Armagh bracing for must win Omagh battle

By Shaun Casey

KIERAN Donaghy sees Armagh’s clash with rivals Tyrone on Sunday as “must win” as the Orchard County aim to secure their spot in the top flight for another year.

Armagh were promoted to Division One in 2020 and have been there for three seasons.

A win over Galway last weekend would have set them up for a shot at the league final, but now it’s the bottom of the table that troubles Armagh most.

“It’s must win,” said Donaghy, speaking after Armagh’s two-point defeat to Galway. “Today was a must win as well, for us to try and make a league final and that is the ultimate disappointment.

“We knew the coin toss with this was if we win, we are going to Healy Park to try and get to the National League final in Croke Park, which would be a big day for Armagh and the people that support the team.

“But now it is a relegation battle and not an easy place to go for it either.

“Today was a really important day and that was the ultimate disappointment for us as a group, that we didn’t get it over the line.”

Armagh looked in control of the game against Galway, leading by five points at the start of the second period.

But once the Tribesmen hit their stride, Armagh had no answer.

“It has probably happened us a few times this year where we haven’t really showed up in the second half and it’s something we will have to look at as an entire group. Our shot percentage in the second half was poor as well and just generally sloppiness all over the place.

“Conditions were ok, there was a big shower at half time that probably made the place a bit greasy but still the skills and shot execution was poor overall. We had three shots dropped short and that’s a double whammy because it counts as a turnover and a missed shot.

“We were two from eight in our shots in the second half which is not going to do, you would like to get more and get into double figures in shots a half at least. It is something for us to really work on and improve.

“The way this year goes and how quickly the games are coming, you don’t really have time to feel sorry for yourselves.

“ It will be upwards and onwards now, and we will get stuck into Tuesday night.”