Dr McKenna Cup Group A: Derry v Armagh (tomorrow, Owenbeg, 2pm)
VICTORY tomorrow will count for very little come the spring and even less in the summer. It’s a run-out for the old hands and a chance for the new lads to impress, but as always there are factors that make this a result that’s worth looking out for.
Derry, the Division Two side, might be favourites on paper against Division Three outfit Armagh but the counties have experienced contrasting fortunes since their 2016 seasons ended.
Oak Leaf manager Damien Barton had the rug pulled from under his feet as he prepared for his second year in charge.
His beefed-up training blueprint for 2017 was met with a chorus of disapproval from experienced players who withdrew from the panel en masse and so Barton – already without the contingent from Ulster champions Slaughtneil – was left without the services of seasoned performers including Niall Holly, Sean Leo McGoldrick, Liam McGoldrick, Gareth McKinless, Conor McAtamney and Emmett Bradley.
He has had to fill the gaps with young hopefuls who will have to grow up fast and Barton’s side for the 2017 opener includes just two players – Emmet McGuckin and Ryan Bell – who featured this time last year.
Meanwhile, Orchard boss Kieran McGeeney has named a handful of rookies including Maghery pair Ciaran Higgins and Ben Crealey, but Armagh’s team includes League starters Paddy Morrison, Stefan Campbell, Charlie Vernon, Aidan Forker, Rory Grugan, Ethan Rafferty, Mark Shields and Paul Hughes.
McGeeney goes into his pivotal third year in charge with the injury problems of last season behind him, Jamie Clarke back in harness and a ‘this could be our year’ feeling among fans in the county.
Under the 2002 All-Ireland-winning skipper, Armagh have occasionally hinted at resurgence but ultimately failed to deliver. McGeeney took over a side in Division Three and they’ll play their football there again this year.
Last season brought only relegation and Championship defeats and they were by-products of a tendency to self-destruct.
When Armagh were bad they were awful – the side failed to score for the entire second half against Meath, lost by 17 points against Cavan and managed just a point in the first half against Laois in the Qualifiers. No team can afford to go off the boil to that extent and hope to put together a run in the League or Championship so supporters will hope to see signs that McGeeney’s side means business tomorrow.
The Armagh manager admits there are “green shoots” and hopes for a better fortune with injuries this year.
“Our biggest thing is getting our best players on the pitch at the one time, that’s ultimately what we’re looking for,” he said.
“I wouldn’t call it bad luck because you tend to make your own, but there’s things that maybe haven’t bounced the way you'd like them. You’d hope for a wee bit more of a run for them this year.
“They seem to be in a good place but you have to be honest about where we are. There are some green shoots and hopefully things will turn.”
Tomorrow’s game is a re-run of the entertaining O’Fiach Cup semi-final in Crossmaglen in early December. Armagh won on the day but both camps took positives from the game with talented youngsters in orange and red and white catching the eye.
Derry outplayed their hosts for a spell in the first half and, with Glen clubman Danny Tallon outstanding, produced some scintillating football to lead by four points at the interval.
But Armagh shelved their lateral passing game in the second half and, with the shackles off, they tore the fledgling Oak Leafers to shreds racking up 2-13.
The versatile Oisin O’Neill top-scored with five points and led a full-forward line with Oisin MacIomhair and Pearse Casey that scored nine points from play.
Crossmaglen’s O’Neill is in the St Mary’s University squad for this competition, but MacIomhair and Casey are named for tomorrow.
Intriguingly McGeeney has left an AN OTHER spot in his first 15. Brendan Donaghy or Ciaran McKeever could fill the berth at number six, or perhaps there will be a reshuffle and Jamie Clarke will return to action?
Whatever the result is tomorrow, defeat won’t end the losers’ season, but victory might be the start of something for the winners.
Derry: B McKinless; O Hegarty, O Duffin, P Hagan; P Coney, J Doherty, N Forester; G O'Neill, A McLaughlin; M Warnock, N Loughlin, C McWilliams; R Bell, E McGuckin, B Heron
Armagh: P Morrison; P Hughes, C Vernon, M Shields; J McElroy, AN Other, C Higgins; B Crealey, E Rafferty; R Grugan, C White, A Forker; O Mac Íomhair, P Casey, S Campbell
