USFC Armagh v Down 28-05-2011

Armagh minors came back from 15 points down to win by a point. Maybe an omen.

15 points?! Sounds epic would love to see a video of that game.

Jonsmith wrote:15 points?! Sounds epic would love to see a video of that game.

So they were saying on bbc. Some comeback.

Never expected that to happen, especially with the injuries over the past 2 weeks. Have to say that was probably the most pleasing display from Armagh in a few years. Couldn't be happier at the minute.

I knew I hadn't lost touch.

How did anyone think Down would win in Armagh?

RMDrive wrote:

Jonsmith wrote:15 points?! Sounds epic would love to see a video of that game.

So they were saying on bbc. Some comeback.

Down were leading 5-1 - 0.6 at one stage - unbelievable comeback

I hope Derry beat Armagh.

It's hard to believe that there were people on here a couple of days ago saying that Down were virtually favourites for the all-ireland, and would win Ulster at a canter.

Armagh dominated them for long spells of this match, in particular the last 15 minutes. Down running out of steam in games is becoming a familiar story, and I've little doubt that their lack of physique and lack of quality subs has a lot to do with this.

Right from the start, Armagh were impressively sharp onto the ball, and their forwards, for once, made the most of the possession they were getting. Down's dodgy full back line were all over the place, and their half-backs struggled to cope with bigger, stronger men.

Down somehow got back into the game (a few great frees from Clarke and a superb solo goal from Poland enabled this), but Armagh always looked the better side. The likes of Donaghy and Kernan were outstanding in defence throughout, Marty Clarke rarely got the ball in a position where he could do any damage.

Armagh went into this game with little confidence within the county, but this will have done them a world of good. Not sure if Samin/GF would agree, but I'd say it was their best performance in 5 years.

As for Down, they have a long road ahead of them to get back to the all-ireland final again. They managed it last year, but it will require an enormous effort/improvement for them do achieve something similar again this summer.

Thomas Clarke wrote:It's hard to believe that there were people on here a couple of days ago saying that Down were virtually favourites for the all-ireland, and would win Ulster at a canter.

Armagh dominated them for long spells of this match, in particular the last 15 minutes. Down running out of steam in games is becoming a familiar story, and I've little doubt that their lack of physique and lack of quality subs has a lot to do with this.

Right from the start, Armagh were impressively sharp onto the ball, and their forwards, for once, made the most of the possession they were getting. Down's dodgy full back line were all over the place, and their half-backs struggled to cope with bigger, stronger men.

Down somehow got back into the game (a few great frees from Clarke and a superb solo goal from Poland enabled this), but Armagh always looked the better side. The likes of Donaghy and Kernan were outstanding in defence throughout, Marty Clarke rarely got the ball in a position where he could do any damage.

Armagh went into this game with little confidence within the county, but this will have done them a world of good. Not sure if Samin/GF would agree, but I'd say it was their best performance in 5 years.

As for Down, they have a long road ahead of them to get back to the all-ireland final again. They managed it last year, but it will require an enormous effort/improvement for them do achieve something similar again this summer.

Would agree with you, that probably is the most complete display of attacking football I have seen from Armagh in the championship in a few good years. Last few years the opening games for most teams g=have been quite poor but was suprised at how attack minded Armagh played yesterday. Have read about the management bringing in McConville and McGrane could this have helped? Possibly. 5/6 forwards scored yesterday and Vernon played magnificently. Still won without Stevie playing to his ability...hopefully the days of relying on him are gone so he can concentrate on his own game and Jamie Clarke is just sensational.

Martin Clarke heading back to Oz according to men in the know - its going to be a short season for Down.

Really enjoyed this game. Wretched conditions but in fairness both teams went at it the right way and there was some great play and super scores. Jamie Clarke was unmarkable, a lot more to come from Stevie who linked things well, big Mal was good too and Kernan was class. Also thought Padden was as good as I've seen him. The trick for Armagh will be to get consistency of performance. They were up for this and in front of their own fans - but they need to produce that kind of performance every game. But well done to both counties - far and away the best game so far.

Jamie Clarke was brilliant.. Some man to get a goal too.

i only caught the last 20 minutes of this game (i Sky+ it and will watch the full match some of these days) but it was a thoroughly enjoyable 20 minutes football. It was refreshing to see Armagh preferring to go with quality kick passes into their forward line which was causing all sorts of bother for the Down men.

If Armagh can maintain that level of performance they certainly will be a force to be reckoned with, i thought Vernon was really good for Armagh as was Donaghy at full back. A pleasant surprise of a game and lets hope their is more of it to come.

