Sam Maguire 2024 Group 1 - Galway, Armagh, Derry, Westmeath

[Sandy Hill]

Anyone know the situation re Andy Murnin?

[bennydorano]

The Galway match is just one for winning, it could be a dour watch for neutrals.

Would we have won that way yesterday with Ciaran Mackin, Murnin and Peter McGrane (as Ross McQuillan made such a huge difference)? Probably not, maybe the unfortunate circumstances could give the management more impetus to be brave every time

[Armagh18]

The Galway match is just one for winning, it could be a dour watch for neutrals.

Would we have won that way yesterday with Ciaran Mackin, Murnin and Peter McGrane (as Ross McQuillan made such a huge difference)? Probably not, maybe the unfortunate circumstances could give the management more impetus to be brave every time

the 3 that didn't start/came off you mentioned are as good as the 3 that did and probably similar enough players as well so hard to say. Think it was the bravery of how we set up rather than the personnel that made the difference. Hope Murnin is back for Galway as he's been brilliant this year but has a job getting his place back.

Wouldn't mind seeing either him or Oisin in for Soupy the next day. 

[seafoid]

Agreed tbrick18, that's exactly how I see it ... winning at a canter against a Derry team not up for the fight is one thing, backing it up the next day would be confirmation that Armagh are undisputedly trending upwards in the pecking order.  But that is exactly the opportunity that McGeeney and Armagh want to have, and no better team to square up to than Galway.

There was one penalty between Armagh winning Ulster and the actual result. They have a lot going for them. They also lost the qf on penalties in 2022. They have the class.

[Armagh18]

Agreed tbrick18, that's exactly how I see it ... winning at a canter against a Derry team not up for the fight is one thing, backing it up the next day would be confirmation that Armagh are undisputedly trending upwards in the pecking order.  But that is exactly the opportunity that McGeeney and Armagh want to have, and no better team to square up to than Galway.

There was one penalty between Armagh winning Ulster and the actual result. They have a lot going for them. They also lost the qf on penalties in 2022. They have the class.

We're 4 penalty shootouts away from back to back Ulsters and all ireland semis. Sicken yer fecking hole but we'd all 4 games won and managed to snap a draw from the jaws of victory every time.

[seafoid]

Eamonn Sweeney in the Indo notes Armagh's tendency towards systems failure on close finishes.

[Armagh18]

Eamonn Sweeney in the Indo notes Armagh's tendency towards systems failure on close finishes.

A blind man could see that lol

[imtommygunn]

Armagh weren't great last few years I thought. The Galway keeper kept them in it and Derry had a mess of a build up. Monaghan wouldn't be fantastic but they kept them in it. They do appear very good this year though.

[Estimator]

Agreed tbrick18, that's exactly how I see it ... winning at a canter against a Derry team not up for the fight is one thing, backing it up the next day would be confirmation that Armagh are undisputedly trending upwards in the pecking order.  But that is exactly the opportunity that McGeeney and Armagh want to have, and no better team to square up to than Galway.

There was one penalty between Armagh winning Ulster and the actual result. They have a lot going for them. They also lost the qf on penalties in 2022. They have the class.

We're 4 penalty shootouts away from back to back Ulsters and all ireland semis. Sicken yer fecking hole but we'd all 4 games won and managed to snap a draw from the jaws of victory every time.

Another narrative would be:

Derry were in control for most of the Ulster Final and had Rogers fisted attempt had gone over, for a 3pt lead, instead hitting the post in the 65 minute, Derry would've been home and hosed.

Galway were 6pts up going into injury time and Gleeson had two brain farts. Even with that Walsh(?) hit a cross field pass that was never on, had he taken it into the corner it was game over as well.

[Armagh18]

Armagh weren't great last few years I thought. The Galway keeper kept them in it and Derry had a mess of a build up. Monaghan wouldn't be fantastic but they kept them in it. They do appear very good this year though.

We'd a good league, a shite league final bar 15 minutes, good half against Fermanagh, shite against Down, good Ulster final for 50 minutes or whatever it was, then a solid game against Westmeath and were unreal yesterday.

Kind of performance yesterday that we've had in the locker but just havent produced. 3-17 is some scoring, Donegal and Galway didn't beat Derry by as big a margin as we did so as bad they were we were obviously very good as well. Galway will be a different level of challenge though so as great as that win feels we'll need to get focused again for 2 weeks. 

[Armagh18]

Agreed tbrick18, that's exactly how I see it ... winning at a canter against a Derry team not up for the fight is one thing, backing it up the next day would be confirmation that Armagh are undisputedly trending upwards in the pecking order.  But that is exactly the opportunity that McGeeney and Armagh want to have, and no better team to square up to than Galway.

There was one penalty between Armagh winning Ulster and the actual result. They have a lot going for them. They also lost the qf on penalties in 2022. They have the class.

We're 4 penalty shootouts away from back to back Ulsters and all ireland semis. Sicken yer fecking hole but we'd all 4 games won and managed to snap a draw from the jaws of victory every time.

Another narrative would be:

Derry were in control for most of the Ulster Final and had Rogers fisted attempt had gone over, for a 3pt lead, instead hitting the post in the 65 minute, Derry would've been home and hosed.

Galway were 6pts up going into injury time and Gleeson had two brain farts. Even with that Walsh(?) hit a cross field pass that was never on, had he taken it into the corner it was game over as well.

True but then against Derry Grugan missed a mark that he'd score 9/10 times, Rian missed a handy free and we gifted them a goal.

Galway fair enough but we did get a bullshit red card that day and it ain't our problem they'd a keeper in with a high ball allergy.

[imtommygunn]

You were fantastic against Donegal too and should have won. The down game was a banana skin and just had to be won.

Honestly think last few years you were poor and got to penalties etc despite that but are now finally a good team.

[statto]

The Galway match is just one for winning, it could be a dour watch for neutrals.

Would we have won that way yesterday with Ciaran Mackin, Murnin and Peter McGrane (as Ross McQuillan made such a huge difference)? Probably not, maybe the unfortunate circumstances could give the management more impetus to be brave every time

If murnin was fit he would have been out round the middle I would suspect and the mackin change was like for like think that's a bit harsh as have been two of armaghs two performers in last year.

[naka]

Anyone know the situation re Andy Murnin?

He is ok

[tbrick18]

You were fantastic against Donegal too and should have won. The down game was a banana skin and just had to be won.

Honestly think last few years you were poor and got to penalties etc despite that but are now finally a good team.

Personally I don't think Armagh were good enough over the last few years. Even in gallaghers first year, Derry should have beat Armagh during covid games.
Derry were a shambles last year for the Ulster final and Armagh couldn't win.
Losing so many games they were in positions to win says would suggest quality is not there.

This year Armagh had the handy Ulster draw and were poor up until the final.
Whilst Donegal look strong, we now know Derry are falling apart and they've just been beaten by Cork so maybe we need some perspective there too.

Yes Armagh looked impressive against us yesterday but the jury is still out as the quality of who they've played this year so far is not clear.

But like I said earlier, post a good performance against Galway and win, then we will have a clearer view on quality.