Armagh v Tyrone USFC - BOX IT Athletic Grounds, Sunday 12th April, 16:15

[ranch]

Tickets are out tomorrow morning. Expect an absolute dogfight with at least one black or red card. Hope Geezer leaves the poor flags alone though.

Home advantage should swing it for us but make no mistake Tyrone are absolutely sitting in the long grass. Still have plenty of quality players, there was a 15 posted here a week or 2 back that would be well capable of beating Armagh.

I don't think home advantage will have much of a bearing and despite what the bookies might say, there's not much between the 2 teams.
I don't care what anybody says about the league form etc, once Tyrone knew they realistically wouldn't be relegated everything they were doing was working towards championship, league games were just fixtures that had to be fulfilled. Tyrone were in an AI semi final last year and were a kick of a ball away from beating Armagh in Ulster, they'll have no fear or inferiority complex travelling to the Athletic Grounds.

Tyrone didn't know they were safe until late in the league, so what's the excuse for all the preceding games?

Armagh home advantage is as strong an advantage any county team have at home.

They were never in serious danger of relegation at any point.

I beg to differ on the home advantage point. As nice as it is to play at home I don't put much weight on it in a game such as this. I hope Armagh win, but I fancy Tyrone to do what they did to Donegal last year and turn us over.

[armaghniac]

They were never in serious danger of relegation at any point.

I beg to differ on the home advantage point. As nice as it is to play at home I don't put much weight on it in a game such as this. I hope Armagh win, but I fancy Tyrone to do what they did to Donegal last year and turn us over.

When Armagh were 11 points behind Dublin they were in danger of relegation. Donegal were Ulster champs last year, Tyrone beat them in a group game post celebrations.

I don't think Armagh believe this is an easy matter, they have played well in short spells but have made life hard for themselves also.

[Canavanistheman03]

People can keep buying into the hype around Armagh all they want, but it says more about wishful thinking than reality. They're being talked up like contenders off the back of moments, not substance. Tyrone, on the other hand, actually know how to win when it matters — and when the pressure hits, Armagh won't just lose, they'll be found out.
I'll take the 13/5.                      Canavan 3:7

[nrico2006]

Tickets are out tomorrow morning. Expect an absolute dogfight with at least one black or red card. Hope Geezer leaves the poor flags alone though.

Home advantage should swing it for us but make no mistake Tyrone are absolutely sitting in the long grass. Still have plenty of quality players, there was a 15 posted here a week or 2 back that would be well capable of beating Armagh.

I don't think home advantage will have much of a bearing and despite what the bookies might say, there's not much between the 2 teams.
I don't care what anybody says about the league form etc, once Tyrone knew they realistically wouldn't be relegated everything they were doing was working towards championship, league games were just fixtures that had to be fulfilled. Tyrone were in an AI semi final last year and were a kick of a ball away from beating Armagh in Ulster, they'll have no fear or inferiority complex travelling to the Athletic Grounds.

Tyrone didn't know they were safe until late in the league, so what's the excuse for all the preceding games?

Armagh home advantage is as strong an advantage any county team have at home.

They were never in serious danger of relegation at any point.

I beg to differ on the home advantage point. As nice as it is to play at home I don't put much weight on it in a game such as this. I hope Armagh win, but I fancy Tyrone to do what they did to Donegal last year and turn us over.

Tyrone were definitely in the running for relegation. If you dont think losing nearly all your games doesn't bring you into that conversation then you are simply biased. Tyrone beat Cavan, were lucky to beat Offaly who everybody else was hammering, and lost the rest bar the draw.

[nrico2006]

They were never in serious danger of relegation at any point.

I beg to differ on the home advantage point. As nice as it is to play at home I don't put much weight on it in a game such as this. I hope Armagh win, but I fancy Tyrone to do what they did to Donegal last year and turn us over.

When Armagh were 11 points behind Dublin they were in danger of relegation. Donegal were Ulster champs last year, Tyrone beat them in a group game post celebrations.

