Quote from: Armagh18 on May 18, 2026, 08:04:26 PMDelighted to finally get that win and that monkey of the backs. Forker must have combined 4 years worth of speeches into that one, but it was great, delighted to see him and Grugan back on the field as well.
Phenomenal effort from all the lads in horrible conditions- the weather had a huge impact on the game as we really struggle to get short kickouts away, Blaine hit 2 poor ones over the sideline, hit a poor one to Joe McElroy with a man hanging out of him and one to Cian McConville in a mismatch against Woods where I think McCarrons 2 pointer game from, Murphy or McCabe I think it was slip and allow him that extra few yards and a player like him will hit them for fun.
Turbo is obviously unlucky to slip and just at the end of normal time as we tried to work a winner, Darragh McMullen make a serious block to stop Monaghan breaking, that was the winning of the game there as they very likely would have got the shot away. I'm sure every Armagh person in Clones had serious de ja vu coming done the stretch, I really thought we'd blown our chance but thankfully our fitness got us over the line, Daniel Magee got though a lot of work when he came on and his fresh legs were invaluable.
Hopefully momentum and home advantage gets us over the line against Derry. The Athletic Grounds will be rocking next Saturday.
Spare a thought for the supporters that didnt bring enough clothes. I was flippin soaked through and foundered.
The kick-out strategy is a difficult one. If nobody is making runs and getting clear then Blaine has to either take a chance or blast it up the middle of the field. For me, speed is the essence - don't give the opposition time to organise.
If MON is not playing Hatate then it is a failure of management. Hatate played a key role in the 2 games against Rangers and little used since, meanwhile we have witnessed the players Nygryn and McCowan not putting in the required effort when it matters on the field of play. What is this nonsense about Hatate who clearly looked like he was coming back into his effective role in the team is being shafted for players who evidently either don't break a leg when it comes to effort or say in the case of Tounekti is pathetic in his efforts to shift the ball to his right foot and get a shot in. Hatate supposedly "going thro the motions" against Rangers is an infinite upgrade on those 3 wánkers. There's 4 at the back then you could have Hatate in front of Engels and McGregor, doing something different other that effin square ball after effin square ball, ie ball travels down the right wing, pass it backwards then across to the left wing, run into a cul de sac, pass it backwards, rinse and repeat until the genius of Kelechi just happens to intervene in this dross and strike home with elegance. 