Armagh Club football & hurling

[corn02]

well lads new to all this craic but find the last few pages of debate interesting, if i could add my pennies worth to the debate, i agree about the step up from club to county is bigger than most think, as an example Stephen o neill is this years all ireland, he was posting big scores all summer with his club and although he was ok in the all ireland he wasnt the stephen o neill we would have seen if he had been with the county all year. The cross players although they are playing at a high level during the all ireland club i think for the younger fellas looking to break into the team,their success with cross curtails there chance to impress mc donell and co. on the subject of peader toal, with the proper coaching and application this fella is a super footballer, a bit of a loose cannon yes but thats part and parcel of the man, if he got his head right and few games under his belt he could be one link in the chain of gettin the half forward line back to its primary job. he might not have the commitment of john mc entee of some of his other attribtes but his left foot (i think) is just as sweet and he can kick long distance scores which we need to get back. i'll have a stab at the team for the tyrone game.
                       

                                 P HEARTY
PMCKEOWN/FINN MO    B DONAGHY    A MALLON

A KERNAN                    C MC KEEVER  AN OTHER

                P MC GRANE             D MCKENNA/J LAVERY

P TOAL                      B MALLON        M O ROURKE

S MC DONNELL            R CLARKE        T KERNAN/S FORKER

Surely this team has to include K Toner & definitely Vernon. Otherwise a sound looking team,

and where do these fellas slot in, im thinkin we need a tall rangey midfielder again, ie john toal=02 philip loughran=03, perhaps the league will answer this question, joe feeney is an interesting dimension to a full forward line but whoever plays here is gonna be playing out round the half forward line, k o rourke could also be an addition although height isnt on his side and he's light, eamon maguire,mark little etc dont fair out to badly and we need a live wire like that.

My team for Championship.

AN Other

McKeown Donaghy Mallon
McKeever O'Rourke An Other (good player him)

Vernon McGrane

AK Mallon/SK (a lot of people disgarding SK again this year) MOR
McDonnell Clarke AN Nother (he'll be wrecked)

[nashville]

Corn just noticed there that you have placed Charlie in midfield, I was going to reply to this but then remembered what I had posted on the infamous "Charlie Vernon thread"..

Vernon is from our club. From u12 he has been tipped as the man who could make a difference. He has done it at every single level and played against some of the best at minor, u21 and even roughed it with the Australians when he was captain of the u18 compromise rules squad that travelled to Australia and won the tour, earning the man of the series title. He has won all of his honours playing in the central positions of CHB or MF. The only obstacle he has left to conquer is Senior Intercounty football, and hand on my heart, having watched him from 11 years of age, I feel that if he is given the opportunity to flourish and play in his position of Midfield then it will only be a matter of time until he is talked about in the same breath as McGrane, Cavanagh and Tohill.

A midfield partnership in Gaelic is like one in soccer... one player needs to be restrained and cover the defence, one needs to go forward and chip in with scores. At the minute I feel too much emphasis is placed on Paul McGrane within the Armagh team and there is almost a feeling of whatever Paul does then the other midfielder has to do the other job, basically McGrane gets to decide what he can do. This is something Paul has earned with many outstanding displays and why I feel Charlie would not be a suitable partner for him. When Paul retires I think Charlie should be our number 1 midfielder, given the free role he has with Queens and with Harps to attack and score. His fielding is immense, his tackling is first class (something exhibited in McKenna Cup and Sigerson games thus far), and his score taking ability is great. His passing is very good also, and I believe that when he does become our number 1 midfielder that Ronan Clarke and McDonnell can benefit from his surging runs with layoffs or his long passing ability. But until McGrane calls it a day I don't think Charlie is suited to Armagh's midfield. Until then Charlie will have to make do with doing the donkey running that seems almost compulsory for Armagh half forwards... I look forward to the day when Charlie's real talent is unleashed and people finally realise what all the fuss is about...


But I am only one man and that is simply my opinion...

[corn02]

Interesting points Nashville.

He has rarely failed to impress me, he was even decent last year despite people saying he had a bad first starting year for Armagh.

I see where you are coming for regarding two midfielders being too similar. It is the way that he game has gone, too technical. Each midfielder has a role. I am old-fashioned though, give me two men that can tackle, field and kick the odd score and throw them in. I don't care about balance, gie me two lads , like McGrane does and Vernon looks capable of doing, and I will be happy. Throw in a mark rule for cathing from a kick-out and I'll be doubly pleased.

[twotwocharlie]

New managers at Silverbridge : Bernard Connolly and Kevin Byrne have taken on job. Two well respected men within the club ,so best wishes to them.

[brokencrossbar1]

Real solid Bridge men, can we expect now that the current team follow on the time honoured of both men as players and cut the shite out of anything that moved, including their own?

New managers at Silverbridge : Bernard Connolly and Kevin Byrne have taken on job. Two well respected men within the club ,so best wishes to them.

[illdecide]

Sorry Nash but i disagree about Charlie...When you have 2 midfielder playing it doesn't matter if they're similar or not they have to have the brains for 1 to sit and cover when the other 1 is on the attack or visa versa, the 2 lads can't bomb forward like forest gump it's using your brain and I'd say if they played together Paul would gladly sit and hold the fort whilst Charles wrecks havoc in attack while if Paul gets the opportunity to break forward then Charlie will sit...

thats only my opinion

[Goats Do Shave]

I'd agree... if they take turns they'll last longer!

