Messages

It may be right that they are trying to soften up the game. On saturday I watched Armagh v Meath and the referee booked 13 players (7 from Meath) and it was a very sporting game where 2 or 3 cards would have been enough. The referee, a Sligo man, is to referee Donegal and Derry on Sunday I believe. This is a local derby and will be alot more physical than last saturdays game. (Also a bit odd having a Sligo man refereeing a neighbouring county in such an important match). Will players get sent off and maybe miss a championship match? Also Jimmy McKee from Armagh refereed Dublin v Meath in the championship last year and many commentators said how great it was that he let the game flow. He then hardly got a match thereafter. Are we now developing gaelic football into a form of outdoor basketball!

Have went to watch Armagh two weeks in a row have yet to see a match! Yesterday Meath were brutal and Armagh were worse. The Refereegot booed off at half time and it could have been either sets of supporters. For Armagh I thought Ak and Mckeever played well. Donaghy was the best in the full back line. We had no midfield at all and was disappointed Swift was not moved there in the first half. then we might have found out if he has it or not. Could not understand why O'Rourke was taken off for Meath. Thought he was doing ok. Worst match I have seen in a long time. Navan was freezing and there were no lights in the loo!

Very funny Uladh!

I hope it wasn't the Stevie poll that got orchard county off line. Stephen Kernan has taken much more abuse on forums and at matches in the last couple of years without anywhere near the fuss.

The problems I can see with free tickets for the next day are:-

1. Many children will miss out.
2. Many who paid in the last day may also miss out.
3. There will be those who take up the ticket because it is free but wake up on the Sunday morning with a hangover or see a spot of rain and decide not to bother thus depriving others of a ticket.
4. We may get more of the 'buckfast bricade' who think it will be a good day out!

Although laudable to offer free tickets it may have made more sense to have a nominal charge of say a fiver to try ensure genuine supporters get a ticket. Alternatively they could have transfered the match to Clones: afterall Armagh wanted that last year v Donegal so that more supporters could see the game! (I know this was never an option)

Was at the game before 1.30. Noticed some water lying beside the second dugout which could have proved dangerous but thought a bit of time and a fork may sort this out. Does feel as if I have thown my money away though as will have to leave work early to make the refixture and those who arrived later will get in free as well. Contingencies will have to be put in place to stop this in future. However, if the referee thought it was unsafe it would be negligent of him to let the match go ahead. Also, why was it left to the chief steward to announce the game was off or has he another function with the County Board.

Just checked gaa.ie and see a statement has been issued about the postponement of yesterday's Dublin v Monaghan game. Think Benny Tierney's radio comments may be close to the truth.

Mackers as you are well aware none of us talk any sense when a match is on! Still hope for a win on Sunday.

Sunday is a big match for Armagh but I believe it is more important for the years ahead if certain players are played this week to give them a true test of their worth. By this I mean keeping our full back line will give us an idea as to who may be there for the long haul. There is no use playing a half fit Francie for example and learning nothing about Shannon or Moriarity or Donaghy. Let them play and you may learn more. The same with Stephen Kernan. I believe he has the ability but would like to see how he will cope with a rougher, tighter game. I also think we need to look at Swift again even if for only 30 minutes to see if the last game was a blip or a sign of a player who now knows the manager trusts him and is freer to show his ability. It may prove more beneficial in the long run to play these players and lose, but learn alot than to bring in others and win.

On a different note I believe that some of the problems in our full back line stem from our new approach. The half forwards are holding further up the field and scoring more. Consequently are half back line is further up the field and this is leaving our full back line more exposed. We may conceed more in future unless we can find a happy medium between the blanket defence and going man for man. On the positive we should score more too!

Best I remember:-

                         John O'Leary
Paudie O'Shea    Darren Fay     Tony Scullion
Tomas O'Shea    Geezer           Paddy Moriarity
             Jack O'Shea     Mark Grimley
Padraig Joyce     Frank McGuigan Snr.   Maurice Fitzgerald
Stevie McDonnell  Colm O'Rourke  Oisin McConville

Other notables: j. Corvan, M. Donnellan, B Mullins, K. Barr, B Rock. Picked Oisin for frees. Could not pick Peter Canavan as I told everyone in work I thought Johnny Corvan was better than him and I did not pick him! Also the best individual performances I saw were Eamon O'Hara V Armagh in 2002 quarter final and Maurice Fitzgerald any time he played.

Went up to Abbey Park today and watcehed the match v Coalisland. Have not seen much of the Harps lately and was suprised how well they played. Although both teams had a few players shoet I always thought that the Harps looked the better team. Midfield were well on top forcing Coalisland keeper into many poor kickouts.(Curran, believe he played for Tyrone last week against Galway). Also Harps goal was from a long punt in inadvertently put into his own net by the full back. (It looked like ex Harps man Damien Jordan). Coalisland goal was a penalty given for a foot block. An enjoyable game which the Harps won 1.11 to 1.08.

Does anyone know when the U21s play? If it the day before the Roscommon game Toner may be missing too!

Mackers. After getting abuse from you on the golf course for not going to the Westmeath match I made the track to Clones on Sunday. I agree there was a vast improvemnt from the last day I saw them play! However, I believe you are being a bit tough on Clarke saying his form is of. If I remember well he has not played much league football over the last couple of years and his efforts this year have been more concerned with getting fitness and sharpness. I thought when the chips were down on Sunday and he moved out the field he played well and showed others the way. As for Bannon maybe it is just the way that we play does not suit his still of refereeing. Tyrone find it tough to win with Pat McAneaney as ref and I believe he is the best there is.