USFC Armagh v Derry, St Tiernach's Park, Clones, 19th June 2pm

[brokencrossbar1]

Am looking forward to the tactical battle between Brennan and Joe Kernan. I heard Armagh are so sure of victory that Aidan O'Rourke has ordered in 500 special Ulster final 2011 picture frames for the shop. A huge after game party has been planned for clones square by the Armagh sponsors. Friar Tucks, simply fruit and Morgan Milk. Yummmm! Prize draw for a free cube of diesel 

On a much more serious note I hope the apple munchers from around Cross behave themselves a lot better than they did the last time Brennan led a team against one from Armagh. The throwing of screenings will not be tolerated!

Have you slaughtneil lads still not got over your beating.

Ach, leave them be, they've only ever played two games in the ulster championship and had the misfortune to run into a bcb inspired cross.

[sheamy]

what will be interesting to see is whether Armagh revert to type (which I fully expect) and play out and out blanket defence like they did in Celtic Park last year. It's always been known to be the downfall of this Derry team so why change?

With McDonnell and Clarke left on the counter attack they'll be ideally set up. Be great to see a more open high scoring game in this 'crossmaglen style' but I can't see it.

Which of the two Armagh teams will be sent out? The one before the cross men exerted their influence on it, or the one after?

[Rawhide]

Sheamy do you know what your talking about. Sure isn't Donal Murtagh and Mc Conville coaching them. So Cross has exerted their influenece over them for the past 10 yrs including the Down game.

[sheamy]

Sheamy do you know what your talking about. Sure isn't Donal Murtagh and Mc Conville coaching them. So Cross has exerted their influenece over them for the past 10 yrs including the Down game.

I often wonder that myself Rawhide!

It's well discussed at this stage the change in emphasis that went on about a month or two ago in the armagh team. I'm not saying there was no cross exertion before that (badly phrased on my part) but there was a change in emphasis in the play brought about by a number of players and coaches resulting in a different style of play v down.

Perhaps I dreamt this I dunno but it was commented on several times in the media both before, during and after the Down game. People discussing it put it down to a greater input from the cross camp that had been so previously. The players are rumored to be more happy with it than systems employed during the league.

My question was: Will they revert to type or go with the new style of play?

(ps I'm well aware who coaches the team. Who coached them in Jan and who coaches them now as well)

[Applesisapples]

Sheamy, I think a lot of Armagh people would agree that what happen last year in Celtic Park, after an attacking and eyecatching
League performance could be laid at undue influenece from Murtagh and McNulty. But there is no doubting the positive influence for the Down game seemed to come from McGrane and McConville. If we revert to type then Derry will edge it by 2 or 3. If we repeat the Derry performance then we will win by 2 or 3. And Cross in the attacking Flair of Clarke and the Kernans will be to the fore.

[sheamy]

Sheamy, I think a lot of Armagh people would agree that what happen last year in Celtic Park, after an attacking and eyecatching
League performance could be laid at undue influenece from Murtagh and McNulty. But there is no doubting the positive influence for the Down game seemed to come from McGrane and McConville. If we revert to type then Derry will edge it by 2 or 3. If we repeat the Derry performance then we will win by 2 or 3. And Cross in the attacking Flair of Clarke and the Kernans will be to the fore.

Thank god. I wasn't dreaming afterall! 

I dunno apples, I think they'll be in two minds. They won last year remember in Celtic Park and reasonably comfortably in the end after an even enough first half. Derry looked clueless when faced with the 12 men behind the ball setup. Every team that has beat Derry in the Ulster championship just swamps the defence and counters. Don't see why Armagh would change. Each game is different. Wouldn't have worked against Down as they (now) seem to be able to pick apart tight defences with quick hands. Horses for courses I think and they are bound to be tempted to revert.

[Applesisapples]

Sheamy, I think a lot of Armagh people would agree that what happen last year in Celtic Park, after an attacking and eyecatching
League performance could be laid at undue influenece from Murtagh and McNulty. But there is no doubting the positive influence for the Down game seemed to come from McGrane and McConville. If we revert to type then Derry will edge it by 2 or 3. If we repeat the Derry performance then we will win by 2 or 3. And Cross in the attacking Flair of Clarke and the Kernans will be to the fore.

Thank god. I wasn't dreaming afterall! 

I dunno apples, I think they'll be in two minds. They won last year remember in Celtic Park and reasonably comfortably in the end after an even enough first half. Derry looked clueless when faced with the 12 men behind the ball setup. Every team that has beat Derry in the Ulster championship just swamps the defence and counters. Don't see why Armagh would change. Each game is different. Wouldn't have worked against Down as they (now) seem to be able to pick apart tight defences with quick hands. Horses for courses I think and they are bound to be tempted to revert.

Sorry meant repeat Down not Derry Perf.

[Armaghgeddon]

Sheamy, I think a lot of Armagh people would agree that what happen last year in Celtic Park, after an attacking and eyecatching
League performance could be laid at undue influenece from Murtagh and McNulty. But there is no doubting the positive influence for the Down game seemed to come from McGrane and McConville. If we revert to type then Derry will edge it by 2 or 3. If we repeat the Derry performance then we will win by 2 or 3. And Cross in the attacking Flair of Clarke and the Kernans will be to the fore.

Thank god. I wasn't dreaming afterall! 

I dunno apples, I think they'll be in two minds. They won last year remember in Celtic Park and reasonably comfortably in the end after an even enough first half. Derry looked clueless when faced with the 12 men behind the ball setup. Every team that has beat Derry in the Ulster championship just swamps the defence and counters. Don't see why Armagh would change. Each game is different. Wouldn't have worked against Down as they (now) seem to be able to pick apart tight defences with quick hands. Horses for courses I think and they are bound to be tempted to revert.

