Armagh facing Monaghan in quarter final clash

IN an All-Ulster derby Armagh have drawn neighbours Monaghan in the All-Ireland quarter-final, a game in which both counties would fancy their chances.

The draw was made on Monday morning and the remaining pairings are Kerry against Tyrone, Ulster champions Derry facing Cork, and Dublin taking on Mayo.

All games will be played in Croke Park this weekend.

It’s the second year in succession Armagh have reached the quarter-finals and, having lost out to Galway in a penalty shoot-out in 2022, they will be all set to go one better and qualify for their first All-Ireland semi-final since 2003 when, as defending All-Ireland champions, they lost to neighbours Tyrone.

Armagh have already played seven games in the championship, Antrim, Cavan, Down, Derry, Westmeath, Tyrone and Galway.

They lost the Ulster final to Derry on penalties and were beaten by Tyrone in the group stages by two points, having played most of the game with 14 men, their talisman Rian O’Neill red-carded. Armagh had the winning of the Ulster final, which would have been their first since 2008, both in normal time and extra time before going to penalties. Against Tyrone they messed up three early goal chances and another in the dying seconds which would have earned them a draw.

However, it all worked out well in the end, despite no silverware. The dramatic late win over Galway, their first ever over the Tribesmen in the championship, secured them a straight passage to the quarter-finals as Tyrone only managed a draw with Westmeath who missed the winner from a last minute free. Had it gone over the Red Hands were out but instead are among the favourites to lift Sam following their impressive eight point victory against Donegal in preliminary quarter-finals. Such is football!

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