By Shaun Casey

IT’S 14 years since Aidan Forker first experienced the fierce Armagh-Tyrone rivalry. The Maghery man encountered his Loughshore neighbours in the opening round of the 2012 Ulster Championship.

He hit the net from wing half forward on his debut at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in a game the hosts lost 0-19 to 1-13 in the end. From the 39 players that featured in that contest over a decade ago, Forker is the only one that remains.

Orchard legends like Brendan Donaghy, Aaron Kernan and Ciaran McKeever played that day and they were used to winning Ulster Championships. While Forker has an All-Ireland medal in his back pocket, the Anglo Celt has eluded Armagh since 2008.

“It’s an easy one to get up for,” Forker said of Armagh’s preliminary round meeting with Tyrone. “We’ve had some ding-dongs over the years, my own debut was against Tyrone, and we’ve had some bad defeats over the years and some decent wins.

“There’s never anything really in it, no matter how good teams are going or not going. I don’t think it counts for much when it’s Armagh and Tyrone. It’s exciting and it’s exciting for everyone.”

Armagh won in Clones last season in the most recent edition of the storied rivalry, but the Cathedral City hasn’t hosted a championship battle between these two sides in 2022.

Forker was back in the last line of defence that day, man-marking Darren McCurry, and has played in a range of different positions for Armagh during McGeeney’s tenure.

The 2024 All-Ireland winning captain is making his way back from injury, having endured ankle surgery before Christmas, and only made a brief appearance in the league. But he doesn’t care what number he has on his back; he just wants to play.

“I’ve played everywhere probably apart from goals but it’s a case of wherever the management see me. There might be some matchups that suit or they might think I could play in the middle eight, or an option up front to bring a bit of balance with my left foot.

“It’s wherever they think and it’s very much horses for courses in terms of the game. I feel like I can add to it coming onto play or with my back to play because I’m used to playing like that for the club.

“If I’m any way close to being in the team, I don’t care what number’s on my back.

“I’ve probably been on record before saying that positions don’t really matter anyway.

“Maybe the three up’s a wee bit more different, a wee bit more specialised now, the full back like, kind of, but it’s still very dynamic in there with the back 11 and stuff like that. I feel like I can bring my own game wherever I am.”

The 2024 All-Star defender has been out of action for a long time but is back training and pushing for a place. The experience of inter-county football can’t be underestimated and he’s sure to play a major role for the rest of the year inside the Armagh dressing room.

“I’m finally pain free after many, many months, I’d say over a year at this stage,” he added. “I’m definitely feeling a lot more like myself and I haven’t felt like that in over a year really.

“I’m happy to be adding to training, I’m nearly a month back in full so I’m pushing hard and I’m happiest when on the pitch and injury free and pain free.

“It’s been a long road for me in terms of the surgery and my back and stuff. I’ve had a lot of help from the medical team and I’m happy to try and contribute and push to try and play.

“There’s a lot of work that’s been done and I’m feeling more like myself. I think I’m moving quite well but I suppose missing preseason and the majority of the league, it’s going to be hard to break in because the boys are going rightly.

“I think it’s my turn to maybe contribute in a different sense and that’s fair enough. I’m happy to do that of course but I’ll not accept that too much either, I really want to play, and I feel like I can add to it.

“It’s not really a decision for me to make but all I can do is control my own approach to training, push hard and drive the boys during in house games and stuff like that, that’s my role at the moment.”