Armagh v Derry 30-05-2026 - 19:15

[IronMike247]

Reading the Derry club thread Derry ones seem fairly confident. Not an unreasonable stance either.

Armagh seemed to be able to park the Ulster Final defeats very well and come out very strongly in the AI series after, what will the heads be like after a bit of mid season success?

I'd worry a bit about MF myself,  Crealey's loss will be felt a lot more as this progresses, but we're doing OK there to date.

Think we should be ok around the middle against Derry but I'd be fearful enough against a Kerry/Donegal/Galway with the big brutes they have. At the minute we're doing rightly at the shorts with the bad weather playing a big part on Sunday with the ones we lost. Hopefully we're able to park Ulster again and push on.

This sums it up, Derry have a mobile midfield but not a big enough midfield to trouble the Kerry/Donegals etc. Armagh will have the same problem eventually. Don't see midfield being the game winner in the Derry game. Crealey a huge lost.

Despite Galway having some big men around the middle, they were cleaned out by the Rossies in that department. I think there's as much to be said for having a bit of grit and doggedness and getting stuck into the battles for breaking ball etc. Not to mention a clever kickout strategy can go a long way.
Armagh seem to be on the way back, the hunger they had in 24, that was missing in 25, looks like it's back in them again. At least as an outsider looking in that's what I see.

[Armagh18]

Reading the Derry club thread Derry ones seem fairly confident. Not an unreasonable stance either.

Armagh seemed to be able to park the Ulster Final defeats very well and come out very strongly in the AI series after, what will the heads be like after a bit of mid season success?

I'd worry a bit about MF myself,  Crealey's loss will be felt a lot more as this progresses, but we're doing OK there to date.

Think we should be ok around the middle against Derry but I'd be fearful enough against a Kerry/Donegal/Galway with the big brutes they have. At the minute we're doing rightly at the shorts with the bad weather playing a big part on Sunday with the ones we lost. Hopefully we're able to park Ulster again and push on.

This sums it up, Derry have a mobile midfield but not a big enough midfield to trouble the Kerry/Donegals etc. Armagh will have the same problem eventually. Don't see midfield being the game winner in the Derry game. Crealey a huge lost.

Despite Galway having some big men around the middle, they were cleaned out by the Rossies in that department. I think there's as much to be said for having a bit of grit and doggedness and getting stuck into the battles for breaking ball etc. Not to mention a clever kickout strategy can go a long way.
Armagh seem to be on the way back, the hunger they had in 24, that was missing in 25, looks like it's back in them again. At least as an outsider looking in that's what I see.

Yeah that's true, not to mention piggery .

Even last year you couldn't really say Kerry were that much bigger than us out the field, we'd Jarly, Rian, Crealey, Grimley, Murnin etc. A bit of luck and momentum definitely play their part with break ball as well.

[brokencrossbar1]

Think we will struggle to beat Derry,  cards sitting very nicely for them at the minute as the weekend will take a lot out of the players as will the celebrations. Derry sitting in the long grass with extra weeks to prepare. Can only see an Oakleaf win

[statto]

Reading the Derry club thread Derry ones seem fairly confident. Not an unreasonable stance either.

Armagh seemed to be able to park the Ulster Final defeats very well and come out very strongly in the AI series after, what will the heads be like after a bit of mid season success?

I'd worry a bit about MF myself,  Crealey's loss will be felt a lot more as this progresses, but we're doing OK there to date.

Think we should be ok around the middle against Derry but I'd be fearful enough against a Kerry/Donegal/Galway with the big brutes they have. At the minute we're doing rightly at the shorts with the bad weather playing a big part on Sunday with the ones we lost. Hopefully we're able to park Ulster again and push on.

This sums it up, Derry have a mobile midfield but not a big enough midfield to trouble the Kerry/Donegals etc. Armagh will have the same problem eventually. Don't see midfield being the game winner in the Derry game. Crealey a huge lost.

Despite Galway having some big men around the middle, they were cleaned out by the Rossies in that department. I think there's as much to be said for having a bit of grit and doggedness and getting stuck into the battles for breaking ball etc. Not to mention a clever kickout strategy can go a long way.
Armagh seem to be on the way back, the hunger they had in 24, that was missing in 25, looks like it's back in them again. At least as an outsider looking in that's what I see.

