Samin10 we're not going to agree on this as I think that if an other club wanted to use the pitch because of the surface etc there is the argument that they can use several surfaces in the county (such as Cross) but there is only one ground with floodlights the same. I just think a bit of common sense is required from time to time and the fact that no other county seems to have a problem with Cross using their facilities speaks for itself, especially when cross are the armagh representatives at club level (which is the heartbeat of the GAA). However you are one of a few people here whose opinions I respect so we'll agree to disagree on this one. Enjoy the match.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 03/12/2008 15:03:37    155890

Tom, I never said another club had the same lights as the Athletic Grounds, I said the Athletic Grounds wasn't the only ground in the County with floodlights! Davitt Park has flood lights, Maghery has floodlights, Pearse Ogs have floodlights Silverbridge I think have them as well, there could be more, could cross not have asked to train on any of these fields? Does it really matter if the lights are not the exact same as Brewster Park (I assume you're an expert on floodlights - perhaps you work with them or something?) surely as long as they light the pitch and you can see clearly it doesnt matter!
Did cross ask every county in Ireland for use of their facilities? You said no other county in Ireland had a problem with them using theirs?

jimmyjoebob (Armagh) - Posts: 137 - 03/12/2008 15:17:17    155912

jimmyjoebob

think what he means is these clubs have small lights down the side. The county grounds have huge high powered lights in the corners of the fields (you would think i work with them). Think thats why cross wanted athletic grounds. Personally dont see why it mattered so much to them. Did they expect to find they would be blinded by the lights? Where they going to realise they needed sunglasses? Where Ballinderry not going to be playing under the same lights?

Not trying to be smart Tom but i think it was expecting a bit much of the county board, i personally think Cross were going to far with preperations, but then on the other hand maybe its this attention to detail that makes them so great. Either way they have played under the lights at Brewster Park as many times as Ballinderry now so no excuses for them regardless of what the County board said.

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 03/12/2008 15:40:07    155947

Well you obviously don't understand the argument then. Floodlights are different and playing under stronger or weaker floodlights makes a massive difference, I do not need to work with floodlights to know this as this is common sense. It can be the same for different types of playing surface etc they are all different. Cross have also got floodlights and I do know that the floodlights they have are nowhere near the same as playing under the floodlights at Athletic Grounds/Brewster park, as there are numerous issues to contend with such as shadows, the yellow ball etc. No cross didn't ask every county in Ireland, they did however ask 3 and were told no problem. I said every county because all other county champions are allowed to train in their county ground so they would have no issue with cross or any other club requesting it if it was free.

Here's a bit of reading for you

http://gamesdevelopment.gaa.ie/page/floodlighting.html

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 03/12/2008 15:45:56    155958

Samin10

Ballinderry were allowed to train in Celtic park under lights (the same as Brewster). It is widely ackowledged that playing under lights is significantly different than playing without, small things such as the crowd is hard to see to dark spots, bright spots etc all matter especially when taking frees, kicking points or goalkeeping. Playing under different lights is just like playing on different surfaces and players need to become accustomed to it or at the very least have some small experience of it and that is why cross asked to train for 3 nights under the lights. Their pitch is obviously more precious than any other in Ireland and that is their point of view, we all paid for the redevelopment and if the democratic decision is to refuse people the use of it then so be it. I personally think the cross boys shouldn't bother going near the county again or give them any financial assistance but that is just my own view.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 03/12/2008 15:54:22    155976

Interesting bit of reading Tom. Fair enough the floodlights at some of the club pitches may not be as tall as those at the Athletic Grounds but if you are not allowed to use them accept it and move on. Dont cry about the county board being against you, they won't let any other team - including our county team train on it so are they trying to hinder the county teams progress? Regarding the cross boys not going back or their committee not giving any money to the county board - grow up, the phrase sour grapes springs to mind! Cross need Armagh as much as Armagh needs Cross!

jimmyjoebob (Armagh) - Posts: 137 - 03/12/2008 16:19:47    156023

Christ Tom a bit over the top, i can see your arguement but you have to remember that these rules apply to every club in the county, they cannot start making different rules for different clubs. Surely the challenge match that waas offered to the them would have been of more advantage to them then any training session. Would have been more realistic and better preration for a game under similar lights.

