McKenna Cup 2024

DuffleKing · January 04, 2013, 10:07:19 AM

From an Armagh perspective its refreshing to see Johnny Buckley, Fionn Fizgerald and Brian Looney lining out for Kerry this weekend. The hiding away and wrapping in cotton wool of players involved in the latter end of the club championships in recent times has long since puzzled me.

I fail to see the downside of for club players' form, if they are good enough, in competing at the higher level intermittently - particularly so far out from their club fixture.

yellowcard · January 04, 2013, 10:23:26 AM

Quote from: DuffleKing on January 04, 2013, 10:07:19 AM
From an Armagh perspective its refreshing to see Johnny Buckley, Fionn Fizgerald and Brian Looney lining out for Kerry this weekend. The hiding away and wrapping in cotton wool of players involved in the latter end of the club championships in recent times has long since puzzled me.

I fail to see the downside of for club players' form, if they are good enough, in competing at the higher level intermittently - particularly so far out from their club fixture.

Why is it refreshing from an Armagh point of view? Sure its not as if the Cross players are going to be made available for Armagh, and to be honest I can't blame Cross for not releasing them. From an Armagh county team perspective its an annual headache though.

manballandall · January 04, 2013, 10:44:49 AM

No betting on the tyrone/derry game at the weekend on paddy power ...... do they know something we dont ?

mackers · January 04, 2013, 10:53:53 AM

Quote from: yellowcard on January 04, 2013, 10:23:26 AM
Quote from: DuffleKing on January 04, 2013, 10:07:19 AM
From an Armagh perspective its refreshing to see Johnny Buckley, Fionn Fizgerald and Brian Looney lining out for Kerry this weekend. The hiding away and wrapping in cotton wool of players involved in the latter end of the club championships in recent times has long since puzzled me.

I fail to see the downside of for club players' form, if they are good enough, in competing at the higher level intermittently - particularly so far out from their club fixture.

Why is it refreshing from an Armagh point of view? Sure its not as if the Cross players are going to be made available for Armagh, and to be honest I can't blame Cross for not releasing them. From an Armagh county team perspective its an annual headache though.

I agree with DuffleKing. There is a "rule" that players aren't allowed to play for their club within 13 days of a county match. Why can this "rule" not be used the other way round? What possible harm could it do some of the Cross players to play for Armagh 5 to 6 weeks before their AI semi final? Let them play a couple of McKenna cup matches and let the management see them in the shirt.

DuffleKing · January 04, 2013, 11:19:22 AM

Exactly right Mackers. It makes no sense whatsoever to bar players from the county jersey at this time of year. The thirteen day rule should indeed work in reverse here. It is only in relatively recent times that this approach has been taken. Started in Armagh I might add and spread through the country.

Cold tea · January 04, 2013, 11:51:06 AM

And why would they want to risk injury in a crap McKenna cup competition when they have the potential of winning an all-ireland club championship!

yellowcard · January 04, 2013, 12:03:35 PM

Quote from: DuffleKing on January 04, 2013, 11:19:22 AM

Exactly right Mackers. It makes no sense whatsoever to bar players from the county jersey at this time of year. The thirteen day rule should indeed work in reverse here. It is only in relatively recent times that this approach has been taken. Started in Armagh I might add and spread through the country.

I'm not disagreeing with this approach, indeed I too would be happy to see it enforced. However you also know that if it was your club involved and you had the option not to release the players to their county team, then you would be hoping that they would exercise this option. There is a big difference in an all county League game and an All Ireland club semi-final. The bigger problem lies with the fixture scheduling imo, and the 2 1/2 month gap between the provincial club finals and AI club semi finals. Playing off the club series before Christmas would be the sensible option because there is no doubt that it has been a serious handicap to Armagh in particular in the last 4/5 years.

BennyCake · January 04, 2013, 01:27:47 PM

Whats the situation regarding the best runner-up? Is it still the same rule, even with only 3 teams in Group B??? Surely not!?

theticklemister · January 04, 2013, 01:28:16 PM

same rule applies

Quote from: BennyCake on January 04, 2013, 01:27:47 PM
Whats the situation regarding the best runner-up? Is it still the same rule, even with only 3 teams in Group B??? Surely not!?

theticklemister · January 04, 2013, 01:29:48 PM

whoever is in group B needs to win it to qualify

mackers · January 04, 2013, 01:33:26 PM

Quote from: Cold tea on January 04, 2013, 11:51:06 AM
And why would they want to risk injury in a crap McKenna cup competition when they have the potential of winning an all-ireland club championship!

To further their chances of getting a starting spot on the Armagh team when the championship comes round, that's why! They risk an injury every time they take to the training pitch.

EC Unique · January 04, 2013, 01:43:04 PM

Quote from: manballandall on January 04, 2013, 10:44:49 AM
No betting on the tyrone/derry game at the weekend on paddy power ...... do they know something we dont ?

What time is the match in omagh at?

theticklemister · January 04, 2013, 01:45:18 PM

Quote from: EC Unique on January 04, 2013, 01:43:04 PM
Quote from: manballandall on January 04, 2013, 10:44:49 AM
No betting on the tyrone/derry game at the weekend on paddy power ...... do they know something we dont ?

What time is the match in omagh at?

2pm. betting is up

Tyrone 1/2 v 15/8 Derry.

Has tryone team been named. Derry's team is strong enough now

yellowcard · January 04, 2013, 02:00:14 PM

Quote from: mackers on January 04, 2013, 01:33:26 PM
Quote from: Cold tea on January 04, 2013, 11:51:06 AM
And why would they want to risk injury in a crap McKenna cup competition when they have the potential of winning an all-ireland club championship!
To further their chances of getting a starting spot on the Armagh team when the championship comes round, that's why! They risk an injury every time they take to the training pitch.

So if your club was involved in an AI semi final would you be happy to release your players for county challenge matches (McKenna cup)? Crossmaglen will have challenge matches planned over the coming weekends and will want exclusive access to their players to work on formations etc and who could blame them. From an Armagh management point of view this is a serious drawback especially concerning the non-established county panellists who are unproven at this level. Its far from ideal for Armagh but until the fixture calendar changes then I think its reasonable to expect that players main focus during this period will lie with their clubs.

Mont · January 04, 2013, 02:11:58 PM

importance of games takes priority which is end of story.
if a county were in ai ireland semi final or final would the player be playin for the club in a tournament game 2 or 3 weeks befor it? course not.
thse saying players shud be playin for armagh at the moment rthr than cros need to examin their sanity.
tough sh1t for armagh