Armagh Club football & hurling

[Goats Do Shave]

But billy surley you can't sell sponsership by telling lies...Ballymacnab only wishes they had that pedigree you just wrote there. any business man would know that Ballymacnab couldn't achieve/achieved that load of keek...lol

The Senior team of St Brenda's Camogie Club Ballymacnab, County Armagh 

[Onion Bag]

But billy surley you can't sell sponsership by telling lies...Ballymacnab only wishes they had that pedigree you just wrote there. any business man would know that Ballymacnab couldn't achieve/achieved that load of keek...lol

Sorry to inform you illdecide, but they actually have achieved "that load of keek" that was stated in the advert

[illdecide]

well i have an apology to make...Sorry Billy thought you were talking about senior football there...Just seen the word Senior and jumped in feet 1st.

[The GAA]

Friday, March 13, 2009

Bellew may have made Armagh exit
by Brendan O'Brien

FRANCIE BELLEW may have played his last game for Armagh.

One of Gaelic football's cult figures, the 32-year old defender first played senior football for his county against Louth in 2002 and has earned a reputation for his robust style of play on the pitch and his quiet demeanour off it.

Bellew is preparing for the All-Ireland club final against Kilmacud Crokes next week and his Crossmaglen Rangers manager Donal Murtagh has hinted the defender will not be returning to inter-county duty.

"Francie is very hard to get information out of, as you know. He said he wasn't too keen on going back. He said it was a young man's game so maybe he is fed up of running around after speedy forwards."

This isn't the first time that Bellew's future with Armagh has been speculated on but he returned to the inter-county scene last year after picking up a cruciate knee ligament injury in May of 2007 that sidelined him for over six months.

Bellew won an All-Ireland senior title under Joe Kernan in 2002 and added five Ulster championships and a 2003 All Star award to his catalogue during an inter-county career in which he developed a fearsome reputation as a full-back.

His influence has yet to wane at club level. Murtagh, who played in three All-Ireland club finals with him, has deployed Bellew at centre-back where he has played a more prominent role in Crossmaglen's attacking plans.

"In my opinion, centre-half back was always his best position," said Murtagh. "He played there in front of me when I was number three. He is back out there now but it is horses for courses. We might well have to put him in the full-back line for Tuesday. You don't know."

The club has always come first for Bellew, despite his success in the inter-county environment. His haul with Rangers includes 13 county championships, seven Ulsters and four All-Irelands.

Oisin McConville has already called time on his Armagh career but Peter McDonnell will still be waiting impatiently on the return of a number of Cross players including Paul Hearty, Aaron Kernan and Stephen Kernan.

The county could certainly do with them as the sheen has long disappeared from the opening day Division Two win in Wexford after home defeats to Laois and Monaghan.

Said Murtagh: "Armagh are stretched to the limit at the minute. They have one or two other players injured as well. They are down to the bare bones. As soon as we get this out of the way, we will be more than happy to send down as many as Peter wants. We have a number of players who are good enough to play for Armagh."

The question has long been asked as to whether Crossmaglen's continuing success is good for Armagh. Another worth pondering is whether Rangers' success is good for their own players' inter-county ambitions.

Young players like Paul Kernan and David McKenna are missing out on months of preparations with the county side year after year but Murtagh believes that talent will be the sole arbiter in that scenario.

"They are still only in their early 20s so there is plenty of time. David is looking for a midfield position with Armagh and he is very young to be holding a place for the county team with seasoned midfielders there.

"He is biding his time. He is certainly good enough and he will want to get a wee bit stronger and a wee bit more streetwise to dominate a midfield position for the county but he is doing well for us. I can't complain.

"Paul Kernan has probably been our best player in the Ulster club. He is certainly playing out of his skin at the moment so it is only a matter of time before he gets his run."

[Real1995]

Good luck to Cross tomo...I kno that cross are our rivals like many other clubs as well, but in the interest of armagh surely the experience of these boys playing in croker,like McKeown, PK, and McKenna ...this can only benefit the county team in the long run...

[winsamsoon]

well i have an apology to make...Sorry Billy thought you were talking about senior football there...Just seen the word Senior and jumped in feet 1st.

Ha ha hung out to dry saan.

I'vedecided don't you know that this site is only for the the top level of mature chat . Any forms of whit are frowned upon unless you have the pleasure of being in the clicks. Not to mention that some folk just can't take a wee bit of abuse.

I see Cross taking tommorrows game by 4 or 5 confortable points. But you have only to ook at my spreads predictions to see that i am shite at predicting things like that. Anyway i'll be going out for a pint to watch it so good luck to them on the quest for supremacy

[IVEDECIDED]

Hard luck to Cross. Valliant effort. First final defeat in years - the start of the decline??? Only time will tell, I doubt it though.

[qub la la la]

Hard luck to Cross. Valliant effort. First final defeat in years - the start of the decline??? Only time will tell, I doubt it though.

first final defeat since 1982. Kilmacud well worth the win, cross just didnt seem to get started at all. Time will tell but i would be suprised if one or two stay on for another go at it. In saying that im sure there'll be no hasty decisions.

[gaahead2008]

hard luck to cross, it was there's for the taking. they gave a huge effort in the second half - big donal mustve blew his top at half time!!
thought aaron kernan tried hard, oisin's first point was unbelievable!
i have no doubt the cross lads will be back next year, with even more grit and determination!!

[under the bar]

I heard from Cross suppoter that it is well known around the town that Francie has already decided not to return to inter-county football.  Anyone else hear that?

[winsamsoon]

Hard luck cross today but it has to be said Kilmacud were the better side. I thought they outmuscled cross today which is not an easy job. The middle of the field for Cross again wasn't the best and Kilmacud were picking up most of the breaks. The ball into their forwards was also very good allowing the man to get out in front and the ball was delivered on the right side. A few of the Cross lads tried to lift it but i just got the sense that they had just threw the towel in. Towards the end there was a shot showing a reply and you could see 4 or 5 cross lads hanging their heads resigned to defeat (i can't say i have witnessed this before) I thought the ref today was once again a little more leniant towards the Crokes. He was letting them knock it in a little bit more imo but hen again some of the cross fouls were cynical (and they have got away with a few of them in the past) All in all a great side and record that will never be beaten by an Armagh team. I hardly think it will set any alarm bells of in cross. I would say, knowing the nature of the beast it will spare them on for highier achievements next year.

[fitzroyalty]

I heard from Cross suppoter that it is well known around the town that Francie has already decided not to return to inter-county football.  Anyone else hear that?

Heard that aswell, duno where, but his return to the county setup was always in doubt. Disappointing that Cross didn't do the business but on the day Crokes wanted it that bit more

[crossfire]

When, and where, do Armgh under 21's play Cavan.??

[Carbery]

When, and where, do Armgh under 21's play Cavan.??

Athletic Grounds, Armagh, tonight (Wed) at 8.00pm

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

Tonight in Armagh but from the thread on the General section there's a bit of debate as to whether the match is at 8 or half 7.