WHAT a difference a couple of days can make. As an Armagh fan, and like most of us, we believed now was the time for the current group of players to kick on and compete for an Ulster title but unfortunately, it isn’t to be.
After the weekend, both Armagh and Antrim fans will be hugely disappointed, but I can assure you, this disappointment will be nothing compared to what the players and management are experiencing.
When you are in that bubble and have prepared for the moment for months, then it hurts really bad when you experience defeat.
It hurts even more so, knowing that you did not perform to your potential, so you are asking more questions of yourself. I’ve been there often enough to know exactly how the players are feeling now. It puts you into a depressed state of mind and the only way of shaking it is by getting back on the training field and trying to correct the wrongs. Armagh know that there are plenty of wrongs to be corrected.
Donegal dominated the Armagh kick-outs, especially in the first half and this gave them the springboard to go in at half-time leading by three points.
Jason McGee put on a catching masterclass in the middle sector during that period, that the only way Armagh could gain any type of advantage from their kickouts was by going short.
At this level, you have to be competitive in the middle, but the Donegal midfield won this battle hands down. There are a lot of what ifs at the hands of defeat and I’m by no means an expert, but conceding short kickouts to a Donegal team that thrives on keeping possession was never going to work out.
There has got to be a press put on teams like this and Armagh showed early in the second half, that you can turn them over by doing this.
Credit has to go to Donegal though for how they controlled this game from start to finish. They had players that stood up when they had to with crucial scores at pivotal moments.
At 32 years old, Michael Murphy still influences games and he still sets the tempo.
He is a player that is admired the length and breadth of the country and has been a joy to watch for well over a decade now.
Very rarely has he failed to deliver for Donegal, and he is an example to any young player looking to learn from the best, on how an inter-county footballer conducts himself and performs on the big days.
With a weight of expectation on their shoulders, Armagh didn’t turn up though and its high-pressure situations that they simply have to get used to and be able to deal with if they are ever to kick on.
There is no denying the talent they have and the potential within the squad, but without the ability to turn up and perform when it matters most, then talent and potential is wasted.
The draw for the back door will be an interesting one and preferably I would hope that Armagh avoid Mayo in the first round of it, so they can try and get confidence back and to possibly go on an extended run.
As disappointing as it is, Sunday is now done and dusted so looking forward is the only thing Armagh can do.
Analysis will be done on their performance and they simply have to learn from it and fast or their season could come to an abrupt end.
I know they aren’t as bad as they played on Sunday, so let’s hope they can get a favourable draw and back to playing the attractive style of football that served them well throughout their League campaign.
TYRONE against Derry is always a mouth-watering match to look forward to and with the improvements that Derry have made over the last 12 months, this should add a bit of bite to the contest.
As All-Ireland champions, Tyrone know how to deal with the big occasion and will be well prepared for what Derry have to throw at them, so it’s hard to look at anything other than a Tyrone victory to possibly pave the way for a potential semi-final clash with Monaghan.
Without taking Down for granted, and based on what we have seen of them throughout this year’s League campaign, they need to have the game of their lives if they are going to get a result against a very experienced Monaghan side. I just can’t see this happening so it could well be much of the same now when it comes to Tyrone, Donegal and Monaghan dominating the Ulster arena.
