Messages

Tough draw for Armagh. It shouldn't be though.

The whole country knows how to beat Armagh and Fermanagh are already drilled in those defensive tactics. The speed of the transition to the half forwards is key. We have the time to sort that. We have the players to sort that.

Fermanagh will win this by a point or two, we are shite under this manager.

You could be right. Time will tell.

Any fool could see what was wrong in the marshes. It should have been put right on the day but you can't tell me it can't be put right in 3 weeks if the focus is put on the right things in training. I would love to know what messages were passed to the players in newry

Last week Lane let everything go. Today Neilan blows for very little. No wonder players get frustrated.

Players get very frustrated with Neilan's style of refereeing but he is interpreting the rule as written. Hard to criticise him. What is being punished as soft frees are still bad tackles.

He obviously missed Wylie's hand off

Tough draw for Armagh. It shouldn't be though.

The whole country knows how to beat Armagh and Fermanagh are already drilled in those defensive tactics. The speed of the transition to the half forwards is key. We have the time to sort that. We have the players to sort that.

Expect to see the other kilcoo player to start in place of boh
Also Turley to start in place of Murphy
Why can't we just name the correct team.

It's clever psychology. Opponents always take team sheets as literal truth and build their tactical plans around it.

Until recently we were the same. In fact we publish our team 2 or 3 weeks in arrears. We just publish the team that started the previous game, make changes pre throw in and then the team that actually starts is the named for the subsequent game. Gives us a real edge.

Rant over.

Obviously want my own county to win. I'm not a Down hater but if they go super defensive I hope we stuff them. The games to date have been dire. We don't need another game strangled to death

Armagh Facebook page names their team as B Hughes, Morgan, Vernon, P Hughes, McKay, Donaghy, Shields, Sheridan, Grimley, Forker, O'Neill, Grogan, Clarke, Campbell, Murnin.

Looks like a decent set of forwards.

Strong team. Hope it starts. Any subs named?

Add in the McGeeney factor also, highly respected nationally. Will make a difference in the tight calls.

Quit

Armagh Facebook page names their team as B Hughes, Morgan, Vernon, P Hughes, McKay, Donaghy, Shields, Sheridan, Grimley, Forker, O'Neill, Grogan, Clarke, Campbell, Murnin.

Looks like a decent set of forwards.

Strong team. Hope it starts. Any subs named?

On the form he filled in at doping controls he listed 8 different supplements and 1 medication he took in the 2 weeks before the final. Augmentin, whey protein, pharmaton, pre-fuel, caffeine tablets, caffeine gel, vitamin C, Krill oil and magnesium. These are meant to be amateur athletes but I'd say there are professional athletes who aren't taking supplements in these quantities. No wonder the top resourced counties are getting further away from those with small budgets.

That list alone confirms that the whole area needs regulated (which it notionally is) and policed (which it manifestly is not). Failure to implement a comprehensive testing regime with penalties for missed and failed tests in line with internationally accepted anti-doping standards is failing the game

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/osullivan-says-contaminated-supplement-caused-positive-test-451156.html

"Last weekend, the42.ie revealed that five teams missed drugs tests since 2015 – Dublin hurlers, Mayo and Armagh footballers in '15 and Kilkenny's hurlers and Carlow's footballers (twice) in '16. Kilkenny, Carlow and Armagh explained change in training venues as reasons. Inter-county players are required to be available for drugs tests as part of their Government funding".

The low level of testing, the seeming ease with which tests can be avoided, the seeming lack of consequences for avoiding a test, the non publication of the test failure by the authorities and the overall circling of the wagons are all as worrying as O'Sullivan's test failure. 

The authorities are in dock for first 4 of these

There really has to be answers

Anybody thinking that a USFC final would fill a stadium in Belfast at sitting prices is detached from the real world

That reflects the fact that some of the recent Ulster finalists, Monaghan and Donegal are relatively distant from Belfast. If Down and/or Armagh were any use and Tyrone were involved you'd fill the place no problem.

I'm not sure that the present structure explains why Down and Armagh are not much use, when the less populous Monaghan is stronger.

Populous? Total population would lead to a very false understanding in both Down and armagh.

Monaghan are competently managed by someone who has earned their stripes, been in situ for a stable period and is prepared to reduce the game to its basic functions irrespective of what does to the long term health of the game.

There's your difference

The non event on the scoreboard yesterday might be addressed by the tiered championship but it won't address the spectacle on the pitch. Who thinks Tyrone versus Monaghan or Donegal would be any better in terms of men behind the ball and low risk football?

To a degree the GAA and RTE both rely on the fact that as long as there are games called Gaelic football that there will sufficient gate and viewing public.

There is a real danger that the audience, especially younger folk won't buy into the product on display. Especially outside the top 5 counties.

The argument that the provincials are the cash cow that sits along the final 8 is falling away and that decline could accelerate quickly.

Anybody thinking that a USFC final would fill a stadium in Belfast at sitting prices is detached from the real world

so what if you want to do body building (think steroids still legal there) and play gaelic (an amateur sport)  at club level, how does that work with the current rules

Then pick one or put the effort into the body building

Does it matter when a semi final hiding against Monaghan awaits?

If sport matters at all then this game matters.

Even a pessimist like yourself must see the benefits of entering the qualifiers at a later stage

Totally winnable game for Armagh. Injuries in the defensive lines would be problematic. Only doubt otherwise is midfield. If we can put out a pairing that can break even we have enough elsewhere to get over the line.

What level of testing are GAA players subjected to? Who pays for it? Any in College games?