Football

Armagh face step into the known in Tribe test: McEntee

Armagh will face Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final after getting the better of Ulster opponents Tyrone and Donegal to reach thus stage. Picture by Philip Walsh
Armagh will face Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final after getting the better of Ulster opponents Tyrone and Donegal to reach thus stage. Picture by Philip Walsh Armagh will face Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final after getting the better of Ulster opponents Tyrone and Donegal to reach thus stage. Picture by Philip Walsh

HE may have his eyes on another prize, but Tony McEntee has still been closely following Armagh’s fortunes in recent weeks – and believes the Orchard face a step into the unknown when they take on Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Kieran McGeeney’s side have only faced Ulster opposition so far this summer, having avenged their provincial Championship defeat to Donegal on Sunday, a week after toppling All-Ireland champions Tyrone at the Athletic Grounds.

Monday’s draw paired them with Padraic Joyce’s Tribesmen in the June 26 quarter-final, with a last four clash against the winner of Clare v Derry up for grabs for the winner.

Armagh haven’t faced Galway since a National League clash in 2016 - Kieran McGeeney’s first year in charge - and in terms of personnel and approach, the Connacht outfit are almost completely unrecognisable.

McEntee, through his previous involvement with Mayo and then as manager of Sligo for the past two years, has watched the Tribe’s evolution from close quarters – and believes they will offer a different challenge to anything his native county have faced thus far.

“Familiarity is a big thing,” said the Crossmaglen man, whose Sligo side take on Cavan in Sunday’s Tailteann Cup semi-final at Croke Park.

“Armagh haven’t played Galway in a couple of years and even since then, guys like Rob Finnerty have come in and played really well, Damien Comer’s back, Shane Walsh has found form, Paul Conroy has had his injuries but is back… they’re not the same team they would’ve played.

“Also, they’ve transitioned over the last numbers of years from an attacking team, to a defensive team for a couple of years, to an attacking team again - and there was a period where they found it very difficult to move between all those options.

“This year they’re much more consistent in how they want to play and where they’re playing. Comer, for all intents and purposes, is a young Michael Murphy – he’s so dynamic at full-forward, he’s brilliant.

“Armagh have been defensively sound, but Galway carry a serious attacking threat and massive pace. They’re a well rounded team from back to front, very similar to Armagh in that they’re very athletic and pacy.”

McEntee, an All-Ireland winner with Armagh 20 years ago, has been impressed with the attitude and intensity the Orchard have brought to the last two weekends as their Championship campaign has reignited.

From flat and struggling for ideas when swatted aside by Donegal at the end of April, their bold approach proved too much for Tyrone while, in Sunday’s rematch with the Tir Chonaill in Clones, Armagh refused to be overwhelmed when Donegal hit a first half purple patch.

“That was the surprise on Sunday - when Donegal went six ahead in the first half, and then how the whole thing turned shortly after that,” he said.

“Maybe that shows the learnings in Armagh because in years gone by that wouldn’t have changed, and earlier in the year when they played Donegal in the League and the Championship, they didn’t step up and take over.

“There’s been huge progress and huge development. The Armagh people are looking at the promise this team is coming through with, and when they’re delivering on that promise they want to be a part of it.

“It’s brilliant times for Armagh football.”