Allianz National Football League Division Two: Armagh v Roscommon (today, the Athletic Grounds, 5.30pm)
IT'S all on the line at the Athletic Grounds where Division Two's top dogs tangle in what amounts to a winner-takes-all battle.
We've been waiting on this one for seven months after both counties took seven points from their five outings prior to lockdown and, although it isn't mathematically certain, victory this evening will probably be enough to see the winners claim a place in Division One next year and leave the losers with work to do in the final round of games.
Roscommon have undoubted pedigree but Armagh are the most watchable team in Division Two. On their day, they've looked unbeatable. With physicality and ability in midfield and an array of talented forwards up front, the Orchardmen began and ended their pre-lockdown campaign with 13-point victories over Ulster rivals Cavan and Fermanagh respectively.
But they had off days in between. In Mullingar against Westmeath they looked home and hosed by half-time but collapsed after the break and needed a late equaliser to salvage a draw. Then, in Portlaoise, they were outplayed by a Laois side that hammered out a fully-deserved six-point win.
Those setbacks came away from home of course and, in ordinary circumstances, the Orchardmen could rely on a packed house to roar them on to victory today. But these are extraordinary times. The stands will be empty this evening, the ground eerily silent and Roscommon manager Anthony Cunningham will tell his men that they're playing at what amounts to a neutral venue.
Cunningham's side were relegated last year but rebounded to beat Mayo and Galway and claim the Connacht title (their second in three seasons) and reach the Super 8s for the second year in-a-row.
A disappointing start to this campaign yielded just a point from their first two games but they recovered impressively to beat Clare, Kildare and Westmeath before the League was suspended.
"Armagh are going to be really tough to beat, we know that," said the vastly-experienced Galway native who took his county's hurlers to two All-Ireland finals.
"They were probably the most improved team in the country last year. I don't think they got the credit for it but they played some brilliant football last year and were very close in some big Championship matches.
"It's a winner-takes-all game and that's what you want, we've been waiting a long time for the matches and, fingers crossed, everything will go well for us."
Last time these counties met they produced a 43-score cracker in the Qualifiers and Roscommon got over the line thanks to two goals from Enda Smith.
Armagh have improved since then - Rian O'Neill, Jarlath Og Burns and Conor Turbitt are among the bright talents who have forced their way into the team to join the likes of Stefan Campbell, Rory Grugan, Niall Grimley and Jamie Clarke. The issue for manager Kieran McGeeney isn't so much the talent at his disposal as getting the balance of his team right and it will be interesting to see where Aidan Forker, who was outstanding up front for county champions Maghery, plays.
The Orchard defence has been the problem area for the home side and Roscommon, with the Smiths, Conor Cox and Cathal Cregg have the forwards to exploit that.
And there are outside factors to consider. Two weeks ago, Armagh had to suspend collective training because of a Covid outbreak in the squad. The players have recovered but will that illness and disruption play a part?
Take the crowd out of it, take match fitness out of it, take form out of it and this boils down to the basics - a battle between two teams and their managers.
Victory in a game like this could see Armagh kick-on to a memorable 2020 season but Roscommon are battle-hardened and capable, so this is a hard one to call.
With promotion at stake, it's a Championship-battle and, given their success in that format over the past few years and factoring in Armagh's inconsistency, the Rossies will come close. But with their big-game players in form throughout the club championships, the Orchardmen get the nod to come out on top.