I don't think Armagh believe this is an easy matter, they have played well in short spells but have made life hard for themselves also.

They were never in serious danger of relegation at any point.

I beg to differ on the home advantage point. As nice as it is to play at home I don't put much weight on it in a game such as this. I hope Armagh win, but I fancy Tyrone to do what they did to Donegal last year and turn us over.

When Armagh were 11 points behind Dublin they were in danger of relegation. Donegal were Ulster champs last year, Tyrone beat them in a group game post celebrations.

I don't think Armagh believe this is an easy matter, they have played well in short spells but have made life hard for themselves also.

Tyrone hammered Donegal fair and square last year. A McGuiness team isnt going to be caught celebrating a wee Ulster title a week after winning an one, never mind two.

[statto]

Realistically we are 10 points worse a team than last year. Only for some absolute worldies from McCurry last year we would have been beaten by 5-6 points. With his current form in the doldrums, P Harte and R Brennan gone and McKernan and Morgan both falling foul of the management there's next to now way Tyrone will win this.

I haven't seen much of Armagh this year so can't speak as of where they're at but if they can operate at 75% of last years performances they win this pulling up.

Edit: Just checked McCurry got 0-10 last year and McKernan was in All-star form. They're going nowhere near that level now and the guys we've replaced them with are miles off it.

What is the story with McKernan he doesn't seem a regular starter I think he's an excellent player and this game would be made for him. 

[Armagh18]

Realistically we are 10 points worse a team than last year. Only for some absolute worldies from McCurry last year we would have been beaten by 5-6 points. With his current form in the doldrums, P Harte and R Brennan gone and McKernan and Morgan both falling foul of the management there's next to now way Tyrone will win this.

I haven't seen much of Armagh this year so can't speak as of where they're at but if they can operate at 75% of last years performances they win this pulling up.

Edit: Just checked McCurry got 0-10 last year and McKernan was in All-star form. They're going nowhere near that level now and the guys we've replaced them with are miles off it.

What is the story with McKernan he doesn't seem a regular starter I think he's an excellent player and this game would be made for him. 

Didn't he get a bad enough facial injury earlier in the year?

[illdecide]

Lads, C'mon. We all know the league is parked and now it's a different competition, players are coming back from injury and players just love the firmer ground to play on. There are good solid all rounders who play consistent in all weather and pitches and there are players who are just made for summer football and the harder ground.
Tyrone will love the fact that the league is over and park it, time to move onto Ulster Championship and what better way to start against your neighbours and as the underdog. They will be chomping at the bit and Armagh will be lucky to get through this, home advantage and playing Div 1 football should just nick this for Armagh but as i stated a few days ago a draw or Tyrone win will not be a big shock to anyone.

Rory Grugan, Barry McCambridge and hopefully some fitnes into Aaron McKay should help...who else am i missing that's out injured?.

[Armagh18]

Lads, C'mon. We all know the league is parked and now it's a different competition, players are coming back from injury and players just love the firmer ground to play on. There are good solid all rounders who play consistent in all weather and pitches and there are players who are just made for summer football and the harder ground.
Tyrone will love the fact that the league is over and park it, time to move onto Ulster Championship and what better way to start against your neighbours and as the underdog. They will be chomping at the bit and Armagh will be lucky to get through this, home advantage and playing Div 1 football should just nick this for Armagh but as i stated a few days ago a draw or Tyrone win will not be a big shock to anyone.

Rory Grugan, Barry McCambridge and hopefully some fitnes into Aaron McKay should help...who else am i missing that's out injured?.

Joe McElroy (will find it hard to get into that half forward or half back line at the minute, as highly as I rate him) Murnin shouldnt be far away.

Ciaran Mackin as well I think is close enough to being back.

[square_ball]

Realistically we are 10 points worse a team than last year. Only for some absolute worldies from McCurry last year we would have been beaten by 5-6 points. With his current form in the doldrums, P Harte and R Brennan gone and McKernan and Morgan both falling foul of the management there's next to now way Tyrone will win this.

