Armagh firmly on red alert ahead of semi-final says Aaron Kernan

COMING from Crossmaglen, Down were always Aaron Kernan’s big rivals. Sure, during his playing days there was a real hatred with Tyrone, but the historic rivalry with the Mourne men always stood out to him.

And it’s back. Following their amazing win over Ulster and All-Ireland favourites Donegal, Conor Laverty’s side will be keen to take another scalp when they take on old foes Armagh at Clones.

The Orchard County didn’t have as much to do in reaching the last four, comprehensively defeating Fermanagh at Brewster Park, and Armagh have been forewarned of what is coming down the tracks.

With Donegal gone, whispers have already begun that this is Armagh’s best chance to get their hands on the Anglo Celt Cup for the first time since 2008, but Kernan doesn’t think Kieran McGeeney’s charges will take their eye off the ball. “I would say there’s no complacency in terms of Donegal being gone because we’re dealing with a very hungry Down side that are coming to Clones,” said Kernan, who is currently part of Robbie Brennan’s Meath management team.

“I know for us south Armagh boys, with the local rivalry that we would have, you would never take any Down team for granted and particularly not a Down team like this one.

“There’s no team in Ulster that grows in confidence the way that they do. They’re about a foot taller after they get a win like the one they just got last weekend, so I have to say it’s exciting and nerve-racking in equal measures.”

Kernan, who retired from inter-county action at the end of the 2014 season, was on co-commentary duty for GAA+ at both of last week’s Ulster quarter-final clashes and got to see the games up close.

The short turnaround between games could play its part, Kernan believes, and he doesn’t read too much into the fact that Armagh conceded 1-24 to a Fermanagh team that had been relegated to Division Four during the National League.

“The way the draw had fallen, it’s a semi-final that Armagh expected to be in. But to be fair to Down, I don’t think anyone in the country saw their result coming (against Donegal),” he added.

“From the very start of the game, they played with a desire and an energy, and I was wondering if they’d be able to keep going for 70 minutes but they did and more.

“The old rivalry is kicking back in again. We saw what Down expended on Sunday compared to what Armagh had to do.

“Whether or not you can read too much into Armagh’s concession rate against Fermanagh, I’d imagine it was hard for Armagh to stay at championship pitch whenever they were scoring as easily as they were.

“The confidence, the belief, the energy levels and the runners Down have, there’s no doubt about it – Armagh will be on red alert next weekend and it’ll be some contest.”

Armagh were hit by a crisis of injuries in the lead up to the Fermanagh match and lined out minus a couple of big named players.

Ben Crealey, Callum O’Neill, Greg McCabe, Joe McElroy, Gareth Murphy and Rory Grugan didn’t make the matchday panel while Crealey, an All-Star in 2024, is set to miss out on the remainder of the season.

Ciaran Mackin and Barry McCambridge did make their first appearances of the season however, while Clann Éireann’s Daniel Magee and Culloville’s Ryan Duffy made their championship debuts.

Not only that, but Kernan points to the performance of Conor Turbitt, who kicked 1-6 before being hauled ashore in the second half.

“I thought at times, Armagh were extremely slick against Fermanagh. They were able to get scores so easily and at their leisure, but they were very ruthless about what they did.

“I thought ‘Turbo’, for 43 minutes he was the best player on the field, and his form is a huge positive. His pace, his confidence on the shot, it’s hugely positive.

“It was probably difficult to stay at championship pitch. I thought throughout the league, even with all the injuries, retirements and players that aren’t there, they played some brilliant football.

“The only concern against Fermanagh, was it a mindset thing in terms of scores that we conceded? Even the amount of shots we conceded is a concern, but can we put it down to just mindset and the ease at which we were able to get up the field? That can happen, it’s very hard to stay at the pitch of it or be relentless at what you’re trying to do whenever you know you’re able to put scores up at the other end of the field so easily.”