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The gloating shite coming from some Derry fans here is very reminicient of similar drivel from some Armagh fans after Down. The better team won on Sunday but there is no doubt they had a helping hand from the ineptitude of the Armagh line. Also McDonnells second goal chance which should have been pointed was a major turning point, the Derry goal that came from it killed the game. John Brennan got it spot on on the day and his contribution should not be played down. That said however I wouldn't fear meeting Derry again there is not 9 ponits between the teams.

I dont think there's too much gloating from Derry. We havent won anything and I dont think anyone in Derry is under any illusions about the team we have.
Yes it worked well for us on Sunday, but that's all forgotten the next day out and we'd have to improve again to have any chance in the final regardless of who we play.
I would agree with you that there isnt 9 points between us...on paper, I would put us on a par. Both teams with very good full forward lines and average everywhere else.
It just clicked for us this time.

Would Derry wans prefer to get beat by Tyrone in the final or Armagh in the semi? 

We're just glad to have a chance in the final at this stage....which would you prefer? Getting tanked by a Derry team that hasn't wont anything in over a decade in the semi-final, or gettin tanked by Tyrone in the final? You should be able to answer this given previous finals with Tyrone 

All this is irrelevant anyway....it'll be a Derry v Donegal final.

from what i seen, derry had 3 shots for goals scored 3, armagh had 4 and scored 1, steven mc donnell's killer instinct infront of goal has gone, and has been gone for quite a few years, he no longer taps the ball over with either foot with the ease he used to, armagh have a good 15-17 players outside that theres not much, is billy joe any better a player than brain mallon or even stephen kernan, we need a playmaker at 11 not a donkey man.

ahem....we also missed 2 futher goal chances....gilligans on the rebound which hearty saved, then Diver was clean through could have shot for goal as he'd only the keeper to beat but tried to fist it over the bar and fisted it wide! So Derry had 5 goal shots and scored 3! Derry also had 10 wides to Armagh's 5(I think).
If you were trying to infer that the game was closer than it was, I think you are mistaken.
If you were trying to infer Stevie isnt the player he was, you're probably right...but its hard for any player to be at the top of his game for any more than a few years.

I can't understand why some people believe Derry will be set up defensively on Sunday. John Brennan hasn't put a defensive-minded side out at any stage this year, so it's hard to fathom why he would do so against a team that really only contains two scoring forwards.

People seem to have got it into their heads that Armagh are playing some sort of new attacking style of football. I don't believe this to be the case, I think it was something they stumbled across against Down. Down's forward line was totally ineffective, and the expertise of Armagh's defenders enabled them to get the ball in hand and set up attacks relatively quickly with Down on the back foot.

Padden and Mackin certainly weren't on the field for their scoring ability, and that half-forward line will struggle to score six points again for the whole remainder of the season. 

Anyway, the Down Armagh game is irrelevant. If you want a barometer then a closer one is probably last year's preliminary game. Armagh won by three points, while Derry missed a late penalty and had Eoin Bradley harshly sent off. In other words there was very little between the teams. In fact, I thought Armagh were a poor enough outfit as Monaghan confirmed a few weeks later. I don't think they've changed that much to be honest.

The only problem from a Derry perspective is that we're worse! And we're missing Fergal Doherty/Paddy Bradley/Gerard O'Kane. Arguably our three best/most effective players.

I expect Armagh to lean heavily on their defence. It's easily their strongest area, and Brendan Donaghy is an excellent full-back. So, Derry's attacking approach may not necessarily reap dividends and the packed defence is something we've always struggled with. Between Clarke, McDonnell, and maybe Aaron Kernan, Armagh should get enough scores to win the game.

Armagh aren't great, but all-round they're better than this Derry team.

Unfortunately I agree!
BUT....I think Armagh's defence are what they were either. I think if you run at them....which Derry will do, they will struggle.
Armagh arent great, but they are probably still better than us

Derry by 1point.

See yous Sunday....

I was kinda right.....the secret to beating Armagh is to run at them but you have to get posession to do that. I didnt think we'd get anywhere near that amount of ball around the middle but we did...and Armagh defence couldnt cope.

A lot of people saying Armagh should have played a sweeper...I honestly dont think it would have made a difference. A few teams tried that against derry in the league, and when the did Brennan still played it man to man marking which means yous still couldnt have double marked bradley/lynch/gilligan. Derry are also capable of score from long range and if Armagh had been playing a sweeper we'd have had more time on the ball outfield to take the long range scores.
Armagh didnt lose today because of not playing a sweeper, they lost because they lost the middle third battle completely. If it had even been 50-50 in the middle i think yous could have won, but as it happens I think derry must have won 80% of the midfield ball. We could have had 2 more goals and skinner also had a point signalled wide which I thought was over....add to that 10 wides it shows how dominant we were.

Armagh are not as good as some people made out. Derry are not as good as some people might think after today either. But today was a great step for Derry, an excellent team performance and a fantastic result. I have a sneaky feeling Donegal will beat Tyrone but that depends on how much Tyrone improve from their last game. They usually improve a lot each game. I have to say I'd love a Derry v Tyrone final but I think both of them are much better than Armagh and we would have to step it up again if we were to win our first Ulster in over a decade.

