ARMAGH assistant Ciaran McKeever believes the Orchard men now have a “better concept of defending as a team” – but knows Ulster champions Derry will be a step up in class.
It’ll be Armagh’s first provincial final appearance since 2008 – an Ulster-winning team that McKeever played on – while Derry will be looking to retain the Anglo-Celt for only the second time in their history (1975/76).
A competition they have struggled desperately to put back-to-back performances together in since Kieran McGeeney took the reins, Armagh coasted into this year’s decider – beating Antrim (nine points), Cavan (five points) and Down (10 points).
Asked if he feels Armagh are now a better defensive unit than in the past, McKeever said: “I think we’ve a better concept of defending as a team where that potentially wasn’t happening in previous years.
“It’s a thing you feel from supporters and the media that we’re too good to defend, but it’s a fundamental part of the game. You’ve got to defend as a unit and as a team and Derry have shown that and you’ve got to attack in the same manner as well.
“We’ve slowly but surely brought that into our game over the last two years and it has served us well, and I think it suits the type of players we have. We’ll be ready for what lies ahead.”
Armagh’s attack undoubtedly misfired during key stages of their Division One campaign that resulted in being relegated - but, defensively, they are unrecognisable from the team that were exposed on so many occasions in a memorable 2021 Ulster semi-final defeat at the hands of Monaghan in Newry.
More exposure in Division One has also helped Armagh’s growth.
“You have to dine at the top table,” McKeever insisted.
“Game-management, just seeing out games, controlling games. It’s completely different playing Division One and I think over the last three years it has helped this group of players and has got them to an Ulster final because their game-management has been pretty good.”
Derry, their Ulster final opponents on Sunday May 14 at Clones, produced arguably their best Championship performance under Rory Gallagher against Monaghan last weekend.
“Derry are very athletic, they have good ball players throughout the pitch, they are very well condensed and compact in defence and when they attack, they attack with 15 players and try to flatten out opposition defences, so we know the challenge that lies ahead but we’ll be diligent in our preparations over the next two weeks and we’ll come with a plan and hopefully get us over the line.”
McKeever was involved in the early years of McGeeney’s managerial tenure when the Orchard men were an erratic outfit, but has helped recalibrate the defence since becoming involved over the last three years.
“If you go through the last decade we were jumping from Division Three to Division Two and back again, but the fans have been excellent, they’ve stayed with us and they’ve travelled in numbers. This will be massive for them as well. They’re entitled to enjoy the build-up over the next two weeks and hopefully they come in their numbers again and that we give them something to chat about.”
