They might have given them a lend of Kieran McGeeney, but don’t expect the Armagh folk to be quite so generous when they take on Kildare in the Gala All-Ireland Junior A decider.
The Lilywhites camogs will be aiming to show their footballers how it’s done and give the county a huge confidence boost ahead of their Croke Park showdown with Down.
Kildare will quite understandably head into the game as favourites. Unbeaten through the league programme, they’ve looked unstoppable at times as they racked up scores like 3-16 against Westmeath and 3-18 against London, and the Armagh rearguard will have to be at their very best to keep what has been a rampant Kildare attacking unit at bay.
Armagh have recovered well from a slow start to their campaign which saw them lose out to Kildare and Westmeath, before going on an unbeaten run. They turned the tables on Westmeath by beating them in the semi-final, and they’re keen to set the record straight by gaining revenge on Kildare.
It’s a path of course which the Orchard girls have been down before, and having lost out to Roscommon after a replay in the All-Ireland decider last year, they’re keen to channel that experience into a more positive outcome this time around.
If you were going for the safe bet, then you’d probably lump your money on Kildare given the level of consistency they have shown over the course of the season.
However, there’s been a growing feeling in recent weeks that the Armagh girls are coming good at just the right time, and can find that extra gear when it matters most.
It’s sure to be an enthralling contest and one which displays all that is good about the game, and it would be no surprise if victory is earned by the narrowest of margins on Saturday afternoon. And it may well be the occasion for revenge to be gained and the underdog to have the final say.
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