Ulster Final 2008 - Armagh vs Fermanagh

[ONeill]

Look's like Oisin has been out for lunch with big Joe a few times

Yes that was very apparent in the interview afterwards. I blame the maltesers.

[FermPundit]

Where is Ciaran O'Reilly for Fermanagh? He's a right and handy free taker. Presumably he's not on the panel?

Ciaran is out for the season with a serious enough knee injury. We missed him badly today. I would expect Tom Brewster or Mattie Keenan to start next Sunday to take frees. I honestly don't think Fermanagh missed their chance today. If anything they will benefit from the experience of playing in an Ulster final. You could argue that Armagh took their foot of the pedal which allowed Fermanagh back into the game but strangely being 8 points down helped Fermanagh. They knew they had nothing to lose and went at the last 30 mins with 100% effort and commitment. Armagh are over reliant on Steven McDonnell. They would be lost without him. He is a class act, some of his points today were outstanding. Fermanagh have traditionally struggled in the forward department. We just don't put up big scorelines. Some of our free taking was shocking but at the end of the day no guy goes out to miss easy frees. It is something I'm sure Malachy O'Rourke will work on during the week.

I could be wrong here but I think Fermanagh out numbered the Armagh fans today which was great to see. I can't see there being 34,000 at the replay next week. A lot of the Fermanagh support was made up of exiled gaels who made long journeys home for the game. I would think 20,000 - 25,000 would be the realistic attendance  for next week when you also take into consideration that replay crowds usually decrease.

You wait 26 years for an Ulster final appearance and then you get two in the space of 7 days!! No complaints from me 

[Gold]

The atmosphere at the game and in Fermanagh in general was and is out of this world.

We are truly blessed to have such great games where every single pass, kick, drop, pick-up miss etc is  crucial.  35,000 people and thousands more on TV were treated to a fantastic specticle

[downgirl]

The atmosphere at the game and in Fermanagh in general was and is out of this world.

We are truly blessed to have such great games where every single pass, kick, drop, pick-up miss etc is  crucial.  35,000 people and thousands more on TV were treated to a fantastic specticle

It was only in the second half when Fermanagh got the goal that the game really sprung to life!

[Yes I Would]

I think Armagh have alot more to put right this week than Fermanagh!
That last 15 minutes Armagh looked leaderless and out on their feet.
With Clarke and Mc Donnell in the form they are in Armagh could run riot, but without ball they will do feck all.

Fermanagh must have won 70% breaking ball and if they can get anywhere near this figure next week, cant see them being so wasteful in attack.
Referee made the game an enjoyable spectacle.

[ONeill]

The atmosphere at the game and in Fermanagh in general was and is out of this world.

We are truly blessed to have such great games where every single pass, kick, drop, pick-up miss etc is  crucial.  35,000 people and thousands more on TV were treated to a fantastic specticle

The first half was absolutely atrocious.

[bennydorano]

Should have been beaten, very little doubt about it.  Midfield while not great, is not the biggest problem, breakball is. Fermanagh at every kickout seemed to have at least one or two more men in the mix and this comes from the role that AOR plays.  I said it 2 or 3 months ago that the role he plays is a luxury that better teams will exploit it if they can play the extra man effectively and Fermanagh obviuosly can(and that is not a criticism of AOR, but the role).  I have yet to see Armagh's half backs in the mix for break balls, Fermanagh's half backs and half forwards seem to be mobile enough to compete in both teams' kickouts.

Armagh's substitutions didn't work, the one substitution that should have been made wasn't, Brendan Donaghy for AK, AK and SK were both brutal, the half forward line was non-exisitent again (MOR was the best performer but well short of his NFL standard). Vernon and Mallon will be lucky to keep their places, but the HF options are limited.

For the replay Mcdonnell has to show ruthlessness, Hearty, AK, Vernon, Mallon should all be looking over their shoulders.  (I would have to give SK the benefit of the doubt on the strength of his first 2 games).  

