National Football League

Division Two

CLARE V ARMAGH

Saturday, Cusack Park, 2pm

BY NIALL MCCOY

ARMAGH are on the verge of one of their best moments of the Kieran McGeeney era when they travel to Clare on Saturday – but serious question marks still hang over the side.

It is undeniable that the side are moving in the right direction and a win in Ennis should be enough to get them back to Division One for the first time since 2012, but they possess traits that the top teams simply don’t.

The most obvious of those is the inability to disrupt an opposition’s purple patch. It’s happened many times in recent years, and twice this season too.

In their round four draw with Westmeath the game looked almost too easy as they toyed with their opponents but the concession of 3-1 in a matter of minutes – Rory Grugan landing a point in response – left them needing a late Jamie Clarke goal to claim a draw.

On Saturday night they were excellent in the first half against Roscommon and were unlucky to be only two points ahead at the break. Once again they lost their way for a critical spell in the second half as Enda Smith and Conor Daly struck twice for two goals in two minutes.

Roscommon hadn’t conceded a goal in their four games pre-lockdown and in a sign of where Armagh need to get to, they completely shut down the home side’s ambitions of raising the green flag that would have got them back into the game.

Aidan Forker and Ryan Kennedy were good at the back, until the latter was taken off as he ran a disciplinary tightrope, and look like nailed-on starters in the full-back line come championship. If fit, Brendan Donaghy would also likely come in as a sweeper. Aaron McKay struggled when introduced from the bench and looks much more suited to playing centre half-back than full-back. There is still no obvious candidate for the number three jersey though.

As always, Armagh’s attacking instincts give reason for their fans to remain optimistic.

Oisin O’Neill is the in-form forward in the county and his younger brother Rian continues to shine. Grugan was effective while Jarly Og Burns looked lively when introduced. They managed 0-15 despite seeing little attacking possession in the second half while it’s unlikely you will ever see Jamie Clarke and Stefan Campbell have as little influence as they did.

There is also the unfortunate fact that some of the Armagh players have recently recovered from Covid-19 and that very well may have played a part in the depleting energy levels in the second period.

Clare away is no ‘gimme’. The Banner county could also find themselves in Division One if results go a certain way (both teams can mathematically be relegated too).

Contests between the two have been ultra-competitive in recent years.

Last year the sides drew in Newry with Armagh paying the price for losing Clarke and McKay to red cards. The legitimacy of both Clare goals also proved a big talking point.

In their 2018 Qualifier at the Athletic Grounds, the Munster side led by four points with three minutes remaining, but Armagh racked up 1-4 in additional time to progress.

And that is why Armagh will likely get the win that will take them up. They have enough attacking talent to make up for their defensive deficiencies, but that will not cut the mustard in Division One.

An Armagh win isn’t a guarantee of promotion. If Westmeath beat Kildare by, at least, 23 points, they could beat them to that spot.

This, however, is a golden opportunity to end the long wait to dine at the top table.