Armagh vs. Down NFL Div. 2 7th Feb. 2014

[T Fearon]

Two poor teams.Mc Keever best player on pitch by a mile.Why didn't Armagh play with the same grit and determination in the first half as they showed in the second half? We needed a 6 point lead at half time to have a chance but never looked like getting it

[SHEEDY]

Soaked but satisfied- Down were lucky enough but it's been a long time coming agin themuns. Both teams displayed good commitment but both teams are not coming down with quality- Mc Keever was good but so were Peter Turley and Mc Kernan. O'Hagan marked Jamie Clarke well. Down should pick up another 2 points to make them safe but it will be a tight one for Armagh Next game is home to Donegal so content with 3 points at this stage.

[/b]next game is home to louth on sat 1st march

[Captain Obvious]

The Armagh wides in the first half came back to haunt. Tough way to lose and may have to win the remaining home games just to stay up now.

[Mourne Rover]

If a monsoon is needed to get us a win at the Athletic Grounds, we will take it every time. The conditions were so bad that the game was turned into a lottery, but Down, without ever playing well, showed decent mental strength to turn a two point deficit into a two point win during injury time.

The force of the wind and the rain probably meant that Armagh needed a lead of at least six points at the break, and had to settle for three,so it could be argued that Down won it in first half by clever defending. However, according to RTE, there were concerns that players were suffering from hypothermia  at the break, with the possibility that the match could be abandoned, so both sides deserve credit for bravery and commitment in the circumstances.

Harrison had no chance with the first Armagh goal, although he seemed to lose the flight of the ball for the second one. However, these things happen on filthy nights and his handling and kick-outs were otherwise excellent.

McArdle lost possession under pressure for what looked as though it was likely to be the wining point for Armagh, but worked hard for the rest of the game. O'Hagan did a fine job on Clarke while McCartan was just as good in the other corner.

Carr was the pick of the half back line which inevitably made handling errors, although Garvey and Boyle battled all the way. Turley was probably our man of the match for the second week in a row, and his strength was crucial time and time again, while Mallon ran all night and was unfortunate with his black card.

Poland actually took an unusual number of wrong options but it is difficult to criticise your captain when he gets two goals in such circumstances. There must have been six hand passes in the middle of a blizzard for the winning goal and luckily the right man was on the end of it. Maginn probably covered more ground than anyone else and McKernan showed a touch of class for both of his points.

O'Hare scored two difficult frees and missed a relatively simple one and still looks to be playing his way back to fitness. Jerome Johnston did not score but chased and harried all night while Madine had his best display since his championship debut last summer and was hugely improved from his struggles against Monaghan.

James again deserves full credit for his substitution, as the Kilcoo youngsters, O'Hanlon and Ryan Johnston, definitely made a difference, while Eoin McCartan, for the second week running, scored with his first touch. It was great to see Benny getting a run at the end, even without touching the ball, and there were some very happy and very wet Down people at the final whistle. Kallum King's wedding reception would be the place to be around now as soon as the winning squad bursts through the doors.

[lawnseed]

So division three then for the orangemen. Thats ok. Back in the day thats where it all started with a win over dublin in breffini park damien horsk ger reed.. Legends

[Throw ball]

So division three then for the orangemen. Thats ok. Back in the day thats where it all started with a win over dublin in breffini park damien horsk ger reed.. Legends

I also remember that same Armagh team losing a pile of close matches before learning how to win and beckoning Armagh's greatest era.

[seafoid]

So the conclusion then is Armagh down, Down stable

[Aristo 60]

Good win for Down. Fair play to Poland who got plenty of attention throughout and still came up with the goods big time.

Read someone saying Armagh have the biggest covered stand in Ulster? Was it just me or are the seats the smallest and most crampt? #sardines. Not much merit in having the biggest plane when all the seats are economy 

And fair play to the youngsters at half time. Did the child protection officers have a night off?

[grounded]

If a monsoon is needed to get us a win at the Athletic Grounds, we will take it every time. The conditions were so bad that the game was turned into a lottery, but Down, without ever playing well, showed decent mental strength to turn a two point deficit into a two point win during injury time.

The force of the wind and the rain probably meant that Armagh needed a lead of at least six points at the break, and had to settle for three,so it could be argued that Down won it in first half by clever defending. However, according to RTE, there were concerns that players were suffering from hypothermia  at the break, with the possibility that the match could be abandoned, so both sides deserve credit for bravery and commitment in the circumstances.

Harrison had no chance with the first Armagh goal, although he seemed to lose the flight of the ball for the second one. However, these things happen on filthy nights and his handling and kick-outs were otherwise excellent.

McArdle lost possession under pressure for what looked as though it was likely to be the wining point for Armagh, but worked hard for the rest of the game. O'Hagan did a fine job on Clarke while McCartan was just as good in the other corner.

