McKenna Cup 2024

[naka]

Armagh getting a tanking was not a surprise once the line ups became known.

The bigger question is how long do the GAA persist with a pre-season competition that counties have little interest in playing in what is already an overstacked calendar.

Strange one by Armagh management to clash their challenge with the Donegal McKenna cup game.

Could somewhat understand that if a Connacht team did it as their pre-season competition games are played indoors and foreign to what is to come with the outdoor NFL games but Donegal under McGuinness was decent enough of a challenge than organising another one?

We play them next month in the league so better to try things out against a team we don't play .

[God14]

Armagh getting a tanking was not a surprise once the line ups became known.

The bigger question is how long do the GAA persist with a pre-season competition that counties have little interest in playing in what is already an overstacked calendar.

Strange one by Armagh management to clash their challenge with the Donegal McKenna cup game.

Could somewhat understand that if a Connacht team did it as their pre-season competition games are played indoors and foreign to what is to come with the outdoor NFL games but Donegal under McGuinness was decent enough of a challenge than organising another one?

We play them next month in the league so better to try things out against a team we don't play .

100%

[Orior]

Armagh getting a tanking was not a surprise once the line ups became known.

The bigger question is how long do the GAA persist with a pre-season competition that counties have little interest in playing in what is already an overstacked calendar.

Is Armagh playing Dublin this week in a friendly?

[ck]

Armagh played Dublin last night in challenge game. Sent the U20s to fulfill the McKenna Cup fixture.

[screenexile]

How did that game finish?

[Itchy]

How did that game finish?

600 burpies each

[Sportacus]

Armagh played Dublin last night in challenge game. Sent the U20s to fulfill the McKenna Cup fixture.

Seriously? That's one hell of a snub if true.

[Armagh18]

Just right. Madness looking Armagh to tr**p to Ballybofey at half 7 the first Wednesday in Jan for a glorified friendly against a team we be meeting in the league soon. We fulfilled the fixture and gave young lads a chance to be able to say the played for their county. Some might never play again but theres a couple there who'll be big names for us in the future hopefully.

[bennydorano]

Was that a panel for the whole competition or just that match? 🤔

[markl121]

Just right. Madness looking Armagh to tr**p to Ballybofey at half 7 the first Wednesday in Jan for a glorified friendly against a team we be meeting in the league soon. We fulfilled the fixture and gave young lads a chance to be able to say the played for their county. Some might never play again but theres a couple there who'll be big names for us in the future hopefully.

so they just went to Dublin instead?

[ck]

Just right. Madness looking Armagh to tr**p to Ballybofey at half 7 the first Wednesday in Jan for a glorified friendly against a team we be meeting in the league soon. We fulfilled the fixture and gave young lads a chance to be able to say the played for their county. Some might never play again but theres a couple there who'll be big names for us in the future hopefully.

That's one way of spinning it. The other way is that Armagh showed the competition complete disrespect. They sent their u20s to take a hiding which did them no favours at all. Meanwhile, instead of fulfilling their obligations McGeeney brought his players to Dublin to play the All-Ireland Champions, perhaps they see themselves more at Dublins level and Donegal are below them? All in all, a very strange call by Armagh no matter how you look at it.

[yellowcard]

Armagh have played Dublin regularly in friendlies since Dessie Farrell took over. Himself and Geezer are former club team mates.

I'd be more concerned how Bumpy O'Hagan and the county board thought it was a good idea to allow a bunch of young U-20 rookies to travel to Donegal to play a well conditioned team who have had a foreign training camp and weeks of hard training under their belts. It certainly wasn't done with the welfare of those young players in mind and just as well Donegal fielded a good few rookies themselves or it could have been a whole lot worse.

[Armagh18]

Armagh have played Dublin regularly in friendlies since Dessie Farrell took over. Himself and Geezer are former club team mates.

I'd be more concerned how Bumpy O'Hagan and the county board thought it was a good idea to allow a bunch of young U-20 rookies to travel to Donegal to play a well conditioned team who have had a foreign training camp and weeks of hard training under their belts. It certainly wasn't done with the welfare of those young players in mind and just as well Donegal fielded a good few rookies themselves or it could have been a whole lot worse.

Wouldn't be too worried about the young lads. A chance to test yourself against top players in front of a good crowd- above all a senior appearance for your county which a lot of them may see few of again. Out and play with no pressure and no expectations as everyone knew Donegal would win well- out and put a shift in.

[yellowcard]

Armagh have played Dublin regularly in friendlies since Dessie Farrell took over. Himself and Geezer are former club team mates.

I'd be more concerned how Bumpy O'Hagan and the county board thought it was a good idea to allow a bunch of young U-20 rookies to travel to Donegal to play a well conditioned team who have had a foreign training camp and weeks of hard training under their belts. It certainly wasn't done with the welfare of those young players in mind and just as well Donegal fielded a good few rookies themselves or it could have been a whole lot worse.

Wouldn't be too worried about the young lads. A chance to test yourself against top players in front of a good crowd- above all a senior appearance for your county which a lot of them may see few of again. Out and play with no pressure and no expectations as everyone knew Donegal would win well- out and put a shift in.

Well I'd beg to differ. There are Sigerson Cup teams or other U-20 county teams that can be used for that purpose. There were lads playing last night who have barely established themselves on their club senior teams never mind facing senior inter county players. The difference in terms of physical development between a good 18-19 year old and a well seasoned 25/26 year old player is huge.

Maybe it will sound the ultimate death knell for the pre season competitions though which have become even more pointless since the provincial competitions have become separated from the All Ireland series.

[Armagh18]

Armagh have played Dublin regularly in friendlies since Dessie Farrell took over. Himself and Geezer are former club team mates.

I'd be more concerned how Bumpy O'Hagan and the county board thought it was a good idea to allow a bunch of young U-20 rookies to travel to Donegal to play a well conditioned team who have had a foreign training camp and weeks of hard training under their belts. It certainly wasn't done with the welfare of those young players in mind and just as well Donegal fielded a good few rookies themselves or it could have been a whole lot worse.

Wouldn't be too worried about the young lads. A chance to test yourself against top players in front of a good crowd- above all a senior appearance for your county which a lot of them may see few of again. Out and play with no pressure and no expectations as everyone knew Donegal would win well- out and put a shift in.

Well I'd beg to differ. There are Sigerson Cup teams or other U-20 county teams that can be used for that purpose. There were lads playing last night who have barely established themselves on their club senior teams never mind facing senior inter county players. The difference in terms of physical development between a good 18-19 year old and a well seasoned 25/26 year old player is huge.

Maybe it will sound the ultimate death knell for the pre season competitions though which have become even more pointless since the provincial competitions have become separated from the All Ireland series.

Doesn't matter what me or you think, at end of the day Geezer makes the call and I can see his thinking. 

For what it's worth I agree with you. Rather see(relatively) older lads who've been around a couple of years but not nailed down a starting spot like Cian McConville or Justin Kieran as well as likes of Ciaron O'Hanlon O O'Neill and Mark Shields etc who've been injured and not played much last year or 2. Maybe give a few of the best U20's there a chance along with those older boys.

Anyway come June/July we aren't gonna give a shite who played in the McKenna cup lol.