Armagh vs. Cork Sunday, April 12

[ArmaghGAAforum]

Dunno what the situation is with Paul McGrane but i reckon his starting 15 against Cork should will be there or there abouts regarding his championship team. The U21's playing during the week could maybe upset his plans a we bit but the last 1-2 league games usually give you an indication of the championship team...

think mc grane is still injured( believe its his knee)
i would say he will not start toner nor forker in cork as they have an ulster final next week, we might get to see mc kenna and kernan,
i wonder will he approach mc entee for some experience /leadership around the middle now that mc grane is struggling, considering Armagh are playing a
  3-3-3-2-1-2 formation
with 3 guys playing around the nmiddle

Mcgrane would be a good man to bring on late on to catch a few balls but I think he will struggle to start.

[DuffleKing]

New Armagh poster to this forum so apologies if i don't hit the ground running. have heard a lot about the place and on first viewing i have to say its not as negative and critical as i expected! i'm an avid follower of the county for more than 40 years - challenge, league and championship.

Regarding armagh, i would be anxious over the direction the team is taking at the minute and i feel we are carrying quite a few passengers. in the league this year, only the form of a crucial 3 or 4 has consistently kept the head above water. there is a lot of work to be done to carry a threat to tyrone in may.

The most alarming thing to me is that the armagh management appear to want to mirror the tyrone style of play despite that, in my view, not emphasizing our own county's strengths. much of the football is short, laboured and indirect.

I'm also alarmed at the deterioration over the last two season of armagh's capacity to win ball in the middle third and defensive capabilities of our defensive unit. is this down to coaching? i do think there was been more variety introduced into the forward play and arguably armagh are less predictable in that department.

Going forward and looking towards making strides in the championship, i'd like to see something along the lines of the following for cork

McEvoy, Mallon, McKeever, Donaghy, an other, o'rourke, kernan, toner and vernon, o'rourke, an other, McKenna, McDonnell, Clarke, Mallon.

looking at how the forward line has been set up, it seems the 11 is dropping into midfield looking to win ball and service the full forward line - a bit like john mcentee played, with McDonnell dropping out an functioning as a centre forward. for that type of 11 we need a strong ball winner who can see and pass well. i'm not sure o'rourke (who has been doing this role) has the final quality on his passing and is needed at wing forward for his workrate in any case. steven kernan is an uncomfrotable solution, as are mcdonnell and mallon. so i don't know really.

we also need a wing back - preferebly a defensively competent one given kernan on the other wing. some of those who have been looked at extensively to date don't cut the mustard for me. on both an others i don'tthink management have looked hard enough at viable alternatives. could donnelly do a job a wing back. kas always seemed defensively suspect to me but not sure.

[ArmaghGAAforum]

i think none of us would deny there is work to be done but the potential is in this squad and future squads to do great things with a minor team doing ok and an under21 team in the ulster final

[The GAA]

The McGrane thread doesn't seem like the place to discuss this so:

A lot of players have walked away from armagh in the last fortnight. Not dropped or push but walked away. that is very alarming indeed at this time of year.
Aside from McGrane's unfortunate ijuruy circumstances, having done what enquiring i can those that have apparently quit include paddy mckeever, eugene McDonnell, francie bellew, paedar toal, barry mcdonald, barry toner, shorty clarke, neil o'rourke and mal mackin.

That is alarming to say the least.

[Donagh]

The McGrane thread doesn't seem like the place to discuss this so:

A lot of players have walked away from armagh in the last fortnight. Not dropped or push but walked away. that is very alarming indeed at this time of year.
Aside from McGrane's unfortunate ijuruy circumstances, having done what enquiring i can those that have apparently quit include paddy mckeever, eugene McDonnell, francie bellew, paedar toal, barry mcdonald, barry toner, shorty clarke, neil o'rourke and mal mackin.

That is alarming to say the least.

Maybe they knew the writing was on the wall with the squad due to be cut back next week anyway. 

[ArmaghGAAforum]

The McGrane thread doesn't seem like the place to discuss this so:

A lot of players have walked away from armagh in the last fortnight. Not dropped or push but walked away. that is very alarming indeed at this time of year.
Aside from McGrane's unfortunate ijuruy circumstances, having done what enquiring i can those that have apparently quit include paddy mckeever, eugene McDonnell, francie bellew, paedar toal, barry mcdonald, barry toner, shorty clarke, neil o'rourke and mal mackin.

That is alarming to say the least.

The timing is certainly strange but its time to have a squad of young dedicated players.

[The GAA]

Maybe. For the sake of a week you'd hang on and hope for the best surely?

[corn02]

I'd say they got the indicators.

Time for Mallon, McKeever, MOR to stand up and become the new leaders.

Team?

McEvoy
Mallon Donaghy Shannon
Finn Mo AOR McKeever
Toner Vernon
MOR AK Barnsey
Mallon Clarke McDonnell

[The GAA]

Yes, possibly. the paddy McKeever one sits awkwardly though.

Not a bad team corn but not comfortable with moriarty at wing back and barnsy at wing forward.

