all Ireland semi final's

[grannysmith]

I fully agree Rufus, there are plenty of people who would think we are not as good as Kerry or tyrone, but we are as good as Down or Dublin for that matter. The results this year should give armagh a bit of belief ( both players and fans )

[ThrowBall]

Never ceases to amaze me - I know I'm repeating myself, but that Down team is distinctly average - good midfield and some good forwards, including a free taker who ensures they maximise the return from their chances. The defence though is there for the taking.

It is only four months since we played Down off the park in a League Final - a match both teams were going for, hell for leather. I don't have much time for them, but we could learn so much from them. It is their arrogance and self belief that is part of the Down make-up - whether it be their management, their supporters etc etc. They all have it. Meanwhile here we have numerous posters come on here to castigate and ridicule those of us who state that we feel we have potentially a good team, or that certain footballers have potential for the future. The difference is startling, and it shows.

That Down team is no better than we are, and yet they are one match away from winning the All Ireland, and I believe they can do it - they certainly will. Imagine the ridicule that would be heaped on anyone here who suggested Armagh could do likewise.

As I say - we could learn so much from them.

Very true words Rufus! The arrogance of Down is annoying but it is this that has carried them so far. I also believe that they are having a great deal of luck similar to 1991 when they won Sam. History could see them win 50 years after their first win. I wish Armagh had this annoying arrogance! If we had we would have beaten Dublin and then who knows!

When Armagh won Sam in 2002 for the next couple of years the team knew they were good and this carried them through many games they would otherwise have lost. Down teams do not need to win Sam to have this. They believe they are better than everyone else. In my mind only Kerry teams can match this belief. This is worth a couple of points in any game.

On other threads people have criticised Armagh players. We should be encouraging them. If Down can get to an All Ireland final so can Armagh!

[borderfox]

As Benny Teirney said this week in the Irish news "The shopping will have to be done in dundalk"and for me it literally will!

[seanog75]

My head tells me to support the Ulster County but after hearing the dogs’ abuse men, women and children were subjected to in the league game in Newry by their absolutely arrogant and scum-like supporters I simply will never support Down. I have some very great mates from Down but for me I am a Cork man until the end of September!

[sliothar]

I went as a neutral today with a foot in both camps, wanting an Ulster team in the final and also wanting Geezer to take his adopted County to a final.

Of the two sets of supporters I would have Kildare's any day.

All I saw of the Down contingent in the Hill were underage supporters DRUNK out of their minds and smokers blatantly ignoring clear rules re. smoking inside the standing area. They F'd and blinded at any decision that didn't go their way and openly taunted the Kildare support.

And for those who might say I'm faint hearted or such like that is not the case, this was vitirol of the worst kind.

I took the family on the GAA 'special' and there was nothing special about it both to and from the match the Down supporters openly drank and cursed in the carriages with no respect for anyone in the vicinity. Toilet alarms were set of continually and sectarian songs were sung openly.

Aristocrats of Ulster football?? I don't think so they need to clean their act up of the field big time.

[PatMustard]

I went as a neutral today with a foot in both camps, wanting an Ulster team in the final and also wanting Geezer to take his adopted County to a final.

Of the two sets of supporters I would have Kildare's any day.

All I saw of the Down contingent in the Hill were underage supporters DRUNK out of their minds and smokers blatantly ignoring clear rules re. smoking inside the standing area. They F'd and blinded at any decision that didn't go their way and openly taunted the Kildare support.

And for those who might say I'm faint hearted or such like that is not the case, this was vitirol of the worst kind.

I took the family on the GAA 'special' and there was nothing special about it both to and from the match the Down supporters openly drank and cursed in the carriages with no respect for anyone in the vicinity. Toilet alarms were set of continually and sectarian songs were sung openly.

Aristocrats of Ulster football?? I don't think so they need to clean their act up of the field big time.

I had some great craic mingling with both sets of fans.

But I did meet with some arses from Down as well. These were the type of 'supporters' that crawl out of the woodwork, with their 1991 Kersten shirts, jump on a bus with a blue bag, and head off to Croker, probably for the first time since 1994. This type of fan wouldn't know Benny Coulter from Benny Hill, and probably never kicked a ball in their lives, and are abusive and foul-mouthed. I see it in every county, including our own. They're everywhere. They aren't like the real hardcore fans.

I was supporting Down though, regardless of meeting some of their idiot 'supporters'. I hope they go on and win Sam. I believe they can do it.

[seanog75]

Agree Sliothar, I have never had a good experience with down 'fans'. They take their lead from soccer hooliganism. There are of course some good Down supporters, no doubt, but in my experience, they are generally foul mouthed, ignorant and crude. In 1994 I was down for the All Ireland semi final as our minors were playing (if memory serves me right?) I was only a kid then but I remember some Down ones peeing down on us from the terrace. Those types of things never leave you.

[armaghmad00]

i alway taught the Tyrone supports were bad but after yesterday game you would have to say that the down supports are the worst shower. singing a song about Geezer, calling him an orange b@$tard. it was so on called for.

[stevie06]

Hard luck for Kildare yesterday but to be honest i would say the better team won the day as Kildare only really played for the opening 10 minutes and with 10 minutes to go, in between i thought they were poor and were wiped out in midfiled.

After yesterday surely its time to get rid of the square ball rule as it just isnt being implemented by referees or umpires.