Allianz Football League Division Two: Armagh v Kildare (tonight, 7pm, Athletic Grounds, live on eir Sport)
ARMAGH’S squad is coming to an age where “success is expected” and that they must find a way into Division One in order to fulfil their ambition, says Stevie McDonnell.
Following Charlie Vernon’s retirement in the winter, Brendan Donaghy is the only player in the current Orchard setup with an Ulster medal from their last success in 2008.
Barring Donaghy and fledglings like the O’Neill brothers, Oisin and Rian, and Jarlath Óg Burns, Kieran McGeeney’s likely starting summer team will fall exclusively between the age of 24 and 30, and have been together for longer than most inter-county managers could dream of keeping a panel united.
Yet they were the only county not to reach an Ulster final since they last won it, and last summer recorded their first provincial championship win in five years by beating Down after extra-time before losing a semi-final replay to Cavan.
Championship success has become largely predicated on league standing. Of the 40 provincial titles in the 2010s, 33 were won by Division One teams and of the other seven, three were collected by the side that had been promoted from year’s Division Two.
On top of that, 35 of the 40 All-Ireland semi-final places have gone to Division One teams and three of the other five were collected by Division Two winners, with only Tipperary (2016) and Kildare (2010), who were under McGeeney, bucking the trend.
It’s Kildare who travel to the Athletic Grounds this weekend for a massive game in an already topsy-turvy Division Two, and McDonnell believes that promotion is critical to further Armagh’s hopes.
“Overall the age profile in the Armagh side is quite good. It’s probably at an average age where success is expected.
“When you look at the squad they have now, with Charlie retiring, Brendy is the only one who has really tasted success as the only survivor of the 2008 Ulster winning team.
“The rest of them, there’s no denying they’re hungry for success. What I’ve liked reading in the last few years is the likes of Rian and Oisin O’Neill coming out talking about success and wanting to achieve it for Armagh.
“If you have that type of mindset, it leads to a tunnel vision in getting across the line. There’s no denying the ability. For me, Stefan Campbell is an exceptional talent.
“He’s probably looking at it the same way as Brendy Donaghy, that if they don’t perform and get silverware soon, it’s going to be too late. It is definitely coming to the stage for a number of these players that they have to take it to the next level.
“There’s no doubt the players’ task is to get up to Division One and playing the better teams at a higher level. There’s no better way to improve as a team than when you’re playing Dublin, Donegal, Kerry, the top teams every week.
“You learn a lot more about yourself when you’re playing them, and that’s no disrespect to anybody in Division Two.
“Armagh, if they have any aspirations of winning silverware, that’s the level they have to get to. There’s an opportunity there for them this year.
“You’d think after last week’s performance and result, they left a massive chance behind them but results went their way elsewhere.
“They have to take some kind of satisfaction from that and take it into the game against Kildare, and put in a performance like they did the first day out against Cavan.”
McGeeney has found himself under pressure at times during his reign, largely due to the above record in the provincial championship, but his man-management skills stand up to scrutiny.
While counties the length and breadth of Ireland struggle to keep their panels together from one year to the next, aside from retirement and the in-and-out Jamie Clarke, Armagh haven’t lost a single player of any note to defection during McGeeney’s tenure, which is now in its sixth year.
“No matter who you speak to, the players love playing under Geezer. They’ve huge admiration for him. Even going back as far as his days with Kildare, I’d know a number of those players and they were distraught when Geezer left them.
“He obviously has a way with players and can get a lot out of them in terms of commitment to the cause. There are players there that are extremely experienced but there’s a good mix of youth.”
Kildare haven’t displayed the blistering form that some expected of them, labouring to victory over Fermanagh before losing in Clare. Kevin Feely was back in the side in Ennis, with Neil Flynn pushed back into the attack.
Armagh will feel the youth of their half-back line can be got at, although having Rory Grugan back after missing the loss to Laois would help. They could also do with Aidan Forker’s power in defence.
The Orchard have a recent history of entertainment, and that seems to be a guarantee tonight.
It has a draw written all over it, but if anyone is to steal it, you’d fancy Armagh.
