Hughes hopes for better from Tyrone against Armagh

By Paddy Hunter

All-Ireland SFC Group Four Round One

Tyrone v Armagh

Friday, 7.30pm, Cavan

TYRONE’S jet-heeled half-forward Niamh Hughes is glad of the opportunity to set things straight in Friday evening’s All-Ireland SFC group stage clash against Armagh.

They certainly won’t want to contribute to the Halloween horror viewing after their 15-point loss to the Orchard County in their Ulster Championship semi-final a fortnight ago.

Armagh ran the show in the first-half, racking up a tally of 4-10 while Tyrone could only muster 1-3. The Red Hands improved in the second-half but a lack of clinical finishing and squandered opportunities added to the overall feeling of doom and gloom.

However, it’s still one-all between the sides after Tyrone got their first league win over Armagh in 24 years at the start of the season.

For Niamh Hughes, their Ulster Championship outing was already a difficult day as her Grandmother was laid to rest earlier in the day.

However, such is the measure of the Aodh Ruadh attacker that she was one of several players to make her own way to Crossmaglen for the clash, and he’s confident they’ll learn from the chastening experience.

“We were extremely disappointed with the performance, particularly our start as it wasn’t a reflection of how we have been training.

“The lack of drive and effort in the first fifteen minutes was disheartening as this is something that we pride ourselves on. However, we can learn a lot from a performance like that and the beauty of the way the fixtures have worked out, we now have a chance to redeem ourselves.”

Niamh was part of the Tyrone side that lost in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final to Cork. It was all about progress as a number of young players were introduced into the squad, and that’s been important as a few more experienced heads, like Maria Canavan and Emma Jane Gervin have opted for a break this year.

A new-look championship league style format was planned for this year but that has been put on hold due to the pandemic. Nonetheless, Hughes is enjoying her football particularly due to the club-first element.

“I loved the time playing with the club this year. It allowed me to give 100 percent to my club and now 100 percent to the county. In previous years trying to juggle both often wasn’t as enjoyable.

“Inter county in the next few weeks will be intense and every game matters more than before due to the structure of the competition.”

Siobhan Sheerin and Joanne Barrett missed the contest against Armagh last time out as they had to self-isolate but they should be available for the trip to Cavan.

But whatever the venue, Tyrone will need to improve considerably if they’re to gain revenge against Ronan Murphy’s Armagh team.

The Ulster semi-final was a real eye opener as Caroline O’Hanlon, Clodagh Mc Cambridge, Aimee Mackin, her sister Blathin and skipper Kelly Mallon ran the show for Armagh.

It wasn’t until a defensive reshuffled that the Tyrone attack started to get a crack at things at the other end, but some wayward shooting prevented any chance of a comeback.