Football

ARMAGH: key stats, key men, key facts ahead of the 2017 Ulster GAA Championship campaign

ARMAGH: key stats, key men, key facts ahead of the 2017 Ulster GAA Championship campaign

2017 NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION THREE

RESULTS

D: Sligo 1-14 Armagh 2-11

L: Armagh 0-16 Laois 2-11

W: Longford 3-9 Armagh 3-11

W: Armagh 6-22 Offaly 0-10

W: Louth 0-11 Armagh 3-15

W: Armagh 1-12 Antrim 0-13

L: Armagh 0-16 Tipperary 3-8

FINAL STANDINGS

P W D L F A SD Pts

Tipperary (P) 7 5 0 2 12-96 5-98 19 10

Louth (P) 7 5 0 2 7-88 4-89 8 10

Armagh 7 4 1 2 15-103 9-76 45 9

Sligo 7 3 1 3 8-87 8-89 -2 7

Offaly 7 3 0 4 7-97 18-90 -26 6

Longford 7 2 1 4 4-94 10-82 -6 5

Antrim (R) 7 2 1 4 7-78 6-91 -19 5

Laois (R) 7 2 0 5 10-76 7-104 -19 4

LAST LEAGUE TEAM

Division Three, Athletic Grounds, April 2: Armagh 0-16 Tipperary 3-8

B Hughes; J Morgan, C Vernon, P Hughes; N Rowland, A Forker (capt.) (0-1), A McKay; B Crealey, O O’Neill (0-2); N Grimley (0-2), A Duffy, R Grugan (0-3, 0-1 free); J Clarke (0-3), S Campbell (0-1), A Murnin (0-3). Substitutes: G McParland for Duffy (44); C McKeever for Crealey (49); C O’Hanlon for O’Neill (66); G McCabe (0-1) for Forker (71). Yellow cards: O’Neill (25), Murnin (63), Vernon (73).

2016 SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

RESULTS

Ulster SFC quarter-final: Cavan 2-16 Armagh 0-14

All-Ireland SFC qualifiers round 1A: Laois 1-10 Armagh 0-10 [match declared void]

All-Ireland SFC qualifiers round 1A re-fixture: Laois 1-11 Armagh 1-10

LAST CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

All-Ireland SFC qualifiers round 1A re-fixture, O’Moore Park, July 2: Laois 1-11 Armagh 1-10

P Morrison; S Heffron, B Donaghy (0-1), J McElroy; S O’Connell, A Mallon, S Sheridan; C Vernon, A Findon; T Kernan, R Grugan (1-2), A Forker; P Casey, S Campbell (0-4, 0-3 frees), M McKenna (0-1). Subs: N Grimley for Sheridan (6), E McVerry for Casey (26), C Watters (0-2) for Connell (h-t), M Shields for McKenna (62).

MANAGER AND KEY MAN

KIERAN MCGEENEY

In his third campaign as boss ‘Geezer’ is still seeking his first victory in Ulster, just one of many reasons why the derby game in Newry is HUGE. Armagh have become much more attacking this season but McGeeney must seriously improve their defensive structures or else he still won’t have broken his provincial duck.

Victory in Pairc Esler would be a stepping stone towards the Ulster Final; defeat would be stumbling block, making it hard to lift team spirits after the disappointment of missing out on promotion from Division Three.

RORY GRUGAN

Armagh’s attacking ability has been very evident this season and although others may get their names on the score-sheet more than him, Rory Grugan is very often involved in the creation of the opportunities. The Ballymacnab clubman has all the attributes of a modern half-forward – work-rate, unselfishness, and an eye for both passes and scores. His composure on the ball is an extra quality, enabling him mostly to make the right decisions in possession. The 25-year-old is a real leader for his team, carrying the fight to the opposition, and can be relied on for consistently good performances.

LAST 10 SFC MEETINGS

2011 Ulster SFC quarter-final: Armagh 1-15 Down 1-10

2008 Ulster SFC semi-final: Armagh 1-12 Down 0-11

2001 All-Ireland qualifiers round one: Armagh 1-13 Down 2-4

1999 Ulster SFC Final: Armagh 3-12 Down 0-10

1998 Ulster SFC quarter-final: Armagh 0-16 Down 0-11

1992 Ulster SFC quarter-final: Armagh 0-9 Down 1-12

1991 Ulster SFC quarter-final: Down 1-7 Armagh 0-8

1990 Ulster SFC semi-final replay: Armagh 2-7 Down 0-12

1990 Ulster SFC semi-final: Armagh 1-13 Down 2-10

1986 Ulster SFC semi-final: Down 3-7 Armagh 0-12

2017 Ulster SFC quarter-final, June 4, Newry: Down v Armagh