Maybe we've got the kick up the arse that Kerry can get and get away with but I dont think we'll win the replay.  I think our limitations were exposed, at the start of the year I thought an Ulster was possible and an AI a very very long shot, we are a team in transition whether McDonnell likes to acknowledge it or not.

[David McKeown]

Just finished watching the game there again and to be honest I feel a lot better now than I did coming out of the ground.  For me Armagh didnt deserve to lose today and lead from the 21st minute until 3 minutes into the 2 minutes of injury time that were to be played and during that time Fermanagh didnt have too many guilt edge chances to take the lead (a few though to cut gaps or bring themselves level).  That said a lot of players that have been very good this year had very quiet games I thought C McKeever was as annonymous as I have ever seen him and Charles and the two Kernans where far from their best.  If those 4 improve for next day I think we would have a very good chance.  Also a strange thing to note whilst at the game I thought McGrane was completely outplayed but watching on the tv it seemed he just lacked support from half backs and half forwards.  Hopefully that will change next day.  Also although in hindsight I think MOR coming off was a catalyst in the game at the time it happened I wasnt surprised to see the change made as I felt he was giving away cheap ball.  Again at the game it seemed we won nothing in midfield after he went off but from the tv it seems we won the next 2 breaking balls in midfield and in fact won 4 breaks and 2 clean catches at midfield in his abscence (Armagh finished with 5 clean catches and 8 breaks won at midfield).

As always a quick word on the ref.  During the game today I thought he had a very good game as good as any ref ive seen in quite some time save for the complaint TAC made about the inconsistency in relation to short frees which somewhat blotted his copybook.  On the tv however it seemed that he got a lot of what were arguably crucial decisions wrong namely the square ball for the goal, the 4 minutes of injury time and the hand pass he gave as a throw right at the death.  That said no referee is perfect and I think he deserves to get the replay.  Anyone but Bannon

All that said Fermanagh are a superb team and will be very difficult to beat next day and its a game im looking forward to.

[stephenite]

Any word on the replay?

[screenexile]

Next Sunday stephenite not sure what time though.

[Abble]

sorry AFS to quote you "wouldn't be for throwing Donaghy in at the deep end just yet) and McKinney would struggle under high ball too. "

i think heart is an absolute disaster under the high ball ... never forget cross v e. ciaran in x , he shit the bags with a 5' 6'' lad comin in. he always takes his eye off the ball no matter size of man comin in


as for donaghy in at the deep end.....laughable.......how he  got took off again down i'll never know...he was playin a stormer



if armagh play like they can and don't play like they're scared of fermanagh next day we'll be ok....IE play the 6 up front !!!!

[stiff breeze]

if only the game had off lasted 3 more minutes the whoile of armagh would be scrapping their asses of the pavement today as fermanagh were overall the better team. fact

[Onion Bag]

Next Sunday stephenite not sure what time though.

Next sunday @ 3:00pm @ clones

[rrhf]

Poor game of football, last 20 minutes provided great excitement though.  Ref robbed Fermanagh.  Armagh are no better  than Tyrone this year ... or any year.  They are no closer to Sam than Tyrone at the moment.  All to play for.  if Armagh win the next day it will be the second time in 4 yeas that officialdom has give Armagh an Ulster championship final.

[FermGael]

On Fermanagh, this isn't a compliment nor a criticism, but they really take the blanket defense/ negative gameplan to new levels. When Armagh and Tyrone first started with this tactic they at least left 3 men in the opposition half when defending, Fermanagh at most times leave only 1. Their sheer numbers in defence make it extremely difficult to break down. Its mass defense then mass attack with no kick passing whatsoever. The reason that its effective is that they funnel everyone back and forward at such speed. Their fantastic fitness levels mean that they're able to do this all game long. Its absolutely awful to watch though, and it makes the argument for reducing the game to 13 a side very compelling.

An Armagh man complaining about blanket defence.  Pot, kettle and black come to mind.
Armagh played 13 men behind the ball and hit Fermanagh on the break.  In the first half Armagh constantly played 13 men in their own half.  I have no problem with this tactic but an Armagh man whinging about it.  We must be doing something right