All Ireland Final Armagh v Galway 28 July 2024

[imtommygunn]

I don't think it's like that for every team though. e.g. I think Kerry would have less fans up north but I think Galway would be ok. The kerry media and how the kerry people in the media have spoke of northern teams has put people off them a lot but Galway wouldn't have that issue.

Also Joyce is a likeable character(as is Geezer I think though am not sure everyone would agree) so I think most up north wouldn't begrudge him. Both were under a lot of pressure and especially in Joyce you see a lot of joy and pressure release. O'Connor wouldn't have quite the same reputation and doesn't tend to endear people either.

[bennydorano]

Hurson shouldn't be allowed anywhere near it on 2 fronts, performances this year & his county allegiance. How hard is it to get a ref from a neutral province ffs.

Maybe they hada draw among themselves like that Louth ref?

[armaghniac]

Hurson shouldn't be allowed anywhere near it on 2 fronts, performances this year & his county allegiance. How hard is it to get a ref from a neutral province ffs.

Maybe they hada draw among themselves like that Louth ref?

Even for the optics of it, a ref from a neutral province is a no brainer.

[5times5times]

Armagh should do a Kilcoo and refuse to play!     

[Sandy Hill]

Two words spring to mind —— unconscious bias!

[Sportacus]

Poor decision by the GAA (yet another one). 
The man himself is straight away in a dilemma - I'm sure he wouldn't dream of saying no when he got the call, but deep down in his mind he'll realise that if he makes a big call against Armagh he'll live with it for the rest of his life (the looks from his Tyrone & Armagh neighbours).
Make a big call against Galway and it doesn't have the same consequences.

He can't win and shouldn't really have been put in such a position.

[From the Bunker]

That is a seriously bad decision. You can't be having a neighbouring Referee Reffing a match. 

[JimStynes]

Hopefully works out well in Armagh's favour. At times neighbouring refs will unconsciously go out of their way to show they're not robbing their local rivals.

[balladmaker]

If you're good enough, the ref. ain't going to stop you winning it.  But in the margins of a very tight game, it's the decisions one way or the other that could very well decide it.  Not ideal for Sean Hurson to be placed in the situation, you'd think a ref from a neutral province would have been a no brainer.  If you are that ref. in Munster or Leinster, you'd be asking yourself a question or two today.

'Hurson's umpires on the day will be Martin Coney and Cathal Forbes both from Ardboe, Mel Taggart from Clonoe and Shane Dorrity from Coalisland.'

[Oraisteach]

On a different note, does anyone have links to decorations around the county ahead of the match.

[tyroneStatto]

There's been some meltdown from Armagh fans over this Referee appointment.

[tyroneStatto]

This was a more controversial appointment:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-30967544.html

[Armagh18]

There's been some meltdown from Armagh fans over this Referee appointment.

No there hasn't.

[Armagh18]

On a different note, does anyone have links to decorations around the county ahead of the match.

Fella in Armagh at ring rosd just across from st malachys, value land in Cross, around a pound in newry, Lurgan and Armagh. Valu land in Cross and theres a similar shop in Keady. Dan Gregorys Bessbrook as well.

Probably best to phone ahead though.

[tonto1888]

There's been some meltdown from Armagh fans over this Referee appointment.

has there? Must have missed that. I think he is a good ref even if a few of his decisions the last day were odd