A case of fulfilling fixtures for Armagh and Fermanagh

AS far as dead rubbers go, Armagh’s meeting with Fermanagh on Saturday means absolutely nothing to either side, outside of fulfilling the fixtures. Both teams have already suffered relegation and will compete in Division Four come 2027.

Neither has picked up a single point from their five previous outings, suffering five consecutive defeats. Three weeks again, their fate was sealed and neither team could avoid the drop with two encounters remaining.

Armagh and Fermanagh have the exact same score difference heading into the weekend with -67. The Erne County have both scored and conceded more than Karl McKeegan’s side.

One of these teams has the opportunity to begin to turn their season around with a victory this weekend and perhaps develop some confidence and build some momentum heading into the business end of the season.

Armagh have conceded nine goals across their five contests against Louth, Wicklow, Roscommon, Donegal and more recently Tyrone. Three of them came the last day out at Garvaghey against the Red Hand County.

Fermanagh have hit the net in three of their last four league duels and scored 2-22 against Roscommon in round five, more than Armagh’s combined score across their last two games.

They did concede five first half goals to trail by 13-points at the break but Danann McKeogh and Sean Corrigan, who finished with 1-8 and 1-6 respectively, hit the net after the turnaround to take the bad look off the scoreline.

Armagh will be forewarned of Fermanagh’s attacking threats but will hope to get joy at the other end of the pitch against a defence that has conceded 10-32 in the last two games.

Armagh have been struck this season by 19 players walking off the panel, for various reasons, before the league kicked off and Karl McKeegan has given gametime to 26 players, including a range of debutants.

Ten players have featured in all five matches with top scorer Jack Loughran, who has racked up 0-27, along with joint captains Barry Shortt and Odhran Curry having started in every single outing.

Injuries have hindered them at the back as well, with three different players having worn the number one shirt. Keady’s Ruairi Fullerton guarded the goals in the opening two rounds against Louth and Wicklow.

Ciaran Duffy stood in versus Roscommon and Donegal before Aaron Cullinane made a start between the sticks the last day out. Armagh will be looking for some consistency ahead of the championship, and that starts on Saturday.