Messages

Would have liked to have seen Donaghy start as he is probably more mobile than francie for the Down forwards. But still should be strong enough on Sunday.

All the talk is who is going to pick up Benny but who is going to mark Messrs Clarke and Mc Donnell

Sure Down aren't going to be worrying about a team like Armagh, whoever the Mourne men play will be well fit for anybody the Orchard county have. After all, Down have won five All Ireland's and Armagh only have one. That's all that matters.

And you forgot to mention that they have already beat the best in Ulster.

Heads up Francie.

Rumour has it some Mayobridge men will be looking to right the wrongs of an Ulster Club championship from a few years ago.

That will cause many sleepless nights in cross between now and match

There is no doubt that midfield will be important but it will not decide the game on it's own. Tyrone won no ball yet still should have beat down only for ricey to give benny an early christmas present. I have no doubt that D Hughes and co will give the Armagh defence plenty to think about but on the balance I still think Armagh have too much for down. Armagh by3/4 pts

looks like burren

That would leave Burren with an all Armagh Midfield as Anthony Cunningham is already there.

And AFS, is dropping your knees onto a fella, now all of a sudden 'stamping'?  Or are you refering to a different incident?

To be fair cusack you are defending the indefensible, the cork player was running at a fair pace when his knee came into contact with MOR so it was not just dropping the knees and as for the spitting incident I afraid it did happen as I was also at the match and Masters did spit in MOR's face. I won't say that MOR is a totally innocent party but to be fair in all my days going to GAA matches I have never seen spitting at an opponent.

Enda McNulty will cost Armagh another All-Ireland title if he starts. Remember Darren O'Sullivan's goal against Armagh in 2006 (thank you very much Oisin) and Darra McGarty's point that should have been a goal in 2002 (thank you very much Oisin)

Enda has the unfortunate knack of making massive mistakes at critical moments in the most important games. Enda also has a tendency to give away frees in very scoreable positions. Enda is now a few years older so the likelihood of him making further big mistakes and continuing to consistently foul can only have increased.

Its time for the younger lads to get a chance and for McNulty to follow up on that potential job at Aston Villa.

It was Enda against Kerry OK but you will find that it was his brother Justin at fault against Sligo in 02

You cant blame a former manager for the current panel of players attitude and discpline ( or lack of )

If he had let them go down the shagging tunnel we wouldn't be in this mess.

There is no doubt that the change of attitude came from that half time in the qualifiers against us in Croker. T Lyons was a joke and Dublin may as well not have come out in the second half. However Pillar has taken it to the extreme. Somewhere in between is what was needed as I believe the Dubs have the tallent to win an AI but not by bringing all this attention onto themselves they now will suffer, refs will blow them for anything now.

If cork are fielding understrength then Armagh should take the chance to play Philip Loughran, Brian Mallon, Francie and O'Neill. It could be of benefit come June 15th.

[Why has no-one suggested moving Aaron Kernan to the half forward line?]

Why has no-one suggested moving Aaron Kernan to the half forward line?

Martin O'Rourke, Charlie Vernon and Aaron Kernan on paper seems like a great half forward line

Stevie McDonnell, Ronan Clarke and Stephen Kernan would then be our full forward line

If Stephen Kernan is to start the championship it has to be on the half forward line as in fairness it is his distribution into the two boys inside that has made the difference in the Roscommon and Dublin games. If you start him in the full forward line we lose that.

At game today and glad to say have to eat my words re Paddy McKeever thought he had a good game in what was the best display from an armagh half forward line in sometime. They worked hard and also their distribution was top class into the boys inside.
As an Armagh man living in Down it is great that Pete McGrath was a wee bit hasty with his prediction in the Gaelic Life this week!!! There is plenty of talent in our squad at the minute so as I heard one man say before 'We haven't gone away you know'   

Bring back Paddy McKeever! 

Please Goats do shave, we need to look ahead not back. Paddy hasn't played well in an armagh jersey for some time at best is a good impact sub when defences tire.