NFL Division 3 2017

[ardchieftain]

Armagh's full forward line is top class, it was a joy to behold. Grimley and Grugan were excellent too, as was Brendy and Charlie at the back. Today will have brought the young lads on in leaps and bounds. Great to be smiling leaving the Athletic Grounds today for a change!

[naka]

Armagh were enjoyable to watch but jeez it was like a game for a pitch opening.
Offaly were awful but that said the Armagh full forward line was lethal.
Jamie I think won everything that came his way.
Defence still very shaky but good to see James Morgan on the line so I would assume he will get minutes against Louth.
Hopefully Andy Mallon comes back and then we can start focusing on our mourner neighbours.
For me though things starting to take shape.

[Armamike]

I think Pat Flanagan's days are numbered in Offaly, there has been a good bit of discontent lately from their supporters and a result like that can't be tolerated by a proud county like Offaly. The players are limited to be fair but a result like that only happens when there is a serious lack of motivation and organisation.

3 weeks ago : Offaly 0-23 - 1-07 Antrim

Today : Armagh: 6-22 - Offaly 0-10 !

    !

Is this the Offaly of Seamus Darby, the Lowry brothers and the Connor brothers?

https://youtu.be/Wxgju-2xbfQ

https://youtu.be/Kba6NYKQH5k

https://youtu.be/PICamSfnA2o

Had the pleasure of meeting the great Matt Connor at the game today.  Was just thinking what was going through his mind about Offaly today.  Must be hard not to look back to those great times in the 70s and 80s.  The Offaly supporters around me seemed fairly passive and resigned to things.  Was struck by the lack of anger.

As for Armagh, as others have said our strength is in the forward line, particularly the full forwards.  They showed good team play today which brought about the goals, passing to the man in the better position.  Good to see that. The defence tightened up a lot in the second half but Offaly were a busted flush at that stage.  We looked fairly suspect any time Offaly did attack us in the first half and based on that i would worry what damage a good team would do to us. The way we're set up at the moment it looks like being a straight shootout from game to game -with the best forwards winning out.

[Shamrock Shore]

Our manager wasn't too impressed with the Semple Stadium shenanigans judging by the article on balls.ie

"We're Fuming" - Longford Manager's Anger At Tipperary Fixture Debacle

Amid a Congress which placed the issue of a prospective, regimented fixture list high on the agenda, the GAA has witnessed a flagrant disregard for existing fixtures on successive weekends. Last weekend, the clash between Tyrone and Cavan, fixed for a half-flooded Healy Park was called off just an hour before throw-in.

This weekend, we saw another postponement in the Allianz Football League, although in contrast, this decision was notable for early it was made. Longford were due to face Tipperary as part of a double-header in Semple Stadium this afternoon, a 1pm throw-in preceding the hurling game between Tipperary and Clare, fixed for 3pm. The football game, however, was postponed at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon, while the hurling went ahead as planned. The Longford game has yet to be refixed, but is expected to be played next weekend.

Longford manager Denis Connerton spoke exclusively to Balls.ie to articulate his frustration with the entire situation, saying that he and his panel are "fuming" with the fact that the game could not be played this weekend.

We heard yesterday afternoon that the match was cancelled because the pitch would not be able to take two matches. Of course, the football had to go and not the hurling, which is very annoying from our point of view, because we had all of our preparation done for the match, we had our travel arrangements made, our catering, and what have you.

It's the only match off in the four divisions in the National Football League, so you would have to wonder about other venues in Tipperary, and why there wasn't another pitch available.

I was given a reason that the pitch was not able to play two matches.

We were informed very early. At around 12.30pm yesterday, we were notified that the game was off. That was very early to call the game off.

The canceling of the game hits Longford hard. Following an opening day victory over Offaly, Longford lost narrowly to Louth and Armagh in rounds two and three, so even the consolidation of Division Three status will be hurt by fixture congestion and the lack of availability of their full squad, issues exacerbated by the postponing of this afternoon's game.

That affects us greatly. We will be without our under-21s next weekend. We would have had them this weekend, after their exploits against Kildare [in the Leinster U-21 championship earlier this week]. Now we will not have them in our squad next weekend, that's four players out of our squad. Also, we now have to play four matches in three weeks, which, for a small county, with limited resources, is going to be very, very difficult.

We're fuming that the match has been called off today. There's a reason for the weeks' break in the National League: it's an opportunity for teams to refresh themselves. That opportunity has been denied to us now. We will have to play four matches in three weeks, and we will have to travel to three of those matches.

We have to do all that [planning] all over again. At this stage, we don't know whether the match is on a Saturday, or whether the match is on a Sunday. And we don't even know the time, we don't even know the date, and we don't even know the venue of the match.

Connerton reiterates his belief that the game should not have been postponed, and that Longford should have been given the opportunity to find an alternative venue. Having been denied that opportunity, Connerton says that home advantage should be awarded to Longford in the refixed game.

