Cumann Chat: What now for Armagh? What’s next for Ricey? And what about the Rochford factor?

CUMANN CHAT NIALL MCCOY

HOW good are Armagh? Honestly, it’s very hard to know. After a promising league campaign that saw the main goal of the season secured via their last-day promotion, hopes were high that they could give Donegal their fill of it. What followed was 70 minutes where the Orchard county looked further away than ever from the top teams in the province. Like all things, it’s easy to get hyperbolic about it. Donegal played really well, Armagh played extremely poorly – and if they met again the likelihood is that it would be much more competitive. Still, it was a real blow to the narrative than Armagh are on the rise. Most of the questions still surround the defence, and it seems the obvious area that needs fine-tuned before they enter the Division One arena in 2021.

ANOTHER week, another manager speaking out about the decision to allow only 26 squad members into matches – this time Limerick hurling boss John Kiely. The GAA say it will depend entirely on the Irish government’s assessment of restrictions today, but I think the Association has the power to push for it no matter what they decide. If you’re training from January, you should have the right to sit in a huge, empty stadium. Not watching from home on TV, or trying to get a look in over a fence. It’s demeaning and the likes of John McEntee, Jim McCorry and Paddy Tally have also made their feelings known on the situation. In reality, if everyone at these matches is following health guidelines, what’s the difference between 26

CUMANN CHAT – NIALL GARTLAND

RYAN McMenamin sounded like he was already considering leaving the Fermanagh job when they were beaten by Down the other week. It’s been a tough season for them, but I personally think he should give it another go. They have some good young players coming through the ranks, and he seems to be well-liked by the team. Fermanagh’s on his door-step as well, and he should at least to wait see what shape next year’s championship ends up taking. Of course, it’s up to him but he should mull it over for another while yet anyway.
Mickey Harte won’t be Tyrone manager next year, and it’ll be surreal to see some new men on the sideline in 2021. It’s literally a generation ago that anyone else managed the Tyrone seniors, and there was a feeling that Harte would be manager for as long as he wanted it. The Tyrone Management Committee decided otherwise (though the vote was very, very close). Harte sounded at peace with it all in interviews over the weekend, but he can’t be too happy that his tenure ended in such circumstances as he’d have obviously liked to have got at least one more crack at it.