Armagh defenders to take their time

Experienced Armagh defender Ciaran McKeever is yet to make a decision on his intercounty future

EXPERIENCED Armagh defenders Ciaran McKeever and Andy Mallon are not rushing into any decisions on their inter-county futures.

McKeever’s season was riddled with injuries and he will be waiting to see how they clear up before he makes any call on whether he will return or not.

Mallon, meanwhile, will wait until he meets up with manager Kieran McGeeney before he decides to return for another year.

Mallon made his Orchard debut in 2003 and McKeever a year later. They have both played 13 seasons at inter-county level with Mallon taking a year out in 2013.

Charlie Vernon has already confirmed that he will be back next season while Tony Kernan will also be expected to return.
A number of the squad are also in the middle of long rehab programmes and will take no part in their respective club championships in Armagh and Dublin over the coming months.

Kevin Dyas (Kilmacud Croke’s) had further knee surgery at the end of May and he faces an extensive spell on the sidelines rehabbing. Hand surgery has also ruled James Morgan (Crossmaglen) out until the end of the year. Hamstring victim Andrew Murnin (St Paul’s), meanwhile, is still taking an extended break from the sport in order to attempt to get over the problems once and for all.