Key battle
Neil McGee (Donegal) v Rian O’Neill (Armagh)
McGEE has a vast reservoir of experience which stretches back to playing against O’Neill’s uncle, Oisin McConville, in the 2006 Ulster final at Croke Park. Meanwhile, Rian O’Neill brings the fearlessness of youth and the Crossmaglen native will absolutely relish the challenge of testing himself against the teak-tough Gweedore Allstar who, for his part, will be hell-bent on proving that he still has what it takes to impress at this level.
O’Neill scored four points in Armagh’s win over Derry a fortnight ago while McGee was forced off with an injury during Donegal’s win against Tyrone. By all accounts he’s fully fit now and will be the man to pick up O’Neill when he goes into the full-forward position.
The Armagh attacker is capable of drifting out the field. Donegal won’t want McGee being drawn out with him but they’ll be happier with the Orchard threat out at their 45 than having him near their posts.
This is an individual battle that will have a huge bearing on the war.
Rory Grugan (Armagh)
THE Ballymacnab clubman has been in superb form since the inter-county season resumed and has developed into a playmaker in the mould of Armagh’s 1977 All-Ireland final skipper Jimmy Smyth.
Quick and two-footed, he has the knack of finding space where there appears to be none and has a keen eye for a score. But it is his passing that sets him apart. His quick free to Callum Cumiskey in the opening minutes of Armagh’s promotion-clinching win over Clare in Ennis was a crucial moment in that game. A fortnight ago, Derry gave the former Orchard captain far too much space early on and Grugan clipped over three excellent points.
Also a reliable free-taker, he has brought consistency to his game this season and injects momentum, positivity and creativity into this Armagh side. A potential match-winner today.
Teams
Armagh
KIERAN McGeeney has been able to field a settled side since inter-county action resumed. Callum Cumiskey and Niall Grimley missed the Derry game through injury but return today with Greg McCabe and Jarlath Og Burns dropping out.
Team: B Hughes; P Burns, R Kennedy, J Morgan; C O’Neill, A Forker, M Shields; O O’Neill, S Sheridan; R Grugan, C Cumiskey, S Campbell; J Clarke, R O’Neill, N Grimley
Donegal
DECLAN Bonner is expected to start Kilcar forward Paddy McBrearty today but Ardara defender Paddy McGrath is ruled out with a “soft tissue” issue. Apart from McGrath and Odhran McFadden-Ferry who is overseas with the Irish Army, Bonner has a full hand to play from.
Team: TBC
Tactical take
Armagh
IT’S a knockout Championship and, with Division One football secured for next year, the Orchardmen can afford to go out to play front-foot football and take Donegal on with confidence today.
They have the forwards with the skills and workrate to do damage if they see enough of the ball and Armagh’s best chance is to press the Donegal kick-out and force Shaun Patton into kicking the ball into midfield where, in Niall Grimley, Stephen Sheridan and Oisin O’Neill, they have the personnel to hold their own.
At the back, Ryan Kennedy has emerged as a reliable full-back and could pick up Paddy McBrearty, with Paddy Burns tracking Jamie Brennan and James Morgan on Ciaran Thompson.
Tactical take
Donegal
POSSESSION will be nine-tenths of the law this afternoon and the battle in midfield will be fierce. Donegal will target the Armagh kick-outs from the start and a handful of turnovers could sway the game their way.
What will they do in possession? Against Tyrone, Donegal opted to play a slow, at times laboured, build-up, with long passages of back-and-across handpassing but Declan Bonner’s side can change gears today.
Bonner’s side is full of strong, athletic runners but with Paddy McBrearty back in the team, the tactics could begin to shift towards getting early ball up to the forwards.
If they get the right ball, McBrearty, Jamie Brennan and Oisin Gallen will cause the Armagh defence serious headaches.
Who’s the ref?
David Coldrick (Meath)
EXPERIENCED Royal county whistler Coldrick took charge of Kildare versus Offaly last weekend and Longford versus Louth the week before. Hasn’t refereed an Ulster Championship game since 2018 when he took charge of the Tyrone versus Monaghan quarter-final, sending off Peter Harte late in the game. Respected and rated, he likes to allow the play to flow when he can and communicates well with the players.
Weather watch
THERE’S a 90 per cent chance to rain at throw-in tomorrow so the ground will be heavy and the ball will be slippery. Studs and gloves required.
Betting box
Donegal 2/7
Draw 9/1
Armagh 4/1
Worth a punt: Armagh to win at 4/1
Last Championship meeting
June 14, 2015: Ulster SFC quarter-final: Armagh 0-8 Donegal 2-11
WITH the stands packed and the sun out there was only one team in it back in 2015.
Paddy McBrearty turned James Morgan for a goal after two minutes and Donegal dominated a first half that saw Michael Murphy convert a string of long-range frees to establish a 1-9 to 0-2 interval lead.
Marty O’Reilly scored the second Donegal goal after the break and although the visitors managed just two more points, the Armagh attack was never able to break through the Tir Chonaill defence.
This was a miserable afternoon for an Armagh side that failed to compete in front of their own fans.
Last 10 Championship meetings:
June 14, 2015: Armagh 0-8 Donegal 2-11
August 9, 2014: Armagh 1-11 Donegal 1-12
June 26, 2010: Armagh 2-14 Donegal 0-11
May 27, 2007: Armagh 1-8 Donegal 1-9
July 9, 2006: Armagh 1-9 Donegal 0-9
June 18, 2005: Armagh 3-11 Donegal 1-10
June 12, 2005: Armagh 0-12 Donegal 0-12
July 11, 2004: Armagh 3-15 Donegal 0-11
August 31, 2003: Armagh 2-10 Donegal 1-9
July 7, 2002: Armagh 1-14 Donegal 1-10