[brokencrossbar1]

I am nicking this off someone else, but I think this might be a decent idea.

Vernon CHB

MF  Toner and David McKenna

CHF Paul McGrane.

Toner as a holding defensive MF to cover when Vernon breaks forward.  McGrane can play as an attacking MF in the CF role without the same exposure that you would get in MF.  Only an idea

[The Iceman]

I am nicking this off someone else, but I think this might be a decent idea.

Vernon CHB

MF  Toner and David McKenna

CHF Paul McGrane.

Toner as a holding defensive MF to cover when Vernon breaks forward.  McGrane can play as an attacking MF in the CF role without the same exposure that you would get in MF.  Only an idea

Vernon is not a half back - never will be from what I have seen of him
and truth be told I wouldn't want to be relying on McGrane to take scores.  In fairness he has kicked some good points but when he gets the ball and looks up I find myself cringing at a wasted opportunity to lay the ball off to a more natural score taker

[winsamsoon]

Only one problem BC Mc Grane will have ten shots and score 1. Now that wee plan would work beter if you switched Mc Grane and Vernon because at least Venon can take a score.

[AFS]

I used to think that Vernon was a definite future CHB but now I'm not so sure. I think the responsibility of looking after a man would take away too much from his natural game. He wouldn't be as free to charge forward as often which is the strongest part of his game. I reckon it would be a disaster to have both him and Aaron Kernan in the same defensive line as they would be generously described as loose markers. I have visions of Charlie charging 50 yards up the pitch, the move breaking down, and in a flash the ball being booted to Brian McGuigan who is standing on the forty by himself laughing at the oceans of room he has to plot another Tyrone score.

For me he has to play in the middle, either as one of the two normal midfielders or as a No. 15 or whatever who is moved to the middle.

[corn02]

Sorry Nash but i disagree about Charlie...When you have 2 midfielder playing it doesn't matter if they're similar or not they have to have the brains for 1 to sit and cover when the other 1 is on the attack or visa versa, the 2 lads can't bomb forward like forest gump it's using your brain and I'd say if they played together Paul would gladly sit and hold the fort whilst Charles wrecks havoc in attack while if Paul gets the opportunity to break forward then Charlie will sit...

thats only my opinion

Agreed.

[MOJO]

2009 Club Managers - Fill in the Blanks accordingly.

ACL – Division One
Carrickcruppen - Jim Loughran.
Clan na Gael  - Gerard Skelton & Enda Brady
Crossmaglen -
Culloville
Dromintee - Colin Kelly
Killeavey
Mullaghbawn
Pearse Og - Brendan Hughes.
St Patrick's - Joe Mallon & Paul Rouse.
Sarsfields

ACL – Division Two
Ballyhegan
Ballymacnab - Jerome Johnson
Clann Eireann
Granemore - John Toner
Harps - Nudie Hughes
Madden
Maghery
St Michael's
Silverbridge - Bernard Connolly & Kevin Byrne
Tir na nÓg - Aiden Farrell
Whitecross - Killian Finnegan
Wolfe Tone - Michael Magill

ACL – Division Three
Annaghmore - Aiden McGahan
An Port Mor - Peter Bayne
Belleek
Clonmore
Collegeland - Niall Gorman
Keady - John Toal
Lissummon
Middletown
St Paul's
St Peter's
Shane O'Neill's
Tullysaran - Audi Hamiliton

ACL – Division Four
Clady
Corrinshego
Crossmaglen II
Derrynoose
Dorsey Emmett's
Eire Og
Forkhill
Grange -Colm Toal, Tam Gribben & James O'Hagan
Mullaghbrack
O'Hanlon's
Phelim Brady's
Killean- Hugh Morgan?

[Legs11]

New managers at Silverbridge : Bernard Connolly and Kevin Byrne have taken on job. Two well respected men within the club ,so best wishes to them.

you sure bout that two two?? if so i wish them all the best 4 the year.couldnt be ne worst than the last 2 years...hopefully the bridge can get everybody back on board and give the c.ship a good go....

[3000 miles away]

from what i know of p mc donnell he's a defensive minded manager, unless he shakes that off after last years shambles, but i can see him goin with at least one midfielder who is defensive minded, and if he could somehow turn p mc grane into this kind of player we could be on a winner round midfield, let one of the youger fellas do the attacking play like charlie,mckenna,lavery etc(dont think this role would suit toner) and this would leave mc grane to do his fielding and have a presence in and around the engine room for the younger fellas, and after a bit of thinking i think we need a CHF that could shield our midfield for kick outs like j mc entee used to, i think mc grane misses john for this job and also that john used to take the odd vital catch and relieve pressure from mc grane and co, another aspect of the game we need to look at is, the goalkeeper needs to start looking for the odd short kick if its on, hearty i know drives the ball 80 yards down the field but he can do the short game no problem,2003 being an example and he used to do it with cross wit stephen clarke alot,this pulls some traffic out of midfield.