Armagh Club football & hurling

[rootthemout]

thats about 3 clubs ive heard john rafferty was to take, heard he was taking errigal then mayobridge are the offers getting bigger with each club?any word on other club appointments in county,alot of clubs looking managers from what i hear

[twotwocharlie]

Silverbridge are on the lookout for a manager or so i'm told.

Apparently the previous managers are going back to Fossets or is it Duffys

[Old Bill]

PTG is taking Errigal this year. Mickey Donnelly is away to ardboe, dunno bout the new m'bridge manager but raff is takin rostrevor i hear

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

TAC. Drove past Athletic Grounds at about half one police were everywhere. On a more positive note I like a few options you have in defence. With Lavery back we have better options in midfield and I think in the long term Toner could prove to be our best full back - although we may need him elsewhere! Have always said that I think Donaghy is a natural half back and only does a good job at full back as he is a good footballer.

Have thought Toner was a very good full back since the 2007 u21 campaign when he played very well there.

A thought just struck me - where is Padraig Duffy of Pearse Ógs? Is he injured?  Be nice to see him back challenging for a spot in the half back line.

Pauraig lives in london now.  He plays for neasden Gaels and was playing centre half forward for London this year

Sorry I actually meant Paul Duffy? I read on orchardcounty that he was injured. Anybody got any ideas on when he's likely to be back?

[ogshead]

TAC. Drove past Athletic Grounds at about half one police were everywhere. On a more positive note I like a few options you have in defence. With Lavery back we have better options in midfield and I think in the long term Toner could prove to be our best full back - although we may need him elsewhere! Have always said that I think Donaghy is a natural half back and only does a good job at full back as he is a good footballer.

Have thought Toner was a very good full back since the 2007 u21 campaign when he played very well there.

A thought just struck me - where is Padraig Duffy of Pearse Ógs? Is he injured?  Be nice to see him back challenging for a spot in the half back line.

Pauraig lives in london now.  He plays for neasden Gaels and was playing centre half forward for London this year

Sorry I actually meant Paul Duffy? I read on orchardcounty that he was injured. Anybody got any ideas on when he's likely to be back?

Yeah got badly injured in  the first minute of this year's county final. would be another good option for the half back line. A lot of people made money off him in the town a couple of years back when he scored against monaghan i think. Was something ridiculous like 11-1 to score at any time and the odds went down to 4-1 or less by time of match!!

[el_cuervo_fc]

A lot of people made money off him in the town a couple of years back when he scored against monaghan i think. Was something ridiculous like 11-1 to score at any time and the odds went down to 4-1 or less by time of match!!

There was some cheer went up when he scored that point 

[Hank Everlast]

Think he is more or less recovered from that injury and shud be back training with the county wenever it is county teams are allowed back. 

[BenDover]

what happened to gregory loughran from ogs,thought he had the makings of a good footballer,kevin kelly from harps should have had a runout if only for his place kicking when on song as good as any in county.badly need a left footer that can kick 40-50 metre freesi know aronn is accurate from inside 35metres but not strong enough from 40-50metres

He's made plans to go till America in May

[Jimmy Joe]

what happened to gregory loughran from ogs,thought he had the makings of a good footballer,kevin kelly from harps should have had a runout if only for his place kicking when on song as good as any in county.badly need a left footer that can kick 40-50 metre freesi know aronn is accurate from inside 35metres but not strong enough from 40-50metres

He's made plans to go till America in May

I'd heard that alright.  He'll be a big loss to the Ogs next year

[corn02]

McDonnell: No time for players meeting
By Steve Malone

ARMAGH manager Peter McDonnell advised people not to read too much into the omissions from his McKenna Cup squad. Steven McDonnell and Enda McNulty are noticeable absentees while the Mulaghbawn primary school principal has also added a few new faces to the panel.

St Michael's defender Neil O'Rourke, county hurler Eugene McDonnell, Chris Rafferty and Dromintee's outstanding goalkeeper Philip McEvoy are to be blooded for the first time.

Armagh begins their campaign against Antrim at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday (January 4) at 2pm.

