Messages

This 'my Armagh' looks good in theory but with people being more selective in how they choose to spend their money I can't see this scheme taking off with the general public. I know personally my first loyalty will be to my club where I can see some real tangible benefit for the local community. After that I will support the county sure, but I don't have that same sense of attachment. From talking to fellow club members I know a lot of them would be of similar opinion. However I commend the plans and hope they can raise the finance needed.

[Down fans do not have much to say about Mc Cartans sending off,if Mc Keever had done this there would be an outcry]

Everybody blameing the goalkeeper, have a look at the highlights, at least two defenders in front of him and imo was blinded until the last second. the mistake he made was not clearing them out. Also how did Benny get the run in there,he should have been blocked off.
Down fans do not have much to say about Mc Cartans sending off,if Mc Keever had done this there would be an outcry.
Anyway a good win,and hope for the future.

Have to agree with that, it was a cowardly act standing on a man who was lying prone on the floor. I reckon McCartan may have played his last game for Down this year, he will probably get 3 months by which time Down will most likely have made their customary early championship exit.

Very good performance from Armagh today, we always looked in control of the game. In the past we leaned too heavily for scores on McDonnell and Clarke but today we looked as though there were scores all over the field. Morriarty, Swift, Vernon, McDonnell, A Mallon were all excellent but we are a goalkeeper a corner back and a centre forward away from being All Ireland contenders.

I do see a lot to be hopeful for though and we have an outside chance of getting to the last 4. Down looked well off the pace and whilst Clarke did play very well for them, there were very few others who could be entirely happy with their performances. 

[no point in getting worried about a pointless challenge game against a second rate team we have already humiliated this year..]

Settle down fellas .....We seem to have a few options in each position for this game ..no point in gettin our knickers in a twist about Sunday...we'll give it a quare good rattle .....our main objective is to get everyone fit for the championship...no point in getting worried about a pointless challenge game against a second rate team we have already humiliated this year..

How can a national final in Croke Park be deemed a 'pointless challenge match' for Down. I am struggling to remember Down actually winning a game at HQ in recent memory, can anyone enlighten me on this one. Get the excuses in early lads so that afterwards you can say that you are more interested in the bigger picture. I detect plenty of fear coming from the Down camp for this one.   

bit of a meaningless game really but always good to beat the orange scum.

How can a county that has been so starved of Silverware for so long suddenly declare that this game is meaningless. Considering your recent lack of success at county senior level you should be jumping from the rooftops if you manage to win this one. Unfortunately I can see a defeat for the self-appointed aristocrats of Ulster and the manager of the 'orange scum' will prove that provided he has decent players to work with he can be successful. 

Yip.

McKeever is the business.  One of the top half backs in the country.

Clarke has proved nothing yet, except for being on the starting 15 on the Down county team.

I agree, McKeever will relish the thought of putting Clarke in his box and has rarely been found wanting in the past when it comes to man marking duties. All this talk about Clarke giving McKeever a 'footballing lesson' is nonsense. He didn't even complete a full half during which he kicked a good point but contributed not much else of note.

This game should be a tight affair but I expect Armagh to turn the tables providing Ronan Clarke is fit this time round. 

Dublin are taking blanket defence football to new levels. Bernard Brogan is leading the Tyrone defence a merry dance, I think Gormleys days as a top class county defender are numbered.

The point that Tyrone were given which was about 2 yards wide was the worst piece of officiating seen in a long time.

I see Mickey having a wee dig at Spillane in the Irish news the day with regards to Spillanes comments last week.

What did he say, he seems to want to pick a fight with everyone over the last year and its getting tiresome. 

The bitterness was dripping from Fergusons mouth in that interview. However his bully boy tactics carry less weight in Europe than they do in the EPL where the authorities are scared of him.

The hypocrisy of the man in making those comments about opposing players pressurising referees is both laughable and pathetic.

[Cant say I'd be bothered if we lost this tbh.]

I thought I read that this game was down for Ballyshannon?  Should play it in Dungannon or somewhere in a revenge attack for that U21 fiasco midweek.

Cant say I'd be bothered if we lost this tbh.  A good performance is defintely more important and with a team that is as close to our championship side as possible.

I don't think its the be all and end all if we get promoted or not. However I really would love another crack at Down to prove that we are a better side than them. Will Paddy O'Rourke be as keen to set up a re-match with Down in a national final as the supporters are?

Do you really think yis are? I would doubt it to be honest.

With a fit Ronan Clarke and 15 men for the full 70 I think we would have the edge on Down. Down have a very good management set-up who have made a big difference though and may surprise a few of the big guns in this years championship.   

[Cant say I'd be bothered if we lost this tbh.]

I thought I read that this game was down for Ballyshannon?  Should play it in Dungannon or somewhere in a revenge attack for that U21 fiasco midweek.

Cant say I'd be bothered if we lost this tbh.  A good performance is defintely more important and with a team that is as close to our championship side as possible.

I don't think its the be all and end all if we get promoted or not. However I really would love another crack at Down to prove that we are a better side than them. Will Paddy O'Rourke be as keen to set up a re-match with Down in a national final as the supporters are?

Would like to see the following Ard Mhacha team start v Dún na nGall

1) P McEvoy
2) A Mallon
3) B Donaghy
4) P Duffy
5) F Moriarity
6) C McKeever
7) K Dyas
8 ) K Toner
9) R Austin
10) A Kernan (has to be Wing HF not Centre HF)
11) C Vernon
12) G Swift
13) S McDonnell
14) R Clarke
15) S Forker

Would agree with that team except to put Vernon midfield in place of Austin. Dyas has to get a shot in the half back line to prove his credentials. CHF remains a big problem but for this game put Swift CHF and try Jamie Clarke on the wing.

Kildare have been disappointing this year, I really expected them to kick on from the progress of the previous 2 years and challenge for a Leinster title at least, now I'm not so sure.

1 Aontroim 6 5 1 0 97 71 10
2 An Cabhán 6 3 3 0 97 88 6
3 Loch Garman 5 3 2 0 68 64 6
4 An Lú 6 3 3 0 83 80 6
5 Sligeach 5 3 2 0 69 72 6
6 Uibh Fhaili 6 3 3 0 89 92 6
7 Fear Manach 5 1 4 0 52 72 2
8 Ros Comáin 5 1 4 0 70 86 2

Promoted: Antrim + 1 other

Relegated: Fermanagh and Roscommon must win both remaining fixtures to have any chance of staying up. 

1 An Dun 5 4 0 1 74 50 9
2 Dún na nGall 6 4 2 0 86 68 8
3 Ard Mhacha 5 3 2 0 72 55 6
4 Cill Dara 6 3 3 0 76 77 6
5 Laois 6 3 3 0 82 86 6
6 An Mhí 6 3 3 0 70 78 6
7 Tiobraid Árann 5 1 3 1 59 72 3
8 An Iarmhí 5 0 5 0 61 94 0

Relegated: Westmeath

If Tipp are beaten tomorrow they will join Westmeath.

Down need 1 point from 2 games to gain promotion

If Armagh beat Tipp as expected they will have a shoot out in Ballybofey to see who goes up.