Ard Mhacha v Muineacháin - Athletic Grounds - 08/03/09

[Benny Barnaveld]

I think overall Moriarty has done very well for Armagh, just thought he was poor today.
Have only seen V.Martin 3 times (have not seen him at club level), and hes yet to impress me, but I am not writing him off by any means.

Re. Lavery
I think a "lack of mobility" is a pretty serious achilles heel, especially when Vernon is not going to cover a whole pile of ground as well.
He is big, but very slow and easy to put off the ball. Does not seem to have a whole lot of strength, and if he does he does not seem to want to use it.

I know we are missing the Cross men, but alot of people I talk to seem to think that the Cross men will bring a wand wth them and transform the team!
From totally average to a title winning team
Realistically what Coss men will start? I reckon only Aaron is a cert to start. So it is important that we can get a good team togeher now.

[Schkite]

Well Hanratty does win his fair share of frees, but he needs to offer more, being fast isn't enough. Sometimes he's nearly too fast for the ball and doesn't know what to do with it when it gets it. He still hasn't lived up to the potential he showed against Down in 2007.

Good win today, thought we'd lose it at the end, would have been very sickened if we did considering the amount of scoreable chances we threw away. All the sweeter to do it without Tommy as many think we are far too reliant on him, we've a good spread of scorers the last while.

[Our Nail Loney]

Did anyone notice at the end when Stevie got a point laid on to him from Feeney, why did Feeney not shoot himself?? He was in miles of space and had a lot of time? Thougt it was weird.

Lack of confidence probably Nail. Just prior he'd hit a ball badly into the goalkeeper's hands.

Thought he should have squared that one instead of shooting, it was an awkward angle and didnt think he was ever hitting it over... Still there would not have been an easier chance for him to regain his confidence than the one he laid on for Stevie...

[Maguire01]

Good result from Monaghan today and a good exciting game with a big crowd.

To be fair Monaghan could have won by 5 or 6 and missed some relatively easy chances - Jap had a few real stinkers.

McManus was brilliant again, but Armagh seemed to give him acres of space at times. Lennon was brilliant in midfield and won a load of ball. I thought Clerkin was doing well and Monaghan lost their grip a bit when he was substituted. Darren Hughes had a great game in the halfback line as well and got forward a lot.

I missed what happened Tommy - as did everyone over the far end of the ground, i think. We definitely missed him in the forward line. Hanratty did some god running, and i'd be all for persevering with him, but for a forward he made some shocking attempts at scores.
Ronaghan made a big difference when he came on and should be given a starting place next week for his efforts.

Thought the ref had a bit of a stinker and after sending off Tommy, seemed to be content with just showing the black book. O'Rourke kicked out at one point when he was on the ground. According to the rules, "to kick or attempt to kick an opponent with minimal force" is a red card offence - he should have been off. McKeever was also lucky enough to get away with a yellow.

Finally, i'd like to thank Mr Paddy Power for his generous odds, making the result even more enjoyable.  

[crossfire]

TACADOIR

You are dead right it is inexcusable that we were a man down when Monaghan scored their goal _It's time Mckeever caught himself on, or perhaps it is time he was dropped for a few games to teach him some discipline

I'm not sure if you're deliberately missing my point or just not able to grasp what I was saying. The fact that we were a man down when Monaghan scored their goal is attributable to the management, not Ciaran McKeever. His discipline is another issue. He didn't pick up many yellows last year but 2 in 2 games isn't good enough. I was at the other side of the pitch but I thought his challenge today was wild and reckless rather than malicious. As for dropping him, who do you suggest we play instead? Francie at centre half and Paul kernan and McKeown in the full back line no doubt.  

[

We simply didn't have the squad depth to deal with the yellows. The defence was stretched to the limit to begin with so the space Monaghan found in the last 15 minutes is hardly surprising.

To be fair AFS, any squad is going to struggle for depth when missing as many players with championship experience as we were today - Hearty, Francie, McGrane, the 3 Kernans, Toner and Donaghy will all be options later on in the year, not to mention the likes of Toal and David McKenna who'll push for places when they return.

I didn't miss your point but i dont agree with it.
You should apportion blame where it is due and the blame clearly lies with Mr Mc keever.
Don't be making excuses for him.

Sorry the 3 Cross lads you mentioned are unavailable at present as they have bigger fish to fry.

[mackers]

Good game today, it is now becoming clear those players who will be in the shake up come championship time and who won't.
McEvoy is ahead of Rodgers for me, A Mallon will be the only one of today's FB line playing Tyrone in my opinion, HB line was good with Tony McClelland impressing (still won't make the cut though). Again only Ciaran McKeever will start against Tyrone, although he has to cut out the reckless play.
Lavery, though much improved still won't make it, Vernon didn't really get into it today although I thought Monaghan had his cards marked as they didn't allow him to go on many runs.
I was pleased with a lot of our forward play with K O'Rourke really starting to come good, game lad who can take a score. He's looking more and more like a player who will make a difference come championship time.
Could some of the rules techies clarify whether the game must be stopped to allow a yellow carded player be replaced or not? Honestly don't know.
Would love to see P Kernan, P McKeown, and David McKenna get a run in the last couple of League games as I think there are places up for grabs in the FB line and midfield.
Thought both Paul Duffy and Michael O'Rourke looked overweight when they come on.
Urgently need two points from the game next Saturday night.

