Recent posts

#11

GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...

Last post by Armagh18 - Today at 01:32:51 PM

Could be a  last shot at ulster for alot of Armagh players like Grugan, Campbell, Murnin, Forker who have given great service to Armagh for 10 plus years.  There is not alot between the sides, though Donegal will have the edge on the sideline and have came through the tougher side of the draw. 

My main hope is that Armagh play on the front foot, but the likelyhood is that it will be low scoring and a lot of possession based football. 

This game would have been earmarked as season defining by most supporters back when the Ulster championship draw was made last Autumn. You could also say that it could well define the Geezer era. The only surprise is that it is Donegal and not Derry whom we face. It does feel like now or never for a lot of those players but then you could have said the same last season and yet we have arrived back in another final with a good chance of winning.

I really hope we don't fall into the trap of engaging in the slugfest that many seem to be predicting, it doesn't really suit the type of player we have. If it is reduced to a hand passing, possession style game then I think Donegal have better players than us at this type of game. However we have the better kick passers and are more suited to that fast, physical game. We need to play to the strengths of our best players like Rian, Grugan and Murnin and not rely on running the ball endlessly up the pitch. We also have a lot of firepower to introduce from the bench in the last 20 minutes which could be crucial.     

Era defining for sure. I'd say defeat Sunday would mean anything short of an All Ireland final this year and it's curtains.

#12

Antrim / Re: Antrim Football Thread

Last post by Milltown Row2 - Today at 01:30:27 PM

100% SO82 about those two!

Let's just say their progress has been noted! Two of our best performers in last years narrow under 20 defeat to Donegal on penalties in Ballybofey..

Add Cahir Donnelly and Johnny Hannon to the promising U20 players above, both v impressive in Cargin v Aghagallon game last night. Not a dig, but Aghagallon quite negative throughout which made Johnnys coring performance all the more impressive.

With the team they had out It's difficult to 'open' up against such a talented Cargin team away from home?

#13

General discussion / Re: Eurovision final here we c...

Last post by seafoid - Today at 01:28:19 PM

If Israel get to the final it will be nuts. It would be easy enough to manipulate public voting, I presume.

#14

Antrim / Re: Antrim Football Thread

Last post by EOC1923 - Today at 01:18:38 PM

100% SO82 about those two!

Let's just say their progress has been noted! Two of our best performers in last years narrow under 20 defeat to Donegal on penalties in Ballybofey..

Add Cahir Donnelly and Johnny Hannon to the promising U20 players above, both v impressive in Cargin v Aghagallon game last night. Not a dig, but Aghagallon quite negative throughout which made Johnnys coring performance all the more impressive.

#15

GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...

Last post by yellowcard - Today at 01:12:06 PM

Could be a  last shot at ulster for alot of Armagh players like Grugan, Campbell, Murnin, Forker who have given great service to Armagh for 10 plus years.  There is not alot between the sides, though Donegal will have the edge on the sideline and have came through the tougher side of the draw. 

My main hope is that Armagh play on the front foot, but the likelyhood is that it will be low scoring and a lot of possession based football. 

This game would have been earmarked as season defining by most supporters back when the Ulster championship draw was made last Autumn. You could also say that it could well define the Geezer era. The only surprise is that it is Donegal and not Derry whom we face. It does feel like now or never for a lot of those players but then you could have said the same last season and yet we have arrived back in another final with a good chance of winning.

I really hope we don't fall into the trap of engaging in the slugfest that many seem to be predicting, it doesn't really suit the type of player we have. If it is reduced to a hand passing, possession style game then I think Donegal have better players than us at this type of game. However we have the better kick passers and are more suited to that fast, physical game. We need to play to the strengths of our best players like Rian, Grugan and Murnin and not rely on running the ball endlessly up the pitch. We also have a lot of firepower to introduce from the bench in the last 20 minutes which could be crucial.     

#16

GAA Discussion / Re: Gaelic Football - Rules & ...

Last post by Duine Inteacht Eile - Today at 12:56:22 PM

It's a free kick from the hands.

#17

GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...

Last post by statto - Today at 12:54:06 PM

Could be a  last shot at ulster for alot of Armagh players like Grugan, Campbell, Murnin, Forker who have given great service to Armagh for 10 plus years.  There is not alot between the sides, though Donegal will have the edge on the sideline and have came through the tougher side of the draw. 

My main hope is that Armagh play on the front foot, but the likelyhood is that it will be low scoring and a lot of possession based football. 

#18

GAA Discussion / Re: Gaelic Football - Rules & ...

Last post by Milltown Row2 - Today at 12:52:01 PM

Too hot to be looking up the playing rules in T.O....

You make a forward mark, signal you're taking it,  can you punch the ball over the bar or must it be kicked?

You'd need to be on glue to fist the ball over the bar when calling a mark. Even if that is allowed I'd be calling that one up

[and were not that impressive against Fermanagh.]

#19

GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...

Last post by statto - Today at 12:50:48 PM

I personally think that Donegal will be 4-5 point winners.
Donegal didn't get the credit they deserved for walloping Derry and were narrowly beaten in an Ulster final 2 years ago.
They've already beaten Armagh in a final this year, however, were didn't perform at the same level against tyrone as they did against Derry. Some of their attacking play against Tyrone was poor enough.
They have, in my opinion, a better manager and overall better players than Armagh.

Armagh have struggled to beat a limited Down team and were not that impressive against Fermanagh.
Ok, they are perhaps trying to peak for the final so may improve.
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.

Of course I could be entirely wrong, just my read on it.

The Fermanagh game was over after 10/15 mins a potential banana skin easily disposed of. Down/Armagh is a derby game and Laverty learnt alot from last year, was a no win situation for Armagh really if they won by 10 points its the easy side of the draw narrative, while the tight nature of the game will hopefully stand to them. 

#20

GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...

Last post by thebigfullforward - Today at 12:44:32 PM

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?

What was the last bit of shite we were involved in? Galway 2022?

Rian put his knee to Cormac Quinn's head/neck. But i guess that's more of an individual thing than a collective