Armagh v Cork NFL Division 1 round 1 Sunday 05-02-12

[Harold Disgracey]

A good point for Armagh, one which looked very unlikely at half time. McVerry who I thought was poor in the first half had a very good second half. Watters and Dyas were poor, saying that Dyas would probably be a better option at lhb than Finn Mo. Mackin was very good but still can't see a pass. Forker a Caolan Rafferty played well.

I like everyone else thought the ref had a bit of a mare. To me Kerrigan was sent off for putting his head into Moriarty's face.

[Orangemac]

Didn't look good at half time but great spirit showed by Armagh in the 2nd half.

Great leadership shown by McKeever and Andy Mallon in particular and Mal Mackin in the 2nd half. Caolan Rafferty was good in the 2nd half.

Unexpected point today, Cork were poor, they had a strong team out but there was no great urgency from them at any stage.
2 wins from somewhere would keep us up.

[eviemonkey]

Poor performance from Cork and lucky enough to hold on for a point in the end. Cork should have been further ahead before the sending-off and in the second period we retreated too deep with the 14 men trying to hold on to the lead rather than pushing on to try and finish the game with a few scores of our own.

Don't have a big issue with the sending-off as Kerrigan raised his hand so under the rules deserved to go but overall I felt the referee was poor with some dubious calls made in the second half. I suppose you definitely know the GAA season is bang in earnest again when we are complaining about poor officiating so nothing new there.

Armagh deserved the draw and should be competitive in the division when they have a full contingent of players available. Cork will need to get a few of our forwards back from injury because the forward unit that lined out today will not be good enough in the long run.

[Orior]

Whilst the goal was a school-boy error I think Kingham should get another chance. As someone else said, he was big and ignorant in a good way.

Glad to see the tactics change. In the first half the long high ball into Mackin paid zero return. When Armagh ran at Cork in the second half it produced the scores. If we do that more often then we'll get much better at it.

[regal]

A lot of positives from the second half today. I don't think Kingham deserves any stick and hopefully he will get another start to give him a chance to show his worth. The keeper looks very promising as did others mentioned such as a.duffy, mcverry, forker, campbell & rafferty. The stupid and ponderous play of the first half was replaced with hard work, ferocious tackling and a more positive attitude in the second half.

Swift will be no big loss as after being in the U21 team in 2004 (now in his late 20's) he has failed to break into an average enough armagh team. Unlucky last year with injury

[Bill Haven]

Cork's backs exposed again in the second half.

Same old story. If you try and pass your way through them they'll just smother you. Run straight at them with pace and they don't like it one bit.

[Goats Do Shave]

Kerrigan did put the head in... but he swung his elbow twice also.

[Applesisapples]

Some of the comments on here show up what seems to be a divide in the County...Cross against the rest. Whether it is comments of BCB about McKeever or those about some Cross players having hit the ceiling. A bit of perspective and community outreach is required (maybe Peter Robinson could help). There are a number of Cross players, Aaron Cunningham, David McKenna, Stephen Kernan, Paul Kernan and James Morgan among them who are much better footballers than a number of yesterdays starters. Time to take of the pro Cross and Anti Cross blinkers lads. As to yesterday, hats off to Mackin, a player I have doubted in the past but he stepped up when it was needed and with McKeever dragged us home. Moriarty was much better than some comments on here pre game suggested he might be and Paul Duffy was as poor as I have always believed him to be. Vernon was good at midfiled despite the passing, but thank god Clarke and Stevie are in the wings.

[brokencrossbar1]

Some of the comments on here show up what seems to be a divide in the County...Cross against the rest. Whether it is comments of BCB about McKeever or those about some Cross players having hit the ceiling. A bit of perspective and community outreach is required (maybe Peter Robinson could help). There are a number of Cross players, Aaron Cunningham, David McKenna, Stephen Kernan, Paul Kernan and James Morgan among them who are much better footballers than a number of yesterdays starters. Time to take of the pro Cross and Anti Cross blinkers lads. As to yesterday, hats off to Mackin, a player I have doubted in the past but he stepped up when it was needed and with McKeever dragged us home. Moriarty was much better than some comments on here pre game suggested he might be and Paul Duffy was as poor as I have always believed him to be. Vernon was good at midfiled despite the passing, but thank god Clarke and Stevie are in the wings.

What about my comments about McKeever?  I said he was lucky to stay on the field for a very clear elbow to the face of the Cork man who was lying on the ground.  On looking at it again it was a more clear cut sending off than Kerrigans.  I looked at Kerrigans again and matbe it was a sending off but Finn Mo was clearly the instigator and he got Kerrigan to react.  I made no issue about Cross or anti Cross.  I felt pre match that Cork would win with a bit to spare going by the teams on paper.  Losing Pa Kelly is a massive lose for Cork when he doesn't play as he is the fulcrum of every single attack and would have been a real steadying influence for them after Kerrigan got the line. 