[Benny Barnaveld]

I think they key has to be midfield for us this year.
If Steven McDonnell can regain form, alongside Clarke, Kevin O'Rourke, Hendersen, Tony Kernan, Mallon if we can get the ball in we have the forwards to do harm.
These last few matches I have been disappointed that Clarke has to come out to the middle to get onto the ball.
He has to be one of the best forwards in the country and we can't even get the ball into him, very frustrating.

I still have not made up my mind on Vernon's best poisition, although I still think he has a role to play.

[Smokin Joe]

How anyone thought Lavery played OK is beyond me.  The lad must have concrete in his boots, he can nver get off the ground.

Armagh's management didn't think much of Vincie Martin's first half display as Benny O'Kane roared at hims several times that he was allowing Woods too much room - I guess that is why he was hauled off at the short whistle.

I think it is a sad indictment of us today that McDonnell decided the way to shore up midfield was to bring Clarke back to help, talk about being short sighted.
Was impressed with McClelland, thought he had a great game.
AOR was awful when he came on, gave his man a load of space and made a huge amount of handling errors and couldn't pick the ball up off the ground on several occassions.

John Mac would be a huge addition to our midfield diamond at the moment.

[Rufus T Firefly]

Thought it was a good game, disappointing result from an Armagh POV, but one of those games where you come out feeling positive about our prospects.

Agreed with that, and indeed with a lot of what has been written. I thought we were beginning to cruise at 12 - 9 in the second half, with McKeever in excellent form in our half back line. Then came his rush of blood to the head - a challenge that brought back memories of the old pitch at Dorsey - and the goal followed immediately. After that we never looked like we would take it.

I have to say that I was pleased enough with MF in that we competed well in the air - a significant improvement on the Loais game - but of course came second in the break ball statistics. I thought McKeever was having a colossal game until his yellow card - the other two lads in the HB line also played well. The full back line struggled badly throughout and I'm afraid the keeper, on kickouts alone, is not doing enough.

I was also surprised at Brian Mallon getting taken off, whilst Martin O'Rourke got through a lot of work. Kevin O'rourke was excellent, and looks a great prospect - Clarke is a magnificent footballer and is showing that every week - Stevie will get better, although still looked sharp on occasions. I'm afraid I cannot see Ryan Henderson making the Championship team, as much as I would love to be proved wrong. He looked like a player to me who had absolutely no self confidence, and at this level that is fatal.

Given the nature of the defeat, I came away very disappointed, but on reflection there are a lot of positives to take away. I was expecting a heavier defat that that which transpired. As for Monagahan, that is the second time I have seeen them in the last twelve months or so and I think their recent Croke Park exploits has flattered them somewhat. I couldn't see them winning an Ulster.

[mackers]

Henderson appears to be a first class finisher although poor at winning his own ball, a luxury that would be exposed in a championship game, I would keep playing him to give him as much chance to prove himself as possible.
Ciaran McKeever is an excellent footballer, without doubt our best defender (and one of the top three in Ulster), clearly the management have great belief in him making him captain but if he keeps getting himself yellow carded that belief will start to be tested.

I still have not made up my mind on Vernon's best poisition, although I still think he has a role to play.

For me, Charlie is playing in his best position but is fighting a lone battle in midfield, for the last two league meetings I would stick David McKenna in there with him as by all reports McGrane won't be back.

[Benny Barnaveld]

I don't know how positive we can be.
At the end of the day, if we put individual performances to the side.
I dont know about some of our tactics, and some of the decisions being made, or maybe not being made would be more appropriate by the men on the line.
Some of the team selections, game plans, and the subs being made under this regime are bewildering at times. If we compare to Tyrone and Mickey Harte for example, he seems to have a knack for winning some games they dont deserve to win, not being afraid to make subs are more often than not for the better.

[Benny Barnaveld]

Good point Mackers.

As I mentioned in an earlier post neither Vernon nor Lavery are exactly the most molbile.
I think the midfield has to compliment eachother. If Vernon/McGrane/Toner is the worker ball winner then we can afford a more attack minded midfielder to support the half forward line. From watching the Cross matches this year McKenna could well be worth a try in this role, as he has great pace when carrying the ball.
I would not rule out McGrane, he maywell give it a final go this year.

Henderson appears to be a first class finisher although poor at winning his own ball, a luxury that would be exposed in a championship game, I would keep playing him to give him as much chance to prove himself as possible.
Ciaran McKeever is an excellent footballer, without doubt our best defender (and one of the top three in Ulster), clearly the management have great belief in him making him captain but if he keeps getting himself yellow carded that belief will start to be tested.

I still have not made up my mind on Vernon's best poisition, although I still think he has a role to play.

For me, Charlie is playing in his best position but is fighting a lone battle in midfield, for the last two league meetings I would stick David McKenna in there with him as by all reports McGrane won't be back.

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

I didn't miss your point but i dont agree with it.
You should apportion blame where it is due and the blame clearly lies with Mr Mc keever.
Don't be making excuses for him.

Sorry the 3 Cross lads you mentioned are unavailable at present as they have bigger fish to fry.

So you disagree that Barry Duffy could have been on the pitch before the Monaghan goal? By the way I mentioned 5 Cross lads. Neither the rules nor counting seem to be your strong point.

[Maguire01]

Out of interest, what did any of you Armagh lads think of the ref today?

[Benny Barnaveld]

I thought he was poor. Was talking to several Monaghan people after the match who thought the saem.
Not crooked, just poor to both sides. He was always way off the play as well.
Gave into the crowd quite a lot, but Monaghan had a good following too, so the decisions were equa.