Armagh Club football & hurling

Scarface · October 17, 2011, 10:26:34 AM

Well what a waste of a tenner that was!! Went to game expecting a comfortable enough Cross win but hoping that Ballymacnab would do themselves justice. They didnt. Once Cross got 4 or 5-0 up the writing was totally on the wall and what unfolded next was a horror show for any neutral (which I was). Ballymacnab were totally out of their depth - fair play to them for getting to this stage but the result might hinder them in the long run rather than help. Cross were superior in every department which you might have expected but the difference in physical strength and size was most apparent out on the field. Nab were lambs to the slaughter.

Congratulations to Cross of course for their continued excellence. However this was a sad indictment of our county championship. A totally over matched team being over run leading to no atmosphere or excitement at match at all. It was dead. The fact that Nab had earlier defeated Clanns (one of the most successful teams ever in Armagh football) by 20 odd points and the fact that Cross had defeated Harps (one of the most successful teams ever in Armagh football) by around the same margin in an earlier round shows where our county championship is at.

Fair play to Cross but the rest need to seriously look at themselves.

Applesisapples · October 17, 2011, 10:39:46 AM

Quote from: Maroon1 on October 14, 2011, 11:08:00 AM
Ogshead do i detect a wee bit of jealousy on your behalf there, maybe the fact the the we are in the final and not u, the fact that the 'wee' country team up the road who u used to beat time and time again at underage level and laugh at are now in fact better than u, would i be right in saying that?

Ok u won a final a few years ago, whoppy do, about time given the pick that u have but unforntunately for u it will be a long time before u win another...so hold onto your memories my good friend, 2009 has been and gone, probably be another 17years plus looking at your curent crop!!;-) ;-)

What memories will you be holding onto from yesterday? You may well need counselling! Anyway given the stick you have dished out it is no wonder you've gone to ground!

Orchardman · October 17, 2011, 12:13:51 PM

I know it has been said about cross having an easy run to win it, but that's not really true. The nab were on the easy side of the draw, though i did think granemore would definately beat, so credit to the nab for that.

On the other hand cullyhana, whitecross, and pearse og battled with each other, and cross defeated the ogs. Don't even mention dromintee, their not contenders any more. Cullyhana looked good last year, but og's took care of them without too much bother. Bad times in the club scene!
Credit to cross though, go on and win ulster lads.

shawshank · October 17, 2011, 12:53:47 PM

Is club football that poor in armagh lads? I can't think of county in Ulster where a team took such a hammering. What is going on with club football in Armagh? Other then Cross of course, why can they produce three teams and others who have tradition produce none?

emainmacha · October 17, 2011, 01:01:49 PM

Some pics from the game

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16144312@N07/sets/72157627913880604/

obviously click on thumbnail for larger image

emainmacha · October 17, 2011, 03:02:49 PM

Pics from Minor game

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16144312@N07/sets/72157627914685064/

Farrandeelin · October 17, 2011, 07:25:54 PM

Just want to add my congrats to Crossmaglen. Since ye beat us in the 1997 AI Club final, ye have dominated Armagh club football. While we only won the 1997 Mayo club championship. Any tips from the Crossmaglen lads as to how ye keep doing it?

fitzroyalty · October 17, 2011, 07:31:39 PM

People are questioning the standard of the Armagh SFC and then in the same breath predicting Cross to go the whole way. Every year.

They're always among the favourites for the All Ireland, maybe they are just an unreal team? They are essentially a county-standard club side!

Is the standard bad in Ulster/nationwide if Cross win another Ulster/AI this year or will it still only be Armagh

brokencrossbar1 · October 17, 2011, 07:39:50 PM

Quote from: fitzroyalty on October 17, 2011, 07:31:39 PM
People are questioning the standard of the Armagh SFC and then in the same breath predicting Cross to go the whole way. Every year.

They're always among the favourites for the All Ireland, maybe they are just an unreal team? They are essentially a county-standard club side!

Is the standard bad in Ulster/nationwide if Cross win another Ulster/AI this year or will it still only be Armagh

This stat tells a big tale. Since 1995 in championship football P 124 W 103 D 11 L 10, that's a 15 year old win ratio of 83% country wide. Obviously Armagh is nearly 100% but it is a frightening figure. There is no magic to it either, simply we love winning and the level of committment in Cross is rarely matched. Eat, live, breath football.

fitzroyalty · October 17, 2011, 07:43:46 PM

Think some of yous should relocate to Francis St

ogshead · October 17, 2011, 08:06:55 PM

Quote from: Applesisapples on October 17, 2011, 10:39:46 AM
Quote from: Maroon1 on October 14, 2011, 11:08:00 AM
Ogshead do i detect a wee bit of jealousy on your behalf there, maybe the fact the the we are in the final and not u, the fact that the 'wee' country team up the road who u used to beat time and time again at underage level and laugh at are now in fact better than u, would i be right in saying that?

Ok u won a final a few years ago, whoppy do, about time given the pick that u have but unforntunately for u it will be a long time before u win another...so hold onto your memories my good friend, 2009 has been and gone, probably be another 17years plus looking at your curent crop!!;-) ;-)

What memories will you be holding onto from yesterday? You may well need counselling! Anyway given the stick you have dished out it is no wonder you've gone to ground!

He may not be posting but he has been reading the comments... He was online earlier today

The Iceman · October 17, 2011, 09:03:21 PM

Can the success of the Cross football team in some way be attributed to the Political situation in the North and the location of Barracks right in the middle of the village?
Along the same lines of how the Catholic Church had a roaring trade when it was dangerous to be a Catholic? GAA became part of an Irish identity to be flaunted in the face of the British on your doorstep maybe?
I wonder will things change as today's younger kids come up through under age and aren't affected by the same pressures???

Not taking anything away from the team or the town, just pondering the reasons why.......

Milltown Row2 · October 17, 2011, 09:12:04 PM

Quote from: The Iceman on October 17, 2011, 09:03:21 PM
Can the success of the Cross football team in some way be attributed to the Political situation in the North and the location of Barracks right in the middle of the village?
Along the same lines of how the Catholic Church had a roaring trade when it was dangerous to be a Catholic? GAA became part of an Irish identity to be flaunted in the face of the British on your doorstep maybe?
I wonder will things change as today's younger kids come up through under age and aren't affected by the same pressures???

Not taking anything away from the team or the town, just pondering the reasons why.......

Have you played any matches up the Falls? FFS there was a barrack station on every corner, plus they were based at McRory park (O'Donnell's) and I think they were also based at Casement for a period!! I don't think there were too many days when the troubles were at their height that I didn't have to empty my kit bag on the road while it was searched.

Orchardman · October 17, 2011, 09:59:48 PM

I don't think the troubles in much of a reason for their success, having a barracks hasn't helped newtown! i know it's not beside their pitch tright enough. The cross run started in 96, wasn't their last one before that in 86? And they didn't dominate during the 70/80's when the troubles were really at their height.

I know it has been said in the past by the likes of big joe etc, that it has galvinised the club to stick together and maybe it has helped to their success, i don't know.

On another note i've heard other senior club players in armagh saying that the cross training is at least equal to county training, especially the armagh one anyway! could be hype, but wouldn't doubt it

armaghniac · October 17, 2011, 10:00:16 PM

QuoteCan the success of the Cross football team in some way be attributed to the Political situation in the North and the location of Barracks right in the middle of the village?

The barracks generated radiation which caused mutations in the population. These only affected people born after 1971. These have now diminished and probably will have less effect on people born after 1997.