The training ban, allowing only two sessions, imposed by Croke Park during November and December hampered the training and the Ulster Club Championship denied McDonnell and his players the chance of a face-to-face meeting.

"We were to meet on the second week of the permitted meetings after Crossmaglen were playing in Ulster Club Championship final," said McDonnell.

"But that went to a replay, then was postponed and after Crossmaglen won it was too close to Christmas. Effectively we are not going to have our second meeting and there have been no announcements of retirements, so I wouldn't read too much into the absentees."

He added: "A lot of players that were not on the county panel before the McKenna Cup have been restricted by the ban. While many of the panel have featured for Armagh over the past few years it is a myth that underage honours are a necessary requirement. The Armagh manager was quick to dispel this. "The is a perception in some quarters that unless a player has shown promise at county minor or U21 level that they wont have a county career but if they have been playing well they deserve a chance," said the Armagh manager.

Last year Armagh's lack of scoring forwards outside of Ronan Clarke and Steven McDonnell were apparent. Clann Eireann's Ryan Henderson has been touted as the answer before and McDonnell is giving the classy forward the opportunity to deliver. And McDonnell thinks highly of Henderson. McDonnell said: "Ryan Henderson did well for us in a challenge match against Wexford in Lurgan last year. But I had my panel picked at that stage and this is the first chance to see him since.


He added: "On the second trail he score around 1-5 and I have been aware of him for some time, and the opinion in the north of Armagh is that he deserves a chance." McDonnell added: "He is more than worthy of an opportunity and it is great to put a player in at the deep end and see if they have talent over they haven't.

"There is a big difference between club and county and he has done it for his club and know we can see if he can do it for his county."

The match against Antrim will be first competitive fixture in the newly refurbished Athletic Grounds and McDonnell has thrown the gauntlet down to his players to make the city ground a fortress. "It is great to get back in the Athletic Grounds although it was always great playing in Crossmaglen. But I think the Athletic Grounds is a welcome change for many fans as it is more accessible to the north bf our county and it is our traditional home. "That said, we have got to make it a new traditional home because there are a lot of players that have never played in the Athletic Grounds.

Armagh Dr McKenna Cup Squad: Ronan Austin, Conor Clarke, Ronan Clarke, Brendan Donaghy, J Donnelly, Joe Feeney, Ryan Henderson, James Lavery, Malachy Mackin, Brian Mallon, Vincie Martin, Finnian Moriarity, Tony McClelland, Barry McDonald, Eugene McDonnell, Philip McEvoy, Ciaran McKeever, Paddy McKeever, Shane Ó Neill Aidan O'Rourke, Kevin O'Rourke, Martin O'Rourke, Micheal O'Rourke, Neil O'Rourke, Chris Rafferty, Paudie Rodgers, Barry Shannon, Gareth Smyth, Barry Toner and Kieran Toner.

[corn02]

When the U21 starting? Any word on the squad?

[armagh leg-end]

When the U21 starting? Any word on the squad?

fridays irish news is supposed to have the squad!

[corn02]

When the U21 starting? Any word on the squad?

fridays irish news is supposed to have the squad!

Who can we expect to make an impact?

[corn02]

U21 squad in the paper today, very strong on paper.

[corn02]

Crossmaglen (6): K Carragher, J Clarke, S Finnegan, F Hanratty, R Kelly, P McKeown
Tullysaran (3): A Conlon, R Conlon, C Mullan
Carrickcruppen (2): S Harold, J Magill
Dromintee (2): S Carroll, R McCoy
Madden (2): K Grimley, D McKenna
Pearse Og (2): R Clarke, S Clarke
Tir na nÓg (2): J Donnelly, M McAllister
Whitecross (2): A McCann, M Shields
Wolfe Tone (2): M Carson, G O'Neill
Ballyhegan (1): J McKeever
Belleek (1): S McCreesh
Clan na Gael (1): R McGuinness
Granemore (1): K Toner
Harps (1): M McConville
Killeavey (1): B Magee
Lissummon (1): P Rodgers
Maghery (1): S Forker
St John's (1): R McParland
St Patrick's (1): K Hoey
Sarsfields (1): E McGeown
Shane O'Neill's (1): D Fearon
Silverbridge (1): G McGarvey