Armagh City Hotel Ulster Intermediate Championship semi-final
Armagh v Cavan (Saturday, Ballymacnab, 3pm)
HOLDERS Armagh are still coming into this semi-final as favourites, despite featuring in a division of the Very National League lower than their opponents Cavan.
However, games between the three counties featuring at this level (Antrim are already in the final) have been very unpredictable over the past couple of seasons.
Cavan won the Division Three league title last year, but were knocked out at the Ulster semi-final stage by Antrim. Armagh then beat Antrim in the final and also in the All-Ireland group stages.
The Orchard county girls then got the better of Cavan in the All-Ireland semi-final, 1-13 to 2-3, but lost the final to goal-hungry Antrim.
Since all three have played in different league grouping this year, they have yet to face each other.
Armagh were pretty down after losing the Division Three final in a tight game with Carlow last month. Neither team could find the net over the hour and the game was decided by an injury-time point.
Coming into that final Armagh had been playing well and there was a good shape to the team, but their problem had been the absence of tight games.
Cavan competed well in Division Two, but a lack of goals cost them points. An injury to Niamh Keenaghan certainly blunted their attack, while the goalscoring of Shanise Fitzsimons last year has resulted in defences keeping a closer eye on the Denn player this season.
The tougher games in Division Two will have helped Cavan this year – but Armagh will still fancy their chances of completing a three-in-a-row. This should be a very tight game.
