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Expected that game to be boring, but not because it was over as a contest after 20mins.

Armagh were impressive tbf, planned on pressing their kickouts and forcing their kickouts long, and worked a treat both ways. 

I thought we would get more from fermanagh but the rolled over fairly handy, fairly fast.

Roll on the Donegal/Derry game, should ignite some excitement into the championship

To me Tyrone look like a team with no thought out plans/structure, talent alone gets them through some games, that's why they blow so hot & cold imo. Could take Derry on a hot day and get embarrassed on a bad day whereas Donegal & Armagh will keep it tight v Derry through defensive structures. I'm fed up with Armagh's style of play tho, so I'm not advocating it.

Very true. Having Canavan in the form he's been gives them an edge. If he can maintain that and Donnelly, McCurry, Canavan Jr, Meyler can come back to some sort of form then they've got a chance against most.
I agree my own personal opinion is that they are being hamstrung by the management with a lack of system/ plan.

Tyrone have been inconsistent for a while in my opinion (always refer to them as a jekyll and hyde team) and Canavan has been dragging them over the line in some games.  If they can get a few players into form to take the burden from him, then of course they could be a danger, but I honestly cannot see that happening this year for them. 

Armagh/Fermagh will lack any entertainment in my eyes, for the most part anyway.  As mentioned before, if Armagh manage to get a few points lead, Fermanagh will have to chase them and open themselves up, which might lead to a game of football.  I would expect Armagh to win of course, but not a great one for the neutral. 

My own take on the ranking for the ulster championship (based on form and the draw).

1 - Derry - out and out team to beat regardless of the draw. 
2 - Armagh - draw lends to an 'easier' route to the final. 
3 - Donegal - seem to be a resurgence in them, should give Derry a game with a fully fit team.
4 - Down - Should get over Antrim with no fuss, and may catch Armagh on the hop to make it to a final.
5 - Tyrone - should get over the line in their first game, likely to get beat by Derry/Donegal. 
6 - Monaghan - expect them to beat Cavan and give Tyrone a game, but fall short at this point.   
7 - Fermanagh - expect Armagh to beat them, but it will be a grind for the most of it.
8 - Cavan - no real expectations on Cavan, exit at the first hurdle. 
9 - Antrim - Down seem to be showing promise, so expect Antrim to go out at their hands handy enough. 

Derry v Armagh a likely final. 

Derry's only downfall in my eyes would be injuries to key players(Mc Guigan, Rodgers or Glass) or taking their eye off the ball. 

For Armagh to win, they would need to get over the mental hurdle of caving under the pressure of big games that has haunted them this past 3 years. 

Still bemused what yesterdays team selection and rigid tactics were all about. I'm hoping it was some kind of master plan to conceal our game plan for the championship.

Not bothered in the slightest about not winning the trophy but in the wider scheme of things it was deflating. There must be a lot of disgruntled subs when you looked at the quality we had sitting on the bench and not used until it was last ditch desperation time.

Rian may have had his fitness issues but it's inexplicable how Oisin has seen so little game time in the League while the 3 Cullyhanna players seem to have fallen out of favour since winning the All Ireland.

Very lucky we are in the same side of the draw as the 7-9 ranked teams in Ulster, otherwise I'd be fearful of our Ulster championship prospects. We played right into Donegals hands yesterday in persisting with a short passing running game. As usual we produced a 10 minute burst when the game looked up and then retreated into our shells again when we looked like we might win it.

Not sure what the issue on o O'Neil is. I would rank him as one of the finer players on the panel.

In terms of the 3 cullyhanna lads, the team was settled when they came back, so it would have been hard to slot them straight in.  I would say duffy would be the only one of the three that would start anyway.

As mentioned already, a league 2 title is a facile victory. Promotion to the top tier was achieved, a game against good opponents in croke Park was the bonus, and unearthing a few new players all adds to a successful league campaign leading into championship.

Simplest thing to do is upon passing your test you have to sit through a 2 hour speed course showing the real life consequences. Actual local stories with photos would soon make a few young ones pay att.

Would it though? Everyone knows of these accidents, but they carry on regardless anyway.

I agree, and ties in with the point I had made earlier, some people don't learn until they go through it unfortunately, and some people will never learn and wise up. 

Not to go down the route of the law, or to open that can of worms too much, but some of the sentences for driving offences are pish poor and wouldn't discourage offenders in the slightest.   

In my view sometimes it takes a close call or a friend/family/community member to unfortunately lose their lives on the roads for it to hit home to young ones what impact driving can have, not even dangerous driving at that. 

For young ones, possible overconfidence can lead to accidents.  Like driving down a familiar road at speed etc.  I know a few that have written off cars on roads less than a mile from home, just because they think they know every inch of it, gives them the right to drive it how they please. 

Armagh 7-16
Antrim 0-02
Another bad result for our underage set-up.
Armagh wouldn't be known for being an underage powerhouse, which makes this result standout for me.

