By Shaun Casey

IN the previous three meetings with Louth, there hasn’t been more than three points between the sides, but most importantly, Armagh have won all of them. Manager Karl McKeegan is expecting another tough battle this Sunday as their Division Three campaign gets underway against the Wee County.

Last season, the Orchard County just survived relegation from Division Three by the skin of their teeth while Louth earned promotion to the third tier and captured the Division Four league title in the process.

They haven’t beaten Armagh since the 2023 Nickey Rackard Cup campaign but travel to the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds on Sunday, with Middletown man Paddy McArdle as their joint-manager, hoping to see off their hosts.

“We know exactly what’s coming on Saturday,” said McKeegan. “That’s what we’re preparing for and I have no doubt that there’ll be very little in it. On the day, it’s down to who wants it more.

“We dug in and got the result last year and that was a credit to the boys, but they’re going to have to bring even more this year. I’d say Louth are like ourselves, it’s a tough league we’re in this year and you’re going to have to fight for every point.

“Louth will be coming with the same attitude as us so it’s important. Plus, you want to get off to a good start and that’s what we’re aiming for.

“We’re looking forward to getting the season started, there’s been a big turnaround of players, but we’re excited by the upcoming games.”

Armagh have lost a couple of key players this season with Middletown duo Fintan Woods and Paul Gaffney retiring and Derrynoose clubmen Dillon Fox and Pauric McNaughton heading to Australia.

Keady’s Shea Harvey and Connor Renaghan are taking a year out as well while Tomas Galvin is part of Kieran McGeeney’s football squad. On a more positive note, experienced head Eoin McGuinness has come out of retirement and is back in the fold.

“We started back on the 1st of December, so we’ve been going flat out since that,” McKeegan added. “Obviously weather plays its part and we’ve missed a few sessions, but we’ve trained hard.

“We’ve had three pre-season games under our belts as well. We’re carrying a few injuries as well, so the numbers have been low but that’s what happens at this time of year when you’re trying to get a lot of training in.

“Boys pick up hamstring injuries, ankle injuries, it can’t be helped but you get to see everybody and that’s what we’ve done. We’ve seen everybody now before the league starts.”