Goal one...check!

[corn02]

So, there we have it, promotion achieved in Letterkenny...and how!

One of the bets displays in the last couple of years, akin to Dublin out in Crossmaglen.

Management deserve huge credit, I though we’d come up a bit shy in the promotion stakes but, in reality, we should have beaten Meath in Navan and a very unfair sending off effectively beat us in Newry after we had started to own the ball.

New things have been tried, and the majority seem to be coming off.

Hearty seems to have the ‘keeper’s jersey secured. I wouldn’t be in favour of this, but he had a good game yesterday.

Glad to see Duffy out to the hb line. I perhaps underestimated him, but I still think his man-marking is suspect. He could make a cracking hb.

Mallon has been average but we all know his class. Donaghy is one of Ulster’s best young players. The other corner is a shoot-out between Shannon and PK by the looks of it. The Dromintee man will surely get the nod against Down anyway.

Finn Mo has cemented his place in the team, fair dues.

In midfield, Toner continues to improve, and looks a serious player. Nice to see Lavery doing well, he took a lot of criticism in the past, much of it well over the top too. I’d still like to see Vernon in there and not at 11 come Celtic Park.

Unsurprisingly, the half forward line is still a minefield with no obvious answers. Martin O’Rourke is back in and his addition would be welcomed in gaining key possession in Derry, but he has six weeks to get up to full throttle, is that enough? Same with Dyas, time running out and it’s hard to see either starting.

Swift, for me, has earned his place. He has been quietly consistent and has won his fair share of breaks and played a part in plenty of attacks. One of the more consistent players over the League.

I see many posters have written off the AK experiment, including some of the best readers of the game on here - and I’d value their opinion highly. For me, it hasn;t been that bad at all, in fact I have been quite impressed. His lethargic style is frustrating, but he is still a very smart player and a lovely passer of the ball.. Put it this way, I would be happy enough to see him there on the Championship teamsheet.

Stevie is back to the best while Clarke's return is massive. It leaves us with one corner forward problem rather than two. Hard to know who is in from there. TK is a quality player, but it just hasn’t happened for him./ Forker has been hot and cold while Henderson has been decent without being spectacular. Mallon, for me, is the pick of them, good to see him showing it yesterday. A good day out against Down and he will secure it.

On the Down match, I couldn’t give a damn about the result. Stay within a couple f points and that’ll do ok. Promotion is essential for this team’s development. Games against Tipp and Wesmeath are all well and good, but coming up against Kerry and Cork will be even better.

A good campaign. Not without the low - Newry and the second half against Tipp.

But we’re on the way...

As I alluded to elsewhere, we are not ready for 6-2-6, but it’s nice to see a bit of adventure. For all their plaudits, we hit the same scores as Down. The majority from play.

[Bainisteoir]

yep, promotion achieved albeit from a poor Division but a big plus for me is the style of play. The difference between last year and this is like night and day. The County Board got alot of stick for POR's appointment and I was also critical but he has proved us wrong so far......My only nagging thing about POR that still sticks at the moment was the panic switches and subs used in the Down game. It was very poor management. I'd be happy for the team that started yesterday to start against Derry with Clarkie replacing T. Kernan. I like the partnership of Toner and Lavery in Midfield with Vernon in the HF's. If its not working out during the game, switches can be made. I believe our strongest defence started yesterday with players in their correct positions.

A win against Down would put the icing on the cake regarding the league and I strongly fancy us to beat them.

[Imposerous]

Good analysis as usual, Corn.
Hearty was a bit more commanding yesterday and that's a couple of times recently we've seen a more aggressive and assured performance. Looks like he's reclaimed the jersey. Bit unfair on McAvoy that the mix-up in Newry seems to have counted against him. But, you never know, he could start against Down. It's the type of game where we could see some surprise starters.
Mallon and Donaghy are shoo-ins and, as you say, Shannon and PK are most likely to vie for the No 4 spot, though I'd still imagine POR has Duffy in his thinking for this position as we are better stocked for HBs - and were Dyas able to stake a serious claim then I'd say Duffy would be in the corner ahead of either Shannon or Kernan. I'd say Shannon will get another shot, as Donegal were so poor yesterday it was hard to gauge. Down's movement up front will be a better test.
HB line is abundant. McKeever is a gimme and you'd have to say Finn Mo is now too. Duffy has to start, but where will O'Rourke play him. If Dyas is fit in a fortnight I think he'll start. Of the few glimpses we've seen of him he looks the part and I think he has the ability, even in one game, to convince that he is starting material. Hope he is fit. As above, I think that would push Duffy back to the corner. Like you, Corn, I'd have reservations about his man-marking and that's what'll be needed against Paddy Bradley. But Duffy has been too good to leave out. Very classy ball player.
For me Lavery has to start against Down. Rogers/King (Gordon back in training) won't dominate aerially like they did in the second half with him in there. Toner is a cert, until yesterday I too would have preferred to see Charlie in the middle.
Charlie is too good to leave out, so HF it'll be if Lavery starts. The HF line has been as fluid as it has been in many years. Why is that? Is it the personnel, the type of play - both? Ak has played his part in this better functioning line and as well as being our left-footed free-taker, he has too much ability for some of the more outlandish claims that a spell on the bench is required. I'd like to see yesterday's HF trio start against Down.
FF line. McDonnell is a cert as is Clarke, who'll hopefully see 70 mins against Down. The other spot is an interesting one. Tony Kernan is a good intelligent player and I thought he had a decent game. Mallon put down a marker yesterday, but for first 20 mins or so I was unimpressed. He fumbled, gave the ball away a few times, dropped back too far and really should have either buried the goal chance or fisted a point. However, then he started to motor and things went right for him. Totally committed player who should start against Down to see if that form continues. His movement and workrate will cause them probs. In saying that, had they played yesterday I'm convinced Forker or Henderson would have left Letterkenny with glowing reviews too and wish they'd been given more game time. They'd have made hay with the ball that was going in and I would have them ahead of Mallon in terms of scoring ability. And with a better functioning HF line and Clarke's return possession shouldn't be a problem - it's the scoring balance that is needed and why my preference would be for Forker or Henderson.
Would like to beat Down but I still think there are guys to be seen
McAvoy
Mallon Donaghy Shannon
Dyas McKeever Moriarty
Lavery Toner
Swift A Kernan Charlie
McDonnell Clarke Mallon
Others I'd like to see get a bit of game time are: Henderson/Forker (at least a half), Feeney, PKernan, J Clarke.