Really looking forward to it and I now think we could do it. then next year when we have Paddy Bradley, James Conway, Fergal Doherty, Patsy Bradley and Gerard O'Kane all available again we'll win the all-ireland.

Doire abu!

Why is 3 rows from the front "one of the worst seats possible"?

You cant be serious hardstation.  All you see is legs and have absolutely no perspective on flight of the ball or players positioning.  It is terrible place to be.  They can stuff it.  Ill be going to the hill and you can have ticket if you want.  NO CHARGE.

le get yourself down to those seats behind the far goals, crackin view from the high seats there, my fav spot in clones.

i mind being there time we played derry in the qualifiers and we made mccloy look like a feckin genius, hopefully he's exposed left right and centre tomorrow, would make me day

lol!
Good lad abble....I'd nearly go to belfast in the mornin for the craic!

I can't understand why some people believe Derry will be set up defensively on Sunday. John Brennan hasn't put a defensive-minded side out at any stage this year, so it's hard to fathom why he would do so against a team that really only contains two scoring forwards.

People seem to have got it into their heads that Armagh are playing some sort of new attacking style of football. I don't believe this to be the case, I think it was something they stumbled across against Down. Down's forward line was totally ineffective, and the expertise of Armagh's defenders enabled them to get the ball in hand and set up attacks relatively quickly with Down on the back foot.

Padden and Mackin certainly weren't on the field for their scoring ability, and that half-forward line will struggle to score six points again for the whole remainder of the season. 

Anyway, the Down Armagh game is irrelevant. If you want a barometer then a closer one is probably last year's preliminary game. Armagh won by three points, while Derry missed a late penalty and had Eoin Bradley harshly sent off. In other words there was very little between the teams. In fact, I thought Armagh were a poor enough outfit as Monaghan confirmed a few weeks later. I don't think they've changed that much to be honest.

The only problem from a Derry perspective is that we're worse! And we're missing Fergal Doherty/Paddy Bradley/Gerard O'Kane. Arguably our three best/most effective players.

I expect Armagh to lean heavily on their defence. It's easily their strongest area, and Brendan Donaghy is an excellent full-back. So, Derry's attacking approach may not necessarily reap dividends and the packed defence is something we've always struggled with. Between Clarke, McDonnell, and maybe Aaron Kernan, Armagh should get enough scores to win the game.

Armagh aren't great, but all-round they're better than this Derry team.

Unfortunately I agree!
BUT....I think Armagh's defence are what they were either. I think if you run at them....which Derry will do, they will struggle.
Armagh arent great, but they are probably still better than us

Derry by 1point.

See yous Sunday....

I hear Paddy Bradley is back training with the County Squad and could be a shock inclusion in the panel for Sunday!

So much for the best full forward line in the country!!! 

Best full forward line against the best full back line... lol!

You better hope I dont see u in Clones goats....I might just have to bust ye!

I hear Paddy Bradley is back training with the County Squad and could be a shock inclusion in the panel for Sunday!

Anthony Tohill is back training as well.

That's just silly.....he's way past it!

John Brennan was up his house last night I heard. Tohill is 7 feet tall. ... if he were there he'd consume Armagh with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse.

I suppose if Graham Geraghty can do it then why not?  We'll hardly need him for this game though....we'll keep him in reserve for the final.

I hear Paddy Bradley is back training with the County Squad and could be a shock inclusion in the panel for Sunday!

Anthony Tohill is back training as well.

That's just silly.....he's way past it!

I hear Paddy Bradley is back training with the County Squad and could be a shock inclusion in the panel for Sunday!

Can't see Derry losing this one.Fancy them to win by 3.

And setting up the Derry v Donegal final 

Im getting off the fence! Derry to rampage in to the final!  Armaghs ulster championship to go up in flames just like their fuel laundering empire to the sound of the greatest GAA chant known to man: "Dery!.... Derry!..... Derry!...." 

It'll be a reunion of the Clones 500 this weekend....hopefully with the same result!
On ye boys ye!
DOIRE ABU!!!!

Derry team named

Danny Devlin
SL McG   McCloy  McBride
McAlary   Kielt     Bateson
     Diver    Friel
Lynch  O'Boyle   Barry McG
Muldoon Skinner Gilligan

Barring Gerard O'Kane its probably the strongest team we have available.
Intersting to see how they are actually deployed on the day....looking forward to it now!

I kow big Enda will probadly come back into roam the middle, but on paper thats about as strong a full forward line in Irlande. I am extremely worried about Derry at the middle of the park, very hot and cold. But ya never know. Doire by 3

Aye MF will be a problem for us but if we can break even there, I think we have the forwards to do damage. BUT....I think we wont break even and our full back line will have real trouble with Clarke and McDonnell. I wonder will Barry McG drop into defence as a sweeper.....or will he play in the forwards.

Derry team named

Danny Devlin
SL McG   McCloy  McBride
McAlary   Kielt     Bateson
     Diver    Friel
Lynch  O'Boyle   Barry McG
Muldoon Skinner Gilligan

Barring Gerard O'Kane its probably the strongest team we have available.
Intersting to see how they are actually deployed on the day....looking forward to it now!

When are the teams due to be announced?