ARMAGH’S Aidan Forker has admitted the Orchardmen may have to change things up if they are to break the Ulster Championship hoodoo that has left them without a provincial win since 2014.
Since that quarter-final victory over Cavan, Armagh have fallen at the first hurdle against Donegal, Cavan and Down before finding themselves unable to break down a dogged Fermanagh side back in May.
Kieran McGeeney’s men have enjoyed some success through the back door in recent seasons, reaching an All-Ireland quarter-final in 2017 before just missing out on the Super 8s this year after losing out to Roscommon in a ding-dong encounter.
Their expansive style has proved easy on the eye during some memorable moments in the Qualifiers but making the breakthrough in Ulster has been another matter – with McGeeney still searching for his first provincial win since taking the Orchard job four years ago.
Old foes Down await next summer and Forker acknowledges that the Ulster Championship is “that wee bit different”.
“I’m not too sure if we need a fundamental change in how we do things. We try to play football in a positive way; in a way that is positive in getting results but also is maybe nice to look at,” said the Maghery man.
“Perhaps we’ll have to change things slightly. You always change things anyway depending on the opposition and depending on personnel, who you have available and who they have available.
“The game has evolved in such a way that you can’t rely on one system of play only, teams wouldn’t be long snuffing that out. You can have the best plan in the world but if it’s not executed properly, it’s no good to you.
“Ulster football is that wee bit different to the Qualifiers and maybe that is why we have done quite well in the Qualifiers to date, although we still haven’t made the breakthrough that we’ve wanted.
“We feel we’re going in the right way, we’re evolving our set up and evolving the whole environment that we’re trying to create for Armagh. While sometimes it mightn’t seem like it’s transferring into performances on the pitch, I think in the long run it will.”
Either through injury or unavailability, McGeeney found himself without several key men this year.
However, Armagh have welcomed back several of those players for the campaign ahead – which begins with their Dr McKenna Cup clash against St Mary’s University College on Sunday.
Forwards Jamie Clarke and Stefan Campbell are among those who have returned to the fold, while Crossmaglen brothers Oisin and Rian O’Neill are also expected to be an integral part of the Orchard’s plans.
And Forker insists the panel is in a good place heading into the season.
“In defence of Kieran, the frustrating thing for him is that he hasn’t always had his fair cohort,” added the 26-year-old.
“He knows the talent in the county and the talent that could be available to him. For one reason or another, boys have stepped away. There was a lot of nonsense going about regarding the environment itself and maybe things spouted about Kieran that were totally false.
“I don’t know if it was lazy journalism or whatever, but one conversation with a player or a member of the management team would’ve dispelled that from the off.
“We’re happy to have the players we have now, there’s a few players coming back in who will give the thing a lift. It’s really exciting to have the newer players, they’ve really impressed me with their attitude and their application, and their desire to wear an Armagh jersey.
“That can only be good for us.”
