Armagh head for KOs

THE group stages in Armagh aren’t quite finished just yet, although there’s only one group that still needs to be decided. The final rounds take place this week in Group B, with only one game counting for anything.

Clan na Gael have already topped the group having beaten both Crossmaglen and Granemore, and they advance straight to the quarter-finals. Sarsfields have finished bottom and crash out of the championship, but they’ll have to fulfil the fixture against Clans.

The clash of Crossmaglen and Granemore is the game with something riding on it as the winner of this tie will finish second and meet Silverbridge in the playoffs. Whoever loses comes third and will face Killeavy.

Crossmaglen have experienced a tough time with the recent passing of 20-year-old Caolan Finnegan, and they got their first win of the campaign last weekend when they overcame Sarsfields by three points. Jamie Clarke was among the subs for Cross, and he could see some game time against Granemore on Sunday.

Granemore, managed by former Maghery defender Stephen Cusack, beat Sarsfields in the opening round but lost to Clan na Gael in round two. .

There are two playoff games taking place this weekend as the Armagh Championship begins to enter it’s knockout phase. Maghery take on Mullaghbawn on Friday while Ballymacnab meet Clann Éireann on Sunday.

Maghery finished third in their group on score difference despite overcoming back-to-back Division 1A league champions Clann Éireann.

The return of Aidan Forker and Ben Crealey have been huge additions for the Loughshore men, while Kevin Robinson has rattled home three goals in two outings.

Mullaghbawn lost to Armagh Harps in round one but bounced back in eye-catching style as they saw off Dromintee and Ballymacnab.

That’s two defeats on the spin for the Nab, who have fielded without the Grugan brothers, Rory and Jack, along with Ryan Kennedy, who are all out injured.

Shea Heffron has also been out of action recently for Clann Éireann and is a huge miss from their defensive setup. Conor Turbitt was suspended for last week’s win over Madden but will return for Sunday’s showdown.