EXPECTATIONS may have been low outside the changing room but, inside it, the Armagh players were locked and loaded when they travelled to Omagh to take on Tyrone in the All-Ireland Qualifiers back in 2014.
After being relegated to Division Three, the Orchardmen had been beaten by Monaghan in an Ulster semi-final replay and going to Healy Park was deemed a bridge too far for Paul Grimley’s side. But Armagh are often most dangerous as underdogs and an early ‘schemozzle’ set the tone for a vintage derby clash. The Orchardmen won by three points and kicked on to come within a whisker of the All-Ireland semi-finals.
Aaron Findon, a ball-winning force in midfield, says Armagh boarded the team bus confident and determined to get one over on the fancied auld enemy.
“We knew we had a good, strong chance,” he said.
“We were 3/1 with Paddy Power before the game. I saw that and I was thinking: ‘Jesus, 3/1 in a Championship game! Anything could happen!’ There was no way they were that far ahead of us and we went up there to give it a skelp.”
There was no shortage of skelps. Not long after the ball had been thrown in, Findon and midfield partner Stephen Harold were “rolling about the floor” with the Cavanagh brothers Sean and Colm. A pile-on ensued with Aidan Forker and Mattie Donnelly yellow-carded. Donnelly was later sent off after picking up a second booking and Armagh took control.
“Back then everybody said we were starting rows left, right and centre,” says Findon.
“We didn’t go out to start anything but, if people are going to label you that way, it’s up to them.”
Fast forward nine years and there are parallels with Saturday’s latest instalment of this enduring rivalry. After edging out Westmeath at home in round one, Armagh go into this weekend’s clash as underdogs once again.
“Armagh looked tired and leggy against Westmeath and they just about did enough,” says Findon.
“I think last week was a bit of a perfect storm for Westmeath. The Armagh boys had obviously put an awful lot, physically and emotionally, into getting to an Ulster final and losing on penalties when you’re so close is going to put a bit of a hit on you. And then you’ve got to go and train and get yourself ready for three big matches in this group.
“The week after the Ulster final was the only time they could go hard in training and hopefully it will serve them well as the season goes on. So the emotion of losing the Ulster final and then getting right back on the horse for training is going to take a toll on anybody.”
Rian O’Neill and Andrew Murnin missed out when Armagh lost to Tyrone in Division One but both are fully fit for Saturday. Will the Orchard management go for broke and use them both up front in Omagh? It’s an intriguing prospect that’s unlikely to happen.
“I think everybody in Ireland would like to see that,” said Findon.
“But champagne football comes second, hard work comes first. I’d love to see Andrew and Rian in the square and the ball put into them because there’s no doubt that they’d keep things alive and make things exciting.
“But Rian does well when he comes out around the middle and Andy is the same when he comes out and wins kickouts.”
There are survivors on both sides from that clash nine years’ ago. Niall Morgan, Mattie Donnelly and Darren McCurry for the Red Hands; Forker, Campbell, James Morgan and Rory Grugan for Armagh. Findon says the service the likes of Aidan Forker have given to their county is above and beyond the call of duty.
“My heart broke for the lads when they lost that Ulster final,” he said.
“Take Aidan for example. I remember in 2016 he played down in Laois on his first child’s due date. They had to have a phone kept close just in case there was a call and he might have to leg-it to get to the hospital.
“They’ve made so many sacrifices to get to where they are. Academic ambitions, jobs and loads of other things have been put to one side. Medals aren’t the main thing for those boys I don’t think – although they’d be lovely. They really want to put Armagh in a better position and they’re doing that.
“I’m happy that they have that satisfaction but I’d love to see them kick-on to an All-Ireland semi-final and even further.”
Beating Tyrone nine years ago was the catalyst for an unpredicted run to the All-Ireland quarter-final against Donegal. A nip-and-tuck game could have gone either way but Donegal won by a point and went on to reach the final. If Armagh win on Sunday they’ll be in with a chance of topping the group and going straight to the quarter-finals once again.
“It could happen but, as a lot of the boys have realised over the last few weeks, there’s only six inches between a pat on the back and a slap on the ass,” said Findon.
“If Armagh can beat Tyrone they can focus on Galway and hope to top the group. If they beat Tyrone it could guarantee them an All-Ireland quarter-final and everything just spins on its head then.”
