McGeeney-inspired Armagh face tough task against rejuvenated Donegal

With 13 wins from their last 14 games against Ulster opposition for Donegal, Armagh have done well to keep their name from the list of beaten and battered teams left strewn across the northern province to date.

McGeeney-inspired Armagh face tough task against rejuvenated Donegal

By Peter O’Dwyer

With 13 wins from their last 14 games against Ulster opposition for Donegal, Armagh have done well to keep their name from the list of beaten and battered teams left strewn across the northern province to date.

They’ll aim to keep that record intact today by turning the northern kingpins over and advancing to an All-Ireland semi-final – a feat that seemed nigh-on impossible just a few weeks back.

Since their Ulster championship defeat to Monaghan (after a replay), Armagh under the tutelage of Paul Grimley and his new assistant, Kieran McGeeney have gone from strength to strength beating Tyrone in the opening qualifying round and building on the momentum garnered from that win in each subsequent round.

Others to fall foul of Armagh’s counter-attacking style since are Roscommon and a Meath side that would’ve fancied their chances despite shipping a heavy loss to Dublin in the Leinster final.

Armagh’s run has not only highlighted their defensive strengths – with just one goal conceded thus far against Roscommmon – but also their ability to break using accurate, quickly delivered foot passes to advance the ball at pace.

Another insight we’ve gained into this Armagh side is that contrary to the widely held belief of not so long ago (even up to last week perhaps), they are not a one man team solely reliant upon the mercurial talents of Jamie Clarke.

Against Meath, Kevin Dyas; Aidan Forker; Tony Kernan and particularly Stefan Campbell stepped up to the plate and shared the scoring burden Clarke struggled to impose himself.

All of which is not to say that it’s been great to watch throughout or that Armagh are ready to compete for an All-Ireland again, but one step short of a semi-final having been also-rans not so long ago – the players and management deserve huge credit.

In Donegal, they face arguably a harder version of the test they’ve already failed this year. Where Monaghan have already gone, Donegal will look and expect to follow.

Regaining the Ulster crown ought to have done Jim McGuinness’ men the world of good; reaffirming, in their minds at least, their undisputed dominance of the province.

For all Armagh’s progress this season, Donegal remain a cut above their Ulster rivals on all the evidence to date despite being a lesser version of the side of two years ago.

If Armagh can succeed in moving the ball away from the contact area in time and catching Donegal on the break, theirs could be the formula to overcome Donegal’s biggest strengths but doubts remain as to whether that’ll be possible in the face of the regimented Donegal pressure they’re likely to face.

Odds are Donegal will avenge their defeat these two sides met in championship action at Croke Park back in the 2003 All-Ireland semi-final when a certain Mr McGeeney was involved in the on-field goings on.

What a story it would be if he could inspire them to victory from just marginally further afield this time round.

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