According to today's Irish News, Andy Mallon has announced he has called it a day on his county football career.
While Andy will not receive the plaudits sent to Colm Cooper, to Armagh supporters he made a contribution as important to Armagh as Cooper's to Kerry or perhaps even more so if you believe Brolly. Andy never went awol in any game, his guts and determination harnessed to his great talent as a defender and recently as a scoring defender were his main characteristic. He suited the more defensive modern game able to break so fast from defence and turning up in attack to score. Too many times to recount, he saved the day for Armagh with his tenacity, speed and drive. His experience and talent will be a great loss for an Armagh team that is beginning to show potential. There is no way that Tipp would have scored a goal to gain promotion if Andy had been marshalling the defence.
Thanks Andy for your immense contribution to Armagh in the good times and in the more recent difficult times.
http://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2017/04/19/news/armagh-legend-andy-mallon-calls-time-on-his-inter-county-career-1000168/ (http://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2017/04/19/news/armagh-legend-andy-mallon-calls-time-on-his-inter-county-career-1000168/)
Yes, def one of the best defenders Armagh have had. A great footballer and a really nice lad too, enjoy your County retirement and all the best for the future.
A hardworking but ultimately quite limited footballer. The sort which is quite common to see in today's game unfortunately.
Andy Mallon, limited???? Brilliant defender, skilful, intelligent.
Never seemed to indulge in the dark arts, which automatically puts him above several other quality defenders of his generation .
Great player and great corner back, always tasked with marking the opponents danger man. His position was never threatened in all his time with Armagh even during their heyday which speaks volumes.
Not sure what you mean when you say limited? He was an old school corner back who could deny and dispossess, he never had to run 100 yards to spoil his opponents' game!
I just thought he was the sort of player who was a 6/10 performer most games, never really one to impose himself on a game. Just my opinion. I understand many disagree with it. I know many people believe you need that sort of player in a team.
Far from a limited player mate.
Anyway, thanks Andy for everything you gave to Armagh football. Best of luck with the future
Far from limited, he was a speed machine who relied on pure footballing skills to nullify many of the best forwards in the game and mostly before the era where one on one tussles became almost redundant.
Never got the plaudits outside the county that most inside the county recognised, probably because he stayed out of the limelight and simply let his football do the talking. Also missed out the AI success by a year which may have had something to do with it. Started the following years AI final at 19 years of age though in the defeat to Tyrone which tells you the level of ability that he had.
Quote from: yellowcard on April 20, 2017, 01:34:45 PM
Far from limited, he was a speed machine who relied on pure footballing skills to nullify many of the best forwards in the game and mostly before the era where one on one tussles became almost redundant.
Never got the plaudits outside the county that most inside the county recognised, probably because he stayed out of the limelight and simply let his football do the talking. Also missed out the AI success by a year which may have had something to do with it. Started the following years AI final at 19 years of age though in the defeat to Tyrone which tells you the level of ability that he had.
Unless he's 50 he didn't have many years before 2003 under his belt..
Quote from: 6th sam on April 20, 2017, 11:49:37 AM
Andy Mallon, limited???? Brilliant defender, skilful, intelligent.
Never seemed to indulge in the dark arts, which automatically puts him above several other quality defenders of his generation .
I remember him almost crushing E Bradleys larynx so not quite through.
Good player however who always got the job of marking the start player on opposing team. Does he still play club ball?
Great pace and great servant.Pity he was just a year too late for the Sam team.
Quote from: The Stallion on April 20, 2017, 11:41:28 AM
A hardworking but ultimately quite limited footballer. The sort which is quite common to see in today's game unfortunately.
After reading this i didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Limited my hole!
Andy Mallon was one of the greatest defenders Armagh have EVER had. Never hid, gave nothing less than everything he had for the jersey and led by example. I'm gutted that he couldn't give it one more year but such is life. Many thanks Andy, to most Armagh people you will always be a legend.
Stallion, you're very much mistaken here I'm afraid. An absolutely outstanding corner back, I'd say in the top 2 or 3 in the country between 2003 and 2010.
I think it's probably the right time to bow out. Armagh have unearthed a few new defenders during the league campaign and they deserve their chance in the championship. Seanie Johnston kicked a few scores of Andy in last years championship whereas he wouldn't have touched it when Andy was at his imperious best.