The second half was encouraging for us mostly through the seeming change in attitude with regards to work rate and taking responsibility.  The reality though is that we didn't score from play for 50 minutes of the game and that is a worry.  If the pressure is to be lifted off Jamie and Stevie then that needs to change.  In fact I think the only starting forward who scored from play was Mackin and that was when he moved to midfield.  McVerry may have got 1 from play but 2 scores from play from you starting team is a poor return.  A lot of positives but just as many negatives and sometimes we lose perspective after a good result.

[DuffleKing]

I think the point about McKeever bc is that you didn't mention his contribution when he was probably our best player. It was great to see Andy Mallon looking sharp and confident again and fair play to big mal - who I have severly doubted in the past myself.

McVerry, anto, forker and caolan raff will only be better players for yesterday's experience, irrespective of the fact that the sending off created the front foot environment. As I've said before, I'm not sure apple's list of possibles from cross will prove to be accurate. I think only Morgan is a possible armagh starter.

[armaghranger12]

Great result for Armagh yesterday i was one of the many that doubted they have the capabilies to compete with the Cork team. However just because we achieved a result against one of the so-called big three teams dosnt make us world beaters.  I was impressed with Mc keever, Mallon, Mackin (when he moved out the field) Anto and Mc Very (in the second half.)  However i still think that without Stevie and Jamie we are going to struggle for scores from play.

[armaghranger12]

I think the point about McKeever bc is that you didn't mention his contribution when he was probably our best player. It was great to see Andy Mallon looking sharp and confident again and fair play to big mal - who I have severly doubted in the past myself.

McVerry, anto, forker and caolan raff will only be better players for yesterday's experience, irrespective of the fact that the sending off created the front foot environment. As I've said before, I'm not sure apple's list of possibles from cross will prove to be accurate. I think only Morgan is a possible armagh starter.

I disagree with that would Stephen Kernan not deserve a chance at center half forward? In midfield would you not rather see David Mc Kenna or Johnny Hanratty in there if Toner isnt available?

[regal]

I think the point about McKeever bc is that you didn't mention his contribution when he was probably our best player. It was great to see Andy Mallon looking sharp and confident again and fair play to big mal - who I have severly doubted in the past myself.

McVerry, anto, forker and caolan raff will only be better players for yesterday's experience, irrespective of the fact that the sending off created the front foot environment. As I've said before, I'm not sure apple's list of possibles from cross will prove to be accurate. I think only Morgan is a possible armagh starter.

I disagree with that would Stephen Kernan not deserve a chance at center half forward? In midfield would you not rather see David Mc Kenna or Johnny Hanratty in there if Toner isnt available?

stephen kernan is now aged 28 / 29. His father and peter mcdonell give him ample opportunities between 2005 - 2009 to prove that he was good enough for county football. His da picked him for the mckenna cup at the same time he couldn't get into the crossmaglen team around 2007 / 2008. He gives me the impression he doesn't want to do the hard yards that are needed to be a successful county player. I certainly wouldn't be trying to build a forward line around him.

[armaghranger12]

I think the point about McKeever bc is that you didn't mention his contribution when he was probably our best player. It was great to see Andy Mallon looking sharp and confident again and fair play to big mal - who I have severly doubted in the past myself.

McVerry, anto, forker and caolan raff will only be better players for yesterday's experience, irrespective of the fact that the sending off created the front foot environment. As I've said before, I'm not sure apple's list of possibles from cross will prove to be accurate. I think only Morgan is a possible armagh starter.

I disagree with that would Stephen Kernan not deserve a chance at center half forward? In midfield would you not rather see David Mc Kenna or Johnny Hanratty in there if Toner isnt available?

stephen kernan is now aged 28 / 29. His father and peter mcdonell give him ample opportunities between 2005 - 2009 to prove that he was good enough for county football. His da picked him for the mckenna cup at the same time he couldn't get into the crossmaglen team around 2007 / 2008. He gives me the impression he doesn't want to do the hard yards that are needed to be a successful county player. I certainly wouldn't be trying to build a forward line around him.

Thats a fair point you make yea he is 29 and had a few chances but after watching the game yesterday i dont think that any of the starting half forwards would be the answer. Can you tell me who you would build your forward line around?
Brian Mallon, Micheal O'Rourke, Billy Joe Padden surly hes as good if not better then these guys?

[naka]

did i hear right that hearty is retiring?
for what its worth i would play stephen kernan and would also like to see murnin get a run out
i am hoping that we can get a decent full forward( the county guys i am chatting to arent holding much hope for ronan getting back) with stevie and Jamie either side. wonder what aaron cunningham would be like
full back line should see  jamesmorgan coming in , and hopefully we should see toner back in midfield altho to be fair he may have his detractors but Mal has been playing out of his skin for these past 14 months