Ulster MFC Armagh v Monaghan 29th May 2010

[Bainisteoir]

thanks for posting Jerome and fair play for getting the highlights up so fast.

By the shape of the lad kicking I don't think he meant it

[gar]

Was at the match tonight in Newry . Quite a big crowd particularly from Armagh, but Newry as a venue on a Saturady evening must be questioned . The queue going into Newry was terrible. Many of the crowd arrived late . There were little or no programmes so I find it difficult to name the team. No-one around me had one and I went to three different places looking for some but there weren't to be found. It was a fiver in so I suppose that wasn't to bad. As for the game itself Armagh won out comfortably enough at the end but they had to endure a fifteen minute fright in the second half where they went from eight points up to leading by two with ten minutes to go. Monaghan scored their goal and at the same time Peter Carragher was carried of. Things didnt look good but they introduced a sub number twenty . Conlon I think was his name and he definetly made a difference . showed well for the ball and as time ran out for Monaghan should have been beaten by more. To be fair had Monaghan kicked the ball in high to their full forward more often or indeed even kicked the ball more often well we might have had a different story. Time and time again good tackiling by Armagh particularly in the first half turned possesion . Monaghan insisted on short passing and paid dearly. Armagh's forwards were dangerous and Paul McGeown alongside his clubman Collie stevenson were a constabnt thorn in The Monaghan defence . Monaghan were physically bigger but armagh had the more skilful players . Number 15 for Armagh had an excellent game . Maybe some one can help me with the name . Niall McConville played quite well and Barry Seeley hit three or four good points from Frees. McGewon I thought also did quite well when moved out to midfield. A word of praise for the referee, he let the game flow quite a bit and blew up the hand pass only three times throughout the game . Thought he was fairly even to both teams . The handling by both teams was quite poor and there were quite a few unforced errors and Armagh gave the ball away needlessly a few times . With 7 or eight minutes to go things didnt look good but the sign of a good team is how you react to these challenges and I must say they stood up well . Carragher and his partner made some excellent catches . I was disappointed with Aidan forker at number 11 . I rate him very highly and he just wasn't really in the game. Number 2 McCaughley I think was excellent as was Mattie Mc Neice in goals . Overall this is a reasonably good team and there is every chance of retaining Ulster . I am sorry I dont have the team line out . Treanor came on as a sub and did quite well. Forwards win matches and I thought the workrate from them in particular was excellent. A very workmanlike performance I would say . If they can play for a full sixty minutes they will take a bit of stopping. Well done lads

[Jerome Quinn]

Armagh v Monaghan - MFC on Vimeo - the first-half best bits in 2 mins from Armagh v Monaghan in Newry. Looking at this, youse were a wee bit fortunate enough to be so far ahead mainly cos of the goal. Monaghan were pretty useful at times and competed well with your twin towers.

[Orangesam]

Cheers jerome

[ar an bothar aris]

This game was a great advert for Ulster football. Monaghan won the early rounds and a three two lead did not flatter their skillful approach towards the end of the first quarter. However, Armagh did seem to have the ability to pierce their defence during that period. The Armagh midfield and defence got to grips with Monaghan in the second quarter, and a purple patch including a Paul McGeown goal (see the knidly provided footage above - and yes I feel he meant to steer it into the far corner!), saw the team stretch into a six point lead when the half time whistle was sounded.

As the sides turned, it was vital for Armagh to continue to push on, and the opening brace of scores increased the gap to eight points. It appeared that Armagh became slack at this time, with a string of loose passes and play, which had similarities with the latter stges of each period against Derry a fortnight earlier. Sensing this, Monaghan came right back into it with three fine points before they capitalised on a piece of play to fire home an execllently taken goal. Game on, it seemed.

However, Armagh regained the ascendency, scoring three unanswered points, and could have added to that tally as they squeezed the remaining life out of the Monaghan challenge to seal their semi-final berth on 27th June.

