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Yeah, that five penalty takers on repeat rule is ridiculous.

What's the rationale anyway? To be different from soccer?

Then you end up with poor Armagh lad who missed twice against Monaghan last year.

It's cruel sending a lad who already missed up again.

Callum comiskey. Not on the panel this year and I wonder if that had anything to do with it. Not that anyone from Armagh put any blame on him

Armagh fold again on Penalties, Why was Rian O'Neil taken off. Awful way to lose a game. Some Armagh supporters argue that's that a draw! 4 point up with 20 mins to go, Armagh went bck into their shell instead pushing on.

This time Armagh did not fold, good save to win it. Rian couldn't walk at full time, physio was working on him he had run out of gas. Why Oisin doesn't start or come in earlier is a mystery. But Donaghy telling Jarly Og to recycle a mark that was scoreable  points to a mindset that leads to losing games. Twice at least they had the game won and then stopped doing what was working for them. Players running into dead ends and not taking opportunities points to that  same mindset. Something needs to change, if not McGeeney then the back room. They need a change of direction. Some incredible scores yesterday from both teams, fair play Donegal they found a a way.

Folding in penalty shootout not sure about that however game was certainly there to be won by Armagh in normal time and extra time and will look back on that with much regret.

I thought the last two Armagh penalties weren't good ones.  Patton unlucky he didn't save one before he did save one to win the shoot out.  By that stage it was coming down to fellas that didn't want to take penalties.

Fellas that didn't want to take penalties? It was the same people taking them. That's one rule which needs to change

I'm not against the attacking mark but think it needs tweaked. A wee pump pass into the 45 should not result in a free kick at goal

At the moment, I can't see Armagh getting out of this group. Don't know how the players pick themselves up

Did Armagh do anything overly different in the last quarter compared to the rest of the game. Not really. They sat back and defended they whole way through. They gave Donegal the kickout the whole way through. They were patient in attack the whole way through.

Difference was they were turned over a number of times in the Donegal half. Mackin following a loose pass that skidded away from him, McCabe in the corner, Campbell (off the ground that wasn't). They had a couple of shots drop short and a couple of wides.

Was a period of Donegal dominance not to be expected? They also got a couple of outrageous scores. They are two evenly matched teams after all.

This is the point I was trying to make. We didn't do much different at all. Donegal just upped their game, got a couple great scores and momentum shifted

[I know it's harsh but 4 clear in the 54th minute of a game where there were a lot of bodies back...That game should have been put to bed by Armagh.]

I know it's harsh but 4 clear in the 54th minute of a game where there were a lot of bodies back...
That game should have been put to bed by Armagh.

And they had legs coming off the bench too. Even if both teams looked set up defensive with bodies back a lot of the scores were not under massive pressure.

That being said the striking from distance was top class.

There's 20 mins approx left on the clock. 2 scores will bridge or exceed that gap of 4 points. That's a breaking ball, a mistake, a mistimed tackle etc...4 points can be scored in a minute, that's the beauty of it. Football would be some bore if a team had a 4 point lead and you'd be fairly confident they could hold onto it against a team that's as strong

When you think about, two teams of amateur players going hammer and tongs for 90+ mins, some amazing scores. Very enjoyable, glad I'm someone who enjoys it tbh

The lazy analysis will be on armaghs failure to close it out. Reverting to type etc. I've seen it already in WhatsApp groups, on Twitter etc. however, that completely takes away from Donegal upped their game. Couple of good scores and momentum shifts. Credit to them. We may meet again yet

I actually enjoyed that game.
Some brilliant defending, some class scores, not a goal chance over the whole game though.

That was actually the best I've seen Armagh playing in years. And the most disciplined, have to say they were much better than I expected.
Rian Oneill in midfield I think is definitely the best position for him. They are just short a few players I think.

When it went to penalties I fully expected donegal to win them and that Armagh would choke again. But as it played out, only one bad penalty out of 6. For the first time, I think Armagh would have won with a bit of luck.

