Armagh 2010 in review

[corn02]

Hard to know what to think of that year. We’re just about a top 10 team so reaching the last 16 was about our worth, probably a stage further would have been more representative, although we could have been handed a lesson by Kildare, Tyrone, Cork or Kerry somewhere along the line.

Promotion was a massive boost this year, and the win over Derry was grinded out well. Monaghan and Dublin was a disaster while Fermanagh and Donegal weren’t up to much.

Of course, our attack would be focussed on Ronan Clarke and his absence was probably the fatal blow.

More fluid, attacking football had been mooted early in the year, but we went back into our shell. Some have, strangely, blamed McGurn, our conditioning coach.

Style of play can only take you so far, when players fail to take the obvious option on the pitch, the management can’t shoulder all the blame.

That said, there were some big errors. I said before Monaghan and Dublin that Donaghy had to mark Freeman and Brogan respectively, but it didn’t happen and Mallon took two roastings. MOR should have come in against Monaghan to secure ball. BCB argued that he wasn’t the type of player to use the ball well against a packed defence, which is a valid point, but, in fairness, what someone does with a ball is irrelevant if we hadn’t anyone there to win it in the first place, although Swift worked admirably in this department. Nullifying McKeever’s man-marking ability and placing him on Hanratty, Monaghan’s best forward, also annoyed me.

Although nobody will convince me his better than McEvoy, or McKinney for that matter, Hearty had an extremely good Championship. Fair play to him. The man is comedy gold as well, epitomised by his shoulder on O’Gara at the weekend. Great save in Derry and short kick-outs improved greatly.

Donaghy was solid if unspectacular this year. Some has criticised his Monaghan performance and Dublin one. I though he fared decent in both, and you have to remember when a midfield is being overrun, balls are constantly coming in at you, and you can’t win every battle. The Irish News stats box carries an attack count and Monaghan, if I remember correctly, had a large number here.

Mallon had his worst year in an orange shirt. I’m hoping that the ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ saying applies to him, because, for me, one bad season will not have me thinking he is a bad player.

Martin coming in at cb caught most by surprise, Shannon probably more than the rest, but he did ok. Tough outing against Monaghan but for a man not used to the corner he did ok.

Duffy had a great year, blighted by a brutal performance on Saturday. Shown more than enough this year.

Let’s not forget that McKeever is not long back from a serious injury. Again, he has shown himself to be a class act. Would rather him marking a dangerous forward rather than sweeper.

Moriarty had a great League and an average Championship. Again, people are very quick to write him off based on an hour or two of football.

Vernon is one of my favourite players, I suppose seeing him excel at Sigerson and underage caught the eye. He is undoubtedly extremely talented, but just needs to be coached to release the ball quicker, he will shine, don’t worry. His aerial ability looked a bit hampered this year. I would have thought he was strong in this area, maybe Harps boys may know more?

Toner is a class act, and although he didn’t scale any great heights, he is only a pup yet and will be our base for the next decade.

Swift - a positive for sure. Passing and shooting still suspect at times, but has taken his chance. Fair play to him, this year should bring him on.

AK - Another poor season for Aaron. He risks being undefined as a player and if he continues at 11 his star will fade further. Weak in the tackle, but when on form, he still excels.

Mackin - Will struggle to hold his place, was nice to see hi kick a beauty on Sat.

Jamie Clarke - class act, bright years ahead.

McDonnell - class.

Mallon - another man who is a jack of all trades and a master of none. Would play him in the corner and leave him there, see what happens. Two glorious goal chances in the Championship, spurned both - although Saturday’s was down to good defending.

Then we have Henderson, Dyas, Shannon, McKeown, Anto Duffy, McVerry, Comiskey, Grugan, McParland, Hanratty - the League and McKenna Cup will be their bedding in period, and probably the first time a group of them are given the chance at the same time. Will be interesting to see if Tasker is involved.

Management must change our style, our tailor it somewhat, We need to be more direct, as someone said elsewhere, what’s the point in grinding out results to be dumped out by any half-decent side. Go give it a lash and see what happens.

I’m not overly gutted because i’m a clubman first and foremost, but there has been progress, and next year should prove a watershed for the county.

Cork and Kerry will be our opposition, new players should be in place and, hopefully, we are more direct and fluid.

[Every single ball]

Jaysus, dats a very long post Corn but I have to agree with nearly everything you said. Like yourself I am a club man at heart also, so roll on the county championship and hopefully a few great prospects will be discovered. Here's hoping anyways.

[Every single ball]

The only disagreements that I would have with the post is that I don't think that MoR should start. I know that you are very keen on him, from having read in other threads but I think that we should be looking to other players such as the minor half foward line of last year in Grugan, Murnin and King. Then we have other players such as Swift, Hanratty and Anto Duffy. I believe that as we are a team in transition then we should not be looking for players to play next year but players who will be there in 3/4 years and so these next few crucial to their development and Armaghs rise.

[AFS]

Despite little improvement in performance on the pitch, I think this year has seen a modest progression towards where we want to be in two or three years. A couple of new players have made an impact and several of the impressive minors and U21s from the last couple of years have been introduced to the panel. We've won promotion, had a reasonable number of championship outings, and had a couple of run outs in Croke Park. While the year may have ended in disappointment, in two or three years time we should be better for the experience of it.

[corn02]

The only disagreements that I would have with the post is that I don't think that MoR should start.

Ver ykeen as the regulars will tell you!

Not necesarrily a guaranteed starter for me either, I just thought he was ideal to come on against Monaghan when we went down to 14.

[orchardman]

at the start of the year i would have taken it .we were promoted to div 1.and we won 3 championship games.that is a huge improvement in my eyes.consisering the disaster that was last year,i think thye management have done a fairly good job and have taken positive steps in the right direction,we need to have a look at things over the winter months.we are much to indicisive on the field at times and need to take a much more direct approach in our attacking options...hopefully this will be addressed in the coming months and heres looking forward to the new year....ard mhacha abu!

[Suzy]

The thing is we attacked in the league and then in c'ship we we're defensive........

ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK....................would love to play Kevin Keegan football, but we make too many basic errors.................the players should be proud of themselves..............we got to croker and a first time for a lot of them..............will do them the world of good and perhaps the occassion got to a few of them........
Heads up and look fwd. to next season and some of the minors getting a crack at it!!!!

Suzy baby

[sliothar]

Agree with the sentiments, but our biggest problem is those who put players on a pedestal and make them out to be something they are not when we play weaker opposition.
Then when we meet a 'good team' we fall apart eg Monaghan & Dublin and I use the 'good team' advisedly!
We are in transition that is without doubt and this team needs time to develop, but there are glaringly obvious consistently poor performances from a number of players and they continue to get picked or even worse get picked and played out of position at County level.
People have a right to comment on this as they pay the bucks at the turnstiles and into Co Bd support funds, I am not an advocate of 'slaughtering' any individual, there are many on here who will do the job for all of us.
But we cannot continue to play clearly inadequate players who can't hack it at this level and expect people to close their eyes and hope for the best
As I said earlier there are obvious changes needed and some of them have been around for quite a while, lets not do nothing, get the new blood in and find our real level in the AI Stakes not a fantasy one.
The change in tactics is a must and has been called for long and hard - pity no one up there is listening