ARMAGH manager Kieran McGeeney wasn’t too downhearted about losing their second game of the Dr McKenna Cup campaign after Ulster University’s Ronan McNamee struck an injury-time winner on Wednesday.
He was disappointed to have conceded a sixth goal in three games and sees the defensive issues as a short-term problem, with a number of defenders to come back, but the manner of how Armagh battled their way back into the game did please the Orchard boss, even if the shooting was somewhat wayward.
“I thought we did well, we had enough chances to win a couple of games too. I was disappointed with our shooting, but our general play wasn’t too bad and, again, we didn’t panic,” said McGeeney
“We gave away a terrible goal, I know we are struggling for defenders just at the moment in terms of personnel and stuff, but we keep giving away soft goals and we have a lot of hard work to do.
“The good thing is that we have been able to work our way back into games and put themselves in positions to win, but it was bad in the end the way we let them in for a score - but that is the way it goes.”
With 11 established forwards in the team, Armagh’s plan to press high up the pitch left them vulnerable to the counter-attack but, having kicked eight wides and dropped four efforts short, McGeeney believes his side should have won the game.
“We have tried to move things up and the scoreline didn’t reflect it, but the amount of wides and the amount of shots that went short would,” he said.
“We didn’t take the right selections today, but I am hoping that will improve as the year goes on. We used most of the subs from other years, with some of the more recognised starting forwards not playing and some of them have stood up.
“Niall [McConville] and Gavin [McParland] were both unlucky not to finish with more points. Niall got two, but definitely should have had another two or three and the same with Gavin. But the difference was that we were in possession of a free-kick and we gave it away and they score a goal. They are things that are going to kill a team.
“Considering some of the players that Jordanstown have at their disposal, it wasn’t a bad display, but we just have to get our scoring ratio up. In fairness, the fellas there, like both Forkers, played exceptionally well defensively and, obviously, McKeever too and, when you consider Charlie [Vernon] and [Mark] Shields was out, it will be good to get all those boys back.”
McGeeney is expecting seven players he can use in defence to return during the National League, with Andy Mallon’s return the most notable. Along with Vernon and Shields, Dromintee’s young prospect Aaron McKay has been drafted in, Shea Heffron will be pushing for a starting place, while Seán Connell featured as a sub on Wednesday.
Mickey Murray sat out Wednesday’s defeat to Ulster University, but he is expected to be fit for Armagh’s National League opener against Meath at the end of the month. And McGeeney admitted he hopes to have a challenge game before the league kicks-off.
“It is hard, we can’t really plan too far ahead because nobody knew if they were in the semi-finals of their respective pre-league competitions but, yes, we would like to get a game. But I suppose we will have to wait to see who is available,” he said.
