Ulster Senior football championship 2024

[thebigfullforward]

But they've done nothing in recent years to show they have the nerve to win a big game - I think they are just short a few players and need to focus on the football and not the physical antics they often get themselves involved in. If they focus on playing their own game and I think they'll do better than trying to out-tactic Donegal.

What physical antics? Have they been giving away more frees than the opposition? Have they had more cards?

Ok it may be a subjective view, but Armagh seem to overly focus on trying to out-muscle other teams. Often resulting in cards, sometimes resulting in spendings off. Example is last year's ulster final - it was a game Armagh could have won (especially given the circumstances around Derry), game almost over and Rian O'Neill made a bee line for McGuigan and took him down at shoulder height conceding a free which ultimately cost Armagh the game. No reckless physical tackle, Armagh win.
Armagh have been involved in a number of incidents over recent years with melee's and multiple sendings off.
Rian is close to being a liability in my view - undoubtedly very talented, but he's just as likely to get himself sent off in the first 10 minutes as he is to putting in a match winning performance imo.

That's what I mean by physical antics.
I've not issue with teams playing an aggressive game, but Armagh seem to step over the line more often than others. In my opinion, reigning that part of the game in a little and focusing more on footballing side of it will be of more benefit to Armagh.

you havent watched much of armagh this year. Thankfully we look to have left a lot of that nonsense behind.
How often has Rian been sent off in the first ten minutes by the way?

What was the last bit of shite we were involved in? Galway 2022?

Rian put his knee to Cormac Quinn's head/neck. But i guess that's more of an individual thing than a collective

[statto]

I personally think that Donegal will be 4-5 point winners.
Donegal didn't get the credit they deserved for walloping Derry and were narrowly beaten in an Ulster final 2 years ago.
They've already beaten Armagh in a final this year, however, were didn't perform at the same level against tyrone as they did against Derry. Some of their attacking play against Tyrone was poor enough.
They have, in my opinion, a better manager and overall better players than Armagh.

Armagh have struggled to beat a limited Down team and were not that impressive against Fermanagh.
Ok, they are perhaps trying to peak for the final so may improve.
But they've done nothing in recent years to show they have the nerve to win a big game - I think they are just short a few players and need to focus on the football and not the physical antics they often get themselves involved in. If they focus on playing their own game and I think they'll do better than trying to out-tactic Donegal.

Of course I could be entirely wrong, just my read on it.

The Fermanagh game was over after 10/15 mins a potential banana skin easily disposed of. Down/Armagh is a derby game and Laverty learnt alot from last year, was a no win situation for Armagh really if they won by 10 points its the easy side of the draw narrative, while the tight nature of the game will hopefully stand to them. 

[statto]

Could be a  last shot at ulster for alot of Armagh players like Grugan, Campbell, Murnin, Forker who have given great service to Armagh for 10 plus years.  There is not alot between the sides, though Donegal will have the edge on the sideline and have came through the tougher side of the draw. 

My main hope is that Armagh play on the front foot, but the likelyhood is that it will be low scoring and a lot of possession based football. 

[yellowcard]

Could be a  last shot at ulster for alot of Armagh players like Grugan, Campbell, Murnin, Forker who have given great service to Armagh for 10 plus years.  There is not alot between the sides, though Donegal will have the edge on the sideline and have came through the tougher side of the draw. 

My main hope is that Armagh play on the front foot, but the likelyhood is that it will be low scoring and a lot of possession based football. 

This game would have been earmarked as season defining by most supporters back when the Ulster championship draw was made last Autumn. You could also say that it could well define the Geezer era. The only surprise is that it is Donegal and not Derry whom we face. It does feel like now or never for a lot of those players but then you could have said the same last season and yet we have arrived back in another final with a good chance of winning.

I really hope we don't fall into the trap of engaging in the slugfest that many seem to be predicting, it doesn't really suit the type of player we have. If it is reduced to a hand passing, possession style game then I think Donegal have better players than us at this type of game. However we have the better kick passers and are more suited to that fast, physical game. We need to play to the strengths of our best players like Rian, Grugan and Murnin and not rely on running the ball endlessly up the pitch. We also have a lot of firepower to introduce from the bench in the last 20 minutes which could be crucial.     

[Armagh18]

Could be a  last shot at ulster for alot of Armagh players like Grugan, Campbell, Murnin, Forker who have given great service to Armagh for 10 plus years.  There is not alot between the sides, though Donegal will have the edge on the sideline and have came through the tougher side of the draw. 

My main hope is that Armagh play on the front foot, but the likelyhood is that it will be low scoring and a lot of possession based football. 

This game would have been earmarked as season defining by most supporters back when the Ulster championship draw was made last Autumn. You could also say that it could well define the Geezer era. The only surprise is that it is Donegal and not Derry whom we face. It does feel like now or never for a lot of those players but then you could have said the same last season and yet we have arrived back in another final with a good chance of winning.

I really hope we don't fall into the trap of engaging in the slugfest that many seem to be predicting, it doesn't really suit the type of player we have. If it is reduced to a hand passing, possession style game then I think Donegal have better players than us at this type of game. However we have the better kick passers and are more suited to that fast, physical game. We need to play to the strengths of our best players like Rian, Grugan and Murnin and not rely on running the ball endlessly up the pitch. We also have a lot of firepower to introduce from the bench in the last 20 minutes which could be crucial.     

Era defining for sure. I'd say defeat Sunday would mean anything short of an All Ireland final this year and it's curtains.

[marty34]

The draw was really kind to Armagh this year.

Best chance of winning it.

