McKeegan expects difficult Mayo test

JUST six weeks ago, Armagh and Mayo locked horns in the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds during their Division Three league campaign and the sides once again face off on Saturday, this time in the championship.

The visitors defeated Karl McKeegan’s side by nine points, but the scoreline didn’t do the contest justice. Two late goals from the Connacht men opened up the wide margin of victory in the end.

Both sides head into the encounter having opened their Nickey Rackard Cup campaigns on the front foot. Armagh overcame Fermanagh by the minimum of margins, while Mayo had seven to spare against Roscommon.

“We’ve a six-day turnaround and it’s tough going for championship, especially when you’re asking the boys to raise their levels for the championship,” said Armagh manager McKeegan.

“Six days, trying to get a couple of training sessions in as well, it’s difficult. We’ll just have to manage it and we know exactly what is ahead of us with Mayo, they won the Division Three league and beat Roscommon handily last Saturday.

“They’re flying and we’ll make no bones about it, we know we’re going to be up against it but we’ve played them a few times and we know what to expect. They have good players and our work rate is just going to be so important.

“We’re under no illusions that’s it’s going to be really tough but if the boys want to think about winning the Nickey Rackard, they have to compete with the likes of Mayo so we’ll be as prepared as we can and we’ll give it a good rattle.”

Connor Renaghan’s goal was the main score in Armagh’s opening round win but they remain without their main scorer Shea Harvey, who is out with a broken thumb. But Middletown duo Paudie Lappin and Odhran Curry did return to action last week.

“We had a few sicknesses there, last weekend we were missing four or five from the panel but on the injury front we’re not too bad,” McKeegan continued.

“We have a couple of niggles but nothing major.

“Shea is the only one out at the minute and we have a few boys coming back and getting some gametime. Paudie Lappin and Odhran Curry got a bit of gametime against Fermanagh so that’s them coming back from injury.

“We’re okay that way but this time of year, with five championship games in six weeks, it’s about managing it and managing the players.”