Tyrone v Armagh - Ulster Championship 2009

[PatDaly]

Any word on Peadar Toal? Is he 100% gone from the Armagh panel? He could do a handy job in the half-forward line. Also why not start Stefan Forker in the full forward line along with Stevie McD and Ronan Clarke?

[Fuzzman]

What's the feeling in Armagh this year about Stevie McDonnell?
Can he get back to his form of 2003?

I can clearly remember him on fire that day in the final with him being double marked but still able to win his own ball and kick points from unreal angles.

Tyrone's full back line are still a potential weak point I feel with it always being changed with no definite corner forwards.
Saying that we held the twin towers well last year but I hope Harte doesn't put someone like Carlin or Swift on McDonnell or even young PJ Quinn might struggle on him

Wonder could Joey become a regular corner back if marking a like sized corner forward?

[Onion Bag]

Mc Donnell blows hot and cold, there are days that he is a joy to watch and worth the gate fee alone, and there are others that he just doesnt get into it at all, silly passes, snap shots at goal, and then the head drops,

heres hoping its the former comr the 31st 

[Onion Bag]

What are peoples thoughts on the Armagh 1st 15 for the 31st, there have been that many rumours of people walking and now we have Big Charlie missing, what sort of team will take the pitch, Im going to have a stab at it

(1) P Hearty
(2) A Mallon
(3) B Donaghy
(4) B Shannon
(5) A Kernan
(6) K Mc Keever
(7) Finn Mo
( K Toner
(9) D Mc Kenna
(10) M O Rourke
(11) B Mallon
(12) P Duffy
(13) S Mc Donnell
(14) R Clarke
(15) T Kernan

I could be miles out, but its only a guess, Opinions please!

[DuffleKing]

My Team, posted on another forum...

McEvoy - better all round than hearty but lacks experience. hearty has cost armagh too many times at this stage
Mallon
Donaghy - good player out of form but hopefully he'llcome good
Shannon - consistent
Aaron - lose too much from his game at h forward
AOR - no brainer for me
McKeever - completes the strongest line on the team
Toner - only midfield option with a decent work ethic
O'Neill / Lavery - neither are really ready
McKenna - not able for the physical battle of midfield yet but his strong running may be usefu;
Mor - Now one of armagh's best players
Mallon - more in hope than expectaion
McDonnell
Clarke
Forker - best of an as yet unfulfilled bunch of pretenders

[Onion Bag]

My Team, posted on another forum...

McEvoy - better all round than hearty but lacks experience. hearty has cost armagh too many times at this stage
Mallon
Donaghy - good player out of form but hopefully he'llcome good
Shannon - consistent
Aaron - lose too much from his game at h forward
AOR - no brainer for me
McKeever - completes the strongest line on the team
Toner - only midfield option with a decent work ethic
O'Neill / Lavery - neither are really ready
McKenna - not able for the physical battle of midfield yet but his strong running may be usefu;
Mor - Now one of armagh's best players
Mallon - more in hope than expectaion
McDonnell
Clarke
Forker - best of an as yet unfulfilled bunch of pretenders

I wouldnt have Lavery or O Neill for that matter anywhere near the team, they have been terrible any chance they did get, Mc Kenna although hasnt really featured for the county, had some outstanding displays for Cross this year aginst some top opposition, so i think he is a better option for midfield, P duffy and T Kernan will give us a more scoring threat, AOR i feel has not got the mobility to cope with the Tyrone Half Forward, we will need a speedy mobile defensive unit.
Although Mc Evoy in goals may be an option

[The GAA]

That team's not far away. I keep changing my view in the last few weeks. i'd have duffy at wing forward for McKenna i think. I don't think we have an answer to the current midfield problem. O'Neill is probably as good as we've got if you're talking about pure ball winning - he has dominated McKenna any time i've seen them up against each other, but then ball winning is likely to be at a minimum against tyrone. not sure about shannon at this stage, though i don't see an alternative - maybe paul kernan? actually, i'm worried about donaghy too - his form has been terrible in my view, as bad as brian mallon's. though again, we haven't massive options.
i have no issues with o'rourke at centre back - the mobility thing is a bit of an urban myth as i've never seen him troubled in that regard. i'll go along with forker i suppose - again because of the lack of a viable alternative. for me:

McEvoy

Mallon
Donaghy
Kernan

Kernan
O'Rourke
McKeever

Toner
AN Other

Duffy
O'Rourke
Mallon

McDonnell
Clarke
Forker

[PatDaly]

Starting 15 against Tyrone

(1) P McEvoy
(2) A Mallon
(3) B Donaghy
(4) P Kernan
(5) B Shannon
(6) K McKeever
(7) Paul Duffy
( K Toner
(9) D Mc Kenna
(10) A Kernan
(11) M O'Rourke
(12) S McDonnell
(13) K O'Rourke or R Henderson
(14) R Clarke
(15) Stefan Forker

Brian Mallon has NOT produced for Armagh in a very long time so I can't understand why he is an automatic choice on everyone's starting 15. Any word on Paedar Toal? Is he 100% gone from the Armagh panel for 2009?