[ClubScene13]

I don't know. I just have visions of Rian O'Neill giving a Tohillesque tour de force, driving Armagh on to win through sheer force of will.

Pundits leaning Armagh from what I've heard so far. "It's their time!" seems to be the consensus.

Seen quite a bit of this as well. Oisin McConville and Stevie McDonnell have also mentioned Armagh having the better footballers. On what basis?

The notion that Armagh have one of the best forward lines in the country is complete fabrication. Saying that you'd be a brave man to opt for one of these times by 3+ points, there will be nothing in it.

There's a definite sense of now or never for this iteration of Armagh football, there would be potential to kick on a bit if they can win this.

Hopefully not played at a slow laborious pace, as I'd imagine I'll be giving the Leinster final a miss.

[5times5times]

Who do Armagh tag to mark Donegal's key men?

McHugh = McElroy
Mogan = Duffy?
Thompson = Ciaran Mackin
2x O'Donnells = McGrane & AON?

[LCohen]

Could be a  last shot at ulster for alot of Armagh players like Grugan, Campbell, Murnin, Forker who have given great service to Armagh for 10 plus years.  There is not alot between the sides, though Donegal will have the edge on the sideline and have came through the tougher side of the draw. 

My main hope is that Armagh play on the front foot, but the likelyhood is that it will be low scoring and a lot of possession based football. 

This game would have been earmarked as season defining by most supporters back when the Ulster championship draw was made last Autumn. You could also say that it could well define the Geezer era. The only surprise is that it is Donegal and not Derry whom we face. It does feel like now or never for a lot of those players but then you could have said the same last season and yet we have arrived back in another final with a good chance of winning.

I really hope we don't fall into the trap of engaging in the slugfest that many seem to be predicting, it doesn't really suit the type of player we have. If it is reduced to a hand passing, possession style game then I think Donegal have better players than us at this type of game. However we have the better kick passers and are more suited to that fast, physical game. We need to play to the strengths of our best players like Rian, Grugan and Murnin and not rely on running the ball endlessly up the pitch. We also have a lot of firepower to introduce from the bench in the last 20 minutes which could be crucial.   

Era defining for sure. I'd say defeat Sunday would mean anything short of an All Ireland final this year and it's curtains.

I would scale that back to a semi final. If we lose on Sunday but get our way through a group, a quarter final and potentially a round before that then I think he continues on.

I know what sort of game-plan Donegal hope we adopt. I hope we are brave enough to go beyond that.

A few lads on here posting here have preconceived notions of what Armagh are about. I think we have moved on and hopefully we prove that.

[Ethan Tremblay]

I don't know. I just have visions of Rian O'Neill giving a Tohillesque tour de force, driving Armagh on to win through sheer force of will.

Pundits leaning Armagh from what I've heard so far. "It's their time!" seems to be the consensus.

Seen quite a bit of this as well. Oisin McConville and Stevie McDonnell have also mentioned Armagh having the better footballers. On what basis?

The notion that Armagh have one of the best forward lines in the country is complete fabrication. Saying that you'd be a brave man to opt for one of these times by 3+ points, there will be nothing in it.

There's a definite sense of now or never for this iteration of Armagh football, there would be potential to kick on a bit if they can win this.

Hopefully not played at a slow laborious pace, as I'd imagine I'll be giving the Leinster final a miss.

In my view they have had the best forward line they have had in the past 15 or so years.  I think people are misconstruing that for having the best forward line, and Armagh fans are getting slightly carried away with that also.

Now or never for sure for a lot of these players, and management possibly. 

Very hard game to call. 

[seafoid]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2024/0508/1448043-mcguinness-looms-but-time-for-armagh-to-deliver/

[An Watcher]

They may hurry up and do it this year as the luck of the draw has favoured them massively the last two years

[J70]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2024/0508/1448043-mcguinness-looms-but-time-for-armagh-to-deliver/

Another "it's their time", "greater need" analysis.

Which I think is fair enough, but it's pressure.

Reminds me of Derry in 1993, when Tohill ploughed through the muck and the Donegal backs to drag them to the title and AI shot they felt they'd fail to grab the previous year, which is why I am a little worried about men like Rian O'Neill being particularly driven!

[JoG2]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2024/0508/1448043-mcguinness-looms-but-time-for-armagh-to-deliver/

Another "it's their time", "greater need" analysis.

Which I think is fair enough, but it's pressure.

Reminds me of Derry in 1993, when Tohill ploughed through the muck and the Donegal backs to drag them to the title and AI shot they felt they'd fail to grab the previous year, which is why I am a little worried about men like Rian O'Neill being particularly driven!

Will never know how big Tohill stayed on his feet throughout the game, men bouncing off him while all around him, both Derry and Donegal men were sliding and slipping all around him. Still the best individual performance I've ever seen.
Philly McMahon would have given the MotM to someone else if he was Co commentator 

[marty34]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2024/0508/1448043-mcguinness-looms-but-time-for-armagh-to-deliver/

Another "it's their time", "greater need" analysis.

Which I think is fair enough, but it's pressure.

Reminds me of Derry in 1993, when Tohill ploughed through the muck and the Donegal backs to drag them to the title and AI shot they felt they'd fail to grab the previous year, which is why I am a little worried about men like Rian O'Neill being particularly driven!

Will never know how big Tohill stayed on his feet throughout the game, men bouncing off him while all around him, both Derry and Donegal men were sliding and slipping all around him. Still the best individual performance I've ever seen.
Philly McMahon would have given the MotM to someone else if he was Co commentator 

I hope he's not on tv on Sunday.

Very boring.