Nickey Rackard Cup Round Two

Donegal v Armagh

Sunday, Letterkenny, 2pm

By Michael McMullan

DECLAN Coulter won’t need any introduction to Sunday’s opponents when Armagh come to Letterkenny.

The former Orchard County ace shot them to the 2016 Ulster final defeat to Antrim, but by the time the counties met in the 2017 decider – the last one to be played – Coulter had transferred to Donegal.

Coulter was the key man as Donegal won the Nickey Rackard Cup in 2018 and 2020 with combined 2-17 across both finals, having previously lifted the cup with Armagh.

Donegal needed a late burst to see off Division 3B champions Fermanagh in last weekend’s opening game with Tipperary native Davin Flynn chalking up ten points for Mickey McCann’s team.

When Fermanagh’s Danny Teague picked up a second yellow card, a goal from Donegal skipper Ronan McDermott put daylight between the teams and the visitors went on to pick up an important win in Maguiresbridge.

Donegal have a strong defensive spine, including Jack O’Loughlin (0-2) Padraig Doherty; Conor O’Grady, Michael Donaghue, Sean McVeigh, in front of goalkeeper Luke White.

Danny Cullen is an important cog in the middle third, helping supply Flynn, Coulter, McDermott and McDermott and Daire O’Maoileidigh in attack.

Armagh, who not have Terence McNaughton at the helm, shipped 5-19 at home to Roscommon in the first round and come into the competition on the back of an inconsistent league campaign that saw former manager Padraig ‘Tada’ O’Connor step down as manager.

With Tyrone and Roscommon also picking up wins last weekend, and in the absence of semi-finals, this all-Ulster clash will have a big say on who can make it to the top two places to book a spot in the Croke Park decider.

Donegal have been operating at a higher level and knowing every inch of the O’Donnell Park sod could help them to back to back wins.