Armagh v Galway (Sat 11-07-15)

[armaghniac]

This game was summed up by the frees on either side. Armagh had a couple of bad misses, but when these frees were taken Armagh had only 2 men inside, while Galway had 5, so had it dropped short or hit the post we weren't planning to contend. Galway get a free moved up because of pointless slabbering, they position men around the square and the free dips short and is deflected for the goal that made the difference.

Armagh have gone backwards. Good luck to Galway, they'll meet better organised teams than today.

[Orior]

Today was better than the previous two matches, but still not good enough.

The retreat and defend tactic failed, and management were too slow to change it.

I thought Vernon was good, as was Mallon, Murray and Morgan. But Galway half backs had so much time to pick out the passes that it made their forwards look better.

Aaron Forker is a fantastic player and great to watch, but his off the ball stuff detracts, and he was lucky to play the full match.

Jamie had his usual good game, and Morrin had a tough battle against one of the best full backs in Ireland. Incidentally, at one point Andrew was pushed and fell onto the ball with with chest touching the ball on the ground and the ref gave Galway a free!

We finished the game with our best 15. I hope they are all on board again for the league.

Well done Galway and good luck in the next round - you wont get it as handy next time!

[Manning18]

Jamie had his usual good game, and Morrin had a tough battle against one of the best full backs in Ireland. Incidentally, at one point Andrew was pushed and fell onto the ball with with chest touching the ball on the ground and the ref gave Galway a free!

Dont think ive ever encountered as polarizing a player as Hanley.  Ive been defending him for years but half our fanbase want him nowhere near the team. Outside the county, ive seen him named as a top3 fullback. It's a strange one

[Captain Obvious]

Disappointing end to Armaghs championship never really got going truth to be known. At least Armagh are back in division two for 2016. Galway improving in defence and toughening up however if Armagh weren't in a lull going into the game they might have won.

[illdecide]

I'll start with congratulating Galway on their easy victory... They could and should have beaten us easier and I wish them luck next weekend. Where do I start with Armagh... Seriously. The tactics r a shambles and don't suit the players we've got, all Forker and Findon want to do is push and wrestle but they forget it's football we're playing. I seriously don't like naming players but the young lad Rafferty was having a mare in around mid field and missed a few handy frees too but it took Kieran two thirds of the match to work that out.
I'll tell u one thing and I don't miss too many games if Armagh play like that (defensive tactics) next season I'll be considering staying at home as that's hard to watch.

[galwayman]

Happy with the win.I doubted whether we had the balls to go away to a tough team and get over the line but in fairness the lads man' up yesterday.
From an Armagh point of view of course ye will be hoping mad about the 2 late black cards.Both fully deserved and both highly cynical.
As a Galway fan though - we were 3 points up with time almost up.
Don't concede a goal and you win the game.If you are playing out on that pitch what would you do?
I know what I'd do.I'd take a black for the team every time & I'd be surprised if anyone that plays football themselves would say any different.

Anyway those last 3 minutes weren't the winning and losing of the game.
I'd agree with some of the Armagh posters comments - it was strange to see Armagh stick rigidly to sitting back in a defensive shell even when 5 points down.
Our lads were playing ball back and over the pitch because the Armagh lads were so deep and not pushing out to put pressure on the ball.
In fact I think if Galway had been cuter and more patient in doing this then there wouldn't have been the panic at the end clinging onto a 3 point lead.
Instead we weren't patient enough and eventually have ball inside to lads surrounded by defenders resulting in turnovers.
Inthinknyou couldn't be happy with the last 20 minutes & we'd pay for that another day.

I was at the far end to the penalty incident so I'd have to reserve judgement on it until I watch the replay of it.

For us I thought Cathal Sweeney was again outstanding.Has the heart of a lion.
We won an ocean of ball around the middle through Flynn,FOC & Conroy plus our hb line getting into breaking ball.
All of the forwards contributed well with Danny making a difference when he came on at half time.

Interesting to see who we get next now

[T Fearon]

Armagh were so poor yesterday that Armagh Sean would have needed viagra before heading to Coppers after that.

[Bingo]

Genuine question - is McGeeney one of a number modern managers who have been gifted Intercounty jobs well before their time?

Not sure of he has cut his teeth in club football but I can't recall him doing so. Surely a decent spell at club level would help these guys develop tactically as managers and coaches. At club level they have to manage resources, think outside  the box, man management, work with the hand given and get the best of that. Surely this is the best schooling any manager could get.

Its a big difference from the Intercounty set-up and they seem to try and apply a scientific approach to setting up a team - rigid, inflexible, based on strength, restricted.

I've seen little of Armagh but they seem to try and play like Donegal 4 years ago. Donegal have adapted their approach since and teams facing it have also got used to the style of game. A lot of teams are in the same boat but to do so, you need high quality forwards and players willing to get forward. Aaron Kernan really suited that role for Armagh last year and in his absence they seemed to have suffered.

Will be interesting to see how Armagh move on next year, step up in divisions should help them.

[screenexile]

Genuine question - is McGeeney one of a number modern managers who have been gifted Intercounty jobs well before their time?

Not sure of he has cut his teeth in club football but I can't recall him doing so. Surely a decent spell at club level would help these guys develop tactically as managers and coaches. At club level they have to manage resources, think outside  the box, man management, work with the hand given and get the best of that. Surely this is the best schooling any manager could get.

Its a big difference from the Intercounty set-up and they seem to try and apply a scientific approach to setting up a team - rigid, inflexible, based on strength, restricted.

I've seen little of Armagh but they seem to try and play like Donegal 4 years ago. Donegal have adapted their approach since and teams facing it have also got used to the style of game. A lot of teams are in the same boat but to do so, you need high quality forwards and players willing to get forward. Aaron Kernan really suited that role for Armagh last year and in his absence they seemed to have suffered.

Will be interesting to see how Armagh move on next year, step up in divisions should help them.

You've hit the nail on the head there although you would think he learned a fair bit from his time with Kildare!

[twohands!!!]

You've hit the nail on the head there although you would think he learned a fair bit from his time with Kildare!

He looks to have learned nothing of value during his time in Kildare - the performance against Donegal by Armagh was like watching a rerun of Kildare in different coloured jerseys under McGeeney especially as regards the Armagh/Kildare attack.

Division 2 next year will be a far different proposition from Division 3 was this year - Armagh to get relegated again might well be a bit of a value bet.

[Wildweasel74]

G i remember people calling for McGeeney when Paddy O`Rourke and Paul grimley were manager, now hes there and not cutting the mustard, hes no good! Maybe a look at the lack of scoring forwards is what is hindering Armagh fore by lack of a gameplan

[Jinxy]

McGeeney says very little and always looks like he's thinking about something.
This makes him seem wise.

[rrhf]

Why were Armagh so keen to get rid of Grimley.  A top football man who seemed to work well with Mc Geeney.  I think Mc Geeney needs someone of that level beside him.  The options come Autumn should include 
Grimley again. 
James Mc Cartan - a long shot but it would be some management team. 
Oisin Mc Conville / Ronan Clarke
Tony Mc Entee

[Jinxy]

Get one of the McEntees in there for gods sake.
Make sure it's the right one though, they look very alike.

[Moortown Spuds]

Is that the end of McKeever? Must be demoralising making the trip from Dublin to Armagh 5 nights a week to be disposed off so early.

Will Andy Mallon be bothered next year either?