Messages

They have a set of rules in Crossmaglen that is different to what all other clubs have to adhere, ie, they can do what they like and are immune from any sanctions as where other teams are guilty if they look angry at one of their players. Their diving is almost as bad as Tyrone. There were no complaints last year when Kevin Nolan got sent of in the wrong for hanratty diving, his two yellows werent even frees and cost Kilmacud the game. how many times has Tony kernan dived and got players sent off ? Did you see him stamping on the Garrycastle players hand when he was on the ground. They usually get a player sent off each game for diving. Stephen kernan struck, he got sent off, do the crime do the time.

Get a life! Cross do alot of things but dive, yeah right! They are an honest and hard team that know their limitations but also know their strengths. You will find that most teams cant handle their intensity and physical side of the game and get drawn into something they shouldnt! If the were divers how come Jamie Clarke stayed on is feet all day instead of falling when he had men hanging from him every time he got the ball, yet that clown waved play-on, unlike Dolan who, as the papers said on Sunday, "used his experience to manufacture free" ie he was diving!!

Stephen Kernan did not strike!  FACT, i was at the match and it was barely a push as the man ploughed into him after the ball was away!

Garycastle were getting away with alot off the ball too and umpires turned a blind-eye to it.

A proper ref on Sunday and Cross would have at least 3 or 4 scorable frees and GC would have had 2 or 3 less!

Heres hoping common sense prevails on Sunday and the best team wins out and we arent talking about incompetent refereeing again!!!

 Im dumb-founded how some people think that the headbutt wasnt a red card offence!! Are we now saying that we can allow this sort of thing go on, every person to a man and woman at the match beside me thought it was straight red, and even more so when the highlights were shown at halftime! No-one can explain why he gave the G'castle player a yellow card! While within a few minutes of this he was flashing yellow cards for jersey pulls etc. And that is where the inconsistency lies. (and dont start me on the refs display at the Laois game on Sunday, OMG!?!?) How can you coach young people when the refs dont know the rules!

Anyway this was only 1 incident in the whole game, that the ref made a complete mess off! He was extremely harsh on Cross and a ref that applies (as someone else called it) "common sense" Cross would has alot more scorable frees and G'Castle would have had a few less!

Anyway i cant see Cross or Tony Mc whinging about it, thats not their style, they'll go away and come back stronger for it! And heres hoping Stephen Kernan can lift the cup!

 Armagh werent great tonight, but i have to say that Deegan tonight was an absolute disgrace, his application of the rules between the 2 teams was a farce! 2 men tackling and Armagh man was a free to Mayo for overcarrying while in the opposite was a free to Mayo for 2 man tackle!!

Again Armagh werent good enough and didnt deserve anything but its disappointing when nothing is going your way for the ref to be against you too!

[Colm Cavanagh - the most ungainly looking footballer. Can't tackle, awkward solo.]

Good performances from the Donnellys, Mulligan, McCarron, Murphy and Harte (after they went down to 14). O'Neill's point out on the left was the score of the day.

Impressive was the workrate from the forwards. Mattie Donnelly covered every blade of grass and confident in possession. Hughes showed a nice composure on the ball.

I'm still not convinced defensively. Quinn was caught napping for Bradley's goal and that'll happen on the big stage. Bradley outfielded 4 defenders in the first half at one stage. McCarron played well almost as a wing forward and looked good on the eye (took his point well) but commits silly fouls on the back foot. An example was Derry's first of the second half when he tugged Gilligan I think.

Harte was tortured by Lynch in the first 20 and only when Derry went down to 14 and Justin kept an eye on Lynch was he able to express himself. I always wanted to see Harte as CHB but a good CHF will put him on the back foot and Tyrone need him on the ball. As a spare man he was gold dust even with the odd misplaced pass. Carlin is Carlin. He fouls but runs his arse off. Colm Cavanagh - the most ungainly looking footballer. Can't tackle, awkward solo. But he has something about him - sort of a less direct version of his brother - played one hell of a pass for one of Murphy's points.

Midfield? Still not part of Mickey's gameplan.

Add to that a complete cheat! He got Conway sent off for pulling his jersey, and rolled around holding his face! Hope this isnt a trend that Tyrone are reintroducing to their game! 

McCarron, Quinn, Donnelly, Murphy were the pick of the Tyrone players and they are all new faces which is a major plus for them! As for Derry they seemed to lack leadership and drive after OKane went off and Conway was away, Cant see them coming out of 2 this year.

