Football

Armagh too threadbare to serve revenge on Murphyless Donegal

Michael Murphy and Aidan Forker had a tetchy battle last year, but neither man is expected to feature tonight because of injury as Armagh seek some form of revenge for the beat 1-22 to 0-13 beating they suffered in Breffni Park that day. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Michael Murphy and Aidan Forker had a tetchy battle last year, but neither man is expected to feature tonight because of injury as Armagh seek some form of revenge for the beat 1-22 to 0-13 beating they suffered in Breffni Park that day. Picture by Margar Michael Murphy and Aidan Forker had a tetchy battle last year, but neither man is expected to feature tonight because of injury as Armagh seek some form of revenge for the beat 1-22 to 0-13 beating they suffered in Breffni Park that day. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

Allianz Football League Division One North: Armagh v Donegal (tonight, 7.30pm, Athletic Grounds, live on eir Sport 1)

WHEN the plans were laid out in front of Armagh two months ago, they would have had eyes on some form of redemption tonight.

Nobody needs reminded of last year’s Ulster semi-final. This was the day of their reckoning, to see whether they could actually contend for silverware, and it couldn’t have gone any worse.

That Kieran McGeeney was still being asked about it last week, and the week before, and the week before that, indicates how firm a blow Donegal delivered in Breffni Park that afternoon.

The unanswered 1-6 in eight minutes before half-time blew the Orchard out of the water, the championship and the 2021 thoughts of many who figured they were still a fair bit back on the top two yet.

It’s a day that will sting them for an eternity but they would have had visions of laying down a marker here, especially given that victory is the difference in a league semi-final and a relegation playoff.

They have acquitted themselves fairly well in the northern end of Division One. Their win over Monaghan perhaps wasn’t given enough credit until after the same Farney team tore Donegal’s defence apart a week later.

And they would have had Tyrone buried had Stefan Campbell’s penalty not reverberated back off Niall Morgan’s knees. They were reeled in but all in, it’s been a decent showing so far.

The problem now is simply injuries. They will be missing their entire full-back line of Ryan Kennedy, Aidan Forker and James Morgan, plus Paddy Burns who would regularly fill a starting jersey too.

It is a defensive catastrophe. McGeeney is likely to bring Barry McCambridge and Paul Hughes into the team, pull Greg McCabe back into defence and perhaps even revert to Stefan Campbell at number six, as he’s done at times in the past.

As much as Armagh have shown a real will to play attractive football, this is an evening where they’ll have to prioritise helping out a relatively rookie defence.

It’s also an evening where they need Rian O’Neill to step forward. He has produced flashes so far but they’ll feel he can expose Donegal if he’s on his game tonight, and they’ll need that if they’re to win.

Armagh have an injury list and Donegal have the one injury they can least afford. Michael Murphy’s hamstring popped as he chased Conor Boyle back into his own defence after three minutes last weekend.

They haven’t been without their talisman for any significant football in a generation but at 31, we may be discovering that he is human. We are also possibly getting a look at how Donegal will cope without him when he does go in a few years’ time.

Not having to designate a man-marker to the Glenswilly man is a small mercy for McGeeney, who will actually look at the match-ups and feel their chances are remarkable given what they’ve lost.

Declan Bonner might feel now is the time to give Odhran MacNiallais the licence to keep their creative juices flowing.

They’ve kept him in armbands so far, a cameo here and there, but it’s getting near deep-end time and they have to figure out very quickly how it is they’ll play without Murphy if he’s to miss any of the championship.

Monaghan created a remarkable 10 goal chances in Ballybofey last weekend. Donegal were killed by the raids of Ryan McAnespie and Karl O’Connell from the wing-back slots as their commitment to attack almost came back on them.

Yet they kicked 1-20 and recovered a game that looked dead. Stephen McMenamin is nearing full fitness and his return will shore the full-back line up, though they must decide whether to send Neil McGee out after Rian O’Neill when he goes to midfield.

One of the most overlooked elements of last year’s semi-final was how Armagh’s attack failed to function. They had plenty of ball but scored just four points from play.

A full-strength Armagh would have fancied this rattle at a Murphyless Donegal, something to help with the healing of the wounds of Breffni.

But they’re just too defensively threadbare to think that they could win.

Donegal by five.