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 03/12/2008 16:27:12    156036

As a neutral, seen the game on TG4 last weekend. Was a good game of football. Enda Muldoon was by far the best player on the pitch. How he didnt get man of the match I dont know! Thought it was a good physical game. Only downside being that Conway let himself down by falling around like a little girl. McEntee didnt even touch him.

Also, what happened Niall McCusker that he needed stitches to a facial wound. I didnt see that during the game. Was there a row afterwards or something?

Anyway, think Ballinderry are a wee bit too small for Cross. Cross to win by 2 points the next day out.

Fingers (Fermanagh) - Posts: 28 - 03/12/2008 16:28:45    156037

Tom1916, I came on here to give my support for Cross, even though I thought Ballinderry contributed to a fine game. But you have put me off. You are typical of the gulpin type supporter who follows Armagh teams. No respect for anyone. I was disgusted with Conway as well but it brought back memories when "hard" man Bellew went down like a big girl and got Pierce Mckenna got sent off in the Ulster Championship. Stop your whinging!

Dennforever (Cavan) - Posts: 11 - 03/12/2008 18:41:31    156219

Could someone from armagh settle an argurment i am havin with work mates they say that there is only 10 players from crossmaglen on the team, the rest are made up of teams around crossmaglen that they poach of?

jenny (Tyrone) - Posts: 1 - 03/12/2008 22:39:24    156436

yes jenny I can settle the argument. Every single player who plays for Crossmaglen (who I presume you are talking about) is from Crossmaglen. So your mates are wrong and you are right. I hope you won some money.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 04/12/2008 09:07:18    156545

I came on here to give my support for Cross, even though I thought Ballinderry contributed to a fine game. But you have put me off. You are typical of the gulpin type supporter who follows Armagh teams. No respect for anyone. I was disgusted with Conway as well but it brought back memories when "hard" man Bellew went down and got Pierce Mckenna got sent off in the Ulster Championship. Stop your whinging! Yeah sounds like you were going to support Cross alright and you don't have a chip on your shoulder against armagh!

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 04/12/2008 09:09:56    156546

Jimmyjoe, you keep referring to 'you' I am not a member of Cross club so don't be getting annoyed with them. I just thought personally that it wasn't the right thing to do no matter what club needed it and I would be speaking as vocally if it were Pearse Og, Wolfe Tones or Mullaghbawn. I can see what you are saying (like samin10) but I do not agree and I don't think you are going to agree with me so we'll just agree to disagree. I will be getting behind our county representatives regardless and hopefully they can bring another Ulster or All-Ireland to Armagh.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 04/12/2008 09:16:25    156550

not true, John Donaldson is the only one from outside the area.

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 04/12/2008 09:24:19    156555

no chance as a Meath Man i watched the Cross And Bderry match and Brian Mc Gukin watta player Belew didn gave a thng on him.

HotChocolate (Meath) - Posts: 65 - 04/12/2008 09:56:43    156573

Fair enough Tom, we'll agree to disagree this time...
May the best team win on Sunday.

jimmyjoebob (Armagh) - Posts: 137 - 04/12/2008 10:51:00    156634

John Donaldson is from Donaldsons Rd in Crossmaglen, they have lived there on the family farm as long as Crossmaglen existed. He went to school in cullyhanna as there was no school bus route etc past his home to crossmaglen in those days. He subsequently made friends in cullyhanna and joined their club were he had a short career. His father was a clubman of theirs and they left to join Cross. In summary John Donaldson was a Crossmaglen man playing for Cullyhanna, he is now back at his natural club.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 04/12/2008 11:49:19    156692

Did John Donaldson not once play for a club team in Louth and for Louth County? I also heard he represented Leinster in the Railway Cup as well? Correct me if i'm wrong (Tom)

jimmyjoebob (Armagh) - Posts: 137 - 04/12/2008 12:18:46    156741

I stand corrected Tom although the last time i was in Cross it was not that big, i certainly would not have thought you would need to get a bus across it. Only messing Tom but obviously he is from outside Cross (probably still a Cross adress or something) but you can see where the confusion arises.

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 04/12/2008 12:28:34    156757

he did jimmyjoe

i think he transfered them (cant remember what club) after his initial request to join cross was turned down. Went to louth played for them at county level and leinster, then transferred back to cross and won all-ireland medal with Armagh. What age is he Tom? Seems to be on the go along time, although having seen him play a few times this year he is still going strong, hard as nails too.

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 04/12/2008 12:46:48    156785