Ard Mhacha v An Dún - Cluiche Ceannais Rionn 2 - Pairc an Chrócaigh 25/4/10

[Dubh driocht]

This thread has been very Armagh dominated so far. From a Down point of view this should prove to be our toughest test yet. Armagh have undoubtedly found their form and after thrashing Donegal they should not lack confidence,  the open spaces of Croker will truely test our full back line.  The Armagh WHF left unmarked by Colgan (who will presumably sweep) will have plenty of room to run at our defence but I look forward to seeing MC thread passes through to our FF line who should flourish on this wide pitch. I expect Down to win the midfield contest and should King (who is playing great football) run out of steam, we have big Dan back in our arsenal! My 15 would be
     McVeigh
Rafferty McArdle McCartan
McKernan Colgan Garvey
  Rodgers  King
Maginn M Clarke Hughes
Lavery J Clarke B Coulter

should Paul Mc C be fit i would have him on instead of Lavery, and I would like to see Gordon and Doyler get run outs

Dodgy I think your team and analysis are spot on.I believe Down are the stronger team at present but Armagh have been at Croke more often.While it may only be a Division 2 final, neither team will want to lose it.Interesting to see you want a Loughinisland man back in the team.You haven't been known to give much to the 'island over the years.

[Dubh driocht]

One change- Poland for Hughes - but I think James will go with your team.

[dodgy umpire]

This thread has been very Armagh dominated so far. From a Down point of view this should prove to be our toughest test yet. Armagh have undoubtedly found their form and after thrashing Donegal they should not lack confidence,  the open spaces of Croker will truely test our full back line.  The Armagh WHF left unmarked by Colgan (who will presumably sweep) will have plenty of room to run at our defence but I look forward to seeing MC thread passes through to our FF line who should flourish on this wide pitch. I expect Down to win the midfield contest and should King (who is playing great football) run out of steam, we have big Dan back in our arsenal! My 15 would be
     McVeigh
Rafferty McArdle McCartan
McKernan Colgan Garvey
  Rodgers  King
Maginn M Clarke Hughes
Lavery J Clarke B Coulter

should Paul Mc C be fit i would have him on instead of Lavery, and I would like to see Gordon and Doyler get run outs

Why do people keep going on about the "wide open spaces of Croke Park" the pitch is 145m x 90m the same as 85% of all intercounty pitches so why do people think it's bigger/wider than the rest of the pitches, Dodgy umpire not getting at you either as the commentators in the TV studio have said the same thing

Im prepared to be corrected but surely Croker is bigger than Pairc Esler where the teams last met? Granted i may have exagerated the importance that the space will have on the game, perhaps the anticipation of seeing Marty Clarke and co on the big stage got to me.

This thread has been very Armagh dominated so far. From a Down point of view this should prove to be our toughest test yet. Armagh have undoubtedly found their form and after thrashing Donegal they should not lack confidence,  the open spaces of Croker will truely test our full back line.  The Armagh WHF left unmarked by Colgan (who will presumably sweep) will have plenty of room to run at our defence but I look forward to seeing MC thread passes through to our FF line who should flourish on this wide pitch. I expect Down to win the midfield contest and should King (who is playing great football) run out of steam, we have big Dan back in our arsenal! My 15 would be
     McVeigh
Rafferty McArdle McCartan
McKernan Colgan Garvey
  Rodgers  King
Maginn M Clarke Hughes
Lavery J Clarke B Coulter

should Paul Mc C be fit i would have him on instead of Lavery, and I would like to see Gordon and Doyler get run outs

Dodgy I think your team and analysis are spot on.I believe Down are the stronger team at present but Armagh have been at Croke more often.While it may only be a Division 2 final, neither team will want to lose it.Interesting to see you want a Loughinisland man back in the team.You haven't been known to give much to the 'island over the years.

Perhaps not, but to beat Armagh in a league final i'll make an exception !

[Highlander3]

Dodgy i agree with your team and anaylsis, and really do hope that Doyle and Gordon get a decent run, am still a bit worried about out FB line, as i think they are to small.

And agree with earlier comments that it probably did not suit us Donegal getting a pasting, they always seem to rebound after a bad result, they really are the most inconsistent team in Ireland.

Think that the division 2 final is a bit of a waste of time, but for confidence still think its important that we beat Armagh again

[Brick Tamlin]

I really fail to see how people think that Liam Doyle & Dan Gordon will play in the league final.
Liam Doyle has had more injuries this last 7 years than anyone else on that panel and Dan Gordon is in self-imposed exile. They wont be playing in the league final as far as i can see and id doubt they will be lining out come championship opener either.
And before you all pounce, ive nothing against either of them, just sickens my hole when supporters are shouting for them to be back playing so soon. Give them time, let them train away and play away with clubs, whilst getting as much game time as possible, and then wee james will surely decide their roles.

[orange2009]

Orchard TV presents coverage of Armagh's 16 point victory over Donegal. We have interviews with Stevie McDonnell and Paddy O'Rourke, and also a match report. Go to http://armagh-gaa.com/Orchard-TV.aspx

Enjoy

[Banana Man]

Brick I think you're spot on there with that, I was beginning to wonder was I the only one thinking it. YEahthese guys on their day are great footballers etc but the lads that got the team to the final deserve their run out first an foremost then take it from there...

[Mourne Rover]

The starting 15 against Armagh should be based on the league panel, but we have to remember that the only priority is the championship match in Donegal. Dan Gordon and Liam Doyle are capable of making a difference in Ballybofey, even from the bench, and it is only common sense that they should be part of the squad for Croke Park. Doyle is playing club football while Gordon is reportedly back in county training, so it is their match fitness which needs to be assessed.

[illdecide]

I know he hasn't featured in the last 2 games but you can rule R Austin out as he broke his jaw last night in a club game

[Skiddybadoo]

I know he hasn't featured in the last 2 games but you can rule R Austin out as he broke his jaw last night in a club game

Sorry to hear that.  Hope he has a speedy recovery.

[thewobbler]

I can't see Gordon starting but nor can I see him not featuring for 25+ mins. Ambrose will start every Championship match that's he fit for in midfield, and James will need a competitive match to find out if Gordon brings more to the table than King.

As for Doyler, I'm not sure if he'll get a run out. I'd imagine he'll end up being cover for Clarke and Colgan should either pick up a knock, but it's hard to see where else he might get in the team this year. Hard to believe I'm saying that about one of the most talented footballers in the county.

I don't buy these concerns about the height of the full-back line. It's hardly as if we're going to run into a team with men mountain across their full-forward line. McArdle is six foot tall and has a prodigious leap on him which means he plays more like a man of 6 foot 2 or 3. I don't see that many taller full-backs in the game at present. McCartan is just a shade off six foot, and is positionally clever. Yep Dee Rafferty is small, and might get exposed should he ever meet Tommy Walsh, but we'll worry about that when it happens.

[fan01]

will these games be an all ticket affair

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

will these games be an all ticket affair

Would assume so. Nearly all games at Croke Park are I think.

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

Benny Coulter an injury doubt - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/8618194.stm

[John o connor]

Hopefully Benny will line out against "our ma " looks a lot leaner and hungrier this year and we need as much physical presence through the spine of the side as possible especially against the orange men. Also a pity big dan has left it so late to return ( im sure he has his reasons and owes the county nothing ) would have been great to have given him a run in last couple of national league games , the options around midfield grow all the time with King ,big pete ,and ambi. It is   another alternative which could allow ambi to move into CHF and Marty out to the wing , speaking of which any more news on his " return to down under story " he must be mad to even think about it lol