As predicted Armagh won this game and exposed this very weak Down defence. It was a very enjoyable game to watch and hopefully this is a sign of things to come. Down were also completely overrun in midfield but I thought the decision by the management trio to move Fitzpatrick into the edge of the square further weakened this area, they also could have taken a gamble and moved Dan Gordon out of Full back into midfield and put someone else on McDonnell who wasn't really having a major impact on the game. Jamie Clarke has loads of potential although he was dispossessed quite often but is very accurate when in front of the posts. Billy Joe fitted into the half forward line quite nicely and Tony Kernan seemed to pop up everywhere.

If Armagh can keep this level of performance up then I wouldn't rule out an Ulster final appearance but Mr Brennan and his charges might have other ideas...

Ah lads lads......came on here just to see what you all had made of the Down v Armagh game. Expected a bit of rationality but ah well. Yes Armagh were the better team but you have to consider 2 important factors and maybe a third cheeky factor.

1) The game was perfectly set up for Armagh. Their great rivals were All-Ireland finalists and while the media had continued to consider Down one of the top teams around, Armagh were forgotten. This is always an added incentive. I remember 2003 when Armagh were knocked out by a poor Monaghan side who were in turn beat by what turned out to be a pretty average Down side. I remember 2008 when another average Down side put in the performance of their lives and played brilliant football to beat the mighty Tyrone and all said that Tyrone were a spent force. Armagh reached the All-Ireland final in 2003 and were damn close to winning it. Tyrone went on to win the All-Ireland in 2008. In those cases where Tyrone and Armagh were beaten on one day it had much to do with the classic 'Ulster ambush' factor.

2) As well as this game being perfectly set up for Armagh , you would have to ask yourself if things would have been different in the Pairc Esler. Down have not lost a game there in quite some time and if you are to consider their performance against the Cork, Kerry, and Dublin in the league, you should also consider that none of these games were played in Newry. This may seem like clutching at straws, but home advantage is a a powerful thing in a first round game, especially when two huge rivals are involved.

3) The weather. OK this will come across as absolutely desperate but hear me out. I have followed Down for years, through thick and thin, through McKenna cups and leagues and championships and I fell as well placed as anyone to say they are absolutely atrocious (most of the time) in wet conditions. In summery conditions they play absolutely scintillating football and rarely have I seen Down being beaten in a Championship game on a dry day. Of course, a team should be able to play in any conditions but as everyone knows, Down only have one style, and that's flair.


Armagh were by far the better team, and I take my hat off to them for adopting the Down way under Paddy O'Rourke, a man well versed in what it takes to play like a good Down team. Ok I'm being a bit sly. But seriously, Armagh were fantastic and I used to love linking their success to their 'puke' football but I was certainly silenced in the Athletic grounds.

But I, having followed Down for so long, know well that this is no flash in the pan Down team. They are a fantastic team and if, which I am sure they eventually will, reunite Ambrose Rodgers and Dan Gordon in midfield (still convinced that midfield partnership would have won them Sam last year!) and find one or two good full backs in the county, they will be bringing Sam back to the home of Samba Gaelic very soon.

Oh dear. The weather hey?

It'll be an awful shame if they get to another AI Final and it's a wet day...

Down have not beaten Armagh in a championship game since 1992 and in all their meetings since Armagh never even had a home. However in 2008 when Down did have home advantage they still lost.

The weather is a weak excuse.

The fact that Armagh "didn't have a home" (Crossmaglen perfectly good setup by the way for those years, more of a home venue to the majority of the Armagh players at the time than the City) is irrelevant. Plus....1992....disregarding the fact that Down have won just as many All-Irelands as Armagh since then, the Down teams from 1995 to 2009 were not anything near up to scratch while Armagh were building very steadily. It's the same old bull that people spin about Down and Kerry, we don't care half as much as the media makes out that Kerry have never beaten Down in championship football in the entire history of the GAA, nor should we, because it's a misleading statistic.

And to be fair, I said myself the weather issue was probably clutching at straws but you have to agree, on a good sunny day Down produce some of the most scintillating football on show all summer while on a wet day they often flounder and panic. And it doesn't go unnoticed by media commentators, Martin McHugh I believe mentioned the rain factor before the Armagh game, citing the suggestion that 'Down can't play in the rain'. It's a serious weakness in their game.

And by the way GAA fan.....Down played Armagh at Clones in 2008, not in Newry.

Jonsmith wrote:It'll be an awful shame if they get to another AI Final and it's a wet day...

The last time they won it, i believe their was a downpour all that day....

That was 1994, and that Down team was filled with hard men who could have played just as well in the muck. If only Down had another DJ Kane to throw into the fullback line nowadays.

bluearmy1 wrote:That was 1994, and that Down team was filled with hard men who could have played just as well in the muck. If only Down had another DJ Kane to throw into the fullback line nowadays.

I don't recall DJ Kane playing in the full-back line.

Yes but he's the sort of dogged defender that Down miss in their full back line. They need that kind of player who would put their head where you wouldn't build a wall.