Ulster champs Armagh back on the horse with tricky tie

Having finally got over their Ulster Championship hurdle to bring the Anglo Celt Cup back to the Orchard County for the first time since 2008, there certainly would have been celebrations long into the night for the Armagh players.

However, given the nature of the split-season, focus and attention quickly turned to Derry, with the hopes of another piece of silverware – the big one – to come later in the year.

Although it was a great day out for the Armagh supporters and a monkey off the backs of the players to finally pocket an Ulster medal, manager Kieran McGeeney has always maintained that there are bigger fish to fry, and that his team have their sights set on reclaiming the Sam Maguire. Saturday presents a tricky challenge for him and his management team, as Derry have been waiting in the long grass, with an extra two weeks to prepare for this game, since their heart-wrenching extra-time loss to the Farney County in the Ulster semi-final.

For Ciaran Meenagh's men, they'll be hoping to get that loss out of their system, as they return to the site of their collapse – the Box-It Athletic Grounds.

For McGeeney, his job would have been to bring the players right back down to earth following their Ulster win and refocus the minds for a challenging game ahead. That process, no doubt, began for him and his management team not too long after the full-time whistle in St Tiernach's Park.

With Armagh in such good form, and with many familiar faces returning from injury, McGeeney will once again face a selection headache.

Stalwarts Rory Grugan and Aidan Forker each made just their second appearance of the campaign by coming off the bench in the Ulster Final, whilst 2024 Footballer of the Year Barry McCambridge featured against Fermanagh and Monaghan, but hasn't started a game since 2025.

Ross McQuillan missed Armagh's comfortable win over Down, but got right back to his old self last week, chipping in with two points off the bench. One of Armagh's best player so far this season, if he is fully fit, he will be hard to leave out.

Furthermore, any debate about Oisin O'Neill's place in the team seems to have been put to bed throughout the Ulster Championship, as it appears his role as the 'super sub' will continue until the end of the season. He has come off the bench in each of Armagh's last six games, but remarkably has yet to score less than four points as a substitute.

In terms of the players on the field, one would expect little in the way of change this weekend. Outside of a five-minute wobble, Blaine Hughes was once again superb with his kick-outs against Monaghan.

Aaron McKay and Peter McGrane appear nailed-on in the full-back line but the other corner back position may be open, with Paddy Burns, Gareth Murphy and Barry McCambridge all having their names in the hat.

The half-back line of Greg McCabe, Tiernan Kelly and Jarly Og Burns features three players all playing the best football of their careers. McCabe has hardly put a foot wrong all year for Armagh, turning in impressive performances week-in, week-out. Kelly will be on a high after finding the net against Monaghan last time out, whilst Burns continues to go from strength-to-strength – his performance against Down was arguably the best of his career.

Players like Joe McElroy, Jason Duffy, Darragh McMullen and Tomas McCormack provide non-stop energy, incredible work-rate and first-class decision making for Armagh around the middle eight. McMullen in particular has taken his game to another level in 2026, with captain Aidan Forker saying that the Madden man can 'go as far as he wants to in the sport'.

In attack, Conor Turbitt recovered from an inconsistent league campaign to top the scoring charts for the Ulster Championship across the board. He racked up 3-18, nine points clear of his closest rival.

Andrew Murnin has slotted right back into the team, despite missing 10 weeks through injury. His ability in the air, score-taking prowess and versatility between midfield and the full-forward line is indispensable to Armagh. Furthermore, Cian McConville continues to work his socks off week-in and week-out for the team. The left-footed free taker has started every game across the League and Championship this year.

Last but certainly not least is Oisin Conaty, a player who is amongst the very best in Ireland. The 2024 and 2025 All Star is hitting his stride, having won BBC's Man of the Match award against Down, and RTE's version against Monaghan.

On his day, the Tir na nOg man is unplayable. His pace and directness are terrifying for defences, and he is Armagh's ace in their pack.

McGeeney's men will have nothing handed to them this weekend against an Oak Leaf team with some of the best players in Ireland like Conor Glass, Shane McGuigan and Brendan Rogers.

But with a fervent home support behind them, a good run of form, and class throughout the team, they'll be favourites to claim the victory this weekend and progress through to the winners’ round.