Slow starts a concern says Armagh boss McGeeney after Kerry draw

By Shaun Casey

A running theme throughout Armagh’s Division One campaign has been their slow starts but they have showed real grit and determination to pull themselves back from impossible positions.

In Croke Park against Dublin in round six, Armagh trailed by 11-points at one stage but battled back to win the game while last weekend, at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, they recovered from a 10-point deficit to earn a draw with All-Ireland champions Kerry.

In the end, their result against the Kingdom was irrelevant as Galway’s win over Dublin at Salthill dictated things at the bottom end of the table, with the Dubs dropping out of the division.

“Roscommon, there was a huge breeze and we gave the goal away off the kickout. We started well in some of the league games but I don’t really know,” said McGeeney after the game.

“We have been trying to look at it ourselves. I think maybe it’s an Armagh thing to make it look exciting, it’s definitely not on purpose or in practise.

“But it is something you have to look at because it’s not how you play. I suppose you want to start in front so it is something you could be better at.”

Murnin set for spell on the sidelines

McGeeney enjoyed the encounter, after the initial ropey start, but will be looking for improvement from the Orchard County as the build towards the championship, where old foes Tyrone lay waiting in the preliminary round.

“There were two good teams and some of the scores were top drawer,” he added. “It’s one of those days where I wouldn’t say everybody leaves with a smile on their face, but they’ll look at the mistakes in a more friendly manner.

“It’s maybe not as friendly if it’s the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Turbo (Conor Turbitt) did brilliant work, he turned inside them three or four times, and just missed the goal.

“Come championship time, you can’t afford to miss those, the same way as you can’t afford to miss the ones at the beginning of the first half.

“Their effectiveness is very, very good in front of goal. Last week they were off the charts, hitting 25 out of 27 shots.

“It’s something we have to improve on because, in that particular game, we had six more shots than them, and 13 or 14 of them were missed from inside 25 metres.

“That paints a different picture. So its efficiency in front of goals – it has a big part to play in these games obviously.”