Messages

Very good, but you seem to have Ronan Gallagher lined out in the corner of the pitch. This seems very risky - derry could shoot for goal from anywhere...

[Think McCloskey may track Paddy Bradley]

Think McCloskey may track Paddy Bradley. If Gilligan plays deep for derry as usual then it invites a sweeper to sit in front of the derry full forward line and the roving wing forwards of Fermanagh may be left to pick up Gilligan when deep.

Wouldnt think so. Clucker's an intelligent player, and very comfortable on the ball; hes perfect for a sweeping role.
Owens missing didnt worry me against Monaghan because I knew we could handle their forwards, this is a different proposition. To be honest, the only way i could see any of our cornerbacks dong well on Bradley is if they play better than I've ever seen them (at any level!). They're capable of doing a decent job, but that aint enough on someone like PB, and they'll need all the help they can get. I'm expecting a backlash form the Eoin boy as well - it'd be fecking typical if Paddy was kept quiet only for him to pop up with a mom display... 

Jaysus theres a lot of cute derry hoors about.
I dont think yis are that nervous - well at least the team seem confident enough, they were checking out the possible final opposition the other day anyway (ps Sidebottom, well recognised, all is forgiven) 

[I've been watching this Armagh team since 1999]

Martin McHugh's comments about Armagh yesterday were spot on. I've been watching this Armagh team since 1999 and he made very valid comments.

Armagh continually put difficult ball into Clarke and McDonnell who then have to fight for it and try and score from difficult situations. Plus they have to put so much effort into winning the ball and fighting off three or four men, it saps their energy. McHugh was making the excellent point that they should be trying to give Clarke and McDonnell easier ball to make it easier for them. This has been obvious for many years. If Armagh ran more at teams and opened up defences and laid off handy passes to McDonnell and Clarke in space, they would get more handy scores and handy frees. instead they play balls out to the corner flag to McDonnell, who then has to try to work a score.  

McHugh was simply saying Armagh should play the running game more and give handy passes to McDonnell and Clarke. He also correctly pointed out that by dropping Martin O'Rourke back, it allowed Cavan to play an extra man as a sweeper at the back to double team McDonnell.

If armagh played the running game more, as McHugh correctly suggested, they would draw defenders out to meet the runner and the ball could then be hand passed to Clarke or McDonnell in space. Also Paddy McKeever and Martin O'Rourke could get forward and get more scores and frees.

McHugh's points about Armagh yesterday were 100% correct and, if they were taken on board, Armagh would be hard to stop.  Martin McHugh is a great analyst.    

So, you've been watching Armagh for their most successful period ever, and you reckon this is where they're getting it wrong???

I took it to be a cross between 'allstars' & 'upstarts', so I'm guessing yep.

It bothers me people not wating. Its that pause before the end, think eejits see it as their chance to get their voice heard, and then when one starts...
The AI final between Tyrone & Armagh was the only one I've seen where there was silence to the end - it was brilliant to see.

anyone hear ur man say "alot of people talking about derry and monaghan" for ulster....clueless shite

Yep! You could see the two boys looking at him, but its a pity they didnt have the balls to say not too many talking about monaghan now considering they're out 2 weeks ago! I think he realised himself as he was saying it, he faltered a bit. And sidebottom had a serious hard on for brothers all day...

"Right, yis can work away here, they be at it themselves..."

Its great watching the wicked wee face on him when Burns is talking - he bes looking for something he can pour scorn on.
No matter how good a full back line you have, its still risky to leave them man for man - good forwards will always have the advantage. Thought that text about tyrones hunger was a good point too...

Seanie Johnson? No chance unless he changes his game. Puttin my head on the block here, but I think hes overrated and gonna get found out this summer.
Was it Eamon Coleman (sounds like one of his anyway) who described a player as 'One of these boys who scores 2:10 in a challenge match'; I think theres many this suits and I fear Johnson is one of them...

Aye, he deserves it aright for being so nice he doesnt even tell those eejits who get him home for 'fitba day' ( ) to cop themselves on.

If dont feel Canavan can be included, then it has to be Trevor Giles. Amazing player. 

I'm most definitely not a tyrone man (normally anyone but... ), but the answer is Peter Canavan. As it is for the 2000's. Best player ever imo, had it all and the intelligence & attitude to match. He'll be some manager too...

[Cork]

Limerick v Cork (Limerick +6.5) Cork
Galway v Leitrim (Leitrim +8.5) Leitrim
Down v Tyrone (Down +2.5) Tyrone (Bonus)
Cavan v Armagh (Cavan +2.5) Armagh (Bonus)
Kerry v Clare (clare +16.5) Clare

[By the way i think DJs possible extension to his suspension is ridiculous.]

By the way i think DJs possible extension to his suspension is ridiculous.

C'mon! The one thing I was sure of watching the game was that he was gonna get another suspension.
Dunno what the original ban was for, but a blind man couldda seen he didnt obey it. They have to extend it or they'll look even more ridiculous.