[Hank Everlast]

Hearty
Mallon AOR Shannon
AK Donaghy McKeever
Toner Vernon
Mckenna MOR
Mallon McDonnell
Barnsey Clarke

[brokencrossbar1]

Has it occurred to anyone that perhaps these players simply do not fit into the way that Peter McDonnell wants to operate?  Like when any player leaves/retires/is dropped the squad will still go on.  Perhaps on their performances at training a decision was made not to give them any game time.  Armagh started off the league campaign poorly and could have fallen into the relegation trap.  Now they are in the position to get promoted and that is only a good thing.  Playing against better quality teams brings a player on more than playing against lesser teams.

I doubt if anyone on here knows what went on at training but I am sure if they fitted into the plans they would still be there.  Of the names posted Francie, McKeever and McGrane retired.  Line drawn under them.  Peader Toal has bags of ability but that only takes you so far at championship level.  Even when I was playing in Cross, and this is 3-4 years ago, I was told he would not make it(by a Harps man) because of his attitude.  From what I know of the other players mentioned I think they are good, but they a cut below senior county level.  It may not have been done in the best way but who really cares in the long run.  If these players take the hump and cry into their beer, they are not worth having around the team.

Move on and lets hope for a good result on Sunday and for the other results to go our way.  I have heard a few rumblings of discontent in Cork also.

[bingobus]

Has it occurred to anyone that perhaps these players simply do not fit into the way that Peter McDonnell wants to operate?  Like when any player leaves/retires/is dropped the squad will still go on.  Perhaps on their performances at training a decision was made not to give them any game time.  Armagh started off the league campaign poorly and could have fallen into the relegation trap.  Now they are in the position to get promoted and that is only a good thing.  Playing against better quality teams brings a player on more than playing against lesser teams.

I doubt if anyone on here knows what went on at training but I am sure if they fitted into the plans they would still be there.  Of the names posted Francie, McKeever and McGrane retired.  Line drawn under them.  Peader Toal has bags of ability but that only takes you so far at championship level.  Even when I was playing in Cross, and this is 3-4 years ago, I was told he would not make it(by a Harps man) because of his attitude.  From what I know of the other players mentioned I think they are good, but they a cut below senior county level.  It may not have been done in the best way but who really cares in the long run.  If these players take the hump and cry into their beer, they are not worth having around the team.

Move on and lets hope for a good result on Sunday and for the other results to go our way.  I have heard a few rumblings of discontent in Cork also.

Cork in discontent shock   

Say it ain't so.

[davo]

I agree with BC on this one. We as supporters do not know what has been going on in training over the last 3 months. When the management pick their panel it will be the best 30 or so lads they feel will do the best for armagh. This will be based on the mckenna cup, league, club and their own internal training and matches.

Looking forward to Cork. I have a feeling that the team will change from the last day because although we won it wasnt convincing. Should be a good weekend.

[corn02]

Has it occurred to anyone that perhaps these players simply do not fit into the way that Peter McDonnell wants to operate?  Like when any player leaves/retires/is dropped the squad will still go on.  Perhaps on their performances at training a decision was made not to give them any game time.  Armagh started off the league campaign poorly and could have fallen into the relegation trap.  Now they are in the position to get promoted and that is only a good thing.  Playing against better quality teams brings a player on more than playing against lesser teams.

I doubt if anyone on here knows what went on at training but I am sure if they fitted into the plans they would still be there.  Of the names posted Francie, McKeever and McGrane retired.  Line drawn under them.  Peader Toal has bags of ability but that only takes you so far at championship level.  Even when I was playing in Cross, and this is 3-4 years ago, I was told he would not make it(by a Harps man) because of his attitude.  From what I know of the other players mentioned I think they are good, but they a cut below senior county level.  It may not have been done in the best way but who really cares in the long run.  If these players take the hump and cry into their beer, they are not worth having around the team.

Move on and lets hope for a good result on Sunday and for the other results to go our way.  I have heard a few rumblings of discontent in Cork also.

Bit harsh BC are you saying they were perhaps dropped or am I picking it up wrong as is usually the case?

I know McGrane and Bellew would certainly have been welcomed with open arms. Don; know what the craic with McKeever was.

[mackers]

Has it occurred to anyone that perhaps these players simply do not fit into the way that Peter McDonnell wants to operate?  Like when any player leaves/retires/is dropped the squad will still go on.  Perhaps on their performances at training a decision was made not to give them any game time.  Armagh started off the league campaign poorly and could have fallen into the relegation trap.  Now they are in the position to get promoted and that is only a good thing.  Playing against better quality teams brings a player on more than playing against lesser teams.

I doubt if anyone on here knows what went on at training but I am sure if they fitted into the plans they would still be there.  Of the names posted Francie, McKeever and McGrane retired.  Line drawn under them.  Peader Toal has bags of ability but that only takes you so far at championship level.  Even when I was playing in Cross, and this is 3-4 years ago, I was told he would not make it(by a Harps man) because of his attitude.  From what I know of the other players mentioned I think they are good, but they a cut below senior county level.  It may not have been done in the best way but who really cares in the long run.  If these players take the hump and cry into their beer, they are not worth having around the team.

Move on and lets hope for a good result on Sunday and for the other results to go our way.  I have heard a few rumblings of discontent in Cork also.

I would agree with that bc, Paddy McKeever is the only departure that I would query, but of the lads that left of their own accord, it's fairly obvious that they wouldn't be making the squad anyway. Some people do like the conspiracy theories though.