Galway vs Armagh

Not too sure about this one, it is a step up in class for both teams. I have not seen much of Galway this year, they seem to be struggling but still winning but with the criticism it may get them to work a little bit more for the ball. They still have talented players and have had success at minor level. Players like Meehan, Conroy and Armstrong are going to keep the Armagh defence busy for the 70 minutes.

There are no more easy games for Armagh now, while scoring 10-34 in their last two games is impressive this is where we will find what the Armagh team are really like. It appears that the team are not as heavily reliant on Jamie Clarke as most would suggest but with a game that involves more pressure and improvement in quality of opposition, are players just going to keep giving the ball to Clarke rather that go for the opportunities themselves.

While I always think that beating a team previously in the same year can have an affect on teams, I don't think Armagh's win is going to have that much of an impact as the Armagh players are going to be on a high after the previous two results anyway. Both teams have players added to the squad who did not play in the league match between the two sides earlier in the year. Both teams have a point to prove at 5pm for Galway it is to see if they can put in a big performance and for Armagh it is a test to see if they are improving. Both teams need to find that extra gear to win this game, one team will find out if they have it later on today.

I am going to go with a draw.

Clarke is everything to Armagh. I only say brief highlights of their last 2 games, but I'm certain that much of the space for the likes of McVerry and the others would have been because teams were focusing so much on Jamie. Without him, Armagh would have nothing to frighten anyone at present.

Galway's form has been terrible this year. Mayo embarrassed them, and the qualifier matches against Tipp & Waterford failed to produce any sort of backlash. On paper it is a tough draw for Armagh, but they are the team with the right attitude and the work put in at training. This is Armagh's to lose.

Every team has that one player, Jamie is the biggest threat in attack but without the likes of Kernan he wouldn't get anything other than high balls being kicked up to him in the forward line. One problem with Jamie is that he can have a quiet game and then liven up all of a sudden. I don't remember a game where he has managed to be effective for a whole 70 minutes. He will certainly free up one or two players who will need to take their scores today.

Galway are a difficult team to grasp at the moment, they need to perform but it seems that Mulholland cannot motivate the team properly even though they do have talented players.

GAA-Fan wrote:Every team has that one player, Jamie is the biggest threat in attack but without the likes of Kernan he wouldn't get anything other than high balls being kicked up to him in the forward line. One problem with Jamie is that he can have a quiet game and then liven up all of a sudden. I don't remember a game where he has managed to be effective for a whole 70 minutes. He will certainly free up one or two players who will need to take their scores today.

GF, every team does not have a Jamie Clarke! He is one of the top 10 inside forwards in Ireland, and while he may not always look interested, he is a constant goal threat. Take him away, and Armagh would be a much easier side to handle.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:Every team has that one player, Jamie is the biggest threat in attack but without the likes of Kernan he wouldn't get anything other than high balls being kicked up to him in the forward line. One problem with Jamie is that he can have a quiet game and then liven up all of a sudden. I don't remember a game where he has managed to be effective for a whole 70 minutes. He will certainly free up one or two players who will need to take their scores today.

GF, every team does not have a Jamie Clarke!  He is one of the top 10 inside forwards in Ireland, and while he may not always look interested, he is a constant goal threat.  Take him away, and Armagh would be a much easier side to handle.

I was pointing out that every county has that one particular player that if they are taken out of the side then they would also be easier to handle, it isn't just a special case for Armagh. Armah would be a lot weaker without him of course.

GAA-Fan wrote:

Thomas Clarke wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:Every team has that one player, Jamie is the biggest threat in attack but without the likes of Kernan he wouldn't get anything other than high balls being kicked up to him in the forward line. One problem with Jamie is that he can have a quiet game and then liven up all of a sudden. I don't remember a game where he has managed to be effective for a whole 70 minutes. He will certainly free up one or two players who will need to take their scores today.

GF, every team does not have a Jamie Clarke!  He is one of the top 10 inside forwards in Ireland, and while he may not always look interested, he is a constant goal threat.  Take him away, and Armagh would be a much easier side to handle.

I was pointing out that every county has that one particular player that if they are taken out of the side then they would also be easier to handle, it isn't just a special case for Armagh. Armah would be a lot weaker without him of course.

I know that's what you meant, but there are very, very few counties that are anywhere near as reliant as one player as Armagh are on Clarke. All teams have their top players, but most can manage without them without a huge fall off in production. To be honest, I can't think of any division 1 or 2 team with so much reliance on one player as Armagh have on Clarke.

Grimley is changing that mindset, and it is something that has needed to change for years and It also happened with Stevie McDonnell to. Once Armagh forwards realize they are selected on the team because of their ability to score, create space and so on the better. I hope that the last two wins will give some of the players more confidence to take their own scores rather than look for the pass to Clarke.

Congratulations Galway on the win, not the big performance but a win is a win.

Think Armagh must have racked up 14 wides in that game and Galway managed to keep Jamie Clarke scoreless with the three men marking him. Thought the previous couple of weeks would have made the forwards more confident but by all accounts still looking for Jamie. Still, I think the players are there for Armagh, definitely an improvement sine last year but as Grimley said, things may get worse before they get better.

I was disappointed that Armagh lost this, as Id've been more interested in seeing them rather than Galway play Cork.

I spoke earlier about the over-reliance on Clarke, and on a day when he was held scoreless they failed to reach double digits.

There is a lot of work to be done in Armagh, and I'm not sure how much talent is really there. As regards an outlook over the next few years, I'd put them behind Donegal, Tyrone, Cavan and Down.

Thomas Clarke wrote:
There is a lot of work to be done in Armagh, and I'm not sure how much talent is really there.  As regards an outlook over the next few years, I'd put them behind Donegal, Tyrone, Cavan and Down.

Would have to agree there. The Galway result was another eye opener for Armagh today and the result will look a lot worse when Cork win at ease next weekend. Armagh if they are not careful could drop to the lower leagues, major changes from the grassroots up is needed.

Galway have won 3 of the last 8 u21 football championships. About time they started to win a game or two. They might rattle Cork, you never know.

Armagh are a team going nowhere. Jamie Clarke is too weak. He's only a slight little fella up against monsters like Neil McGee, Rory Dunne and Finian Hanley. I seen him for Crossmaglen and again against Cavan and he's fond of using his fists. One thing's for sure, you won't find McGee or Dunne raising their hands to anyone but yet they still manage to strike fear into forwards.