Orchard hurlers playing for pride

FOR Armagh, the last two remaining league games will be a matter of fulfilling the fixtures and preparing for the Nickey Rackard Cup competition. Their fate has already been decided after four outings.

Karl McKeegan’s men have nothing to show for their efforts and with clashes against Tyrone and Fermanagh coming up, they have nothing to play for as they’ve already dropped to the basement division.

Defeats to Louth, Wicklow, Roscommon and Donegal mean the best Armagh can do is reach four points, which would tie them with the Wee County if they fail to pick up any more points.

Louth have the head-to-head advantage over the Orchard County so that would keep their heads above the water, meaning it’s impossible for Armagh to save themselves. Fermanagh below them could also get to four points, but with the Ulster sides to meet, three teams can’t get to that mark.

Armagh travel to Garvaghey to take on old rivals Tyrone, who are still in the promotion shakeup but will need results elsewhere to go their way if they are to make an immediate return to Division Two.

The turnover of player in the Orchard panel has been exceptional this season, with as many as 19 players leaving due to travel and club commitments, and some of the younger hands have impressed despite the poor run of form.

Jack Loughran, an Ulster Colleges All-Star two years ago, is currently their top scorer having made his debut in the first round of the league. He has hit 0-23 across their four games and has been a brilliant find.

Conor Carabine, Caionn Hughes, Jack Scallon and Darren McMullen are others that have tasted inter-county action for the very first time this year and have gained plenty of experience.

They were all involved with the Armagh u-20 team that were crowned Ulster Shield champions on Friday night as they overpowered Fermanagh, so it’s not all doom and gloom on the hurling front.

There are still some experienced heads knocking around as well, with joint-captains Odhran Curry andBarry Shortt performing well and they’ll be keen that Armagh push on in the final two rounds.

The two-time Nickey Rackard Cup winners, who haven’t reached the final since 2019, begin their journey in April and they will face a lot of the same teams who they have competed against in the league.

They begin against last year’s beaten finalists Mayo, before facing back-to-back away day in Fermanagh and Sligo. Their second home tie is against Louth while they finish the group stages away to Tyrone.