Four for Armagh on Setanta Sports

Armagh will feature four times in Setanta Sports live Coverage of the GAA Allianz Leagues. The Orchard County will see three home games, Down (Fri Feb 7), Laois (Sat. March 8), Monaghan (Sat. March 15) covered as well as the visit to Meath (Sat March 1). The matches will be on either Setanta Sports 1 or Setanta Ireland

The full Setanta Sports Live Coverage of the GAA Allianz Leagues is as follows:

1st February

Dublin v Kerry (Setanta Ireland) NFL

Derry v Tyrone (Setanta Sports 1)

7th February

Armagh v Down (Setanta Ireland)

15th February

Cork v Limerick (Setanta Ireland)

Tipperary v Waterford (Setanta Sports 1)

22nd February

Laois v Cork (Setanta Ireland)

1st March

Dublin v Cork (Setanta Ireland) NFL

Meath v Armagh (Setanta Sports 1)

8th March

Dublin v Kildare (Setanta Ireland) NFL

Armagh v Laois (Setanta Sports 1)

15th March

Dublin v Kilkenny (Setanta Ireland) NHL

Armagh v Monaghan (Setanta Sports 1)

29th March

Dublin v Mayo (Setanta Ireland) NFL

Meath v Down (Setanta Sports 1)

*Please note that fixtures, throw-in times and channels are subject to final confirmation.

Injury Crisis

Meanwhile Armagh manager Paul Grimley is faced with a major injury crisis as he prepares for the opening Allianz Division Two in Drogheda against Louth on Sunday Feb 2 which is an all ticket affair. With up to 20 players nursing injuries Grimley could be forced to resort to using a number of Stevie McDonnell’s U-21 squad like he did when the sides met in the O’ Fiaich Cup in Crossmaglen in December.

The Power NI Dr McKenna Cup has not been kind to the Armagh management in terms of results but it has also proven very costly on the injury front. The impressive Ethan Rafferty is the latest casualty as his hand is in plaster having broken a bone against Tyrone and the Grange teenager now faces a number of weeks on the sidelines. Armagh have problems all over the field as tried midfielders Kieran Toner, James Lavery, Stephen Harold , Aaron Findon and Phelim O’Neill join Rafferty on the casualty list.

Defenders Mark Shields, Brendan Donaghy , Aaron Kernan , James Morgan, Paul McKeown, Gary McCooey and Finnian Moriarty join the walking wounded list as do forwards Stefan Forker, Stefan Campbell, Eugene McVerry, Aidan Forker, Oisin Mac Iomhair making all serious doubts for the League opener against the Wee County.

Louth, under former Armagh player Aidan O’ Rourke, won the corresponding League fixture between the teams at the Athletic Grounds last year has problems of his own. Shane Lennon has also been ruled out of the early stages of the League and has now been joined by Brian White (torn calf muscle). Louth also have injury concerns over Ray Finnegan and William Woods.

Grimley will be hopeful that Kieran Toner, Ciaran McKeever, Mark Shields and James Lavery, along with a few more might have recovered in time to feature in this local derby where the result could fashion promotion or relegation hopes even though it is only the opening match. The Armagh injury crisis could see an earlier than expected return to action for Kevin Dyas who is back in the panel after the Dromintee man abandoning his travel plans for the year.