By Michael McMullan
BOOM, there it was. Armagh and Kerry were the last two names left in Monday’s All-Ireland Round Three draw.
It’s destination Killarney on Saturday as the last two winners of the Sam Maguire Cup lock horns.
Kerry bounced back last weekend from a second trimming of the season at the hands of Donegal.
For the Ulster champions, they were milliseconds away from the quarter-final only for Sam Mulroy’s late attempt to slip through the hands of Ethan Rafferty.
Nobody left in the race for the biggest prize of all has an unbeaten championship record.
Even that in itself is hard to comprehend for those of us brought up on a diet of championship and unbeaten always being in the same sentence.
Until the dying embers of Sunday’s classic finale in Inniskeen, Armagh had all the hallmarks of being the most consistent horse in the race.
Ending their Ulster Championship famine was one element. While their league season was middle of the road, they kept growing in stature despite the turnover of players.
Their level of conditioning has been something many opponents have struggled with. Despite perception, they’ve done well on their kick-out retention and are almost always able to manufacture a scoring chance.
When we think of Armagh versus Kerry, the last two championship meetings come into view. While it was a rocky day in 2024, it was Armagh who came through.
It looked to be following a similar path in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final until Kerry took grip in the middle third. Joe O’Connor and Mark O’Shea were mountains of men.
Everywhere else, Kerry had scavengers. Not only that, but they were hurt scavengers after many – including their own Darragh Ó Sé – had questioned their underbelly. It was petrol on flames.
With the ball, Kerry’s attack flourished and Armagh were left with their heads spinning.
That will have no say on what happens in Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday but it sets the scene. There is a very recent rivalry between them.
Sean O’Shea was the rock on which much of Kerry leant on last year but having not played since the league, he is unlikely to feature.
Goalkeeping and quad injuries are not a good mix and it means Shane Ryan will be out. The fact he is ambidextrous, his range of starts and how he disguises them are all things Armagh won’t have to focus on.
Tom O’Sullivan, the King of footballing defenders, hasn’t kicked a ball since their Munster win over Clare.
“They’re doing bits and pieces but they’re not able to return to full training yet,” Kerry manager Jack O’Connor reported of Ryan, O’Shea and O’Sullivan after their win over Kildare.
Armagh goalkeeper Blaine Hughes had a “nick in his leg” and wasn’t risked last weekend with the volume of kick-outs.
‘Geezer’ said Andrew Murnin was fit but not risked, having been replaced in their round-one win over Derry.
“It’s probably a good job because he has an extra week, as does Blaine,” McGeeney said.
Kerry’s attack still has plenty of punch. David Clifford needs no introduction. His brother Paudie got more time at the weekend. Dylan Geaney has kicked his way to Kerry’s third top scorer in league and championship despite missing five and-a-half games.
Barry McCambridge would always have been well in the conversation in any defensive matchups. The Clann Éireann man played the last 20 minutes of their Ulster win over Fermanagh and a token few minutes when Monaghan were long gone in extra-time in the Ulster final.
It’s hard to see him being thrown into Saturday’s cauldron. Armagh do have Aaron McKay back in the fold and in good form. Peter McGrane and former U20 captain Gareth Murphy will be odds on to start again.
In any conversation relating to David Clifford, sometimes it what he does off the ball that counts. He has been known to run away from goal, knowing he’d be tracked, to leave the space inside. Ask Brendan McCole or Daniel O’Mahony.
The other element is Kieran Donaghy. When sending the Kerry front six out this weekend, there won’t be much he doesn’t know about the Armagh defence.
As coach with Kerry, he was part of the selection process that decided Peter McGrane wasn’t a perfect fit for the Galway attack despite starting every game on the way to the 2024 final.
This knowledge is gold and adds another layer of intrigue to a game that needs no selling.
When Kerry and Armagh were the two names yet to be pulled out in the draw for this weekend’s footballing jamboree, we knew what was ahead of us.
There are no more ifs or maybes. Saturday in Killarney is battle of the 2025 and ’24 champions to see who will get another chance to dance at Croke Park.