By Michael McMullan

DERRY begin their All-Ireland campaign with a visit to reigning champions Armagh and Oakleafers’ boss Paddy Tally is aware of the challenge.

Kieran McGeeney’s side have not lost a championship game at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds since their 2015 defeat to Donegal.

The Orchard County have contested the last three Ulster finals and handed Derry a lesson at Celtic Park in the All-Ireland series, a win many felt turned their season.

“Their home record is outstanding,” Tally told Gaelic Life. “They lose very few games in Athletic Grounds, especially this last couple of years.

“They have built a very strong squad. Even in the game (Ulster semi-final) against Tyrone, they’d maybe five or six of the starters from last year’s All-Ireland team and they beat Tyrone.

“In the Ulster final, they ran Donegal to extra time, and could have quite easily have won that game as lost it,” said Tally, before outlining their status as holders of the Sam Maguire Cup.

“This Armagh team are very formidable. You don’t win an All-Ireland by being an average team, you have to be very good.

“This is going to be an incredibly tough starter, but you’ll know where you are.

“The good thing about this group, if you don’t come out of it then you know you’re not good enough to compete for an All- Ireland.

“If you do come out, then you know that you’ve been hardened, you’ve been challenged and you’ll be in a good place for the rest of the competition.”

Derry, Ulster champions twice in the last three years, have not won a game since beating Westmeath in the 2025 All-Ireland series.

The Oakleafers beat Mayo on penalties before losing against a Kerry team coached by Tally in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.