Down v Armagh in Pairc Esler on June 4th,
Sunday week. Great to finally get a home draw in the Ulster Championship !!

The bookies can't split the sides. Who will
progress to the Ulster semi-final ??

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1700 - 23/05/2017 08:02:43    1989676

I can't call this one. 2 teams are on a par with each other I think. Armagh have been doing a serious amount of training for this championship and the fact that the great Kieran mc geeney is the manager has some experts predicting Armagh to win this one. I know down have been preparing diligently also so i hope down perform to the best of their ability and if they do they will win i think. This should be a very competive match and few red cards possibly.

downtothecore (Down) - Posts: 349 - 23/05/2017 11:44:05    1989745

Hard one to call this. Could be a good derby. For all their defensive tactics both teams have a tendency to concede goals (9 each in the league) when confronted by direct football, could be a few goals in it when teams tire in second half.
Down stayed up by the skin of their teeth and Armagh threw promotion away
Discipline could be the key, so I will go for Down with home advantage by the odd score

mhunicean_abu (Monaghan) - Posts: 1067 - 23/05/2017 11:46:07    1989746

This should be a good tussle. Both sides look evenly matched and there would be a fierce enough rivalry between the two. I'd love to see a good old fashioned blood and thunder Ulster championship match with both teams going for it. So difficult to call but I'd give a hesitant nod to Armagh.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9746 - 23/05/2017 11:54:34    1989751

oakleafersir (Derry) - Posts: 808 - 23/05/2017 11:55:06    1989754

I expect a good match, hopefully both teams stay away from playing defensive and play an attacking game, it would be an outright battle. You can never tell how Armagh and Down are going to do on the day until the ball in thrown up. Very very hard match to call, hardest yet. Going for a Armagh win.
Armagh 2+

oakleafersir (Derry) - Posts: 808 - 23/05/2017 12:21:23    1989766

50-50 game - i expect the first full house of the summer

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1688 - 23/05/2017 13:12:46    1989793

Even money the pair but I expect Armagh to come out on top due to McGeeney's influence. Hard to see where he could go if they lose this one.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1792 - 23/05/2017 14:29:46    1989823

I hope this game is a full house and the game is cracker. It would be big lift to football in this area which has been at a low ebb in recent years.

downtothecore (Down) - Posts: 349 - 23/05/2017 22:01:36    1990028

like many here it is really hard to call a winner here.

so i will be lazy and say down just because they are home and played at a higher level in the league..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 24/05/2017 08:27:22    1990096

Half of Pairc Esler is in Armagh according to some people, so home advantage means very little I think.

If Jamie Clarke plays he could be the difference for Armagh, especially with our full back injured. That said I think Down have some handy forwards of our own, so I'll go for An Dún by a point.

Suas Sios (None) - Posts: 1558 - 24/05/2017 11:47:35    1990184

Surprised at some posters opting for Armagh due to the McGeeney influence, this is his 3rd year in charge , we've done nothing in the championship and were in Div 3. Hopefully yez are right though :)
Tough one to call, what price a draw??

sean og (Armagh) - Posts: 1072 - 24/05/2017 16:40:20    1990332

Down for me .not too gone on mcgeeney .

GGdub (Dublin) - Posts: 260 - 27/05/2017 20:38:30    1991293

The demise of these two great counties is indicative of the deep trough that Ulster football lies in. No one smiles and many players don't seem to be enjoying it anymore. No wonder when they are taking ice cold seaweed baths, drinking cabbage soup, eating Eucalyptus leaves and slurping vile looking green smoothies 24/7.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 30/05/2017 21:18:25    1992399

IrishGael3 (USA) - Posts: 1092 - 30/05/2017 21:28:20    1992403

Maybe all that farting and constantly running to the bog is draining the energy out of players?

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 30/05/2017 21:33:19    1992406

Oh dear jamie Clarke is chopping at the bit... we are in for hiding now. It's a pity one of the kilcoo weren't on board to contain him.

downtothecore (Down) - Posts: 349 - 31/05/2017 11:00:30    1992554

Full house expected for a Div 2 v a Div 3 team, NOW pat spillane would that happen in munster or leinster...........yes Ulster isnt as strong but I expect at least 15,000 for a match on TV between 2 counties whose better days were many moons ago

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1688 - 31/05/2017 14:39:17    1992661

Is Clarke fit?

kevdog (Westmeath) - Posts: 115 - 02/06/2017 10:49:16    1993424

Armagh to win by 7 or 8 points

Teddy5 (Wexford) - Posts: 122 - 02/06/2017 11:14:13    1993441