Can't see Armagh going back to defensive football. They know from last years championship that defensive football is not the way to go. While we won last years match comfortably it will be a completely different approach this year. If anything it is going to be a headache for Brennan having to guess what Armagh team will show up and because Armagh beat Derry with such tactics last year Derry will be prepared for the same again. If Armagh attack Derry I think they will be much harder for Derry to cope with.

[Applesisapples]

No the winning of the Down Game for me was in how Armagh went man for man on the big names, and took the game directly to Down. More accurate kick passing and forcing on Down to the back foot through the runs of Kernan et al. good to watch. I would rather see a repeat against Derry because I think we would win handily.

[sheamy]

Sheamy, I think a lot of Armagh people would agree that what happen last year in Celtic Park, after an attacking and eyecatching
League performance could be laid at undue influenece from Murtagh and McNulty. But there is no doubting the positive influence for the Down game seemed to come from McGrane and McConville. If we revert to type then Derry will edge it by 2 or 3. If we repeat the Derry performance then we will win by 2 or 3. And Cross in the attacking Flair of Clarke and the Kernans will be to the fore.

Thank god. I wasn't dreaming afterall! 

I dunno apples, I think they'll be in two minds. They won last year remember in Celtic Park and reasonably comfortably in the end after an even enough first half. Derry looked clueless when faced with the 12 men behind the ball setup. Every team that has beat Derry in the Ulster championship just swamps the defence and counters. Don't see why Armagh would change. Each game is different. Wouldn't have worked against Down as they (now) seem to be able to pick apart tight defences with quick hands. Horses for courses I think and they are bound to be tempted to revert.

Can't see Armagh going back to defensive football. They know from last years championship that defensive football is not the way to go. While we won last years match comfortably it will be a completely different approach this year. If anything it is going to be a headache for Brennan having to guess what Armagh team will show up and because Armagh beat Derry with such tactics last year Derry will be prepared for the same again. If Armagh attack Derry I think they will be much harder for Derry to cope with.

I hope you're right as it could be good craic in that case. Brennan hasn't lined out a defensive formation all year. In fact, he never has. I think it would be a mistake for Armagh to go more attacking to be honest but we'll see.

Anyway, I've not met a man in the country yet that thinks Derry are gonna win, so it looks like it doesn't really matter what way Armagh play!

[Armaghgeddon]

Sheamy, I think a lot of Armagh people would agree that what happen last year in Celtic Park, after an attacking and eyecatching
League performance could be laid at undue influenece from Murtagh and McNulty. But there is no doubting the positive influence for the Down game seemed to come from McGrane and McConville. If we revert to type then Derry will edge it by 2 or 3. If we repeat the Derry performance then we will win by 2 or 3. And Cross in the attacking Flair of Clarke and the Kernans will be to the fore.

Thank god. I wasn't dreaming afterall! 

I dunno apples, I think they'll be in two minds. They won last year remember in Celtic Park and reasonably comfortably in the end after an even enough first half. Derry looked clueless when faced with the 12 men behind the ball setup. Every team that has beat Derry in the Ulster championship just swamps the defence and counters. Don't see why Armagh would change. Each game is different. Wouldn't have worked against Down as they (now) seem to be able to pick apart tight defences with quick hands. Horses for courses I think and they are bound to be tempted to revert.

Can't see Armagh going back to defensive football. They know from last years championship that defensive football is not the way to go. While we won last years match comfortably it will be a completely different approach this year. If anything it is going to be a headache for Brennan having to guess what Armagh team will show up and because Armagh beat Derry with such tactics last year Derry will be prepared for the same again. If Armagh attack Derry I think they will be much harder for Derry to cope with.

I hope you're right as it could be good craic in that case. Brennan hasn't lined out a defensive formation all year. In fact, he never has. I think it would be a mistake for Armagh to go more attacking to be honest but we'll see.

Anyway, I've not met a man in the country yet that thinks Derry are gonna win, so it looks like it doesn't really matter what way Armagh play!

I am more confident in a Derry win than Armagh winning. I think Derry will go into the game more confident because of their league form and win against Fermanagh. However, Fermanagh would not have asked many questions of the Derry team which is very dangerous in itself. It could give the Derry team a false sense of security it is almost like a prototype car being sold without being rigorously tested. With Armagh there could be too much confidence because we beat last years All Ireland finalists yet everyone in the county knows that there is an even bigger performance in this team. I think Derry will win because they know they have to dig deep to beat Armagh, but with Armagh I think it is going to be hard to shrug off the confidence after beating Down.

[Orangemac]

No the winning of the Down Game for me was in how Armagh went man for man on the big names, and took the game directly to Down. More accurate kick passing and forcing on Down to the back foot through the runs of Kernan et al. good to watch. I would rather see a repeat against Derry because I think we would win handily.

Would agree about the kickpassing. Dyas, Tony Kernan and O'Rourke in particular turned defence into attack quickly.

Dublin were wide open at the back last year but we couldn't exploit it due to the constant hand passing across the pitch.

[tbrick18]

When are the teams due to be announced?

[Oak Leafer]

tbrick81,

Tonight as far as i know

[mackers]

Hope John Brennan's coaching abilities are better than his geography.......see he's saying that Clones is 20 minutes from South Armagh....
Clones isn't 20 minutes away from Castleblayney FFS.