It's now or never for Armagh with relegation looming over the Orchard County

It's do or die now for Armagh, with anything other than a win away to Dublin leaving them in real danger of being relegated to Division 2.

Indeed, should Armagh lose and Galway pick up a result against bottom-placed Monaghan, then the Orchard County will be down with a game to spare.

However, Kieran McGeeney's side will surely be thinking on the bright side, not the potential negatives. Results have been cruel on Armagh, as despite losing four games in-a-row, they have played well enough and created enough chances to be much further up the table.

Armagh find themselves on the brink due to two main factors: their inefficiency in front of the posts and the concession of too many goals.

Against Roscommon, Armagh converted 20 of 33 chances. That figure was 18 of 36 against Donegal and against Mayo, it was 19 of 33. With talented forwards like All Stars Oisin Conaty and Conor Turbitt, the statistics would indicate that results should improve for Armagh.

However, they're not making it easy on themselves, with nine goals conceded and none scored over their last four games. The old adage that 'goals win games' has proven all too true for Armagh, and they cannot continue the rate in which they are conceding goals if they wish to turn their fortunes around.

Positives to take

There are plenty of positives to take from the campaign so far though, namely the form of Crossmaglen duo Oisin O'Neill and Cian McConville, who top the scoring charts to this point. During Armagh's All-Ireland run in 2024, O'Neill was used as an impact sub, whilst McConville didn't feature. They are now two of the most in-form players in the team and certainly two of the first names on the teamsheet.

Furthermore, wing backs Ross McQuillan and Jarly Og Burns have picked up from where they left off last season, and continue to provide pace and energy on the wings for Armagh, and a thorn in the side of their oppositions.

On top of that, Armagh will be glad that despite missing a multitude of key players for various reasons, they continue to compete with the best teams in the country week-in and week-out. They are without the likes of Stefan Campbell through retirement, Rian O'Neill, Niall Grimley and Connaire Mackin have stepped away from the panel, and Rory Grugan, Barry McCambridge, Aaron McKay, Ciaran Mackin, Andrew Murnin and Joe McElroy are amongst those injured.

With Armagh light on depth and Blaine Hughes seemingly now reinstated as the permament first-choice goalkeeper, there is now perhaps a chance we will see Ethan Rafferty start a game outfield in the upcoming fixtures.

Rafferty has filled the role of substitute goalkeeper in the games against Monaghan, Roscommon and Donegal, but he has made two brief outfield appearances off the bench against Galway and Mayo.

Might Armagh put him in from the start this weekend? The Grange clubman offers a potent two-point threat and is arguably the team's best long-range placekicker. Furthermore, his height makes him a great option in midfield during the kick-out battles.

On the other side, Dublin also find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle. Like Armagh, they lost three of their first four games, with their only win coming against Monaghan, who sit on zero points.

However, last time out, they put in by far their best showing of the league with a 1-21 to 2-7 demolition of Roscommon.

The Dubs were without their top marksman Con O'Callaghan, but that bothered them little as they picked up a comfortable win, with the likes of Niall Scully, Sean Bugler and Paddy Small combining to do the damage on the scoreboard. Furthermore, their link-man Ciaran Kilkenny remains one of the very best players in the country.

If they can reach those levels again – with Con O'Callaghan potentially back in the team – they will be hard stopped.

However, Armagh won't fear Dublin having beaten them in both the league and the Championship last season.

Again, McGeeney's side have been playing good football and surely there will be a game where it all clicks and they take their chances.

They'll be hoping that Saturday's game is the night it all comes together. If it's not, they may find themselves in Division 2 next season.