It has been so far, so good for Armagh in a season which has been disrupted by injuries.
First, Kieran McGeeney’s men secured their place in Division 1 for another season, in a campaign where each of Andrew Murnin, Joe McElroy, Aidan Forker, Darragh McMullen and Aaron McKay missed multiple games and Rory Grugan, Barry McCambridge and Ciaran Mackin played no part.
They’ve followed that up by taking down Tyrone and Fermanagh to book their spot in the last four of the Ulster Championship, despite probably not reaching their full potential.
Things appeared to be clearing up on the injury front, but one freakish training session ahead of their win over Fermanagh saw five players pick up knocks. Ben Crealey is out for the season, whilst Callum O’Neill, Greg McCabe, Gareth Murphy and McElroy are unlikely to feature this weekend.
Although the comings and goings of the squad has made a headache for Kieran McGeeney and his management team, they still have a strong team which is capable of bringing the Anglo Celt back to the Orchard County for the first time since 2008.
Do give themselves a chance of doing that though, they will first need to overcome a Down side buoyed with confidence and momentum this Sunday. The Mournemen set out their stall with a spectacular 3-21 to 1-21 win over the reigning back-to-back Ulster champions Donegal in Letterkenny, which has blown the competition wide open.
Although Armagh are favourites with the bookmakers, this promises to be an enthralling battle which will go down to the wire.
The two teams have a lot of similarities. For midfielders who dominate the skies, Down have Odhran Murdock and Armagh have Andrew Murnin. For sheer athleticism and driving runs from deep, Down have Daniel Guinness and Armagh have Ross McQuillan. For the ability to get on plenty of ball, orchestrate scores and take their own, Down have Ceilum Doherty and Armagh have Jarly Og Burns.
For full forwards who figure to top the scoring charts, Down have Pat Havern and Armagh have Conor Turbitt. Equally, Down’s Pierce Laverty and Armagh’s Aaron McKay are traditional full backs, who will look to quell those threats.
But Armagh’s ace in the pack is their back-to-back All Star winner and 2024 Young Footballer of the Year, Oisin Conaty. The Tír na nÓg man, who made his Championship debut against the Mourne County in 2023, has established himself as one of the best forwards in the country over the past three years.
Conaty brings direct running and frightening pace, which strikes fear into defenders up and down the land. He’s often one of Armagh’s chief score-getters, and flexed his goal threat against Dublin in March, finishing into the roof of net after a bursting solo run.
Conaty is also a big game player, and Sunday is certainly a big game between these two fierce rivals. He was named Man of the Match in the 2024 All-Ireland final, and was unlucky not to receive the same honour in last year’s Ulster Final, having finished with 0-6, all from play. Even in a poor overall performance from Armagh against Kerry last year, Conaty still showed his quality on the day.
Down will throw everything they have at Armagh on Sunday, and it promises to be an uncomfortable day for the Orchard faithful.
But should Armagh get over the line, they might have one man who they’ll thank more than most.