Ard Macha v An Dun 24/03/12

[Orchardman]

more of the same, lets see what action homer will take to remedy this problem. 

indeed, you're some boy.

the result shows the wealth of talent that is sitting ready to be managed properly in our county. i'm delighted that we still have a chance to stay up. but even you benny have to question these results. stuff by dublin beaten by mayo both teams that this down team handled easily. down are not as good as armagh  on paper but they could have won last night. i think we have a good squad and i want the best for them i just dont see por as the man to manage them past 2 or 3 games in the championship. last night was great and i think we have a chance against donegal but there no consistancy, great individual performances wont be enough

Alternatively you could argue that the result is the result of excellent management skills that have so far delivered us 5 points - despite the continuing absence of the Crossmaglen contingent and the plethora of injuries.  You really need to get some perspective, having unrealistic expectations is your problem not the Armagh management's.

Exactly, so we win and aparently it shows 'the wealth of talent we have', yet when we lose its POR the donkey, no game plan, rubbish. The only game i've went to this year was in croke park where i seen a load of lads who hadn't a clue, not just the manager's fault when the defender just handpasses the ball right to dublin for a handy goal. Spoke to some men last night though who never miss a game and they were delighted with the team so fair play

[chipstick]

Just saw the penalty Armagh got on TG4 earlier. Have only just managed to get back onto my feet after falling off the chair. Drogba wouldn't have a look in

The penalty was rightly given for a foot block.

[chipstick]

Couple of points:

1. Down fans need to dry their eyes about Danny Hughes. He won 2 or 3 frees for blatent dives where he took a tumble followed by a bit of rolling around on the ground. The armagh fans were getting on the back of the ref for awarding them, and he finally copped on to what Hughes was at and stopped giving the frees.

2. Dont know why Aidan Brannigan was subbed for Down. He was very effective at breaking up the RHS of the pitch and set up several scores. When Quinn came on for him that threat disappeared and Armagh clawed back the Down lead.

3. It was a clear penalty for a foot block by a Down defender.

4. Good to see armagh youngsters like Decan McKenna, Caolan Rafferty and Michael Stevenson step up to the plate at this level.

5. Dont think that Kevin Dyas is up to it, and there are better options than him fir a half-back slot

Don't know what you were watching because Dyas didn't play at half back.He had a free role,was composed on the ball and got Armagh out of several awkward situations.Gave away one bad ball towards the end.He should back himself to shoot more often.

[PAULD123]

It was young Carragher that got the bad injury mate.

Sorry, yes. wasn't thinking when I posted. Yes Carragher. I was very upset to see it. Bad enough any player being so badly injured but to hear that he has just returned from an identical injury is tragic. My heart goes out to him and I wish him all the best with his recovery.

If Armagh and Down win on Easter Sunday they will both be safe. All the woes of the league and threat of relegation will be forgotten but the poor lad will still have his broken leg to live with. As fans, we will move on to thinking about the championship but he won't be able to. I just hope that he can recover fully and regain his county squad place.

By the way, for the record I hope Armagh do survive in Division 1 (with ourselves of course). Saturday night's game was full of all the passion, commitment and excitement that you would want from a GAA derby. Either team could have edged it, congratulations to Armagh for doing so.

[BerfArmagh]

Fantastic game played on saturday night in front of a huge crowd, really great atmosphere, i love those games being played under lights. I have to say credit must go to both teams for putting in hugely committed performances. I think some Down fans are being a bit overly critical of their players, i thought they were very unlucky to not get at least a draw, some of their forward player was very good, poland is a fantastic player, as is coulter. Though they did seem to drift across the patch a lot in their attacks. From an Armagh perspective I was delighted, very much under strength the lads gave every thing. Brian Mallon was v good as was stevenson & rafferty. With Mc Parland, clarke etc to come back, we have a much better options in the forwards now than 12 months ago. I must say, Donaghy was absolutely outstanding, indeed the full back line with andy & decky was very solid. Half backs would concern me and mid friled is probably our weakest position at present. Charlie tried hard, but it was clear he was not fully fit. Best wishes to young Carragher, I was right beside it. sickening.