A good display that will bring this team on leaps and bounds. Again Matthew McNeice made a crucial stop. Defence played fairly well, particularly enjoyed a great burst from the heart of the defence approaching half-time by Colm Hoey, which showed all the positives of the physicality of Gaelic Games. Also, an excellent run and point by Niall McConville.

The midfield pairing of Peter Carragher and Conor Gough did well, holding their own with the Farney's Stephen Sherry in that department. In attack, Paul McGeown had another fruitful day's work, contributing 1-5 (I think?), ably assisted by the link play of Colin Stevenson. Aidan Forker and Barry Seeley also flair and accuracy respectively to the forward line.

A good day at the office, with more work to be done before the meeting against the winners of Cavan and Fermanagh who cross swords at Clones today Sunday at 7pm in Clones.

Someone was asking for the line-up, here goes:
Matthew McNeice
Ruairi McCaughley
Colm Hoey
Ronan Finnegan
Dean Nugent
James King
Niall McConville
Peter Carragher
Conor Gough
Simon McCoy
Aidan Forker
Barry Seeley
Colin Stevenson
Paul McGeown
Ryan Rafferty
Subs used: Caolan Trainor, Ryan Conlon.

A word of appreciation to referee Jimmy Galligan. The Cavan man contributed immensly to a fine contest, displaying common sense approach. Refreshing to see after the recent controversy at Senior level.

Well done to the management team, were not afraid to make an early change, which helped steady the ship at that time.

[Rma13]

Great result for the Minors last night & I was delighted to see such a strong Armagh support present. Heres hoping we have two Armagh teams in the semi finals on the 27th of June.

[sliothar]

Well done to our Minors all though I do feel we may have the 'easy' side of the draw, after disposing of what was a dissapointing Derry side (who were expected to give us a fright), they did but only because we slept in a little.
With Monaghan out of the way I don't think Cavan/Fermanagh will fill our boys with much fear. Ulster final beckons and 2nd chance saloon at worst - hopefully another long summer following these guys.

[AFS]

Cavan up next, they beat Fermanagh this evening. Impossible to know what they’ll be like. They have had a couple of decent minor teams in recent years, so it’ll certainly be no walk over. Would be great to get over them and into the last 8. Whatever happens though, I’m happy enough that there’s another strong batch of talent coming through.

Good win last night, definitely the better team. They might not have the same cutting edge as last year's bunch, but it's still a very good side.

Solid goalie, pulled off an important save for the second game in a row. Like last year, they might be a bit dodgy in the FB line under the high ball. McCaughley was very impressive coming out with the ball from in there though. The two wing balls are very good footballers. Nugent stood out the first day but McConville probably shaded him yesterday, scoring a brilliant point in the first half after a 40 yard run. Midfield didn't enjoy the same dominance as the against Derry, they were strong in the first half but went out of it a bit in the second. Seeley is a very good free taker, missed one or two but stroked over a couple of beauties. FF line is talented. McGeown looks a bit awkward but he's very dangerous, good free taker too. With their pace, Stevenson and Rafferty must be nightmares to mark. Rafferty is probably the more polished of the two, Stevenson maybe takes the wrong option a bit too often. Conlon definitely made a difference when he came on, at a very important time too. He must be pushing hard for a start.

[AFS]

A word of appreciation to referee Jimmy Galligan. The Cavan man contributed immensly to a fine contest, displaying common sense approach. Refreshing to see after the recent controversy at Senior level.

Well done to the management team, were not afraid to make an early change, which helped steady the ship at that time.

Fully agree with these two points. It was the best refereeing performance I've seen this year. Not afraid of a bit of physicality and just let the teams get on with things.

The management must take great credit for how well drilled the Armagh team were. Everyone, from the two corner forwards back, tackled and harried the life out of Monaghan. That type of consistency and organisation only comes from strong management.

[KevMcNon]

Can anyone post the full panel with their respective clubs ? Would be great thanks.