Messages

[As a season ticket holder I was not informed that I could get into these games as part of my ticket - I had to read it on here. If that is all the crowd why did they not try letting school]

A shocking way to threat the second biggest competition in the year. As a season ticket holder I was not informed that I could get into these games as part of my ticket - I had to read it on here. If that is all the crowd why did they not try letting school children in or offering family deals for the both days in conjunction with Dublin hotels. Having the finals on Easter Sunday may have reduced the crowd somewhat but some promotion would have helped. On a simple note promotion of the rugby on BBC and TG4 persuaded me to tune into the magners league on Friday night. How many none dedicated GAA followers knew the national league finals were on this weekend?

was that true im an armagh season ticket holder and bought a ticket up there yesterday believing you didnt get in free

Something which has been under reported by the media is the GAA's decision to postpone the countdown clock being used in league games by a year supposedly due to cost.  This isnt good enough.  Womens football are able to manage it and they had a full year to get them installed in every ground.  I watch game after game where teams waste time consistently and referees fail to play sufficient extra time.  This years All Ireland Minor Final was a perfect example.  Tyrone were an absolute disgrace and the referee let them away with it.  Stop all this talk about goal line technology when you cant even implement the motions which have already been passed.  They have been given far too easy a ride for this failure.

Best game of football in Armagh in a long time. Some incredible scores and performances. Stephen Kernan and Aaron Cunningham for Cross in the first half. Robbie Tasker 2-3 (2-2 from play) before wrongly sent off and Ciaran Mc Keever througout the whole game was absolutely outstanding. Incredibly strong on the ball. Magnificent passing and tackling and two superb points from play. One of the great displays.

Real pity about the sending offs for the replay. Jamien Clarke obviously struck out at a back who had been constantly annoying him the whole game. No excuse but little protection offered to the forward. Up until then he had been amazingly quiet with Cross rarely feeding his corner. I think they saw the St Pats no 3 as a weak link as both Kernan and Cunningham caused havoc when placed at 14. Tasker was sent off almost straight away. From my viewpoint it looked like no 17 Mc Cooey who was also excellent by they way who did the majority of the striking and was more deserving of the card. Ridiculous poor discipline on their part at a time when they looked like certain winners.

A few reputations got a bit of a pounding this evening. Paul Kernan and Paul Mc Keown were both roasted. Very surprising that Cross didnt move James Morgan onto Tasker as im sure he would have marked him constantly in Armagh minor training. Kernan struggled badly with Mc Cooey who looks like a county potential player to me. Stephen Kernan looked back to his best however. As ever looked like hed great time on the ball and kicked some beautiful points. If playing like this definitely the answer to Armaghs No 11 problems. Tony was also good while Aaron I thought was fairly quiet.


Great battle between Mc Kenna and Mackin in midfield. Mc Kenna probably slightly shaded it but Pats did well to guide kickouts away from him in second half. Cross are struggling badly to find a partner for him. Johnny Hanratty not the answer. Overall tremendous game. Great crowd although the bank simply isnt steep enough. Impssible to see about 1/4 of the field. C Mc Keever. Take a bow.

Donaghy will mark Brogan Martin on O Gara and Mallon on Mc Menamin if Dublin line up that way which id be surprised if they do.

Just after watching the whole 70 mins for the second time and by far the most noticeable aspect is that up until the ref made a maess of the final decision he had given Louth absolutely everything.  At least 5 Louth scores came from extremely questionable frees awarded to them.  I know if the game had ended in a normal fashion I would have been extremely irate if I Had been a Meath man.  Some of the lift ball decisions were crazy while a free given against Nigel Crawford was simply inexplicable.  Im an Armagh man who watched Sludden give two incompetent displays in games against Down in the league and Monaghan in the championship.  There is only one conclusion can be drawn.  He is not capable of refereeing inter county football and hopefully never will again.  I would also include Mr Fahy from Longford and Mr O Caoinnbhe from Galway in that grouping. 

