Football

Loss of Jamie Clarke a blow as Armagh take on Meath in Navan

James Morgan in action against Jimmy Hyland of Kildare at St Conleth's Park in Newbridge
James Morgan in action against Jimmy Hyland of Kildare at St Conleth's Park in Newbridge James Morgan in action against Jimmy Hyland of Kildare at St Conleth's Park in Newbridge

Allianz National Football League Division Two: Meath v Armagh (tomorrow, Pairc Tailteann, Navan, 2pm)

IF the Armagh players hadn’t grasped the importance of making their own luck after their experience in Kildare, the penny should definitely have dropped after last week’s events against Clare in Newry.

Banner county forward David Tubridy denied the Orchardmen the victory they deserved with a once-in-a-lifetime sideline kick that ripped through the fingertips of the leaping defenders and cannoned off a post. The ball was adjudged to have crossed the line on its way into Blaine Hughes’ hands - replays suggest that it didn’t but the 'goal' stood.

Armagh were also aggrieved by Clare’s first ‘major’ and again they had a strong case that it shouldn’t have been given.

It was, and those calls made the difference between winning and losing. Armagh fans will hope for a little more rub of the green at Pairc Tailteann tomorrow but Kieran McGeeney cautions against counting on getting it.

“It seems you have to play a certain game to get a bit of luck,” said the Armagh manager.

“I’m not good at that game, politics was never my strong suit. The game should be called the way it is seen and it should be that way for everybody, you shouldn’t have to play a game to get luck to go your direction.”

Referring to the decisions that went against his side, he added: “It is frustrating but what can you do?

“They were three major decisions (the two goals and the red card shown to Jamie Clarke) that had a massive impact on the game. It’s hard if all three go against you but that’s football at the minute, you just have to take it on the chin and plough on.”

Armagh were also denied victory in Kildare thanks to a late free and perhaps, given that his side spent the last two seasons in Division Three, inexperience played a part in that result. Maybe, but McGeeney said it had nothing to do with last Sunday’s.

“No matter how well they train and how ruthless they get on the pitch you can’t determine the calls that are made for you or against you,” he said.

“It’s how you respond to them and we responded really well. It was a credit to the boys, they could easily have folded and capitulated especially when the goal went in against them just before half-time. They responded with as much as you could ask from them.”

Armagh are still some way off full strength. Defenders Patrick Burns, Brendan Donaghy and Paul Hughes, midfielder Oisin O’Neill and forwards Andrew Murnin and Ethan Rafferty are all out injured.

Last Sunday Rian O’Neill was the outstanding attacker in orange but the top scorer was Greg McCabe who broke twice from centre half-back and bagged a goal and a point. Meanwhile, Jemar Hall, who scored points in both halves, should be a handful on the speedy surface at Pairc Tailteann and Armagh will need more of the same from him tomorrow in the absence of Clarke, who was red-carded against Clare. Clarke, who has looked fit and sharp, is suspended and he will be missed.

“It’ll be tough going down to Navan,” said McGeeney.

“They’re sitting on two points and they probably felt very aggrieved in Ballybofey. They were very unlucky and Donegal got a fortuitous goal.

“They’ll be looking to push on and they’ll make their home game count. We have to push on and try and get as many points on the board as we can.”

Meanwhile, Meath got a harsh reminder of the same make-your-own-luck lesson in Ballybofey on Saturday night. The Royals had dominated Donegal only to see their hard work go up in smoke when Caolan McGonagle capitalised on a goalkeeping error and nicked the points for the Tir Chonaill men.

Meath manager Andy McEntee took the Royal county minors to the 2012 All-Ireland final and also had success with Dublin’s Ballyboden. Now in his third season as manager of his native county, he feels that Meath’s promotion hopes hinge on tomorrow’s result.

“The difference between winning and losing is so huge in this division,” said the Dunboyne native.

“If we’d have won on Saturday night we’d have been top of the League and if results had gone against us on Sunday we could have been sitting near the bottom.

“It’s going to be the same on Sunday.”

Meath were too good for Tipperary in their opener and looked the better side against Donegal until they were pipped at the post. McEntee will have been encouraged by the form of Darragh Campion, who hit three points from play on the night, and he was also able to bring in the experience of Killian O’Sullivan and Graham Reilly for the second half. At least one, if not both, should start tomorrow.

McEntee has a solid defence and capable man-markers in Seamus Lavin and Conor Magill (who should pick up Campbell tomorrow) while wing-back James McEntee is an important part of the effective transition game they have been operating this year.

“Armagh are showing good form and you could certainly build a case for them to be sitting on four points at this stage,” said McEntee.

“They’re as ambitious as anybody else, Kieran McGeeney is as ambitious as he has always been and they won’t be taking too many backward steps.

“It will be a huge test for both teams and the reward will be massive – if you win you’re in a good position, if you lose…

“You’re looking at the other end of the table. It’s a big one and they’re all big ones and when lose a game or drop points the pressure builds for the next one and we’re under pressure to produce a performance.”

The loss of Clarke, their best forward, is a blow for Armagh tomorrow and if Meath reproduce what they showed for an hour against Donegal last weekend they will be hard to stop. Another draw can’t be ruled out in a game that promises to be a nip-and-tuck affair but experienced Meath, looking sharp so far and on home turf, get the nod to win this one.