Armagh v Down- 29th June-Ulster Semi Final Thread

[Armaghtothebone]

A wee word to all the Down fans.....

Be sure to get your half time ice creams early. This will save you having to try and eat and walk at the same time as you leave the ground just after half time as you did at the 1999 Ulster Final

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

Posted on: Today at 09:07:06 PMPosted by: mackers 
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Jaysus TAM, you kept that well hidden over the years, all those reports on St Pats were a good cover.
I agree with you though, the back 3 won't be touched with only Paddy McKeever under threat for his place and Donaghy has moved up the pecking order ahead of Enda, the foul fest in Clones against Monaghan would appear to have been the last straw.
Is Oisin going to be back on the panel for Sunday? He'd love to come against the Down men!
Posted on: Today at 07:52:52 PMPosted by: corn02 
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Quote from: TacadoirArdMhacha on Today at 07:15:41 PM


. McDonnell hasn't given me a go at all since he gave away the free that lost the Monaghan match.

Clearly I have delusions of grandure!

[Onion Bag]

Down are the make weights and an Arma cakewalk is written all over this one. The Arma defense will stifle anything the Down attack can produce and their classy forwards will have a field day against a very dodgy Down defense.

Our only hope is for mercy and that the gate men open the gates early so we can leave before the suffering gets too much.  Can't understand why I have bought a ticket.

Why are you trying to be me, "in the onion bag"

[bennydorano]

Hard to see Armagh making any changes, McDonnell does seem cautious by nature and it would be a huge surprise if he were to make changes, in theory Paddy McKeever & Moriarity should be the most likely to lose out in any reshuffle, although his predilection for Mo is well known by now and he did nothing wrong against Cavan.  A repeat MF performance would do lovely but more is required from our HB & HF lines, our MF dominance the last day possibly disguised a weakness or two elsewhere.  Down aren't any great shakes but this game moreso than Cavan should let us no where we are at the minute.

Don't believe for a second that Ambrose Rodgers wont play and if I were a Down man I'd be screaming for McComiskey to start – what is the story there??

[naka]

was at friends of armagh corporate day at down royal and the story doing the rounds was that donaghy would start with francie going on a man to man job on coulter( coulter to play in the corner), source to be fair wasnt ithat reliable in the past .

also the south armagh contingent let holywood and mc donnell know in no uncertain terms that down have to be put to the sword

[Onion Bag]

was at friends of armagh corporate day at down royal and the story doing the rounds was that donaghy would start with francie going on a man to man job on coulter( coulter to play in the corner), source to be fair wasnt ithat reliable in the past .

also the south armagh contingent let holywood and mc donnell know in no uncertain terms that down have to be put to the sword

Dont beleive that, i honestly dont think Francie is speedy enough for Coulter, Listen the way i look at it, if our MF and that diamond of players get plenty of possesion then we wont have to worry about coulter cause he wont be getting the supply

[Red Army]

do all the talking and build up you want Lads. Down have already beaten the best in Ulster. We will do our talking on the field. We have nothing to lose unlike Armagh. After all we are only a little division 3 team.
So keep building Armagh up, as they have done so much to deserve it.

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

Listen the way i look at it, if our MF and that diamond of players get plenty of possesion then we wont have to worry about coulter cause he wont be getting the supply

First thing is that I can't see us lording midfield the way we did against Cavan. I'd say there'll be a lot of breaking ball and hopefully Martin O'Rourke can utilise his greatest strength sweeping up loose possession. We need a big performance and a shut mouth from O'Rourke. If we break win or slightly get on top at midfield I think we'll win for the simple reason that Clarke and McDonnell are more dangerous than the players Down have inside.

That siad, the issue of who will mark Coulter is a tricky one. Mallon doesn't have the height and Francie may struggle for pace although it'll depend how closely Benny sticks to the square. If DOnaghy is fit, he's probably the best bet but since I can't see any changes in the backs, I'd start Francie on him and take in Donaghy if it isn't working early on.

Don't believe for a second that Ambrose Rodgers wont play and if I were a Down man I'd be screaming for McComiskey to start – what is the story there??

Its crazy not starting McComiskey. Superb footballer. If he's good enough int he last 15, he's good enough from the start. Don't buy into this impact sub thing at all, particularly not in gaelic Football.

[southdown]

After watching the Cavan game, and in particular the preformance of Martin O Rourke, I think its vital that players such as Murtagh and Sexton really step up to the mark and be counted on Sunday, as breaking ball will be key to this game.  If MOR is able to win as much possession as he did against Cavan Down will struggle badly.

[billy the kid]

do all the talking and build up you want Lads. Down have already beaten the best in Ulster . We will do our talking on the field. We have nothing to lose unlike Armagh. After all we are only a little division 3 team.
So keep building Armagh up, as they have done so much to deserve it.

If Tyrone are the best in Ulster how come they wont even be in the final?

Down beat a very understrength Tyrone team.  Dont get me wrong i really hope Down win on Sunday as that would be deadly for ulster football to have them and Fermanagh in the final, but Tyrone are def not the best team in Ulster at the min with the injury list they have and the form they have been showing this year - so far.  
All the best on sunday though it is the year of the underdog and Armagh are not what they were but will still be dangerous all the same.

[thebandit]

Listen the way i look at it, if our MF and that diamond of players get plenty of possesion then we wont have to worry about coulter cause he wont be getting the supply

First thing is that I can't see us lording midfield the way we did against Cavan. I'd say there'll be a lot of breaking ball and hopefully Martin O'Rourke can utilise his greatest strength sweeping up loose possession. We need a big performance and a shut mouth from O'Rourke. If we break win or slightly get on top at midfield I think we'll win for the simple reason that Clarke and McDonnell are more dangerous than the players Down have inside.

That siad, the issue of who will mark Coulter is a tricky one. Mallon doesn't have the height and Francie may struggle for pace although it'll depend how closely Benny sticks to the square. If DOnaghy is fit, he's probably the best bet but since I can't see any changes in the backs, I'd start Francie on him and take in Donaghy if it isn't working early on.

Don't believe for a second that Ambrose Rodgers wont play and if I were a Down man I'd be screaming for McComiskey to start – what is the story there??

Its crazy not starting McComiskey. Superb footballer. If he's good enough int he last 15, he's good enough from the start. Don't buy into this impact sub thing at all, particularly not in gaelic Football.

I would have thought that Mallon would mark Coulter, Francie has lost whatever yard of pace he had.

I'd be delighted to see McComiskey among the subs

[T O Hare]

All the talk is who is going to pick up Benny but who is going to mark Messrs Clarke and Mc Donnell

[BerfArmagh]

Personally I'd put Ciaran mc Keever on him, follow him all over the pitch

[southdown]

Exactly, Howard, Rafferty or McCartan would all badly struggle.  Maybe Ross will drop someone like Murphy in front of the FB line.  Our FB line is by far our major weakness, I fear what Clarke and McDonnell could do.

McComiskey has to start, simple as.

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

All the talk is who is going to pick up Benny but who is going to mark Messrs Clarke and Mc Donnell

Sure Down aren't going to be worrying about a team like Armagh, whoever the Mourne men play will be well fit for anybody the Orchard county have. After all, Down have won five All Ireland's and Armagh only have one. That's all that matters.