Mickey Harte believes the criticism aimed at Armagh in the wake of their Ulster exit was ironic.

The Tyrone manager quite rightly points out that analysts who have for years been criticising negative tactics suddenly rounded on the Orchard County for adopting a more positive approach:

"The negative fall-out directed at the Armagh team and their manager Paul Grimley as a result of last weekend's defeat to Cavan in Breffni Park is decidedly disproportionate," Harte writes in his weekly Irish News column.

"The headlines from all and sundry have lambasted them for adopting a method of play which was more about offence than defence.

"Ultimately, they came up short, but the volume of criticism they received - particularly from observers who continually decry the heavy-weighted defensive approach adopted by many in the modern game - appears disingenuous to say the least.

"It's even more ironic that the team which did effectively apply those much-maligned tactics were lauded for their efforts." Tweet

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