Armagh have the players to bridge 15 year gap

by JOE McMANUS

ON Sunday the Armagh colours will fly proudly at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones as thousands of Orchard fans head to the Monaghan town in the hope of winning back the Anglo-Celt Cup for the first time since 2008.

Standing in their way will be defending Ulster Champions Derry whose supporters will be hoping that the Oak Leaf County can put two provincial titles back-to-back for what only would be a second time.

When the counties met in the 1977 and 2000 Ulster Finals at the same venue Armagh won both and were also victorious in their last championship meeting in 2020 (0-17 to 15), Rian O’Neill, Rory Grugan and Jamie Clarke picking up the bulk of the Armagh scores.

Ten years prior Armagh also had the. better of Derry at Celtic Park, Jamie Clarke on his debut getting the winning goal when introduced as a sub. Keeper Paul Hearty also saved a penalty late in the game.

Many Armagh fans would have liked the mercurial Clarke to have been part of the panel, if only an impact sub. But maybe the Crossmaglen ace, still outstanding for his club, was not prepared at his age to go through all the hard work at training for a ten or 15 minute entrance.

Neither side has really been tested in the 2023 campaign. To reach their first Ulster in 15 years Armagh defeated three teams that played their football in Division 3 of the NFL last year, namely Antrim, Cavan and Down, consigning all to the Tailteann Cup whilst Derry had little bother seeing off Fermanagh and Monaghan.

Armagh had Antrim in the preliminary round; in years back there was the old saying that the team that won the preliminary never went on to take Ulster, thankfully all that has changed.

Under Fermanagh native Rory Gallagher, Derry have come on in leaps and bounds, having been in the doldrums for so long. They were seemingly a divided county, but all that has healed significantly. In the past, it was south Derry against the rest. The county always produced fine footballers but there was even a division in the squad. Under the late Eamon Coleman, who for a time assisted Armagh manager, the late Fr Sean Hegarty, the county bloomed in the 1990s winning their first All-Ireland title as well as a number of national leagues. However, those glory years were soon to fade and languishing in the lower echelons did little to inspire either confidence or belief. They are now back at the top table where they rightfully belong.

Armagh too have had a spell in the backwoods following the fantastic naughties. Under Kieran McGeeney they have come from Division 3 to join the top counties. They have currently the strongest panel in years and though still missing a number of key players through injury, they are back once more as a force to be reckoned with.

The loss of so many players throughout the league obviously cost Armagh their top tier status. It’s generally agreed they were unfortunate to be relegated after their three-year spell in Division 1.

They have come under criticism for being too defensive and apparently abandoning their attacking play which made them so popular with the GAA public in 2022. They have also come under fire for their lack of scoring goals. The rot set in losing to Roscommon in Dr Hyde Park, beaten by a penalty goal, a defeat that probably cost them their top flight stay. On that occasion Armagh created several goal chances without nailing any. The goal famine was to continue but the championship has witnessed a change for the better. So far, they have bagged five goals, including four against their fierce rivals Down in the semi-final.

Should Armagh lift the trophy they will be placed with Donegal and Monaghan, the only two teams they defeated in the league, the losers of Kerry and Clare Munster final in Group 4 of the new All-Ireland format. If they lose they will be part of Group 2 along with Tyrone, Westmeath and the winners of the Galway/Sligo Connacht final.

The Group winners will go straight through to the quarter-finals. Counties finishing in second and third place will meet at the preliminary quarter-final stage. Each county will have a home game,one away and one at a neutral venue.

This is quite a young Armagh panel, apart from from the evergreen Aidan Forker, the seasoned Stefan Campbell, the 2009 All-Ireland minor winners James Morgan and Rory Grugan, most will be around for some time to come.

McGeeney has given most of his squad decent play time during the league and championship and selecting a starting 15 for Sunday could present him with some problems.

Marauding keeper Ethan Rafferty has been a star act, though some supporters would prefer to see him stay closer to his citadel. He certainly energises the team and has played a key role in this respect.

The defence is fairly well structured with Conor O’Neill, Aaron McKay, Aidan Forker, Greg McCabe, James Morgan, Barry McCambridge, Ciaran Mackin and Jarly Og Burns all in line for a starting problem.

Midfield which had been classified a weak sector has improved with the return of Ben Crealey, and new kid on the block Shane McPartlan.

The attack, depending on quality of supply, can be lethal. Andrew Murnin, on his day is unstoppable be it in the air or ground level, new talisman Conor Turbitt, may have had an off day against Down, but no one doubts his ability. The return from injury of talisman Rian O’Neill, is a major plus while Rory Grugan in his role as playmaker, has all the needed attributes. So too has fluent attacker Stefan Campbell.

Jason Duffy and Jemar Hall are again likely to start, their workrate is exceptional, both have also an eye for a score, and could be more suited operating closer
to goal.

With the likes of Ross McQuillan, Paddy Burns (if declared fit), Ciaran Higgins, Cian McConville, Connaire Mackin, Callum Cumiskey, Aidan Nugent, Stephen Sheridan and young Oisin Conaty to consider, team selection will demand careful thought. The Armagh bench, which was not the strongest throughout the league, should be greatly enhanced.

Long term absentees Oisin O’Neill, Mark Shields, Niall Rowland and Ciaron O’Hanlon will again miss out whilst the latest to join the injury list are Niall Grimley, Tiernan Kelly and Joe McElroy (just back into the panel).

From goalkeeper Odhran Lynch out this Derry team is laced with talent. Defenders Chrissy McKeague, Brendan Rogers, Padraig McGrogan, Shea Downey, and Conor McCloskey, are all top bracket. Conor Glass and Gareth McKinless are a formidable midfield pairing and an attack led by the brilliant Shane McGuigan that includes Ethan Doherty, Paul Cassidy, Benny Herron, Niall Loughlin and Ciaran McFaul, just back from the States, will give the Orchard rearguard plenty to think about.

It should be an intriguing final depending on style and approach. Both teams could go ultra defensive at the start determined not to leak goals, hold possession and adopt a patient scoring approach. However, such games are always inclined to open up as the clock moves on.

Midfield and the middle third may develop into a battle zone and should this be the case it’s imperative that Armagh be up for it.

Buoyed up by the success of their second half attacking game against Down, they may decide to go down that much preferred route again.

In front of an expected full house Armagh do have the players to bridge that frustrating 15 year gap but will have to be flying on all cylinders for this to be achieved.