CROSSMAGLEN duo Tony Kernan and James Morgan are unlikely to play any part in Armagh's clash with Fermanagh at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday night.
Forward Kernan definitely won't feature in the NFL derby after sustaining a gash in his hand in the south Armagh side’s dramatic one-point All-Ireland semi-final loss to Castlebar on February 13. Defender Morgan also suffered a hand injury in that game and is unlikely to have recovered in time to face the Erne men.
With Jamie Clarke opting out and several others unavailable, Kernan and Morgan are the only players from the reigning Ulster club champions to have been invited into the senior panel.
However, three players - midfielder Oisin O’Neill, full-back Aidan Rushe and substitute goalkeeper Paul McEntee - have been called up to Armagh's U21 squad and could make the transition to senior level later in the season.
“Oisin and Aidan both did very well [against Castlebar] and they’re great players,” said Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney.
“But I think it’s only fair to let them have a crack at the U21 - it’s a big jump from club football to county football.”
Armagh have lost to Meath and Laois so far this season and are currently bottom of Division Two on scoring difference. With five games left, they urgently need a victory and their cause has been boosted by the returns of Andy Mallon, Rory Grugan and Andrew Murnin. All three trained last week and McGeeney said experienced defender Ciaran McKeever could also return to action against the Erne men.
Ethan Rafferty (hamstring) and Mickey Murray (hip) also have injury problems this year, but could be fit for Saturday night’s game - the first of four Ulster derbies - but Clonmore clubman Brendan Donaghy looks certain to miss out.
“We’ve been training amongst ourselves [during the two-week break], trying to work hard on a few things and trying to get some players back out on the pitch,” McGeeney added.
“The physios are very busy but, bit-by-bit, we’re getting them back.”
Last season, Fermanagh left the Athletic Grounds with a valuable point after a late fightback but, when the teams met in the Division Three final at Croke Park, Armagh were convincing five-point winners.
After that game, Armagh would have been favoured to go on a Championship run, but form deserted the Orchard men while Pete McGrath’s Fermanagh went on to reach the All-Ireland quarter-finals. This season, the Erne men lost to Derry in their first league game but recovered well to beat Meath in their second outing.
“The one thing about Fermanagh when I played against them and I think Pete has instilled it in them is they’re a very hard-working team,” said McGeeney.
“They play for each other, they’re a good, solid structure and he’s got them playing a good brand of football that suits their style. They keep possession very well, they counterattack in numbers and defend in numbers - nearly everyone does that now, even the ones that say they don’t.
“They are going to be hard to break down. We played them twice last year and they are eyeing promotion to Division One and we still have to put points on the board. That’s the reality of the situation, but we’re hopeful we’ll give a good account of ourselves.”
Watch: our reporters talk Armagh v Fermanagh and Dublin v Monaghan