Donegal maybe not as good as I thought they were either after the derry game. Certainly struggled for scores at times and around the middle 3rd. But they just have a few individuals who are a level above Armagh. When Armagh were 4 up they really should have pushed on, but donegal had the experience and know how to pull it back.

I though donegal substitutions were strange. Mcbrearty was an obvious penalty taker.
I'm guessing Rian was took off as geezer didn't want him taking a penalty maybe?

I enjoyed it. I'm in the minority but I love penalties, so for me it was a really good game.

Would actually rather have had donegal in our group games, but Armagh v derry will be tasty.

Rian was limping badly when he went off. Was clearly injured

A few things after  watching all that:

Football as a spectacle is  pathetic.

You're hard to please!

There was some  very good scores taken , but  the  match  itself  was brutal

Found it to be a intriguing watch, brutal for me is one sided contest whereby on team has thrown in the towel long before the final whistle and 5 to 7 point margin ends up as 17 to 20 point defeat.

The first half was as good as half as you'll see all year

Absolutely devastated. No words.
Well done Donegal. Hope the lads and lassies form here enjoy the night

Really sore on youse tonto1888.. Won't mean a while pile now, but Armagh are winning games and have reached 2 Ulster finals in a row

Cheers mate. Will take a while to get over that one alright

Absolutely devastated. No words.
Well done Donegal. Hope the lads and lassies form here enjoy the night

Need to get stuck in from the first whistle and not let them breathe, especially at home.

No away supporters in so it should be hell for them. Especially important to start with intensity to get the crowd rocking.

Then nick an early goal.

The problem is with VAR it doubles the chances for them to get another penalty and also to give a red card to a Celtic player. It's very likely to happen especially if the game is tight. Tavernier has had a world record 20 penalties this season, he's scored a world record 15 penalties and missed a world record 5 penalties. Most of those have been extremely dodgy but have been awarded by VAR.Typically similar incidents against them have been ignored as they don't get penalties given against them.

We got one against them last game

Big weekend ahead men, a bit nervous for tomorrow tbh but i feel like that all the time before a big game. Boat tonight and be like a kid on Christmas Eve in this hotel tonight...lol.

I am always nervous before these games and would, as always, take a draw now

I have this bad feeling in my stomach that this is going to be packed defenses and 15 men behind the ball with cross field passing until we're gonna pull our own hairs out. If this happens Armagh can do one, if i've to go back up that road again losing another close game thru defensive football I swear to f**k i'll crack. If we're gonna lose i'd rather have a go at them and play an entertaining  and enjoyable game of football. Take the shackles off and have a rattle at them!.

fully agree with this

You can get male witches

But they've done nothing in recent years to show they have the nerve to win a big game - I think they are just short a few players and need to focus on the football and not the physical antics they often get themselves involved in. If they focus on playing their own game and I think they'll do better than trying to out-tactic Donegal.

What physical antics? Have they been giving away more frees than the opposition? Have they had more cards?

Ok it may be a subjective view, but Armagh seem to overly focus on trying to out-muscle other teams. Often resulting in cards, sometimes resulting in spendings off. Example is last year's ulster final - it was a game Armagh could have won (especially given the circumstances around Derry), game almost over and Rian O'Neill made a bee line for McGuigan and took him down at shoulder height conceding a free which ultimately cost Armagh the game. No reckless physical tackle, Armagh win.
Armagh have been involved in a number of incidents over recent years with melee's and multiple sendings off.
Rian is close to being a liability in my view - undoubtedly very talented, but he's just as likely to get himself sent off in the first 10 minutes as he is to putting in a match winning performance imo.

That's what I mean by physical antics.
I've not issue with teams playing an aggressive game, but Armagh seem to step over the line more often than others. In my opinion, reigning that part of the game in a little and focusing more on footballing side of it will be of more benefit to Armagh.

you havent watched much of armagh this year. Thankfully we look to have left a lot of that nonsense behind.
How often has Rian been sent off in the first ten minutes by the way?