Football Qualifiers Round 1

Wexford v London
Carlow v Derry
Kildare v Antrim
Offaly v Clare
Mayo v Longford
Armagh v Donegal
Cavan v Wicklow
Tipperary v Meath/Laois

Armagh v Donegal the pick of that.

As usual Armagh get a Ulster/tough team. What a suprise.

There was always going to be a big Ulster game, 2 of Armagh, Derry and Donegal. Derry got off lightly.

Donegal might get yet another backlash from Armagh. Wouldnt put money on it though.

Also got a feeling this game is going to be played at Clones.

GAA-Fan wrote:Donegal might get yet another backlash from Armagh. Wouldnt put money on it though.

That would be if assuming that Armagh have something to lash back with. This game could go either way - 2 evenly matched sides.

mid-mon man wrote:Wexford v London
Carlow v Derry
Kildare v Antrim
Offaly v Clare
Mayo v Longford
Armagh v Donegal
Cavan v Wicklow
Tipperary v Meath/Laois

Armagh v Donegal the pick of that.

Hey MMM how did you miss that one

jim,i think he was talking about BIG ulster games,cavan and any of them 3 wouldnt be classed as big.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:Donegal might get yet another backlash from Armagh. Wouldnt put money on it though.

That would be if assuming that Armagh have something to lash back with. This game could go either way - 2 evenly matched sides.

It should mean the end of one managerial stint

OMAR wrote:
It should mean the end of one managerial stint

For all his faults, I doubt that O'Rourke will go this year. He has taken them into division 1, which is progress. He'll be there next year, unless he just can't put up with the stick.

I'd agree that John Joe will probably go this year.

Dougal wrote:jim,i think he was talking about BIG ulster games,cavan and any of them 3 wouldnt be classed as big.

Well, that's kinda what I meant alright! You could say I missed Antrim too, but I just felt two of those particular three would be drawn together and there you go.

It won't be as difficult as playing Monaghan. Donegal put in a good performance against Down, and should have won had it not been for the amount of wides.

If Armagh lose I think POR has to go, already showing his clueless nature in championship football.

Where is Kildare?

GAA-Fan wrote:
If Armagh lose I think POR has to go, already showing his clueless nature in championship football.

Maybe a bit harsh GF. You were saying that you had been pleasantly surprised by him earlier in the year.

Reminiscent of Bright Oak and the turn against Damien Cassidy last year...

Thomas Clarke wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:Donegal might get yet another backlash from Armagh. Wouldnt put money on it though.

That would be if assuming that Armagh have something to lash back with. This game could go either way - 2 evenly matched sides.

I don't agree that we are evenly matched TC, particularly on the sideline. While the Armagh management have had a lot of criticism since the Monaghan game, John Joe and crew have consistently shown that they are unable to formulate a plan to break down a packed defense. Not good when you are going against one of the masters of such a defense.

IMO our only hope is to play an orthodox formation with 6 forwards and try to keep Armagh on the back foot. We need other forwards to be a threat to free up some space for Murphy.

Not confident, not confident at all.

patrique wrote:Where is Kildare?

they're one of the overseas teams i think?

That young Molloy lad's suspended isn't he RMD? He'd be a big miss up front going by his last game, but sure there's McFadden to come in then I suppose.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:
If Armagh lose I think POR has to go, already showing his clueless nature in championship football.

Maybe a bit harsh GF. You were saying that you had been pleasantly surprised by him earlier in the year.

Reminiscent of Bright Oak and the turn against Damien Cassidy last year...

Yes because Armagh were playing nice attractive, flowing football. Now they are playing crap negative football. He was one of the reasons for being handed our heaviest championship defeat in over a decade. He does well when there is 15 men on the pitch, but he has also got to have the team prepared for the worse.

I dont like the way they have been playing, I dont like the way they look exhausted and gave up against Monaghan, I dont like the way he hasn't sorted out the forwards. He has done nothing so far apart from getting Armagh promoted, and like most Armagh fans I doubt they would have been bothered if we stayed in division 2.

