D2 Armagh v Galway

[beer baron]

Should have seen this game out, by 4 or 5 pts. Very commendable effort after going a man down. Probably not that surprising as we are used to playing with 14 these days. We went from being level to 8 up with 10 mins to go. Unfortunately indiscipline cost us again with our so called captain Aiden Forker deciding it was a good idea to strike out when he was on the ball leaving us with 13 m for the last 6 or 7 minutes. Ultimately probably cost us the win. When will he ever learn? Very good showing from a lot of our new faces, with Mcilroy, Watters, O'Hanlon all very good. Stefan Campbell was superb.

Is he a bit of an idiot? Could've been sent off in the last 2 games too.

[Throw ball]

That last goal was a sickener. A true sickener. That being said a much improved performance and I believe the foundation of a plan going forward was laid today. Stefan Campbell put on a virtuoso display scoring I believe 1-9. But behind that performance there were many men to back him up. Watters was superb today, the ball stuck to him like glue and put in what I believe was his best Armagh performance to date.

Most pleasing was some of the kick passing on display for the first hour that was like how we played in 2014. Today also seen the return of the defensive line across the 50 that worked so well for us that year. For the first hour I was very impressed with the endevour and the skill showed by most of the players including the new blood. I already mentioned Watter but McIlroy Scannell and McIlroy all turned in impressive performances today.

When Rafftery was sent off at the beginning of the second half I think we all thought Galway would go on to win with a few points to spare. But the application to build up a 8 point lead was something to be admired.

After 1 hour the pressure of the lead started to build we started to play to protect the lead rather then push on to win the games. We stopped kick passing and started futhering about handpassing it sideways and inviting Galway to come on to us. If we were on a winning run and full of confidence we could have pushed on and won the game comfortably.

Another positive before I move on the negatives. The new Keeper Morrison performed well making a great catch in the 1st half and a good save right at the end. Kickouts were a big improvement too.

Unfortunately despite the improved kickouts we got destroyed at midfield. We are crying out a for big midfielder that can win his own ball. We can achieve parity in this sector we would be a much more difficult team to beat.

The biggest bugbear today was the usual lack of discipline. The referee did us no favours but the sending off of Ethan Rafferty was justified. The first yellow was particularly a bad challenge. If Ethan Raffertys sending off can be put down to much enthusiasm there is no excuse for Aidan Forkers sending off. Too often he has let his team down and it is getting ridiculous. To have the ball running out towards your own 50 with your team trying desperately to hold onto a lead, and then put your arm around an oppositions player and drag him down is stupid. This man should not be our captain and he should not be employed in defense, way to much of a liability. If we can't trust him to last 70 mins then we should leave him on the bench.

Findon has become probably the most frustrating Armagh player. He contributing nothing positive. I couldn't believe it when on a hop ball, he did not go for the ball but instead dragged down the Galway player giving them a free which they promptly but over the bar.

I still believe we will be relegated but with the return of a few players such as Dyas, Murray, Mallon and McKeever I believe we can be at least competitive with the likes of Cavan in the championship. There is no solution forthcoming for our midfield problem though.

Agreed

[armaghniac]

Frustrating to concede a goal on the last kick of the game. I agree with the comments above, a few lads showed good character, Campbell is a truly class player. Likewise Find on and Forker showed no willingness to defend the lead in a disciplined way, which is very disappointing in a day when many Armagh players made a real effort to get the team back on the road.

[bennydorano]

Great situation for Armagh to be in and I bet Galway management  would rather be elsewhere in D2 this weekend with all the free motivation Armagh have been getting and the nationwide assumption that this will be a cake walk for Galway (i'm assuming there'll be a reaction from Armagh myself of course). Fancy a draw myself, the bookies dont envisage a hammering looking at the betting  (4/7 & 7/4)

Not how I envisaged it occuring to be fair.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Didn't sound like a very good performance today but on the plus side they deserve some serious credit for coming back from 9 points down last week and coming back from 8 down today. Don't want to have to do that every week though. Been a bit unlucky in facing sides who have been getting a bollocking all week due to getting hammered in their previous game. Looking like a straight shootout now for promotion between Galway and Cavan bar a surprise before they play each other on the last day.

[seafoid]

Didn't sound like a very good performance today but on the plus side they deserve some serious credit for coming back from 9 points down last week and coming back from 8 down today. Don't want to have to do that every week though. Been a bit unlucky in facing sides who have been getting a bollocking all week due to getting hammered in their previous game. Looking like a straight shootout now for promotion between Galway and Cavan bar a surprise before they play each other on the last day.

If they can't beat Cavan they don't deserve to be promoted.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Didn't sound like a very good performance today but on the plus side they deserve some serious credit for coming back from 9 points down last week and coming back from 8 down today. Don't want to have to do that every week though. Been a bit unlucky in facing sides who have been getting a bollocking all week due to getting hammered in their previous game. Looking like a straight shootout now for promotion between Galway and Cavan bar a surprise before they play each other on the last day.

