Hurling & Camogie

Wounded Armagh hope to keep Nicky Rackard Cup dream alive with victory over Louth

Armagh free-taker Ryan Gaffney could return to the fold today after missing recent games with a broken thumb
Armagh free-taker Ryan Gaffney could return to the fold today after missing recent games with a broken thumb Armagh free-taker Ryan Gaffney could return to the fold today after missing recent games with a broken thumb

Nicky Rackard Cup round 2B: Armagh v Louth (today, 3pm, Athletic Grounds)

AFTER two defeats on the bounce, Armagh must get back to winning ways against Louth today if they are to keep alive their hopes of a first Nicky Rackard Cup success since 2012.

The Orchardmen have lifted the trophy twice before – in 2010 and 2012 – but have fallen short in the last two finals, losing to Connacht conquerors Roscommon and then Mayo.

After losing the Ulster final to Antrim the week previous, injuries took their toll on Sylvester McConnell’s men going into last Sunday’s Nicky Rackard opener against improving Donegal.

They were well beaten on the day but the Armagh boss laughs off the suggestion his side would love another crack at the Tir Chonaill men later in the competition, saying: “I’ll keep that one for the changing room. It’s a battle they have won, and fair play to them…”

“The boys knew what they were facing in Donegal,” continued the Middletown man.

“There was a lot of talk from Donegal about this fixture coming up, so we knew what was coming. We knew they were away on a training weekend and playing a challenge match against Mayo.

“That shows how much they thought of that first Nicky Rackard game, how important it was to them to get off to a good start.”

Donegal got the job done, and Armagh must do the same when they entertain the Wee County.

Talented young wing-back Tiarnan Nevin is ruled out after breaking a finger at training, but there is some good news on the injury front as regular free-taker Ryan Gaffney could return from a broken thumb, while Odhran Curry is also back in the frame.

Louth lost all six League games in Division 3A, but put up a decent performance in defeat to Nicky Rackard favourites Derry last weekend.

And McConnell is wary of a potential banana skin at the Athletic Grounds today.

“It’s a tricky game for us,” he said.

“They made it hard for Derry and in this competition there are no easy teams, all the teams are well prepared. None of the club leagues are up and running so a player in Louth is the same level as a player in Armagh at this time of year.

“It’s all down to what training you’ve done and what conditioning you’ve done. Yes they lost during the League but they were competitive in a lot of those games, and they were competitive again last week.

“From our point of view, we have to get over last week, roll up our sleeves and really fight for everything that’s there in front of us from now on.

“The boys know what’s at stake. They have people talking about them hurling-wise, but they also know if you don’t keep working hard that day can go as quickly as it came.

“We want to put things right from last week but we know it’s not an easy challenge. We travelled to Longford last year and had a very hard game so we won’t be taking Louth lightly.”