ONE thing Kieran McGeeney can be glad of amid the ongoing barrage of criticism is that this isn’t the 1700s.
Back then, such witch-hunts would have resulted in conviction and being tied to the stake.
Thankfully for him, despite many Armagh fans wishing they'd go back and play football from the 18th century, the worst he’ll face is the public lashing he’s had this week.
There is, though, a decreasing number of Armagh people lining up to support their manager, and a rapidly increasing number who are in danger of altogether forgetting his memorable playing service.
Hailed as the saviour when he came back under Paul Grimley, the wheel has turned so far that some of his own people are actually queuing up to back Joe Brolly’s controversial comments.
‘Dermot from Portadown’ questions exactly where the road Armagh are on is taking them.
“When are Armagh going to realise they’re going nowhere under Kieran McGeeney? We have learnt absolutely nothing from defeat by Donegal last year. Players playing systems they don’t seem to understand. Let the shackles off and play to the players’ strength. It’s like watching paint dry.
“Why not let the players express themselves and get the ball forward quicker with support for Soupy? McGeeney is ruing this team of confidence. We left our midfielders isolated too. Even Joe Brolly, who I don’t agree with most of the time, got his McGeeney comments right. Great footballer but system of play is slow and players are all over place. New management please.”
CO’K: There is certainly a lack of attacking structure to Armagh. But ‘letting the shackles off’ would only create more defensive strife. They need to do some serious work on the way in which they counter-attack.
‘Lurgan Orangeman’ is also siding with Dungiven’s second best-known ex-footballer (behind Big Brian).
“Agree completely with Joe Brolly on his comments about Kieran McGeeney, no vision. The two best players in county, Aaron Kernan and Jamie Clarke, missing along with a lot of more Cross players. But as Clarke says they’re not giving the ball in training. so who can blame them? Good players don't always make good managers.”
CO’K: Jamie Clarke’s wings were being clipped by far more than a few half-backs not parting with the ball. Man just wants to fly solo.
There wasn’t much more in the way of positivity coming out of ‘Eamon from Lurgan’ on the phone.
“I’m very disappointed, gutted. I thought last year was bad getting beaten by Donegal, but this is awful. 21 years ago when we were beaten by Derry by 10 points in the Athletic Grounds, I thought I’d never see Armagh play as badly. But the League table does not tell a lie. With the exception of Armagh in 2014 and Fermanagh in 2015, you’ll get all Division One teams in the quarter-finals. Armagh were relegated to Division Three and their form’s carried on to the Championship. They’re just not good enough. McGeeney will always be held in esteem by Armagh fans for winning the All-Ireland as a leader on the pitch, but sometimes he’s not a leader on the sideline. He’s lost it. I have to agree with Joe Brolly…” (At which point Eamon loses the run of himself and starts inanely rambling).
On another note, for those who missed Saturday’s front page story, the St. Patrick’s club in Tattyreagh told The Irish News they are in danger of going out of business because of a £3,000 rates bill.
‘Tattyreagh GAA volunteer’ is angry at the Tyrone county board for their use of fines to discipline clubs. We had to trim his lengthy, and brilliant, submission but this should give you the gist.
“On a typical Tuesday, I train twenty U12 youth players. To my right my club play Moy U14 girls on our main pitch. I briefly count 30 young girls engrossed & loving what is unfolding. I look to my left and 30 of our senior players are in a huddle, friends & team-mates learning real life skills, while over on the far bank at our community play park, at least 20 young children play oblivious to all the action that is going on around them.
“At the end of March 2016 our club sent cheques totalling £9,000 to the Tyrone County Board and Croke Park so that we can register for the 2016 season. In 2009, the payment was £14,500. This payment allows us to play 16 league games and enter the championship. This fee does not cover any day to day running costs e.g. equipment, buses, electric, water & oil bills, pitch & grounds upkeep and maintenance and fines. Yes, fines. The final straw that broke the camel’s back in 2016 for our club and why this letter is being penned.
“I thought fines were issued by government officials, but no add to that GAA Administrators. Shame on you! £9,000 appears not to be enough. Last year we were lucky enough to play three championship games. During each game one of our managers stood outside a white box lined out in front of our dugout. He did not go onto the pitch and did not speak to anyone outside this box, but at a later date our club was fined £100 for each dangerous excursion outside this white box, totalling a fine of £300.
“Now large crowds attended all these games and our GAA administrators lifted gates in excess of £7,000, of which no club gets a share. We appealed this fine but promptly received an email back from the Tyrone CCC that if not paid by June 1, we would not be permitted to play any more games at our home pitch.
“As we have six home games left at an average gate of £400, this penalty would manifest into a financial loss of £2,400, alongside the fine of £300.
“To the Tyrone County Board, their Treasurer and the CCC our message is clear: take a moment to read this and understand what the GAA is all about because your actions suggest you have forgotten and then resign your posts immediately.
“We will pay your fine of £300 so use it wisely as it would have bought us 6 balls to play our games with or half a set of underage jerseys for my U12 team.
“I will send a copy of this letter to the President of the GAA and will update everybody if he replies.”
CO’K: Most county boards in Ireland use fines as a form of punishment but, coming from a small junior club myself, I would be in 100 per cent agreement with you. It’s hard enough for clubs to raise the vast sums of money that are now needed to pay those annual fees without your own county board taking it back off you. There are plenty of other methods of punishment available. There’s absolutely no call to ever fine a GAA club.
And now moving on to the not-so-small matter of Monaghan v Down in the Ulster SFC this weekend...
Michael Fitzpatrick sent this direct message to us on Twitter, @irishnewssport
Monaghan are outstanding favourites and rightly so due to being the current Ulster champions.
But, Down have had plenty of time to fix their problems from their League campaign. Down have had nine or so weeks to prepare a gameplan to break down Monaghan.
If Down are to win they will need to stop Conor McManus and the two Hughes brothers.
They can't afford to give away scoreable frees. However i just don't believe Down have the defence to stop Monaghan or a good enough gameplan to stop them.
