By Shaun Casey

PJ O’Mullan’s Armagh will be looking to extend their winning streak on Saturday when they host Tyrone. Armagh are currently top of the pile in Division 3A, having earned back-to-back wins so far this season.

They proved too strong for Roscommon on the opening day before downing Kildare last weekend, both games away from home. But they will enjoy the comforts of home advantage in round three.

O’Mullan has been pleased with how his charges have started the campaign, and knows they face a tricky assignment against their near neighbours.

“We were on the road two weeks in a row so to come away with two wins, it’s a good sign for us,” he said, now in his second season in charge.

“We’re looking forward to this weekend. I actually saw Tyrone playing against Wicklow and was very impressed with them. They move the ball, they have good forwards, they seem to have revamped their panel from last year.

“It’s an Ulster derby and it’s going to be very tricky but we’re looking forward to it and we’ll have to wait and see what Saturday brings.”

The Orchard County contested the All-Ireland Junior final last year at Croke Park but came up short on the day against Laois. O’Mullan has retained the services of most of that same squad, while there are some new recruits called in as well.

“We probably held onto 18 or 19 and then we’ve brought in another 11 or 12. It’s a new panel; it’s a new team. The minors won their All-Ireland competition last year, so we have seven or eight of those involved with us this year.

“That’s a good sign and I think you always have to bring the youth through, and particularly a good youth team that won an All-Ireland. We’ve still held onto some of our more experienced players and got a few players back that weren’t available last year.”

There are a few injury concerns ahead of the weekend, but O’Mullan believes in the strength of his panel. “If one person misses out, the next person steps in and they have to do their best.

“We probably have three or four injuries, and I would say those three or four girls will miss out this weekend but that’s the way it goes, that’s sport, someone else will just have to step up in their place.”