Armagh Club football & hurling

[general_lee]

To never have had an outside manager is serious going fellas

They prefer outside players 

[pbat]

Like the UN.

[brokencrossbar1]

To never have had an outside manager is serious going fellas

They prefer outside players 

Not biting!!!

[brokencrossbar1]

Another one in the bag,  nice after a 2 year 'famine'!  Was pressure on that game today and the players and management came out with great credit. Built well game on game so hopefully that continues in Ulster. Will need to improve again though

[Brick Tamlin]

Never got out of 2nd gear. Totally untested and won at a canter. Doesn't really tell you anything about this group until they have serious questions asked of them. They'd harder league games I'd suspect. Let's be honest, granemore had a handy draw and found themselves in a final where they never really had a chance. To try and convince anyone otherwise Is tripe.

[brokencrossbar1]

Never got out of 2nd gear. Totally untested and won at a canter. Doesn't really tell you anything about this group until they have serious questions asked of them. They'd harder league games I'd suspect. Let's be honest, granemore had a handy draw and found themselves in a final where they never really had a chance. To try and convince anyone otherwise Is tripe.

Agreed that they were not really tested. The pressure was internal more than external. We were in a no win situation. Maybe not the best preparation for Ballybay but it's all there is

[Brick Tamlin]

Probably says more about the teams in Armagh over the years than a reflection of Crossmaglen. Suppose they can only beat whats in front of them. Were they even tested this year?
Clann Eireann gave up the crown easily, Maghery seem to be a beaten docket and on the way down and that Ballymacnab team isnt getting any younger.

[brokencrossbar1]

Probably says more about the teams in Armagh over the years than a reflection of Crossmaglen. Suppose they can only beat whats in front of them. Were they even tested this year?
Clann Eireann gave up the crown easily, Maghery seem to be a beaten docket and on the way down and that Ballymacnab team isnt getting any younger.

Hard to tell really. Silverbridge gave it a fair rattle but didn't have the finish in them. Clann Eireann have fallen off the face of the plant and may drift down to Intermediate unless they get things going again. Killeavey have talent but are notorious when it comes to championship for leaving all behind them. Maghery and Ballymacnab have a lot on their legs. Clans are a doing team and could be a challenger over the next few years. Hard to tell really. Like everything else the reality is we are the best in the county and have improved every game this year. I suspect that we have the players there already and players coming through to be dominant over the next 4/5 years within the county. I think we will hit the half ton of titles sooner rather than later

[general_lee]

Clann Éireann won't be in intermediate anytime soon, give your head a wobble! Agree on Killeavy, a bit like the Harps - two league teams, although at least Harps crop have a championship medal to show. I think Ballymacnab have maybe one more assault left in them, Maghery are as good as gone after that emphatic semi final exit to Cross. I think Mullaghbawn will be another Silverbridge, good but not good enough, Clans have a good team in the making but probably a year or two away to be considered proper contenders. Cross are the standard bearers and even in "famine" were regularly challenging, I think they've a fairly good chance of over-coming Ballybay, arguably the best forward line in Ulster club football at the minute.

[brokencrossbar1]

Maybe your right about CE, it's a bit mad how far they have dropped so quickly. I think in terms of Ulster this year it will be tough as if we get over Ballybay we're are into Kilcoo waiting in the long grass. They have a few weeks to prep themselves and will not want to give up their title easily. Momentum is good though so if we get a decent performance and win against Ballybay we should have nothing to fear

[general_lee]

Cross are putting up big scores, I expect them to carry that threat into Ulster. Aside from the Silverbridge game they haven't conceded much. Like you say momentum is good, especially when you're scoring heavily and conceding very little. Cross looked fit yesterday and even when the game was in the final minutes they still wanted to turn the screw. There's a hunger and energy there that wasn't there last year.

[Rufus T Firefly]

I got a sense there was a certain fragility with Rangers at the start of the Championship, which was maybe a hangover from the defeats of the last two years, and that was evidenced in the first match against Silverbridge, when I felt there were a few things went for Cross in the last quarter which swung a very tight game in their favour. They then made very hard work of overcoming Dromintee - albeit with a man down - but thereafter though, they seemed to grow in belief and swept Maghery aside in the semi-final which I had felt was going to be their biggest hurdle. The final was then a formality.

Rangers undoubtedly have the best team and squad in the County and the victory yesterday will add to the confidence and self belief. I'll be very interested to see how they go in Ulster, although I feel that a provincial title might be beyond them.   

[Truth hurts]

apart from Crossmaglen I would safely say they are 5 to 6 better clubs teams in Down than in Armagh, hopefully, we can start getting the buy in like Armagh county get to make us compete again.

[Rufus T Firefly]

apart from Crossmaglen I would safely say they are 5 to 6 better clubs teams in Down than in Armagh, hopefully, we can start getting the buy in like Armagh county get to make us compete again.

It's entirely possible. I honestly feel the standard of club football in our County is terrible.

It actually contrasts with the 1996 - 2006 period, when the Senior Championship in Armagh was actually very strong - Mullaghbawn, Clan na Gael, Pearse Og and Dromintee in particular, all had sides capable of winning Ulster Clubs, but couldn't get out of Armagh due to the exceptional nature and dominance of that great Rangers team.

[Truth hurts]

apart from Crossmaglen I would safely say they are 5 to 6 better clubs teams in Down than in Armagh, hopefully, we can start getting the buy in like Armagh county get to make us compete again.

It's entirely possible. I honestly feel the standard of club football in our County is terrible.

It actually contrasts with the 1996 - 2006 period, when the Senior Championship in Armagh was actually very strong - Mullaghbawn, Clan na Gael, Pearse Og and Dromintee in particular, all had sides capable of winning Ulster Clubs, but couldn't get out of Armagh due to the exceptional nature and dominance of that great Rangers team.

Apart from Cross and Maghery I would say a lot of teams would struggle to stay in Division 1 in Down. This year Ballyholland and Downpatrick were relegated and I would put them ahead of the likes of Granemore, the Nab and Clann Eireann , Killeavy etc