Very best wishes in retirement
Quote from: The Stallion on April 20, 2017, 11:41:28 AM
A hardworking but ultimately quite limited footballer. The sort which is quite common to see in today's game unfortunately.
How many times have you actually watched Andy Mallon or does your opinion rely media reports?
I've watched him plenty of times. A few other points I'd like to make :
1. I wasn't aware that any newspaper reports ever referred to Mallon as a hardworking but limited footballer. Did they?
2. I don't know why you're listing what he won as though that's evidence of his ability. There's plenty of limited footballers who have lots of medals.
3. It's just my opinion, feel free to disagree with it, but there's no need to be rude folks.
Quote from: T Fearon on April 20, 2017, 03:44:27 PM
Great pace and great servant.Pity he was just a year too late for the Sam team.
Will the arrival of players of the calibre of Andy arriving after the AI, it is even more unsatisfactory that there was no second Sam.
Andy Mallon's achievements:
County
Ulster Senior Football Championship: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008
National Football League, Division 1: 2005
National Football League, Division 2: 2010
Ulster Under-21 Football Championship: 2004
All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship: 2004
Club
Armagh Senior Football Championship: 2009
Individual
All-Star: 2005
Irish News Ulster All-Star: 2005
While the list above is substantial, it does not reflect the immense contribution made by Andy Mallon to the Armagh senior team over 13 years or the amount of time and effort and sacrifice of family time he gave to Armagh especially after his move to Dublin.
Does Andy Mallon's retirement leaves just Ciaran McKeever from the All Ireland winning U-21 squad still playing for the county?
Quote from: The Stallion on April 20, 2017, 11:50:28 PM
I've watched him plenty of times. A few other points I'd like to make :
1. I wasn't aware that any newspaper reports ever referred to Mallon as a hardworking but limited footballer. Did they?
No one stated they did, this was your sole opinion.
Quote from: The Stallion on April 20, 2017, 11:50:28 PM
2. I don't know why you're listing what he won as though that's evidence of his ability. There's plenty of limited footballers who have lots of medals.
It wasn't added in response to your stated opinion but for information and I have amended the post to show this.
Quote from: The Stallion on April 20, 2017, 11:50:28 PM
3. It's just my opinion, feel free to disagree with it, but there's no need to be rude folks.
I don't believe I have been unpleasant towards you.
I'm puzzled as to why you would ask if my opinion was based on newspaper reports when to the best of my knowledge there isn't a single report which describes Mallon as a limited footballer.
Enjoy retirement. Probably could have squeezed another year out but it's not to be. One of Armagh's best players in the last 20 years. As for being a limited footballer, I think someone is just disagreeing for the sake of a bit of trolling
(https://cdn.psychologytoday.com/sites/default/files/styles/article-inline-half/public/article/2012/06/99372-96807.jpg?itok=mb2c7Zig)
Best of luck to Andy. Never saw him take a roasting and was always one of the simpler straight forward. He was neat, tidy and was great at making breaks from the corner back spot to initiate attacks. Simple doesn't mean limited. It means he made the difficult thinks look simple.
Quote from: armaghniac on April 20, 2017, 11:56:41 PM
Quote from: T Fearon on April 20, 2017, 03:44:27 PM
Great pace and great servant.Pity he was just a year too late for the Sam team.
Will the arrival of players of the calibre of Andy arriving after the AI, it is even more unsatisfactory that there was no second Sam.
Armagh were definitely good enough. But then in 2003 Tyrone took off
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on April 21, 2017, 09:26:13 AM
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Best of luck to Andy. Never saw him take a roasting and was always one of the simpler straight forward. He was neat, tidy and was great at making breaks from the corner back spot to initiate attacks. Simple doesn't mean limited. It means he made the difficult thinks look simple.
+1
Succinctly put as usual.
I thought he was a wonderfully consistent player who kept very high standards of fitness in all that time. Must have been a managers dream to work with.
Quote from: general_lee on April 21, 2017, 07:51:34 AM
Enjoy retirement. Probably could have squeezed another year out but it's not to be. One of Armagh's best players in the last 20 years. As for being a limited footballer, I think someone is just disagreeing for the sake of a bit of trolling
I'm just giving my honest opinion. Please don't accuse me of trolling just because you disagree with me, it's quite reductive and unfortunately seems to be the default response from those unable to accept an opinion which differs from their own.