[corn02]

I have always said that Peter McDonnell took far too much slack and abuse, horrible in fact.

One of my major criticsms of his regime, however, was that we often looked dead on our feet in the last 10. The appointment of McGurn, for all our teams, may prove a masterstroke.

[ThrowBall]

Some good points made and cannot think of where I can disagree with any of them. Was talking on the way home yesterday of the 4 or 5 that might be brought in. Would be harsh on the players who drop out!
My look on it would be that we still have CB and CF positions to sort. The rest are progressing well! Here's hoping for continued development long onto the summer.

[bcb1]

From afar the progress of Armagh has made interesting reading and viewing. I am not going to go too much into players but more style and conditioning. On the style side of things I would reckon that Donal Murtagh has a major impact in that. He may have been an old fashioned full back in many respects but his love of fluid moving football is what i think will mark this team out and it would seem to be the case so far. I reckon he is very much the thinker behind things.

McGurn in my view has been a master stroke and will turn out to be the most important appointment overall. The players seem to be sharpening up and the way the game has changed, couple with the different type of players available, it is vital to have a fitness coach who knows how to bring players to their zone correctly. McGurn seems to have that ability and I reckon that the team is forcing itself back into 1/4 final reckoning.

As regards the team for the championship I reckon it will be simialr to the team that plas against Down so i cannot see Dyas or O'Rourke starting. O'Rourke has played no football and Dyas is still very green and in my view is 12 months away from being a starter. He has the ability, of that there is no doubt, but I still don't see him playing. In fact, it may have been better for him to play a years club football before making the step up.

All in all though, there is great reason for optimism and I think the nay sayers who run the management down early on may have big helpins of humble pie to eat yet

[Carver]

!
My look on it would be that we still have CB and CF positions to sort. The rest are progressing well! Here's hoping for continued development long onto the summer.

The CB position? Are you saying Kieran McKeever isn't a CB? He has been one of the most consistent performers we've had all year.

Aaron at 11 is more of a concern. I'm not sure he really believes he is an 11 and that may be the problem. I just feel if he could have one big game it might get rid of the doubts. He has had some good moments there and uses the ball really well. Just sometimes you get the impression that he is thinking too much about it, that he thinks everytime he gets the ball he has to pick out the defence splitting pass. The best CHFs (Giles, Joyce, McGuigan, Blaney) took the easy pass 80% of the time. It' s just over time people forget that and remember the good stuff.

I think we'll stick with it for the championship as we have no other strong contender, and it would be hard to drop anyone from the current half-back line. (At least at the moment that is - after the Down game that could change!)

[corn02]

CB is different to CHB Carver.

[Carver]

Apologies - just so used to people talking about centre back these days (and centre forward as opposed to CHF)

[Diarmi]

From afar the progress of Armagh has made interesting reading and viewing. I am not going to go too much into players but more style and conditioning. On the style side of things I would reckon that Donal Murtagh has a major impact in that. He may have been an old fashioned full back in many respects but his love of fluid moving football is what i think will mark this team out and it would seem to be the case so far. I reckon he is very much the thinker behind things.

McGurn in my view has been a master stroke and will turn out to be the most important appointment overall. The players seem to be sharpening up and the way the game has changed, couple with the different type of players available, it is vital to have a fitness coach who knows how to bring players to their zone correctly. McGurn seems to have that ability and I reckon that the team is forcing itself back into 1/4 final reckoning.

As regards the team for the championship I reckon it will be simialr to the team that plas against Down so i cannot see Dyas or O'Rourke starting. O'Rourke has played no football and Dyas is still very green and in my view is 12 months away from being a starter. He has the ability, of that there is no doubt, but I still don't see him playing. In fact, it may have been better for him to play a years club football before making the step up.

All in all though, there is great reason for optimism and I think the nay sayers who run the management down early on may have big helpins of humble pie to eat yet

I think you are spot on bcb1. IMO MOR has no place on this panel, he is too slow as was shown up against Tyrone last year and his style is at odds with that of the current team. He is more lokely to get sent off than score a point.
Kevin Dyas looks like a real prospect but he has been very unfortunate with injuries and its getting very late to give him a decent run, although a start on Sunday may be enough.
In regard to the CB position I think Shannon did enough to secure it in Letterkenny allowing Duffy out to the wing where he is most effective. That really gives us a very threatening half back line both in attack and defence.
I agree with the points made about B Mallons scoring ratio but still think he deserves the start. He may not be as prolific as Forker or Henderson on their day but I think his workrate and experience are what gives him the nod. I never thought he was a county CHF.