We're very annoyed over it. When there wasn't a venue in Tipperary to host that match, at that early stage we'd have found a venue to host it: either in Longford, or, if needs be, it should have been moved to an Offaly venue, or a Laois venue, or another neutral venue that could have staged the game. I don't believe that the match should have fallen this weekend.

We feel that we should get a home venue in this game. We were ready to travel, it is not our fault that the match was called off, and we are now faced with playing three matches away from home in three weeks, and one single match at home, and it is not our fault that match fell.

This issue is sure to further sour relations between the respective counties. Last May, Tipperary agreed to fulfill a challenge match against Longford to mark the opening of the new pitch at the Carrickedmond club, but reneged on the agreement the day prior to the match. Longford were ultimately forced to play an As vs Bs challenge match instead, having been unable to secure an alternative opponent.

The Tipperary county board did not respond to our calls for comment at the time of publication.

[tippabu]

Match should have went ahead, no question

[magpie seanie]

Great result for us and typical of our Jekyll and Hyde nature we seem to mixed the sublime with the ridiculous. When we move the ball quickly and are disciplined in defence including getting our matchups correct we can be a very good outfit. Delighted we have 5 points on the board before we hit into the U21 championship. We should give the U21's first call on the likes of Paddy O'Connor, Kyle Cawley, O'Kelly Lynch and co from now.

Wasn't able to go to game but great to see how well Coen did. Has had his issues over the years but he does offer more than Mark at this stage. Brilliant to see Hughes back. Cian Breheny can be hit and miss but his athleticism and some of the things he can do are unique so we need to harness that and get more consistency from him. I don't know why he's been in and out of the team over the last 20 odd months but we need him. Keelan seems to have given a super returning performance. Great lad. 5 points from play from Murf, some crucial ones when we were not functioning in the first half. Ross a huge loss as we seem to be pretty threadbare in the fb line.....hope he's not out long and Daniel Maye can get back into the mix.

Commiserations to Attractas. Thought they'd do it but nevertheless doing great work at developing players.

[Take Your Points]

Former Offaly star Paraic Sullivan has used Twitter to defend the Faithful players:

In disbelief at some of the comments regarding football results at the weekend. It's alarming how many people are shocked by this. The game has changed significantly yet we still expect a competitive competition.  It's not a level playing field. All teams have different populations, amount of clubs, funding, amenities and previous success.

We are nearing professional standards in regards to time spent training and workload expected from players. Because of this, the teams with the best set-up(s) will prosper. It's just basic common sense.

Having a professional set-up in which the players train like athletes, recover like athletes and are athletes breeds success. All the rules and parameters have changed yet people's opinions and expectations remain the same. The game has evolved significantly in a short period and because the majority of the counties do not have the resources, funding or forward thinking, not only are they lagging behind but being embarrassed.

"It's not the players' fault. I can't reiterate that enough but unless there is some way of capping the funding or implementing something so that it is somewhat even across the board, we are in danger of seriously losing some teams from competing. That is the stark reality, and it's really sad to think that might happen.
To our own supporters, please give the guys a break. Offaly has a population of 75,000 people and has eight senior teams. Let's get real with our expectations. 1971, '72 and '81 are gone. No comparisons to today. Serves no purpose.

Players have full-time jobs, long commutes and other commitments. Lay off!

[Unlaoised]

I could see Armagh winning well I backed them -5 but I didn't see that coming!

[illdecide]

Armagh has a population of 174,792. It would be fair to say you could halve that population for the Protestant people who don't play GAA so i'd say population wise they'd be similar. I do agree with him on the funding though, it's a case of the rich getting richer  (or the fit getting fitter )

[Horse Box]

Our manager wasn't too impressed with the Semple Stadium shenanigans judging by the article on balls.ie

"We're Fuming" - Longford Manager's Anger At Tipperary Fixture Debacle

Amid a Congress which placed the issue of a prospective, regimented fixture list high on the agenda, the GAA has witnessed a flagrant disregard for existing fixtures on successive weekends. Last weekend, the clash between Tyrone and Cavan, fixed for a half-flooded Healy Park was called off just an hour before throw-in.

This weekend, we saw another postponement in the Allianz Football League, although in contrast, this decision was notable for early it was made. Longford were due to face Tipperary as part of a double-header in Semple Stadium this afternoon, a 1pm throw-in preceding the hurling game between Tipperary and Clare, fixed for 3pm. The football game, however, was postponed at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon, while the hurling went ahead as planned. The Longford game has yet to be refixed, but is expected to be played next weekend.

Longford manager Denis Connerton spoke exclusively to Balls.ie to articulate his frustration with the entire situation, saying that he and his panel are "fuming" with the fact that the game could not be played this weekend.

We heard yesterday afternoon that the match was cancelled because the pitch would not be able to take two matches. Of course, the football had to go and not the hurling, which is very annoying from our point of view, because we had all of our preparation done for the match, we had our travel arrangements made, our catering, and what have you.

It's the only match off in the four divisions in the National Football League, so you would have to wonder about other venues in Tipperary, and why there wasn't another pitch available.

I was given a reason that the pitch was not able to play two matches.

We were informed very early. At around 12.30pm yesterday, we were notified that the game was off. That was very early to call the game off.