[David McKeown]

That team's not far away. I keep changing my view in the last few weeks. i'd have duffy at wing forward for McKenna i think. I don't think we have an answer to the current midfield problem. O'Neill is probably as good as we've got if you're talking about pure ball winning - he has dominated McKenna any time i've seen them up against each other, but then ball winning is likely to be at a minimum against tyrone. not sure about shannon at this stage, though i don't see an alternative - maybe paul kernan? actually, i'm worried about donaghy too - his form has been terrible in my view, as bad as brian mallon's. though again, we haven't massive options.
i have no issues with o'rourke at centre back - the mobility thing is a bit of an urban myth as i've never seen him troubled in that regard. i'll go along with forker i suppose - again because of the lack of a viable alternative. for me:

Forker

Forker has yet to impress me at senior level for either club or county.  Consequently I cant see him starting against Tyrone.  I would start K O Rourke but its a tough call.

[Skiddybadoo]

Duffleking - are you a Dromintee man by any chance?  To have no reservations about AOR and consider MOR one of the best players smacks of club bias.  However, I too would have McAvoy ahead of Hearty, but think McDonnell; will go with the experience of Hearty.

Has any player in Armagh's history divided people's opinions as much as MOR?  He does see a lot of ball, but I'd love to see the stats on what happens next.  He can be fantastic, and if he was consistent I might agree with you on his standing within the team.  I wouldn't mind his low scoring average for a half forward, but I have been at too many matches where he has been the cause of moves breaking down with misplaced passes.  And wides galore.  And a cantankerous nark.

On the O'Rourkes, for me Cathal was the daddy of them all, while Aidan was the supreme club CHB in Armagh (inc Francie).  The other two, meh!

By the way have my own club bias, would have Nippy and Peadar as first 15 starter material.  Sadly for reasons known and unknown they are unavailable.

[The GAA]

Starting 15 against Tyrone

(1) P McEvoy
(2) A Mallon
(3) B Donaghy
(4) P Kernan
(5) B Shannon
(6) K McKeever
(7) Paul Duffy
( K Toner
(9) D Mc Kenna
(10) A Kernan
(11) M O'Rourke
(12) S McDonnell
(13) K O'Rourke or R Henderson
(14) R Clarke
(15) Stefan Forker

Brian Mallon has NOT produced for Armagh in a very long time so I can't understand why he is an automatic choice on everyone's starting 15. Any word on Paedar Toal? Is he 100% gone from the Armagh panel for 2009?

Toal is gone a long time. Mallon has been playing poorly but it has been dotted with brief spells of good stuff, so hopefully his best is just below the surface. why do i get the feeling you haven't seen much of armagh this year pat?

[PatDaly]

Toal is gone a long time. Mallon has been playing poorly but it has been dotted with brief spells of good stuff, so hopefully his best is just below the surface. why do i get the feeling you haven't seen much of armagh this year pat?

and I'm guessing you haven't missed a game all year?

[Mr. Nakata]

Big weekend of club championship action in Tyrone. Looking forward to Dromore and Coalisland tonight prior to Naimh Eanna's opener against Eglish tomorrow in Galbally. The beard will be hoping for no nasty injuries and no stupid suspensions. The full back line against ard mhaca will be interesting. Swift, Carlin, PJ, Gourley, McGee all in contention, although I think they are fighting for one corner as Justy and Ricey are automatic selections for me if both fit.

[The GAA]

Toal is gone a long time. Mallon has been playing poorly but it has been dotted with brief spells of good stuff, so hopefully his best is just below the surface. why do i get the feeling you haven't seen much of armagh this year pat?

and I'm guessing you haven't missed a game all year?

Just enough to know that the aaron experiment in the h forward line got as much daliance as the same aor one and won't happen in the championship. duffy won't be playing in defence and McDonnell won't be playing in the hlf forward line.

[pearseog]

What are peoples thoughts on the Armagh 1st 15 for the 31st, there have been that many rumours of people walking and now we have Big Charlie missing, what sort of team will take the pitch, Im going to have a stab at it

(1) P Hearty
(2) A Mallon
(3) B Donaghy
(4) B Shannon
(5) A Kernan
(6) K Mc Keever
(7) Finn Mo
( K Toner
(9) D Mc Kenna
(10) M O Rourke
(11) B Mallon
(12) P Duffy
(13) S Mc Donnell
(14) R Clarke
(15) T Kernan

I could be miles out, but its only a guess, Opinions please!

posibly the best team i hav seen yet!
the only problem i would have is hearty. its time for mcevoy to step up. plus i would also say kevin orourke could be in with a shout ahead of tony kernan