Well done to Armagh, a deserved victory that once again proves that in Championship football its all on the day and not always on past form.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3750 - 28/05/2011 21:23:42    942372

13000 attendance , i think Sidebottom counted them one by one while commentating

FairShoulder (Armagh) - Posts: 333 - 28/05/2011 21:27:32    942374

I switched over to the game in london and it seems so pedestrian after that. Two great teams great attitude and great game. Cant wait for the 19th june to see how far we have came if at all.

derryman (Derry) - Posts: 3246 - 28/05/2011 21:39:50    942379

12,000 I think.

Coylers Elbow (Meath) - Posts: 1075 - 28/05/2011 21:46:46    942386

Great game by 2 great football teams, had everything, hard luck to Down, perhaps some over confidence on their behalf!

sean og (Armagh) - Posts: 1073 - 29/05/2011 08:14:45    942397

Best team on the night won the game, simple as that. Fair play to Armagh and best of luck to them in the rest of this championship. No bitterness, though some of the gloating last night from their supporters was embarrassing, you's haven't won anything yet, Derry won't be easy beat.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 29/05/2011 09:35:46    942404

Mournearmy, a Down man talking about another county gloating, priceless!!

sean og (Armagh) - Posts: 1073 - 29/05/2011 10:44:48    942433

well done armagh far better team, far bigger than down and able to win more ball. It was madness to have John Clarke on he was way off the pace but still a good player, malachy mackin had brilliant game beforehand i thought he was an average player but best game of the year so far

cboyle92 (Down) - Posts: 184 - 29/05/2011 11:01:56    942445

I thought I was losing it because when I told EVERYONE that Armagh would win this they gave me funny looks.

As I said last year, on PAPER Antrim look stronger than Down......

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 29/05/2011 13:47:44    942570

Ulster football is alive and well! recorded it last night as was watching some team called United getting outclassed by a team of Geniuses, back to Ulster Armagh looked to have turned the corner with some great young players slotting in and look like Ulster Champions already, Down for some reason don't like playing in adversed weather conditions but in all likely hood stumble through the back door and find themselves in Croke park in August. Minor Game must have been a cracker to I fancied Down big time this year with all those St Coleman's boys.

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 29/05/2011 15:04:46    942603

Excellent game, great football in awful conditions and well done to both sides. This is what happens when you play quick direct FOOTALL into good forwards......you get scores and win games. The slow, short handpassing game that Armagh have played over the past 5 years or so has been criminal and cost them dearly but now they seem to have wised up at last. Look at the number of times Armagh have lost possession and gave away stupid scores with that awful sideways and backwards basketball nonsense they persisted with. Now they have some great young skillfull players in Jamie Clarke and Billy Joe Padden and they used them accordingly last night. I don't always agree with Spillane but he's right in this regard; direct ball played into good forwards is the way to win games. Mayo must be some side to disregard young Padden, he's a cracking player.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9825 - 29/05/2011 15:12:49    942612

2 great games
the minor match will be talked about for years to come,

the senior game was the best game by far in the championship by a clear distance mile,
not a bad crowd 13,500 considering some were watching some english team

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 29/05/2011 17:09:43    942734

Great game on saturday considering the conditions and a breath of fresh air for Ulster football as both teams played football. No incessant handpassing and blanket defence and was reffed very sensibly by Cormac Reilly. He was prepared to explain his decisions to the players and I don't believe I saw any player having the usual verbal bashing at the ref. Well done to all involved.

Diego (Meath) - Posts: 1205 - 30/05/2011 10:58:24    943187

what a fantastic game , the intensity was incredible particularly from armagh , they are brilliant from 1-9 with mallon , mckeever , kernan and donaghy up there with the best , toner and vernon also make for a formidable midfield , the hf line looks a bit week but in mcdonnell and clarke armagh have two of the best finishers around , i think jamie clarke is the new gooch , such a player , still not convinced with the other four , swift is a massive loss and mallon should be added to the forward line , a crushing blow for down , feel their championship is as good as finished after saturday night

stekhli (Dublin) - Posts: 3121 - 30/05/2011 11:49:56    943248

well done to billie joe for armagh- he is suited better to this slow more physical type of footballer rather than the pacy brand played by mayo- anyways well done he was the best player on show by a long way and just proves that pedigree is priceless and it just shows what being brought up with tradiotional football values does for ya

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 30/05/2011 12:04:36    943267

well done to billie joe for armagh- he is suited better to this slow more physical type of footballer rather than the pacy brand played by mayo- anyways well done he was the best player on show by a long way and just proves that pedigree is priceless and it just shows what being brought up with tradiotional football values does for ya

Catch yourself on! Does traditional football values mean being beat by Longford? Look at the stats Mayo have won 3 all irelands and nothing since the 50s maybe they would do a lot better if they focussed more on winning the game?

cboyle92 (Down) - Posts: 184 - 30/05/2011 12:47:29    943322

Enjoyable game, some fine scores from both teams and in front of a lively atmosphere. The kind of game we needed to kick-start this year's football championship. Fair play to Armagh, I had written them off a bit before the championship as I didn't think they had the depth of forward talent beyond Clarke and McDonnell to win tight games if either of the marquee forwards had an off-day. Well, Stevie Mc was quiet enough but they still scored 1-15 on a wet and windy night, and the half-forward line contributed handsomely to their win.

Disappointed in Down as I felt this was exactly the kind of game they should be winning if they want to kick on from last year. I still expect a strong showing in the qualifiers and the return of Rogers willl help matters but it is a long road back here.

eviemonkey (Cork) - Posts: 308 - 30/05/2011 12:52:34    943332

liathroid........cop yourself on for gods sake!................if that pile of rubbish witnessed yesterday in ruislip was traditional football then your welcome to it!...paddy joe played the shirt of his back on saturday night for armagh...pity yous dont have a few more in your curent panel who would be willing to work as hard as bjp!

orchardman (Armagh) - Posts: 158 - 30/05/2011 12:54:42    943338

icehonesty
County: Wexford
Posts: 776

942347 Fabulous match so far. Knew it would be, two really talented sides.

Also, the commentary on BBC is MILES ahead of the stuff that'll be on RTE. Whoever that commentator is he's much better than any of the RTE lads, and in Peter Canavan there is a real great alongside him, which RTE don't have a single one of since O'Rourke stopped going to the matches and stays in the studio.

Please tell me you are having a laugh, Mark Sidearse a good commentator?! He's a bloody idiot;

"He's harder than a physics A Level"

Only for Peter Canavan id have turned the sound off.

bosch (Derry) - Posts: 873 - 30/05/2011 15:55:34    943582

It was good to see Billy-Joe playing with a team of workers as against posers !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 30/05/2011 16:58:41    943657