Laois 0-12 - 0-13 Armagh thread

[bennydorano]

Why do we need a reality check? Have I missed were posters have proclaimed us as All-Ireland favourites?

Regardless of perfromance, two points from Portloaise is always a good result.

Correct Corn! What do people honestly expect to see this year?! Paddy O'Rourke has probably taken on a poisioned chalice in that he will probably win little with this team but should develop this team for whoever follows him. Promotion this year would be a fantastic ahceivement - not if you stack it alongside the past decade, but if you look at it realistically considering our current position.

I think Grimley was shrewd enough to see this and I reckon McGeeney did too. We are a fairly young side in the early stages of a promising development IMO.

[gar]

I missed the match due to a family wedding and there were only sporadic reports on BBC radio Ulster as they were covering the Antrim game.. In championship results count for everything . It doesnt matter how well or how bad you play if you get the right result well in championship all is good. In league it's not as clear as that Performance is as important as results . I have continually said that we are short a few players to take us to the top of the pile or at least tp compete again with the Tyrone Kerry Cork standard.It is encouraging that Ryan Henderson seems to have had a better game than usual. I do rate him . It's wether he rates himself seems to be the problem . The winniing score will no doubt do his confidence good. He has the ability.He now needs to shake of the understudy tag and the pressure of performing with Clarke and McDonnell and go for it. We need two more but one more stepping up to the plate would suffice at the moment. I'm not so sure about Malachy Mackin . Glad to hear he played well He's been there before .Is his best good enough? Midfield is a problem Charlie needs a big year . Armagh need a big year out of Charlie. Keiran's displays so far have been incinsistent in that area. Kidare will pose agood few questions no doubt . I don't care if we win by one or ten points but we do need to see progress . Roll on Sunday

[marty2002]

Correct Corn! What do people honestly expect to see this year?! Paddy O'Rourke has probably taken on a poisioned chalice in that he will probably win little with this team but should develop this team for whoever follows him. Promotion this year would be a fantastic ahceivement - not if you stack it alongside the past decade, but if you look at it realistically considering our current position.

I think Grimley was shrewd enough to see this and I reckon McGeeney did too. We are a fairly young side in the early stages of a promising development IMO.

I agree 100% with the 2 lads here, Promotion would be a huge boost and im fairly excited about how good this young team can become.

[meiko]

ex county panelist barry toner scored 1-2 for his adopted county CLARE yesterday .

[chasarm]

I wouldn't write off Paddy O'Rourke quite so quickly. The team and the supporters (on the web) seem content with him. Remember, the last months with and after Peter McDonnell were a nightmare. Let's all relax and see what the bold Paddy will do. I would give him about four years and he should have a gtood team going.

[topoftheright]

Think Corn O2 is being a bit short sighted here when he says that performance doesn't matter as long as you get the result.Surely we're trying to build a team to compete in the Championship and to a certain degree the opposite is the case,how the team and individuals perform in these matches is vital.If we dont find our best team and dont compete strongly against Derry this result will soon be forgotten.

[corn02]

Think Corn O2 is being a bit short sighted here when he says that performance doesn't matter as long as you get the result.Surely we're trying to build a team to compete in the Championship and to a certain degree the opposite is the case,how the team and individuals perform in these matches is vital.If we dont find our best team and dont compete strongly against Derry this result will soon be forgotten.

Don't get me wrong, performance is very important.

But traditionally we struggle in Laois. Traditionally we struggle in the league. Traditionally we struggle on our travels.

Laois are unlikely to drop to bottom tier status any time soon. To eek out a one-point win down there, even if we weren't firing on all cylinders, will do just fine with me.

Build up a bit of momentum and then hit the ground running in Derry. The league is always going to be a tad disjointed due to tweaking and experimenting. So far, so good in my opinion anyway.

[orchardboy]

A win is a win no matter how it comes about. I agree with the points made about performance but not only do we have a new management team, new panellists but we also have a new more attacking style of play. 2 wins and an unlucky defeat aren't bad out of 3 but the next two matches will tell a tale as to how far down the redevelopment road we have come.

A win in Portlaoise is no mean feat and contrary to what other posters have said, Laois don't have too many more players to come back, well so the locals told me in the bar after. Positives for me were the willingness to get players forward in support of the ball, the performance of fringe players like Mackin and Feeney and of course Stevie firing on all cylinders. the defence coped well enough but midfield still remains the concern and Lavery/Toner is not the combo we need.

[corn02]

History was made in O'Moores Park on Saturday night when Yorkshire born players, and first cousins Kevin Meaney (Laois captain wearing no 11) led his County out against Joe Feeney (Armagh no 10) in the Allianz Division 2 game. Both lads mothers Ann and Patricia (nee Toland) were born in Leeds, and were members of Young Irelands GAA club where they helped in fund raising and social events. Both lads learned their skills and football technique with the St Anthonys GAA underage club in Beeston Leeds, representing Yorkshire at U-16 level. Their parents returned to Ireland in 1994 with their children, Ann and Joe Meaney (Kilkenny) to Laois, while Patricia and Malachy (Armagh) to Madden.

The Gaels in Yorkshire wish both lads the best of luck in the future, and are proud of our early adventure in underage development. We also want to acknowledge the progress of Tyrone All Ireland winner Joe McMahon who was born in Yorkshire, and played for the county before winning 2 All Ireland medals for Tyrone. Joe's father Paddy played for Young Irelands in the 1970s before returning to Omagh with his York born wife and children. All three lads parents were present at Young Irelands 40th anniversary in 2008, and keep in regular contact with the clubs progress.