I don't believe Armagh lacked hunger in 2025. They went into the Kerry game as favourites and had been playing well up to then. Armagh were 4/5 up at start of the second half until they were met by a perfect 15 minute spell from Kerry who then went and won the All Ireland pretty easily.

[quit yo jibbajabba]

Think we will struggle to beat Derry,  cards sitting very nicely for them at the minute as the weekend will take a lot out of the players as will the celebrations. Derry sitting in the long grass with extra weeks to prepare. Can only see an Oakleaf win

Bcb1 oshea
Ach shure lookit
Yerra

[statto]

Reading the Derry club thread Derry ones seem fairly confident. Not an unreasonable stance either.

Armagh seemed to be able to park the Ulster Final defeats very well and come out very strongly in the AI series after, what will the heads be like after a bit of mid season success?

I'd worry a bit about MF myself,  Crealey's loss will be felt a lot more as this progresses, but we're doing OK there to date.

Would have had similar concerns when Ben got injured though Jason Duffy has really stood up in his absence and Murnin can mix it with anyone aerially.

[armaghniac]

Reading the Derry club thread Derry ones seem fairly confident. Not an unreasonable stance either.

Armagh seemed to be able to park the Ulster Final defeats very well and come out very strongly in the AI series after, what will the heads be like after a bit of mid season success?

I'd worry a bit about MF myself,  Crealey's loss will be felt a lot more as this progresses, but we're doing OK there to date.

Think we should be ok around the middle against Derry but I'd be fearful enough against a Kerry/Donegal/Galway with the big brutes they have. At the minute we're doing rightly at the shorts with the bad weather playing a big part on Sunday with the ones we lost. Hopefully we're able to park Ulster again and push on.

This sums it up, Derry have a mobile midfield but not a big enough midfield to trouble the Kerry/Donegals etc. Armagh will have the same problem eventually. Don't see midfield being the game winner in the Derry game. Crealey a huge lost.

Despite Galway having some big men around the middle, they were cleaned out by the Rossies in that department. I think there's as much to be said for having a bit of grit and doggedness and getting stuck into the battles for breaking ball etc. Not to mention a clever kickout strategy can go a long way.
Armagh seem to be on the way back, the hunger they had in 24, that was missing in 25, looks like it's back in them again. At least as an outsider looking in that's what I see.

I don't believe Armagh lacked hunger in 2025. They went into the Kerry game as favourites and had been playing well up to then. Armagh were 4/5 up at start of the second half until they were met by a perfect 15 minute spell from Kerry who then went and won the All Ireland pretty easily.

Armagh couldn't change gear quickly enough when Kerry upped it to play the best football of the year showing a clear understanding of the possibilities of the new rules. If Meath had not beaten Kerry then that performance might not have resulted.

[illdecide]

Think we will struggle to beat Derry,  cards sitting very nicely for them at the minute as the weekend will take a lot out of the players as will the celebrations. Derry sitting in the long grass with extra weeks to prepare. Can only see an Oakleaf win

That's my boy...

[p3427977]

When's the season ticket window end?

[armaghniac]

When's the season ticket window end?

Tues 26th at 11an.

[p3427977]

When's the season ticket window end?

Tues 26th at 11an.

Cheers

[naka]

See this as a very tight game
Armagh favourites but Derry are a damn good side, they had a 15 minute aberration against Monaghan who needed a worldly to equalise.
If Armagh come out the right side of this it will be hard earned.

[Ethan Tremblay]

Its a massive game, for the simple fact that if you lose you risk drawing Kerry, Meath or Rosscommon in the follow up game, not a prospect Armagh or Derry want. 

The lay offs have worked out OK for Donegal and Tyrone, so safe to say Derry will be coming into this fresh and raring to go at it.

[bennydorano]

While watching Kerry v Donegal I was thinking this will be a great eye opener for Armagh, there'll be zero complacency,going to be a tight game tho.

[armaghniac]

While watching Kerry v Donegal I was thinking this will be a great eye opener for Armagh, there'll be zero complacency,going to be a tight game tho.

There should be no complacency. Tyrone and Monaghan took us to extra time and Derry are as good. Armagh were a bit unsettled at times against Monaghan, if I were McGeeney then I'd be looking for a consistent performance this time, with comebacks not tolerated.