[Applesisapples]

Game turned on penalty dive that Drogba would be proud of. It was generally a good sporting game spoiled by this piece of orange gamesmanship.

It was a two footed block that Victor Wanyama would have been proud of.

[Applesisapples]

Well done Armagh, great night's entertainment.  Caolan Rafferty MOTM for me by a very big margin (who did Setanta give it to?).  Good overall team performance, young Stevenson did very well on his debut as well.  Very impressive movement at times and with the fellas missing it would have to give you heart.

Poland got the Setanta mom.

From Pete McGrath some surprise.

[Applesisapples]

Great to see a lot of sense on here from Pauld. Armagh probably just about deserved to win on the night although a draw wouldn't have been unfair. I am at a loss of what to make of POR. The team under him is too inconsistent, but is this down to the players?
For perhaps the first time in a long time I would commend the ref. Even Wee Pete on Setanta said he got all the big calls right. In fairness to him he let the game flow as much as he could and compared to the performances of some refs recently in both hurling and football he was outstanding.

[Goats Do Shave]

POR seems to be giving his all. Great to see him celebrate at the end!

[Scarface]

Must also say that there was a really good atmosphere inside the ground on sat night with the crowd being vocal in their support for each team. At last it seems that we have a county ground to be proud of.

[5 Sams]

Great to see a lot of sense on here from Pauld. Armagh probably just about deserved to win on the night although a draw wouldn't have been unfair. I am at a loss of what to make of POR. The team under him is too inconsistent, but is this down to the players?
For perhaps the first time in a long time I would commend the ref. Even Wee Pete on Setanta said he got all the big calls right. In fairness to him he let the game flow as much as he could and compared to the performances of some refs recently in both hurling and football he was outstanding.

Maybe so but the umpire in the second half made an eejit of himself by lifting the flag to give a Down score and then changed his mind in a split second to wave it wide

[Armamike]

Looked like a blatant dive for the penalty but the damage was done before that when the footblock went in. Stone cold penalty and the right call.

[Applesisapples]

Great to see a lot of sense on here from Pauld. Armagh probably just about deserved to win on the night although a draw wouldn't have been unfair. I am at a loss of what to make of POR. The team under him is too inconsistent, but is this down to the players?
For perhaps the first time in a long time I would commend the ref. Even Wee Pete on Setanta said he got all the big calls right. In fairness to him he let the game flow as much as he could and compared to the performances of some refs recently in both hurling and football he was outstanding.

Maybe so but the umpire in the second half made an eejit of himself by lifting the flag to give a Down score and then changed his mind in a split second to wave it wide

from the tv it appeared wide, even Pete didn't complain.

[Leo]

Looked like a blatant dive for the penalty but the damage was done before that when the footblock went in. Stone cold penalty and the right call.

Can't argue whether it was a foot block or other foul as I was too far away so have to accept the ref's call, but the dive that sealed it was extravagant and disgraceful, really disgraceful for a GAA man, and has no place in gaelic football (even if it was perfected by "God" himself a few years back).
On MOM it is hard to disagree with Poland who depite being on the losing team was a whirlwind of craft and skill - although as a Down man I would have diven it to Donaghy.

[Rufus T Firefly]

Maybe so but the umpire in the second half made an eejit of himself by lifting the flag to give a Down score and then changed his mind in a split second to wave it wide

To be fair to the umpire 5 Sams, he kept looking at the other umpire to tell him what it was (and it was genuinely wide). We were guldering at him to wave it wide as he walked around to the post, all the while looking back at his fellow umpire for assistance, and I reckon we made that much noise, he couldn't hear what was said - hence the confusion on his part.