1999

[sliothar]

You've been around a long time Rufus and have perfected the art of name dropping so well

[Rufus T Firefly]

Mark McNeill was one of the best corner backs around for a good few years, as was one of his early team mates Colm Hanratty I think??

As I mentioned, there were other excellent players in that era who never really featured regularly, or indeed at all, post 1999; Mark McNeill and Colm Hanratty have been mentioned - there was also Damian Horisk, Houlie, The Grimleys, Martin McQuillan, Jim McConville, Neil Smyth and Kieran McGurk to name but a few.

Although we were not consistent enough back then to challenge for honours, as a supporter you always felt that on any given day Armagh could produce a great performance - that's why between 1982 and 1999 we won nothing but contested 3 NFL Finals and 3 Ulster Finals. Some great memories from that period and some great team performances.

[Orangemac]

Game that stands out was beating Derry in semi final. They had hammered us the year before and with a few minutes left led by a point. Cathal O'Rourke free from the sideline and then brilliant run and point from Marsden to win it.

Great memories.

[bcb1]

Rufus, did you not get a run out around then too? Add in the likes of Aidan Short and you club men big Dom, Benny and even Gola and there were some serious good footballers in the nineties that never got the rewards their talent deserved.

[Begbie]

Ah yes, one Cross one Cullaville or have I that messed up again?

Yes he went to play for Cross after the rest of the family played with Cullaville. The younger brother Shane still plays for Cullaville.

[Rufus T Firefly]

Rufus, did you not get a run out around then too?

No chance BC!! Now that would have had calls for management to quit!!

Add in the likes of Aidan Short and you club men big Dom, Benny and even Gola and there were some serious good footballers in the nineties that never got the rewards their talent deserved.

That team of ours really came to prominence when Ulster boasted three All Ireland Winners, with Derry, Donegal and Down. The long campaign - six matches in total - to reach an Ulster semi-final in 1993, will live long in the memory.

Before that, Paddy Mo and Big Joe were the managers from 1989 - 1991 inclusive. In 1989, they lost by a point in Omagh to Tyrone, who went on to win Ulster; in 1990 they lost by a point in the Ulster Final to Donegal, who would go on to lift Sam two years later; and in 1991 they went down by a point in Newry to Down, who went on to take two Sams. An element of so near and yet so far!!

[borderfox]

No chance BC!! Now that would have had calls for management to quit!!



That team of ours really came to prominence when Ulster boasted three All Ireland Winners, with Derry, Donegal and Down. The long campaign - six matches in total - to reach an Ulster semi-final in 1993, will live long in the memory.

Before that, Paddy Mo and Big Joe were the managers from 1989 - 1991 inclusive. In 1989, they lost by a point in Omagh to Tyrone, who went on to win Ulster; in 1990 they lost by a point in the Ulster Final to Donegal, who would go on to lift Sam two years later; and in 1991 they went down by a point in Newry to Down, who went on to take two Sams. An element of so near and yet so far!!

In 1991I was directly behind the goals that day and can still see Jim McConville skewing the ball wide with the goal wide open (It was wet and the ball was spinning). Small margins indeed.