 For what its worth, I have mixed emotions on these 2 men retiring. Brian McGuigan will always be 1 of my favourite footballers. His vision and all round passing and score taking was 2nd to none, he was the most vital vital part of the Tyrone forward line of the past 10 years, a colossal, even though he wasnt the biggest. And I will never forget the image of him consoling Geezer after 2003, this was after he had just won his 1st all-ireland but was more concerned about other, a true legend

As for Jordan, he too was a fantastic footballer that was able to drive Tyrone forward , BUT I just cant have the man (and before anyone starts a tirade, I have spoken and listened to many a Tyrone person who have the same view).

Tyrone have plenty of talent but replacing these 2 men, along with Dooher, will be a big ask. Well hopefully theyre not replaced by the start of the Championship next year! 
 

 At Casement today, went expecting a tight game, how wrong was I! Cross were superior throughout, should have been 10 up at halftime, the 2 goals at the start of the start of the 2nd half actually relected their dominance.

As for Jamie's goal, it was the coolest finish Ive ever seen, he really is a special talent!

Without Paul Kernan and Hanratty (if they are out) they might struggle to retain Ulster / get past Ballinderry

 Really cant see Armagh coming away with a win. And funnily enough if Tyrone were to win I really can see them building on it and going ALOT further this year. Theres definitley 1 last sting in that team and they can handle Dublin and Kerry, and think if they met Cork in a 1 off match theyd beat them too.

We would need Toner, McKeever and Nippy to be all available, and need goals to have any chance. And Im not putting curse on, just being reaistic

I've seen the dissidents outside the Athletic Grounds collecting for the prisoners a couple of times recently. they should be chased.

Must say I couldn't believe it when I saw them that night the Dubs played. If I hadn't seen them with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it.

RIP Ronan. Our prayers are with your family, and hopefully they willl have the strength to get through this. I was amazed at how his mother was able to speak so well and dignified. God bless her, no mother should have to go through this.

As for the collectors at Armagh, they were collecting at the McKenna Cup final too, and i actually seen people giving them money, to my disgust. Do those who gave money think about what the are funding? These people should not be alllowed to use the cover of GAA matches to fund their scummy activities. Shame on them, they will never drag us back to the dark days!

Extremely sad. Feel for his poor family today. I've seen the dissidents outside the Athletic Grounds collecting for the prisoners a couple of times recently. they should be chased.

I for one am sick at the sight of these scumbags collecting outside the Athletic Grounds, they stood today rattling their buckets looking for money for "republican families", alll smiles, no decent republican would entertain these lowlifes!

RIP Ronan, our prayers are with your family.

Where's the best place to go for a pre/post match pint on Saturday lads??

The best place to go pre and post match would be Red Ned's, short walk from the ground. A real drinking mans pub and there would be plenty of football people around on Saturday night, and should be good night if you were staying up for the night. And avoid the few bars between the pitch nd Red Ned's 

Is there going to be many Dubs coming up? Everyone Im talking to is really looking forward to the match and the banter between the fans. Heres hoping for a good game and good night for the 1st league game at the "new" ground.

 On a related topic I see Tullysarran have appointed John Grimley for this year, its on the Orchard County forum. That could be interesting, pitting himself against his own this year in Division 2. Although theyre casting aspersions that you might do them a favour to help keep them up! 

 RIP Stephen, may you rest in peace, and may your wife and young family take comfort from the respect and love that people on this board, and no doubt the broader community, have shown him.

This sort of news only makes you realise how well off you actually are, and how you should cherish every moment with your wife and children.

Armagh GAA has lost a true friend.

Good to see a few ARMAGH men are doing something right in Tyrone! What chance have they of winning the final with Carricikmore? Dont suppose youse want to keep them and fire us over Mickey H (we'll even take Mickaela off your hands if if swings it)

and here in lies the issues with championship football in Armagh - Tullysaran will be playing 2nd division football next year and still in the Junior - Grange may not get promoted (looks like they will though) and could be playing intermediate championship from the 4th
[/quote]

Went to Junior final today expecting to witness history with Tullysarran being the last team to win a championship. Going by todays fare they are a long way away from winning anything. Theyre just too small and the Grange played through them, severe wake up call for going into Div2 next year, where they will meet bigger teams and more physical teams. Anyway going by the few boys ive been chatting to over past few weeks its a good thing they got beat, as they were apparently just going up to win and head home, and only worried about how much they could beat the Grange by. Well the Grange put that straight in the 1st 5 mins! Tullysarran should learn to do their talking on the field and only be arrogant when theyve won something.

Congrats to the Grange. Wonder how Peter Rafferty feels tonight, well i suppose it cant be too bad at least his own club and his son won!

Junior Final. Is it true that Peter Rafferty is manager of Tullysarron and he has 2 sons playing for Grange.

Aye hes been managing them for past 2 years. Gonna be strange for a genuine Grange man through and through, although his influence tomorrow could be minmial as tullysarran will hammer them off the pitch! Been talking to few boys who know Junior football and say it could be embarrassing