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[It was bizarre though the amount of bodies back and still not enough pressure on kickers. Both sides had men in the forwards who were on fire from distance and yet the defence packed back in and around the D and looked as another boomer swung over.]

I think my earlier post about Armagh shutting up shop and holding out when 4 up on the 54th minute meant I love dour shite, but I loved that game yesterday in terms of lads letting rip.

It was bizarre though the amount of bodies back and still not enough pressure on kickers. Both sides had men in the forwards who were on fire from distance and yet the defence packed back in and around the D and looked as another boomer swung over.

This was certainly my take too. Frustrating but also great to see some class scores. Maybe both sides very wary that a goal would be a killer blow.

[Very harsh and don't agree with that at all, Jarly Og is well capable of kicking a ball over the bar from 35-40m on the correct side of the pitch given his kicking style.]

The talk of Jarly Og's mark is a red herring, if Jarly was given a bag of O Neills and stood on that spot in Clones till next Sunday he wouldn't have make that kick. Soup should have had a pop at his , but again he had just missed a similar one so he maybe didnt feel good about it. A wild wide and handing back procession to Patton was not the right option. When Conaty dropped short was a turning point I feel,he should have recycled, maybe bit of inexperience but the lad had a great game other than that and his wide at the last.

Very harsh and don't agree with that at all, Jarly Og is well capable of kicking a ball over the bar from 35-40m on the correct side of the pitch given his kicking style. If that was the case he shouldn't have bothered calling the mark in the first instance. I don't particularly like the rule to begin with but it is there to be taken advantage of where spaces in defence are tight in the closing stages of games.

It's a sad indictment of gaelic football that some people think a ball should be recycled backwards from a shooting position inside the 45m line and that they can't trust a player to have a shot at the posts. Playing the low risk percentages might be part of the reason why we can't see out these matches, its a fear mindset.   

I'm not so sure that he is. Jarly óg falls into the category of players we have that IMO are told to not shoot unless it's almost a certainty. You can see it in our build up play.  Quite a few of our lads are not going to attempt to threaten the scoreboard (in certain positions) and I'm sure the opposition know this too.

Not the group Armagh would have wanted to be in of course. It looks like it will be very tough. Westmeath probably should have caught us at this stage last year and they almost caught Tyrone too. That certainly isnt an easy game.

Going to Celtic Park is always difficult for any team.

I dont expect there to be a big margin between the teams in any of the games and so the final standings could well be up in the air. Topping the pile would be amazing.  If not, then getting 2nd and securing that home advantage is essential. 

Gutting yet again. I dont think a single Armagh supporter expected us to either pull away or not let them back into it when we went 4 up in the 2nd half.  It's what we do.  The same applies for going 2 up in ET. Did we not do the same v Derry last year?  A lead seems to suck us into our shell. 

The score taking on the day from both sides was excellent, but particularly Donegal. The were very efficient.  That said, Armagh seemed to allow shots from 40m+ on occasion, almost in hope that this would be outside range or a low percentage shot.  Donegal ate them chances up.  Donegal also seemed to pick holes in our defensive shape with some lovely runs and fist passes around the D.

That's 5 times I have watched Armagh lose on penalties.  You can say that they're a lotto, but when you are 5 nil down it's not just bad luck. In general the Donegal penalties were much better than ours. IMO a very strange decision to put Shane forward for pens when he hasnt kicked a competitive ball in months.  Felt for him. 

I had the p20 years ago. It was a great phone. Huawei could really have taken over large parts of the western market if not for the Google ban. I'm a suckered for new tech and currently have the excellent zfold5. I realise that this type of phone wouldn't be for everyone though.

I'd agree with Gallsman. If you want a good camera phone but not at the price of the top spec Samsung galaxy ultra, then go for a pixel.

[Hopefully Rian will finally live up to his ability and get us over the line in a big game.]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2024/0508/1448043-mcguinness-looms-but-time-for-armagh-to-deliver/

Another "it's their time", "greater need" analysis.

Which I think is fair enough, but it's pressure.

Reminds me of Derry in 1993, when Tohill ploughed through the muck and the Donegal backs to drag them to the title and AI shot they felt they'd fail to grab the previous year, which is why I am a little worried about men like Rian O'Neill being particularly driven!

Hopefully Rian will finally live up to his ability and get us over the line in a big game.

 Armaghs need is probably greater than Donegals, I'd put money on Donegal being in the final again next year regardless whereas we could struggle next year if we've another failure this time. How much that "greater need" will matter I'm not sure.

His score from distance v Monaghan really should have been that moment but I know what you mean.  I think I've accepted that he isnt going to be a prolific scorer but will be there in the big moments.

I will be surprised if this game is anything other than a game of chess for large parts. I'd be worried that if Armagh sit in and dont engage players in possession then we will be hurt by the runs of McHugh and Mogan. IMO McHugh should be tagged at all times, but I doubt that will happen.

Good to see McCabe is back for Armagh as he certainly adds solidity to the middle of the defence.

Just Canada for me in the C&Ds.  I'd defo have Croatia on my list for the future.

The act is totally batshit crazy but I was still interested in watching it. I'd watch it again too. I can see a decent result here.

I finally got to the cinema to see Dune 2. I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I think it was up a step from the first part. There are maybe some scenes that could be cut to shorten the film but I wouldnt change it. It's a cinematic spectacle at times.

I look forward to more in the franchise.

Typical Utd. Will more than likely come out like men possessed against the gunners at the weekend. 

I just cant see that backline and midfield matching up to Arsenal at the minute.

On the race for 4th.  Villa have 2 games left and I dont think that they win either of them (Liverpool H, Palace A). The hope is that Spurs go full on spursy.

Good season endings for both Chelsea and Newcastle

It is powerful stuff though

https://www.derrynow.com/news/derry-sport/1488963/swatragh-s-jude-mcatamney-joins-new-york-giants.html

Great news for this lad too.

Drunken louts can have loyalty too

The Armagh v Down game was as bad a game of county football as I can ever remember. There were of course flashes of brilliance but really they were few and far between. It's not even the 15 men behind the ball by both sides, it's the lack of desire and intensity to win the ball back from the opposition that really frustrates me. That little bit of quality off the bench seemed to tip it slightly in our favour. 2 great scores by the Cullyhanna men.

The referee completely bamboozled me with his calls throughout the match.

I see some posts about the Armagh crowd at the game. I arrived to Clones pretty late and went straight to the ground. I have to say it was noticeable the amount of really drunk young ones, and a large Garda presence. Not just a few pints, but in bad shape. I wondered was it because of the 5.15 on Saturday game but I'm probably deluded in that.

Were  there any incidents re: the buckfast gang?

Not that I witnessed. Nothing major.  I was in the Pat McGrane though and everything was pretty civilised in there. Last year we had a flare thrown down on top of us from the hill so it was bonus not to have that again.

Incidentally I saw one bottle of buckfast and a lad in a town top was holding it. He must have been minding it.