If they can't beat Cavan they don't deserve to be promoted.

Cavan might be thinking the same about us. In fairness they are going well and have home advantage for that one so they are favourites to go up right now.

[mouview]

Didn't sound like a very good performance today but on the plus side they deserve some serious credit for coming back from 9 points down last week and coming back from 8 down today. Don't want to have to do that every week though. Been a bit unlucky in facing sides who have been getting a bollocking all week due to getting hammered in their previous game. Looking like a straight shootout now for promotion between Galway and Cavan bar a surprise before they play each other on the last day.

If they can't beat Cavan they don't deserve to be promoted.

They won't and don't I fear. Starting to hit their performance and ability ceiling hard now.

[seafoid]

http://www.paddypower.com/bet/gaa-sports/gaa-football/nfl-division-2?ev_oc_grp_ids=7425

[From the Bunker]

http://www.paddypower.com/bet/gaa-sports/gaa-football/nfl-division-2?ev_oc_grp_ids=7425

Is that betting on who will win the Division 2 title rather than who will get promoted?

[seafoid]

http://www.paddypower.com/bet/gaa-sports/gaa-football/nfl-division-2?ev_oc_grp_ids=7425

Is that betting on who will win the Division 2 title rather than who will get promoted?

I think it's on promotion.

[From the Bunker]

http://www.paddypower.com/bet/gaa-sports/gaa-football/nfl-division-2?ev_oc_grp_ids=7425

Is that betting on who will win the Division 2 title rather than who will get promoted?

I think it's on promotion.

Tyrone are a great bet in that case at 4/11 considering they got promoted today! 

[stew]

That last goal was a sickener. A true sickener. That being said a much improved performance and I believe the foundation of a plan going forward was laid today. Stefan Campbell put on a virtuoso display scoring I believe 1-9. But behind that performance there were many men to back him up. Watters was superb today, the ball stuck to him like glue and put in what I believe was his best Armagh performance to date.

Most pleasing was some of the kick passing on display for the first hour that was like how we played in 2014. Today also seen the return of the defensive line across the 50 that worked so well for us that year. For the first hour I was very impressed with the endevour and the skill showed by most of the players including the new blood. I already mentioned Watter but McIlroy Scannell and McIlroy all turned in impressive performances today.

When Rafftery was sent off at the beginning of the second half I think we all thought Galway would go on to win with a few points to spare. But the application to build up a 8 point lead was something to be admired.

After 1 hour the pressure of the lead started to build we started to play to protect the lead rather then push on to win the games. We stopped kick passing and started futhering about handpassing it sideways and inviting Galway to come on to us. If we were on a winning run and full of confidence we could have pushed on and won the game comfortably.

Another positive before I move on the negatives. The new Keeper Morrison performed well making a great catch in the 1st half and a good save right at the end. Kickouts were a big improvement too.

Unfortunately despite the improved kickouts we got destroyed at midfield. We are crying out a for big midfielder that can win his own ball. We can achieve parity in this sector we would be a much more difficult team to beat.

The biggest bugbear today was the usual lack of discipline. The referee did us no favours but the sending off of Ethan Rafferty was justified. The first yellow was particularly a bad challenge. If Ethan Raffertys sending off can be put down to much enthusiasm there is no excuse for Aidan Forkers sending off. Too often he has let his team down and it is getting ridiculous. To have the ball running out towards your own 50 with your team trying desperately to hold onto a lead, and then put your arm around an oppositions player and drag him down is stupid. This man should not be our captain and he should not be employed in defense, way to much of a liability. If we can't trust him to last 70 mins then we should leave him on the bench.

Findon has become probably the most frustrating Armagh player. He contributing nothing positive. I couldn't believe it when on a hop ball, he did not go for the ball but instead dragged down the Galway player giving them a free which they promptly but over the bar.

I still believe we will be relegated but with the return of a few players such as Dyas, Murray, Mallon and McKeever I believe we can be at least competitive with the likes of Cavan in the championshiphttp://bthomehub.home. There is no solution forthcoming for our midfield problem though.

Agreed

I disagree, you can flood the middle on sickouts, that has worked well in the past for the likes of Tyrone.

[galwayman]

Galway were a lot more open at the back than most other counties, and probably usually Galway themselves, are at this level

That has been one of our main problems over the last 5 years.
We don't have a good full back line to begin with and we compound that issue by leaving ourselves wide open at the back.
You could maybe say something for that if you had a particularly good set of inside backs but we simply don't.
We don't seem to be progressing really.

[Maroon Manc]

Sounds like Kyne really struggled on Campbell and that Galway were more open at the back then they have been in previous games. Thankfully its still in Galways hands if we can achieve promotion although its disappointing not to have won the previous 2 games but there are at least positives to take from both games.