Messages

Comisserations to the Feile team and management this evening.  The lads have played some great football this seson, but just came up against a very good side in Killeavy, whose No. 11 the quickest U14 I've ever seen.

Well done to the Feile squad and management.

Best of luck on Sunday.

Will we make it from Cross to Clonmore for 6.00pm?

A couple of years ago when Nippy and Peadar were first called onto the panel, my dream was to have an all Harps half forward line (kinda knew Charlie would make the squad in time).  I still live in hope.  Apologies to others, this is best kept to the Harps thread.

Rufus

Paddy McKeever hasn't had a great, or even a good game for Armagh for quite some time.  The last game I can recall where he looked a starting 15 player was in after he came back from Australia a coupleof years ago.  He looked lean and hungry (and a little more tanned).  But he really hasn't delivered top draer performances.  Perhaps Armagh simply don't have the talent.

But I don't have to tell you Rufus, if young Mr Toal put his mind to it he has the talent to be the fist name on the sheet.  If only  .

I think The Apprentice is a great show and was a decent start to the series last night. The show with Adrian Chiles on BBC2 after it is excellent as well.

The asian Jimmy Carr lookalike will be some laugh with his huge vocabulary he just has to use at any given point in time. I'd say Sugar will enjoy pulling the piss out of him.

There's a John Thompson lookylikey in there too.

Francie could be on before half time.  

If McDonnell's perserverence with Paul Magee at FB for 45 mins in the U-21 game is anything to go by then don't hold your breath for a positional remedy. This young lad was clearly in trouble by the Donegal FF, Griffin, after the first ball went in.  He was cleaned completely and was turned inside out, yet McDonnel only saw fit to make a change toward the end.  I overheard an older Donegal lady behind me say: "I'm surprised they have left that lad on big Griffin". FFS, it was so obvious.

In saying that, we had many underperforming, even Toner in MF was ineffective.  But the problems stemmed from the mismatch between FF and our FB.

I think David McKenna needs to go catching balloons to improve his timing (didn't Beefer have McGrane at this?).  So many times last Saturday he rose for ball which soared over his head as he was on the downward descent.  Paul McKeown was the only one who looked useful. Forker missed too may chances, despite getting plenty of good ball and he had the beating of his man.

I don't think Charlie Vernon's natural position is MF.  I've seen him from underage, but don't think he'll boss intercounty midfields. However, as Benny says bursting forward from HB he is a powerful sight indeed. HF is the only place I can see him being accommodated in the county senior team.  While SJK has performed well to date, I don't think Vernon would be as anonomous for the periods Kernan can go missing.  

Agreed, Stew.  A lot of effort, time and comittment has been put in by the coaches of all the Harps' underage teams.  Hats off to them.

Good night.

Any word on how Charlie's knee is healing?

Congrats to the U-14s on their win over the Ogs today.  A great game with some exceptional skills on display.  The movement and pinpoint foot passing surpassed anything I've seen from the seniors, and two of the scores from the high-fielding No 9 (left foot, and right foot) were absolutely super kicks.

There are some very skillful players on both sides, and the Ogs' No 11 looks a real talent.

I would agree with Rufus's summation.  McGrane for me was poor.  And for someone of his experience to be dismissed like that is pretty inexcusable. The two Monaghan midfielders' output by far exceeded their opposite numbers'.  Mackin seemed shorne of confidence but did link up in a number of promising moves.

Kieran Toner was very effective.  He had a surging run in the move that led to the goal, caught a good clean ball in a congested middle and, most impressive, chased back and dispocessed a charging Mon player in the scoring zone.  Swift offered very little, if anything.  He failed to follow Lennon across the field for an easily won kickout, despite his brief being to make the middle competitive.  

AO'R was outstanding.
Donaghy and Moriarty did little wrong: still not convinced though.  They rarely seem to beat their men to balls.
Enda struggled and when Hanratty came on it was clear he'd win a free from McNulty (actually heard this predicted as he ran onto the field).
I thouht AK was fair with K McKeever offering his usual tenacious display.
Courtnay scored a wonderful point but took his eye off the ball on a few occasions and lost pocession, but overal the half forward line was a lot more cohesive a unit as I've seen from Armagh for some time.  MO'R was his usual industrious self: takes up good positions but offers little in the way of scoring threat.  SK I thought was competent.  He got free from his man and linked up well, loking for passes and getting involved in the mix.
Stevie's points were excellent (his first free was from a difficult angle, but a confidence booster) and Clarke was fouled most times he tried to race out from the square.  It was he who was blown for the double hop, but for me the first hop was to bring the ball under control (he wasn't in pocession) and Bannon called it wrong.

Tony Kernan is a fair player, but no Oisin.  Still, he's young, works hard and wil get a few scores from either frees or play (just what we need).

I have a soft spot for Mon, but I wouldn't be afraid to meet them in the Summer.   I do think Armagh have really strong options to come in.  Francie, Oisin, Lavery, Vernon, Toal (maybe not for some time, but I've not heard a recent report on his health).  Very interested to see how young Paul McKeown gets on in the U21 campaign.  Great wee player and man marker - too early for the seniors perhaps.

Really doubt if Mackin is the standard.  Has had more than enough chances.  Only games were he looked promising were against Tyrone in the U-21 game the year we won the AI and for his college in the McKenna Cup game against Armagh a few years ago (think he came off injured).  He has zero pace (McGrane's no speed merchant either) andI've never seen a player lose his footing so much.  I haven't given him mch of a billing here, but I hope he proves me wrong.  Maybe the injuries have all cleared and he's in the best shape of his life.  He deserves his chance and good luck to him.

We simply don't have any soaring midfielders who can pluck a ball from the skies from among a throng.  Anytime McGrane wins an airial ball he is usually in splendid isolation.  That's why I had hopes for young David McKenna from Cross, but he'll keep.  He has all the atributes, but to be a dominant strong intercounty midfielder I think you have to be a bit into your 20s; filled out a bit more.

Thanks, Gaapunter.

Can someone please post the u-21 squad which has been announced (perhaps I've missed it?)

... while france bellow theres out with pride,muppets

What's Armagh's full back got to do with it!

Comrades, any word on how the seniors got on in Galbally today?