Donnelly Group Armagh Senior Football Championship
The senior action continues in Armagh over the weekend with a package including three games in the qualifiers.
Reigning champions Crossmaglen, in pursuit of their 20th title over the past two decades, take on Tir na nOg (5pm) as part of a double-header at the Athletic Grounds tomorrow evening followed by St Pat’s and Sarsfields (6.45pm).
Earlier in the day, Maghery and Clann Eirean do battle at Clann Eireann Park (2.30pm)
Two of the qualifiers are listed for today – Annaghmore and Dromintee at Abbey Park and Pearse Og v Madden in Ballymacnab, both 5pm starts.
St Pat’s hammered a depleted Pearse Og and should have too much in the tank for Sarsfields, who struggled to beat Forkhill with an injury-time point.
Despite missing the injured Aidan Nugent and Mickey Murray, and no Robbie Tasker or Tony Donnelly, the Cullyhanna men, fresh from being crowned league champions put down a marker with that 18-point annihilation of Ogs.
They are quite a physical force who play direct football with key men in all vital areas. It could well be their year. Sean Connell, Stephen Reel, Paudie McCreesh and Gary McCooey help form one of the tightest defences in the country, while elsewhere Mal Mackin, Pearse Casey, Shea Hoey and Barry McConville are key figures.
Maghery would be expected to advance against Wolfe Tones. They dominated the game against Annaghmore with James Lavery, Aidan Forker, Conor Mackle, Oisin Lappin and Stephen Cusack to the fore. They have never won the title but that could be about to change.
Tone’s battled hard to come back at Grange after losing an early 1-5 to 0-2 advantage and will once again be counting on Finnian Moriarty, Niall Geoghegan, Declan Lavery and Ruairi McCaughley to drive them on.
In the Qualifers, Pearse Og, with captain and leading marksman Marc Cullen back from suspension, should have the measure of Madden, who produced a storming second half against Clann Eireann slicing a 13-point deficit to two but still ended up on the wrong side of a 3-15 to 3-9 result.
The Raparees were missing several regulars last day out but have county man Niall Grimley back from America. Aaron McKenna, Kyle Morgan and Conor Grimley are capable of stretching the city defence.
Ogs too have been crippled with absenteeism and will again be looking to Paul Duffy, Chris Rafferty and Shay Freeman for leadership.
Annaghmore and Dromintee is a tight one to call. The Pearses were really no match for Maghery in the opening round. However, the MacIomhair brothers – Oisin and Ciaran – Conor Cullen and the McQuade’s can make life difficult for the south Armagh men.
Dromintee will take some heart from their display against Cross and aren’t short of talent with the likes of Aaron McKay, Gareth McCrink, Cathal McKenna, Shane Carroll and Aaron Boyle to spur them on. They may just manage to scrape home.
The third qualifier involves Granemore and Forkhill in Silverbridge tomorrow (5.45pm). Granemore were motoring well against Tir na nOg but the loss of defender Darragh Rafferty probably cost them the match. They were also without two of their mainstays,
Kieran Toner and Declan Doyle, whose return would be crucial. Chrissie O’ Connor and Jason O’ Neill are their leading marksmen and will have to be on song.
Forkhill, judging by their display against Sarsfields, will be no pushover and if county men Stephen Sheridan and Jemar Hall hit form the O’ Doirnin’s are capable of booking a quarter-final spot, though Granemore seem the bet.
