ROSCOMMON boss Kevin McStay believes Armagh get a “hard press” and are the subject of unrealistic expectations because 2002 All-Ireland winning captain Kieran McGeeney is their manager.
The Orchardmen came in for plenty of criticism following their surprise Ulster Championship exit to Fermanagh back in May, but have responded with back door wins over Westmeath, Sligo and Clare.
McStay takes his Rossies side to Portlaoise for tomorrow’s winner-takes-all round four Qualifier clash against Armagh, with a much-coveted Super 8s place the prize on offer.
And the former RTE pundit believes McGeeney’s men were harshly treated in the aftermath of that defeat to the Ernemen.
He said: “I watched Armagh’s game against Fermanagh from top to toe, and I could think of 10 teams ranked higher than Armagh and ranked lower than Armagh that Fermanagh would have beaten that day - and I include ourselves in that.
“Because of the way Fermanagh play, it’s very difficult to play against. It can be sapping and mentally difficult to do it.
“I believe the current Armagh team gets a hard press… it’s probably because Kieran is their manager, they’re expecting so much from it. There’s nothing he can do about that.
“I’d say a lot of the northern journalists, because Kieran is their manager, you’re expecting stuff way beyond. Kieran was an All-Ireland champion, a fantastic captain and has shown himself to be a very decent manager with different teams, so people’s expectations of what Armagh should be doing is probably beyond what Armagh are capable of.
“This is the reality. They’re a developing team, everybody knows that. The same as us. Roscommon are, I hope, a developing team and I’d hope on Saturday we’d be saying ‘we’re beginning to mature a bit now’.
“But we’ve faced Armagh a couple of times in challenges over the last 24 months and they’re always tough games, and we’re expecting absolutely nothing else this time.”
Following their dramatic last-gasp victory over Clare at the Athletic Grounds last Saturday, McGeeney said “everybody’s going to be wishing they’ll be getting us” ahead of the Qualifier draw.
The Roscommon boss, however, insists that was not the case.
“We didn’t care who we got because we resolved among ourselves two weeks ago that round four was going to be about Roscommon – how we reacted, and what pride we were going to show after being beaten by Galway [in the Connacht final],” added McStay, whose side fell foul of the high-flying Tribesmen on June 17.
“We have used the last three weeks well and we’re going to be a better team for it, but now we have to show that want to get a bit of redemption and, if there’s a bit of frustration after the Connacht final, let’s see are we good enough to compete with the top eight.
“With all teams like Roscommon and Armagh, you don’t really know what you’re going to get because you haven’t hit that consistency of the Kerrys, the Dublins, the Mayos. Galway are getting into that level.
“I would have serious respect for what Kieran is trying to do with Armagh. This is the acid test now for Roscommon, and I’m sure for Armagh too.
“There’s no safety net, and there’s a huge prize for the winners. For both teams there’s no life beyond Saturday.”
