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

[full back]

Some or all of Moriarty, Bellew, McKeever and possibly s kernan should be under review

Why would/should Kernan be under review uladh?

[brokencrossbar1]

Some or all of Moriarty, Bellew, McKeever and possibly s kernan should be under review

Why would/should Kernan be under review uladh?

Because he stole his sweets when they were wee lads at a blitz somewhere and he has never forgiven him

I agree that the other 3 have to be looked at as possible weak links.  I would however only change one in the FB line and put Mallon in for McKeever.  The FB line is the most important line on a team in my view and should only be changed sporadically.  I would bring in Toner, probably for Moriarty as slow and all as Francie is( )  he adds strenght and experience and this will be vital also.

[Uladh]

I certainly wouldn't change him but i can see why he might be. Ironically it could possibly by the younger brother or mallon who might fit the bill there. Steven's strength is in finding space and using it well but he doesn't do well in traffic. he struggles to hold onto the ball or use it when there are bodies around him and i can't see down allowing the same time on the ball as cavan did.

[Uladh]

I would bring in Toner, probably for Moriarty

Presume you mean donaghy?

SK has won me over this spring with his league form and i have him down as a starter. however his frailties in certain areas remain - every player has frailties.

[Uladh]

One of the things that impressed me most in both the games against Tyrone was the increased physicality with and without the ball right to the end from Down, whether the improvement is enough for arma remains to be seen but the intensity of the two tyrone games will have brought them on a bucketful. This is in stark contrast to the armawans who, whatever way you dress it, strolled through the Cavan game.

I have always been a great admirer of Mc Grane but now with OFT catching up with him I believe he could be the key to a down victory. It's shite or bust time for Dan Gordon, he should take Mc Grane on head to head and try to outfield him and run him into the ground. If i'm wrong and he still has another year in the legs then fair fcuks to him arma will probably win whether Dan takes him on or not, however i don't think arma could cope tactically or mentally with him getting cleaned.**

** I know he was mom v cavan, but i could still look good v those statues.

Realistically, neither man will allow the other to dominate. it is relatively easy for men of their stature to stop another midfielder catching. one worry i would have here is that mcgrane very rarely goes to break and always seems to think he'll catch. thats when dan could get a few fetches. dara o'se in 2006 benefitted from mcgrane's over confidence in this regard, when breaking the ball would've gotten armagh an even footing around the middle. running mcgrane into the ground also won't happen. he has a fierce engine and whatever about the age difference its one area he won't be found wanting. i could see scope for a cute man coming late onto attacks could find joy though. mcgrane will tend to charge about and make tackles and might take his eye off his man

in short, McGrane will not be cleaned out

[mackers]

I think that Donaghy is the man to mark Coulter, as some have said earlier in the thread Andy Mallon would have the pace to mark Coulter but not the physical presence, and Francie is the other way round, i.e. has the physical presence but not the pace. For me, Donaghy has both and would get my vote. I will also be seriously worried if I see Finn Mo going to pick up Danny Hughes after the roasting he got from him a couple of years ago in the league. Andy Mallon would be the man for that job.
Tonight's team sheet will probably be the same as it was for the Cavan game but I think our FB line needs a re-jig with the opposition in mind.

[T Fearon]

Why the concern about Coulter FFS? When did he last have a really good game? He must be the most over rated player in Ulster.

[Goats Do Shave]

Why the concern about Coulter FFS? When did he last have a really good game? He must be the most over rated player in Ulster.

I think Down people don't rate him as highly as he's rated outside the county.

[brokencrossbar1]

I would bring in Toner, probably for Moriarty

Presume you mean donaghy?

SK has won me over this spring with his league form and i have him down as a starter. however his frailties in certain areas remain - every player has frailties.

A bit of a blond moment with the Toner thing!!!

I actually think Stephen will thrive in this type of game and will be vital in providing the ammo for the FF line.  He is good at floating around, picking the ball off the likes of MOR and picking his passes.  I have a notion that will be the case in this game as tehre will be lots of break ball and lose marking around the middle diamond.

[T O Hare]

Why the concern about Coulter FFS? When did he last have a really good game? He must be the most over rated player in Ulster.

Your right Tony, overrated as hell !!!!!!!!

[D4S]

Why the concern about Coulter FFS? When did he last have a really good game? He must be the most over rated player in Ulster.

Your right Tony, overrated as hell !!!!!!!!

Give him hell T O Hare, how dare he call your clubman overrated!
I know what he means about some down people saying he's overrated, I honestly think down people say this to other counties so that they don't think we are just a 1 man team...which we certainly are not.  But Coulter would get on any team in the country in the full forward line, he can have moments of sheer brilliance...eg his 1armed catch followed by a goal in breffni park last year...and the way he pounced on the goal opportunity in newry saturday week ago! He is a class act without a doubt...but it's hard to be a class act for 70mins in every match you play!

He also scored 2-3 I think or 2-4 correct me someone against tyrone and it is thought he played well below par!  I think we will see some moments of brilliance in Clones this Sunday from Benny!

[mackers]

Good man Tony, going by some of your previous posts, he's sure to score 2-6 against us now!! As a biased Armagh man I think we have a better team than Down but I would recognise that they have some excellent individuals who could beat us on a given day (Coulter, Gordon, Hughes, and McComiskey). I think that if we can keep those individulas quiet then we will win.

[T Fearon]

Coulter is no Paddy Bradley or Stephen O'Neill ffs. Realistically Down have not one consistently good forward that should unduly trouble our defence, on any normal day. Bookies rate the game as 4/7 Armagh and 15/8 Down and are quoting Armagh as 11/10 with a -2 point handicap. Barring a disastrous day that sounds like good value to me.

[spiritof91and94]

Get on it then Tony or you waiting for a freebie...

[thebandit]

Coulter is no Paddy Bradley or Stephen O'Neill ffs. Realistically Down have not one consistently good forward that should unduly trouble our defence, on any normal day. Bookies rate the game as 4/7 Armagh and 15/8 Down and are quoting Armagh as 11/10 with a -2 point handicap. Barring a disastrous day that sounds like good value to me.

What price is Coulter for the first goalscorer?