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I know it's fashionable to describe every season as the worst ever, but Arsenal are fitting champions for one of the worst football competitions in history. Truly dour, attritional football was the season summed up, and with Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd, Newcastle and Tottenham all downing tools for long periods, there was next no jeopardy or side stories.

It'll be interesting to see if Arteta changes things up in terms of playing style now the monkey is off his back.

If not, I'd expect the powers that be might have to intervene and find ways to encourage a more entertaining spectacle.

Horrible season. Revolting champions.

Absolutely. Most interesting thing about it has been laughing at Liverpools brutal title defence and the fact Spurs are still in a relegation scrap going to the last day.

Some green shoots from United under Carrick but huge question marks over what they do in the summer and how he/that squad will cope with more games next year.

[a Ronaldo-less Portugal]

Portugal haven't a hope under Martinez

Deschamps  hasn't a notion either. Mbappe is a dick so hope  they don't win it

Spain I'd say are favourites

I'd  like to see  someone like Croatia win it

Is that deschamps that won a WC and got to another final?

He also choked  in a Euro final at home against a Ronaldo-less Portugal

And his team has been  awful in  a few tournaments as well. Last Euros I don't think  they scored from open play.

For me "a Ronaldo-less Portugal" is better than the one with him in it.

Just saying.

Kane won't get the service he needs to score the goals to get England anywhere serious in this competition, he isn't bad.

There will be a bolter from somewhere that hasn't shown much as yet, a Uruguay or a Belgium could get a good run and get a semi berth.

No point watching for the first few weeks, loads of shíte matches.

That statements true now but not 10 years ago when Ronaldo was winning champions leagues and Ballon D'ors

Well done Armagh to finally win Ulster.

I agree the first half score flattered Monaghan.  Armagh nearly had two goals and an 8 point lead would have seemed more reflective of the play.

The game did have a feel of "Armagh aren't meant to win".  We can't understate the value of Monaghan's win over Derry.  Psychologically it gives a team the confidence that no lead is too much.  Plus all the 2 pointers they hit in the SF(was it 7?) can a team defend against that?  Certainly the Dessie Ward kick against Derry in extra time could not have been stopped by anyone.

It was no surprise to see Armagh's 6 point cushion vanish in the blink of an eye.  I believe Monaghan only had two 2 pointers in the game.  Did the weather conditions take that weapon away from them?

One other question: have penalty kicks been abolished for provincial finals but are still part of the game for everything else?

Personally I don't think Monaghan have the talent to go far in the AI competition.  However they'll be a dangerous opponent, just as Derry.  I can't help but wonder when managers will "go nuclear" on the 2 point strategy.  It's such a devastating weapon when you can score twice as much each time.

From memory Beggan had one from a free in the first half as did Woods I think, McCarron and O'Hanlon had one each in the second. It's a weapon I'd love to see us exploit more.

Portugal haven't a hope under Martinez

Deschamps  hasn't a notion either. Mbappe is a dick so hope  they don't win it

Spain I'd say are favourites

I'd  like to see  someone like Croatia win it

As a United fan would love to see Ronaldo finally get his medal but ironically his legs being gone and as you say that clown of a coach who won't drop him are probably the 2 biggest stumbling blocks. Casemiro another fella I'd love to see win it.

Hard to see past France or Spain, Portugal have some team if they'd drop Ronaldo I could see them winning it.

Pep leaving

Offcial?

Delighted 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.

Watched back on the game a second time.

In my opinion Monaghan was lucky to be only two points behind at half time

By the 55th minute the scoreline of Armagh 1-19 to 0-15 and gave a fair reflection to how things was going.

Complacency from Armagh and a purple patch aided by impact off the bench got the draw for Monaghan and would have been a pure smash and grab stuff had they won in normal time.

Armagh then brushed themselves down and comfortably won in extra time.

If I were from Monaghan and seen my county just play well for 15 of the 90 minutes in a home Ulster final it would not sit well with me. A repeat of that performance will get Monaghan beaten by Mayo.

A condescending pr*ck like yourself isn't man enough to be from Monaghan.

Monday club?

I'm a United supporter and no way should it have stood. Thankfully a meaningless game.

The thing is though Dublin demolished Louth. On paper Louth should be better than Westmeath. I doubt they are as done as some people think just not challengers.

That's the thing about football, rarely follows what should happen on paper.

On paper Meath should have beat Westmeath, Donegal should have beat Down by 10 points etc. Think Dublin have a scalp in them yet.

Is there any reason why GAA games take approximately 20 minutes to restart once it goes to ET? Surely they should be kept out on the pitch and given 5/10 minutes and get on with it.

I'd rather both teams were allowed as much time as needed (within reason) to get rubs etc and get prepared as it's a big ask to go hard at it for another 20 minutes and it's best that the quality doesn't dip (as much as possible)

David Gough to referee Ros v Tyrone.

As someone who never misses Tyrone Senior games that has put me off something serious.

Curious how you as a Roscommon man feel about him? Am I tainted from previous encounters with my own county or is it just how he officiates in general?

He's a complete tool.

Lot of posters suggesting Armagh are doping. Noone called out the dubs during 6 in a row..

Who is this Noone fella ?  Any relation to A.N. Other ?

I can confirm I saw several Armagh players consume at least 10 vodka redbulls!

feel for Monaghan, but considering thier woeful league performances, they really got thier shit together in Ulster.
Armagh are probably best conditioned team in Ireland, does not happen by accident.
as for today, maybe they were heavy with electrolytes prior and during the game and the breaks.
not one Armagh guy went down with a cramp. I did wonder after the game, will some of them feel that they now have won all they need to , an Ulster and an all ireland, and not be as driven for rest of the year.
hopefully it will take Monaghan two and a half weeks to fully recover, so they only beat my Mayo by a few points and not hammer them.

Did you hear Geezer? Have a feeling this is just the start. They'll be back out training tomorrow.

[Best team in Ulster by a mile this year.]

How many Armagh sponsors are there to remeber? Not to mention ancestors and every living relatives.

My wife left Armagh 25 years ago and has never been to a game , and doesn't like apples just got a mention there

.

A deserved mention

Well deserved for McGeeney. Some amount of work he's put into that team.

Congratulations Armagh ones. Best team in Ulster by a mile this year.

They drew 2 of their Ulster championship games. They deserved the title alright but that's a bit much IMO.

We won all 4 of our games

At the end of the 70min game, both teams went into the dressing rooms knackered. At the resumption of play ET Monaghan players were still knackered, falling to ground with cramp, yet not a bother on the Armagh players, bounced onto the pitch and played as fresh as a daisy, which begs the question - what was put into their apple juice drinks during the break?

Oisin Conaty needs tested for PED's. Machine of a man