Quote from: The Stallion on April 21, 2017, 11:08:01 AM
Quote from: general_lee on April 21, 2017, 07:51:34 AM
Enjoy retirement. Probably could have squeezed another year out but it's not to be. One of Armagh's best players in the last 20 years. As for being a limited footballer, I think someone is just disagreeing for the sake of a bit of trolling
I'm just giving my honest opinion. Please don't accuse me of trolling just because you disagree with me, it's quite reductive and unfortunately seems to be the default response from those unable to accept an opinion which differs from their own.
I'd like to know why you're of that opinion considering you really are the only one who has it
Quote from: tonto1888 on April 22, 2017, 07:21:04 PM
Quote from: The Stallion on April 21, 2017, 11:08:01 AM
Quote from: general_lee on April 21, 2017, 07:51:34 AM
Enjoy retirement. Probably could have squeezed another year out but it's not to be. One of Armagh's best players in the last 20 years. As for being a limited footballer, I think someone is just disagreeing for the sake of a bit of trolling
I'm just giving my honest opinion. Please don't accuse me of trolling just because you disagree with me, it's quite reductive and unfortunately seems to be the default response from those unable to accept an opinion which differs from their own.
I'd like to know why you're of that opinion considering you really are the only one who has it
I believe that he has not watched Andy Mallon playing any where near as often as those whose opinions contradict his own.
I thought Mallon was a superb corner back, a real sticky man marker, pace to burn and could bomb forward at will.
He was immense in the AI QF against Donegal 3 years back,
Quote from: Il Bomber Destro on April 22, 2017, 09:54:19 PM
I thought Mallon was a superb corner back, a real sticky man marker, pace to burn and could bomb forward at will.
He was immense in the AI QF against Donegal 3 years back,
This. He was indeed exceptional in that Donegal game - an individual performance that topped off what had been a brilliant year of form. He should have been awarded with a second All Star but unfortunately for him he paid the price in that regard for the failings of the team in not getting to an All Ireland semi-final.
2002 was indeed our breakthrough year, but there are many Armagh fans who would rate our 2004 and 2005 teams as better. That was down in no small part to the introduction of players such as Andy. Despite his age, his reitrement leaves a major hole in the defence that will not be easily filled.
Would undoubtedly be in the running for the greatest Armagh fifteen I have ever seen - but would be very difficult to try and seperate him and Denis Stevenson for the number two jersey. A wonderful servant to the Armagh cause.
Tidy player who delivered consistently - fit as a fiddle.
Enjoy the retirement.
He was a bollocks. That means he was good. In 05 he should have been moved onto O'Neill sooner.
Great servant for Armagh. A steady Eddie. Enjoy the retirement Andy.
Top quality. Will be sorely missed.
Quote from: bennydorano on April 23, 2017, 11:19:34 PM
Top quality. Will be sorely missed.
Very true. If we had 6 of him starting v Down i'd be very confident.
Quote from: maddog on April 24, 2017, 08:05:09 AM
Quote from: bennydorano on April 23, 2017, 11:19:34 PM
Top quality. Will be sorely missed.
Very true. If we had 6 of him starting v Down i'd be very confident.
Just the one would be enough for me.
This makes me feel even older. Doesn't seem that long ago i saw him get his debut (at least i think it was) as a fledgling in Omagh in a league match in 2003. Did the simple things very well, and made few mistakes. If 15 players are able to do the same, success usually follows.
Mallon was a unsung hero and great servant to his county. He made 57 Championship appearances for Armagh scoring 0-3. Is he still playing club football with Parnells in Dublin?
Sorry to see him go, I was always glad to see his name on Armagh teamsheet as he was generally given the main man marking job and consistently had his arse handed to him against us.
Always touch-tight. Had the measure of Tommy Freeman on a few occasions. Never in the media for the wrong reasons. Hard working.
Enjoy your retirement!
Statement from Andy Mallon:
http://armaghgaa.net/football/andy-mallon-retires/ (http://armaghgaa.net/football/andy-mallon-retires/)