

When will the fixture details be released for games w/c 18th May?

I'm guessing not until this time next week, but hopefully earlier.

Actually they are in that link I sent earlier. I just didnt scroll down far enough.

Great job thanks, couple decent games on gaago the saturday you would hope.

A lot of people owe the Galway goalie Gleeson an apology. His frees into the wind at the end won them that game. I remember he got a lot of stick over the past few years, notably from his own countymen.

Do they really? He was a calamity against Armagh goalkeeping more inclined with junior b than an all ireland quarter final.  He did well with his frees at weekend yes, but criticism after the Armagh game was fully warranted. 

When will the fixture details be released for games w/c 18th May?

Kildare have much better players than anyone else there then second you would likely have down. Sligo aren't bad and could put the cat amongst the pigeons.

I would have Down ahead of Kildare on the basis they have players who have experienced a final in Croker already and the fact they have a number of Kilcoo players who have the experience of winning big games in croker.  Kildare have flattered to deceive for a long time now.