The canceling of the game hits Longford hard. Following an opening day victory over Offaly, Longford lost narrowly to Louth and Armagh in rounds two and three, so even the consolidation of Division Three status will be hurt by fixture congestion and the lack of availability of their full squad, issues exacerbated by the postponing of this afternoon's game.

That affects us greatly. We will be without our under-21s next weekend. We would have had them this weekend, after their exploits against Kildare [in the Leinster U-21 championship earlier this week]. Now we will not have them in our squad next weekend, that's four players out of our squad. Also, we now have to play four matches in three weeks, which, for a small county, with limited resources, is going to be very, very difficult.

We're fuming that the match has been called off today. There's a reason for the weeks' break in the National League: it's an opportunity for teams to refresh themselves. That opportunity has been denied to us now. We will have to play four matches in three weeks, and we will have to travel to three of those matches.

We have to do all that [planning] all over again. At this stage, we don't know whether the match is on a Saturday, or whether the match is on a Sunday. And we don't even know the time, we don't even know the date, and we don't even know the venue of the match.

Connerton reiterates his belief that the game should not have been postponed, and that Longford should have been given the opportunity to find an alternative venue. Having been denied that opportunity, Connerton says that home advantage should be awarded to Longford in the refixed game.

We're very annoyed over it. When there wasn't a venue in Tipperary to host that match, at that early stage we'd have found a venue to host it: either in Longford, or, if needs be, it should have been moved to an Offaly venue, or a Laois venue, or another neutral venue that could have staged the game. I don't believe that the match should have fallen this weekend.

We feel that we should get a home venue in this game. We were ready to travel, it is not our fault that the match was called off, and we are now faced with playing three matches away from home in three weeks, and one single match at home, and it is not our fault that match fell.

This issue is sure to further sour relations between the respective counties. Last May, Tipperary agreed to fulfill a challenge match against Longford to mark the opening of the new pitch at the Carrickedmond club, but reneged on the agreement the day prior to the match. Longford were ultimately forced to play an As vs Bs challenge match instead, having been unable to secure an alternative opponent.

The Tipperary county board did not respond to our calls for comment at the time of publication.

As a Tipp Football Supporter I am also very disappointed , from what I hear the game could have gone ahead . Nenagh was looked into , but Eire Og wouldn`t give the use of it . The Tipp Team and Management want games played in Thurles anyway . Can`t remember the last time a competitive Senior Football game was played in Nenagh ( played the Dubs in a friendly there last year ) .

[tippabu]

Tipp longford officially fixed for Saturday at 5 as double header with kilkenny match!!

[LCohen]

Former Offaly star Paraic Sullivan has used Twitter to defend the Faithful players:

In disbelief at some of the comments regarding football results at the weekend. It's alarming how many people are shocked by this. The game has changed significantly yet we still expect a competitive competition.  It's not a level playing field. All teams have different populations, amount of clubs, funding, amenities and previous success.

We are nearing professional standards in regards to time spent training and workload expected from players. Because of this, the teams with the best set-up(s) will prosper. It's just basic common sense.

Having a professional set-up in which the players train like athletes, recover like athletes and are athletes breeds success. All the rules and parameters have changed yet people's opinions and expectations remain the same. The game has evolved significantly in a short period and because the majority of the counties do not have the resources, funding or forward thinking, not only are they lagging behind but being embarrassed.

"It's not the players' fault. I can't reiterate that enough but unless there is some way of capping the funding or implementing something so that it is somewhat even across the board, we are in danger of seriously losing some teams from competing. That is the stark reality, and it's really sad to think that might happen.
To our own supporters, please give the guys a break. Offaly has a population of 75,000 people and has eight senior teams. Let's get real with our expectations. 1971, '72 and '81 are gone. No comparisons to today. Serves no purpose.

Players have full-time jobs, long commutes and other commitments. Lay off!

Valid points re disparity in resources. Misses the point if he thinks merely having the financial or indeed playing resources makes the difference. Resources make life easier for those who know how to marshal them.

Valid points re the ask on modern players. That's the bit that needs intervention

[mcklatchee]

We were going to tank someone as soon as we sorted our defence or met someone who didn't know how to attack or someone who just gave up. Still don't know what category Offaly fell into yesterday

[rosnarun]

Tipp coounty board antics regarding their football team .Disgusting as it it probably reflect how many Hurling teams are treated in Football counties.
the pity is how good tipp are and there is still more to be got out of them,
this year could be  the most competitive munster championship in a generation or two

[tippabu]

Tipp coounty board antics regarding their football team .Disgusting as it it probably reflect how many Hurling teams are treated in Football counties.
the pity is how good tipp are and there is still more to be got out of them,
this year could be  the most competitive munster championship in a generation or two

Makes no sense (not your post, the decisions) Im shocked they are putting tipp longford on now before the tipp kilkenny game, maybe there was a genuine fear last week with the forecast not to play two games last weekend but i really wouldnt be surprised to the grass in templetouhy was been told to be cut and have the place ready "just in case".