Another horrendous beating, and as you say Armagh are no big shakes. Apathy from top to bottom. I genuinely don't know where you'd even start to fix this as we've fallen miles behind and it's been decades in the making. A multitude of issues.

Armagh had success at u16 level last year I believe and have hope to follow that through to minors, with aidan o rourke taking the reigns this year. I would say they are decent enough tbf.

[This is a nonsense]

I think anyone following armagh know that the depth of players commiting to the team at present hasn't been seen for the past 20odd years. There are quality players currently sitting on the bench we would have been building teams around 10 years ago, certainly a conundrum mcgeeney never had when he started.

In terms of success, ulster would certainly be a realistic possibility with the draw, and failing to win that would been seen as a failure to capitalise on all the elements aligning (a good team, good draw, and previous final experience).

This is a nonsense and part of the populist narrative in the county over the last couple of years.
We have a large panel of players of a very similar and good standard. A lot of players are interchangeable.

McGeeney demands an extremely high level or work and when they're all hitting that together it makes the team formidible. He's getting a tune out of lads at that level through conditioning and effort that I wouldn't have though possible watching them play club football.

However, Armagh don't have the number of high quality players that most of the division one teams have. Forker, Grugan and Murnin are the exceptions to that - they'd make any team in my view. This is why Rian is such a disappointment as he has exceptional ability but doesn't back it up with the work on and off the pitch the others do.

Beyond that group, everyone is replaceable by similar but that group is smaller than most top counties.

If Armagh are to win Ulster or All Ireland titles it will be a collective effort and a result of team ethic and approach tactically.

What part is nonsense?

I think anyone following armagh know that the depth of players commiting to the team at present hasn't been seen for the past 20odd years. There are quality players currently sitting on the bench we would have been building teams around 10 years ago, certainly a conundrum mcgeeney never had when he started.

In terms of success, ulster would certainly be a realistic possibility with the draw, and failing to win that would been seen as a failure to capitalise on all the elements aligning (a good team, good draw, and previous final experience).

The Overlap is quite good to be fair and the guests are generally top of the pile also.  Although lighthearted, Gary and Jamie aren't afraid to ask the hard questions also to be fair.   

Ole on this week talking about his tenure at United and what he perceives to have went wrong etc. 

Armagh haven't won an Ulster from 2008, so that is probably an indicator of why they haven't made that stage of the championship, they just weren't at that level. 

Donegal would be the most surprising of that list, given they were constantly competing at near the top past their last entry of 2014. 

Meath/Kildare a bit of a strange one also, I would have thought they would have made that stage, but then I suppose Dublin dominating Lenister means they are pitted against a Provincial winner in the QF's if they make the Leinster final. 

Interesting reading that is!

Jesus christ when you compare some of these clowns to the likes of Denis irwin and the money the clowns have earned in comparison.  Mental

Speaking of clowns, it looks like Pogba is done as a professional.  A happy ending to a mercenary player that spoiled the club the past 10 years. 

[Flags hanging round the place are a sign of insecurity tbh. Triumphalism and inseccurity.]

Flags hanging round the place are a sign of insecurity tbh. Triumphalism and inseccurity.

As someone here said it's grown up politics. The way she will look at it is there are two teams on this island so she can support both.

I think it's hard when you are of a certain age to see NI as a team for all. I don't mind seeing them do well but when things like Neil Lennon, Anton Rogan etc happen and also when they play their games where they do then it can be hard to see past that and you could never fully, fully, support them.

I have always carried this view.  When I see a flag in a housing estate etc always makes me think how insecure you would have to be to have to have that flying for no other reason than identifying to "the other side" who lives here. 

In terms of supporting the NI team, I would want to see them do well, but their core fan base is just rotten and backwards. 
I wouldn't be going into the south belfast ni supports club for a pint pre-game, and I don't think an invitation would be extended to the first minister or the gaa president anytime soon either. 
 

Think its a good tactic if the right guy is on the ball. 

Rory Began, Niall Morgan and Ethan Rafferty all implement it well and tend to make the correct decisions when on the ball. 

Offside and outfield soccer players not being able to handle the ball would make it a f#ckup

Meath v Kildare - Can only see a Meath win after Kildares last two games.  If Kildare cannot get fired up for this one, their season may as well be over. 

Louth v Cavan - Hard to call as both teams are well capable of beating one another, but I think Cavan may edge it.

Fermanagh v Cork - Fermanagh have been impressive in the league so far (bar the second half last week of course) and can see them winning with no fuss. 

Armagh v Donegal - Not sure.  This will be Donegal's first big test under their new high press style.  If it falters against Armagh then there is little hope of it working down the road against the 'bigger' teams. 

Vise versa for Armagh, their first big test against a well organised and physically fit team.  Interesting to see if they can adopt to facing a tactically better team and coming out the better.  I would expect a low scoring game also.