Carr was the pick of the half back line which inevitably made handling errors, although Garvey and Boyle battled all the way. Turley was probably our man of the match for the second week in a row, and his strength was crucial time and time again, while Mallon ran all night and was unfortunate with his black card.

Poland actually took an unusual number of wrong options but it is difficult to criticise your captain when he gets two goals in such circumstances. There must have been six hand passes in the middle of a blizzard for the winning goal and luckily the right man was on the end of it. Maginn probably covered more ground than anyone else and McKernan showed a touch of class for both of his points.

O'Hare scored two difficult frees and missed a relatively simple one and still looks to be playing his way back to fitness. Jerome Johnston did not score but chased and harried all night while Madine had his best display since his championship debut last summer and was hugely improved from his struggles against Monaghan.

James again deserves full credit for his substitution, as the Kilcoo youngsters, O'Hanlon and Ryan Johnston, definitely made a difference, while Eoin McCartan, for the second week running, scored with his first touch. It was great to see Benny getting a run at the end, even without touching the ball, and there were some very happy and very wet Down people at the final whistle. Kallum King's wedding reception would be the place to be around now as soon as the winning squad bursts through the doors.

I think the substitution of Mallon was enforced as he received a black card.

[grounded]

A real lottery of a game. With the gale there was Armagh needed a 6-7 point lead at half time. They kicked about 8? wide's the first half. Turley was Down MOM for me with Mc Keever the main man for the Orchard. Mixed bag for Harrison like last week. Brilliant save to deny a goal and came out well at the end to force the Armagh player to take a point. Mc Cartan(Dan) and o 'Hagan both were solid enough. After last weeks encouraging performance, I thought the Half back line were very poor. Stray/suicide passes, getting caught in possession, taking ball into multiple tacklers and getting Dispossessed. Garvey lucky enough not to get the line when he led with the fist in the first half.
                 The experiment with Mallon at midfield is not working. He makes good breaks and has bags of pace but too often he makes the wrong choice and we end up getting turned over.  Mc Kernan also had a strong performance. He covered a lot of ground and popped up with 2 important points. He withstood a bone shaking hit from Mc Keever who seemed to come off worse after it. A strange game for Poland, he was anonymous for long stretches yet ended up with two goals! Brendan Mc Ardle was caught a number of times in possession(the last time nearly letting Armagh in for a goal) any time he gets the ball I'm nervous. Like last week Madine came into it in the second half. He's a big lump and a little heavy legged, but showed last night that he's worth persevering with in the FF position. Donal missed a fairly easy free in the second half but up to that took his other chances well and looked lively. Jerome Johnston and Maginn tried hard but in those conditions the physicality of the Armagh backs was always going to tell.
               Of the subs Eoin took his point well and offered a little more physicality. Young O Hanlon looked lively and I think he is a better option than Mc Ardle. Ryan Johnston didn't really impact the game and I would like to see him on from the start. Armagh will be kicking themselves that they let this one slip. Too much messing around in the first half when the ball should have been delivered to Clarke or Tasker who looked to have the beating of their men. Campbell should have went for goal at the end which would have sealed it.  Anyway, from a Down perspective any win at the Athletics ground is encouraging.
                 

[armaghniac]

Read someone saying Armagh have the biggest covered stand in Ulster? Was it just me or are the seats the smallest and most crampt? #sardines.

I think the seats in Armagh are probably typical of modern stadia. Their suitability for a particular game may depend on the proportion of big arses in the visiting support. 

Not much merit in having the biggest plane when all the seats are economy 

You should have booked one of the heated massage recliners in the Pullman Lounge, where special award winning staff leased from Singapore Airlines serve tapas prepared by one of the top Asturian chefs.

[grounded]

You should have booked one of the heated massage recliners in the Pullman Lounge, where special award winning staff leased from Singapore Airlines serve tapas prepared by one of the top Asturian chefs.
[/quote]

Do you also get to put a message up on the BIG SCREEN in that package or is that £5 extra?

[Agent Orange]

Referee rode Armagh, we couldn't buy a free in a scoreable position. McKeever got no protection either, joke. We had a man sent off for what was a 50/50 incident, why didn't the down man walk? The down man that got the black card was out on his feet, Coldrick did him a favour.

Still think we'll stay up and be in good shape for the championship.

[Aristo 60]

Read someone saying Armagh have the biggest covered stand in Ulster? Was it just me or are the seats the smallest and most crampt? #sardines.

I think the seats in Armagh are probably typical of modern stadia. Their suitability for a particular game may depend on the proportion of big arses in the visiting support. 

Not much merit in having the biggest plane when all the seats are economy 

You should have booked one of the heated massage recliners in the Pullman Lounge, where special award winning staff leased from Singapore Airlines serve tapas prepared by one of the top Asturian chefs.

Ah marvellous - that explains it   

[BennyCake]

I don't know how it affects the players, but I found the big screen very sore on the eyes. It's too bright.