What was so impressive about the training hardstation

Martin O Rourke defintely if fit instead of Brian Mallon

Tremendous performance by Sligo.  As a neutral using his season ticket I went straight online and had 50 euro at 200/1 to win Sam.  Many may laugh but this years All Ireland is totally wide open in my opinion and Sligo are not 200/1 shots.  They have tremendous players in O Donovan at 4 Harrison at 2 Davey at 7 Costello at 10 Breheny at 11 and Kelly at 15.  All it needs is belief they are good enough.  I know as an Armagh man I would hate to play them in the qualifiers. 

I was wondering why Forker wasnt on the bench.  Thats very bad news for Armagh if true.  Means he wont have played a full league game going into Derry.  Going to be tough to start him in Celtic Park.  Especially as he is a player who needs game time to be at his best.

Kieran Shannon in the Sunday Tribune the best GAA writer around by far.  Never follows the crowd or prevailing opinion.  Always has a novel angle on explaining why teams are improving or deteriorating. Top class.

Anto duffy certainly cant be being drafted in on his display against donegal.  Non existant that night.  Whats the story with Paul Mc Keown

Martin O Rourke is back.  Get him on.  Badly needed.

Slightly off topic but I was reading Spillane this morning there. He must have the easiest job around. I'd say Tyrone and defensive tactics get a mention in 3/4's of his columns. Same old crap. Today he said Dublin had adopted the northern defensive tactics. He said ultimately the tactic was no good. He said Tyrone may have one 3 All Irelands but couldn't win it back to back cause the tactic is no good.

Is he a wind up or does he really believe this stuff? Tyrone played brilliant football to beat Kerry in 05 and 08 and put up large scores the vast majority being from play. He's in a different planet if he thinks Kerry play gaelic football in a different manner to Tyrone. They're at least as defensive as Tyrone.

The 2003 Semi final is still talked about for being a poor game and how defensive Tyrone were. Yet it was probably a better game than Kerry Meath semi last year which will hardly ever be mentioned again as it involved Kerry winning. There was less scores in that game than the 03 semi and it was terrible to watch. It's strange the way a game like that is so easily forgotton about by the media, definately double standards.

Its not often an Armagh man is totally in agreement with a Tyorne follower but that post is 100% true.  I think its time now for RTE to dump Spillane.  Every word he writes and every time he speaks is a rant against the way every team apart from Kerry plays the game.  He uses his position to criticise every facet of gaelic football which is only going to drive people away from the game.  He should be trying to promote the game not run it into the ground.  All he is doing is forcing young people towards rugby and soccer.  Anyway his lauding of Kerry football is totally ridiculous.  Ill show anyone a video of the second half of last years All Ireland final against Cork.  As soon as Kerry got ahead they played more defensive football than any team.  Tommy walsh and Gooch were the only Kerry players in the Cork half for almost the whole 35 mins.  It was bad  to watch but it was successful.  You'll never hear Spillane criticising it though.

Listen boys Saturday nite was a very valuable lesson for the future of Armagh. We have learned for definite who can cut it and who cant. McEvoy is doggy, could someone not go to Mckinney and get him back. Full back line are lethal just need more protection. Finn Mo and Paul Kernan are very limited need wing half backs who are flyin and good on the ball. Need to get Dyas back and playing, will make massive difference in terms of attacking from half back line. Toner is fine Austin nowhere near it. Vernon wasn't fi. Lavery was miss too will have a big championhip for Armagh this year. Feeney tries hard but no scoring treat not good enough. Malachy Mackin not good enough. Arron Kernan needs more chances at chf. Need Clarke back, and need Jamie Clarke in squad. He knows were goal are and has speed. Swift limited so is Mickey McNamee. What's wrong with Brian Mallon? Management were terrible on line. Only left one scoring forward on field when we were behind. Brutal!

Good post.  Only thing id disagree with is on Swift.  While not a fan in the past i was very impressed sat night.  It was only when the management made their crazy half time switches that he went out of the game.  Would Tony Fearon please stop posting.  He is embarrassing every genuine Armagh fan on this site.

If you were at the game you'd know 10 yellows was a joke