I am being very critical here, and hope POR and co prove me wrong, but how can anyone have confidence in a management that helped Armagh on the way to such a heavy defeat.

mid-mon man wrote:That young Molloy lad's suspended isn't he RMD? He'd be a big miss up front going by his last game, but sure there's McFadden to come in then I suppose.

Aye Brick is (correctly) out of this game and McFadden will likely come in.

He was part of the reason GF, but Monaghan also have a stronger panel of players at the moment than Armagh do. Armagh have not been a force for 4 years now, and it is unfair to put all the blame on 2 successive managers for that.

I see Mayo got a cushy draw there. Maybe some of them might be inspired now to start posting again

Thomas Clarke wrote:He was part of the reason GF, but Monaghan also have a stronger panel of players at the moment than Armagh do. Armagh have not been a force for 4 years now, and it is unfair to put all the blame on 2 successive managers for that.

McDonnell - Played defence football, tried to cover up weaknesses instead of playing to the teams strengths. We had a soft run in Ulster in 2008, so wouldn't be fooled by it. Instead of getting them out of the defence mentality that Kernan instilled in the team, McDonnell streghtened it.

O'Rouke - So far in the championship, he is doing the same as McDonnell, however one thing I will give him credit for is that this Armagh defence can squeeze the life out of forwards [Bar the Monaghan game]. If Armagh had some forwards this would be a decent enough team who would improve with the experience. Jamie Clarke is a very good prospect, but it is too early for him. Henderson is doing well, Ronan is Injured. If we could only get some of these playing. We might survive the qualifiers.

GF, you seem to be judging POR and wanting him out on the basis of one game, he did very well in the league in getting yous promoted and beating Down in the final, and did the job against Derry also. I'd imagine he'll have the team in much better shape for the Donegal game.

GF, Armagh are an alright side, but nothing more than that. I think your expectations are too high.

Ask yourself how many of the current side would have made the Armagh side in 2005 (probably their peak). Hard to argue a case for many of them, aside from those that were there anyway (the likes of Hearty, McDonnell, Clarke, and even they aren't as good as they once were).

Armagh had a very fine side for 6-7 years, but that if long gone. Joe Kernan wouldn't get an Ulster out of them now.

mid-mon man wrote:GF, you seem to be judging POR and wanting him out on the basis of one game, he did very well in the league in getting yous promoted and beating Down in the final, and did the job against Derry also. I'd imagine he'll have the team in much better shape for the Donegal game.

The first game wasn't pretty nor was the Monaghan game. Armagh have played two ugly games in the championship and if they don't start playing with a bit more positivity then they wont get a 4th game im not wanting him out just yet, but if we get comfortably beaten by Donegal then I would not want to see him next year.

How can a team progress playing ugly football?

Thomas Clarke wrote:GF, Armagh are an alright side, but nothing more than that. I think your expectations are too high.

1. Hearty - 4 Club All Ireland medals. 6 Ulster Medals. 2 NFL. 1 u21.
2. Mallon - 1 Ulster U21, All Ireland U21, 4 USFC, 2NFL.
3. Donaghy - 1 USFC and U21, NFL 1
5. Duffy - Ulster SFC 05, 06,08, Ulster U21 FC 2004, All-Ire U21 FC 2004 NFL 2
6. McKeever - Ulster U21 FC 2004, All-Ire U21 FC 2004, USFC 04,05,06,08, NFL 2
7. Kernan - Ulster U21 FC 2004, All-Ireland U21FC 04, USFC 04, 05, 06, 08
NFL 2 and Club championships.

8. Toner - Ulster U21 FC 2007, Ulster MFC 2005, Ulster SFC 2008, NFL 1
9. Lavery - USFC 08 / Ulster U21 FC 07 / UMFC 2005
10. Dyas -
11. Ronan Clarke - All-Ireland SFC 2002, USFC 2002,04,05,06, 08, NFL 2005, 2010
12. Veron - Ulster SFC 2006, 08, Ulster U21FC 2007, Ulster MFC 2005 NFL 1
13. Jamie Clarke -
14. McDonnell - Everything.
15. Forker - USFC 08 / UMFC 2005 / Ulster U21FC 2007/ NFL 2010


Wanting a good run in the qualifiers is a high expectation?