I haven't seen much of Armagh this year so can't speak as of where they're at but if they can operate at 75% of last years performances they win this pulling up.

Edit: Just checked McCurry got 0-10 last year and McKernan was in All-star form. They're going nowhere near that level now and the guys we've replaced them with are miles off it.

What is the story with McKernan he doesn't seem a regular starter I think he's an excellent player and this game would be made for him. 

Didn't he get a bad enough facial injury earlier in the year?

Yeah he got a bad knock to the head in the first game but his form hasn't been great in any game he has played this year. I would be 100% certain he will be starting next weekend though. Type of game that he will thrive in.

[Armagh18]

Realistically we are 10 points worse a team than last year. Only for some absolute worldies from McCurry last year we would have been beaten by 5-6 points. With his current form in the doldrums, P Harte and R Brennan gone and McKernan and Morgan both falling foul of the management there's next to now way Tyrone will win this.

I haven't seen much of Armagh this year so can't speak as of where they're at but if they can operate at 75% of last years performances they win this pulling up.

Edit: Just checked McCurry got 0-10 last year and McKernan was in All-star form. They're going nowhere near that level now and the guys we've replaced them with are miles off it.

What is the story with McKernan he doesn't seem a regular starter I think he's an excellent player and this game would be made for him. 

Didn't he get a bad enough facial injury earlier in the year?

Yeah he got a bad knock to the head in the first game but his form hasn't been great in any game he has played this year. I would be 100% certain he will be starting next weekend though. Type of game that he will thrive in.

Serious good player- sort of boy thats a hateful dirty fecker if he's playing against you but the type you'd absolutely love on your team.  Do they put him on McMullen or Conaty?

[square_ball]

Didn't he get a bad enough facial injury earlier in the year?

Yeah he got a bad knock to the head in the first game but his form hasn't been great in any game he has played this year. I would be 100% certain he will be starting next weekend though. Type of game that he will thrive in.

Serious good player- sort of boy thats a hateful dirty fecker if he's playing against you but the type you'd absolutely love on your team.  Do they put him on McMullen or Conaty?

I'd expect Niall Devlin to start on Conaty but not sure who we would have for McMullan. They might look to put the likes of Seanie O'Donnell on McMullan but then he may be needed further forward to track McQuillan or Burns. A lot of fires to put out in that Armagh team with the pace they have.

[mackers]

The inconsistency of this Armagh team is there for all to see and that leads to the worries for the Armagh support. If Armagh play like they did for the first twenty minutes of the Kerry game and the first half of the Dublin game they will be beaten by Tyrone.  They're not isolated either when you look at parts of the Mayo and Roscommon games, the whole league really. I don't think anyone from Armagh is poor mouthing.

On the other hand, if we play like we have done in the other parts of the games throughout the league we could beat anyone in the country. Very few teams could have given that Kerry team a 10 point start and come back the way we did.

Our summer will hinge on the availability of our injured players.

[Ethan Tremblay]

I would say inconsistent is the wrong way to describe them. Some players have been inconsistent I suppose.   

Having watched all their league games, bar Mayo, they are slow starters.  In each game, bar Monaghan, they have surrendered huge leads to their opposition and have spent the game clawing them back. 

Slow starters would be a better term perhaps?

They are playing a good brand of football to be fair.  The biggest concern I would have would be the goals they have been shipping, and scores in general. 

If Tyrone have players that can run at the Armagh back line at pace, they will get a lot of reward from that.  If the likes of Canavan is out around the half forward line and on the ball, Armagh will have problems.  If he is playing too deep and the ball going in is too slow, he may aswell sit on the sidelines. 

Experience may be another factor.  Armagh's injuries leave them with some experienced players on the sidelines.  I suspect some of those close league games may have gone their way if they had these players available. 

[Estimator]

It will be a nothing less than a double digit victory for Armagh.

Realistically they should be going out to try and better the 18pt hammering Tyrone give them in 2017.