Johnston: No bad blood with Armagh

Seanie Johnston is eagerly awaiting Cavan’s Ulster Championship opener against Armagh

SEANIE Johnston anticipates a physical encounter as Cavan renew enmities with Armagh in next Sunday’s Ulster Championship quarter-final – and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The two sides have had a number of fractious battles in recent years – most infamously a pre-game brawl before their provincial clash in 2014, while five men were sent off in their McKenna Cup outing this year.

The returning Cavan star says it’s just part and parcel of the game and that he embraces the rough and tumble of the Ulster Championship, even if it isn’t always the easiest place for the likes of Johnston to showcase their skills.

He said: “I love it, when you’re growing up it’s all you care about and it’s great to hopefully get a chance to play on May 29, it’s something you look forward to since the beginning of the year.

“We were disappointed with the way we played against Tyrone in the League final but this is the game we’ve set our sights on since day one.”

He added: “I think every Ulster Championship match is going to be physical. I wouldn’t say there’s any bad blood with Armagh, these things happen.

“We played twice already this year and I know a few players were sent off in the McKenna Cup match but there wasn’t a man hit in the whole game.”

See next week’s edition for our full interview with Seanie Johnston