Tough Celtic Park baptism

Outside of getting a repeat of last year’s meeting with Ulster champions Tyrone, Armagh could not have got a tougher 2010 pairing than Derry at Celtic Park. Manager Paddy O’Rourke faces a tough championship baptism but when the dust settles will probably relish the task rather than face into a tie where victory is a foregone conclusion in supporters minds once the draw has been made let alone at match time. The biggest gripe the new Armagh supremo and his backroom team will probably have is that this game with Derry is a preliminary round fixture with the winners facing Monaghan in the quarter final.

Armagh triumphed 1-12 to 1-11 over the Oak Leaf county in the millennium Ulster final and the last time that these teams met in the Ulster championship in 2005 Armagh were 1-11 to 0-10 winners at Casement Park. Last year was a disappointing year for both counties as they exited the championship at the qualifiers stage. A line of form for both was that they were both beaten in the Ulster championship by 2009 champions Tyrone and then met the same Ulster opponents Monaghan in the qualifiers. Armagh were beaten by their 2010 potential quarter final opponents while Derry emphasised their superiority over the Farneymen by repeating their Ulster win with a qualifier win. Derry crashed out of the championship to Donegal after extra-time so both counties will be looking for a prolonged championship next year but would have liked an easier start to the campaign. But the die has been cast so it is now a case of getting on with things as early May will not be as long a coming as one thinks.

There is a repeat of the 2009 final as Tyrone take on Antrim in the quarter final with the winners taking on the winners of Donegal v Down in one semi-final. In the other semi the winners of the Cavan v Fermanagh tie will play whoever emerges from the Derry, Armagh, Monaghan end of the draw.

Paddy O’Rourke has held a series of trial games allowing all clubs put forward players they deem good enough to earn a shot for possible inclusion for the Gaelic Life Dr McKenna Cup campaign which will begin in January. At least no one can accuse the new manager of not giving players opportunities whether they be operating in division one or four or from South, Mid or North Armagh.

In hurling Down, Armagh and Non -Ards will be competing in quarter finals for three different trophies. Down will play Kerry in the Christy Ring Cup. In the Nicky Rackard Cup Armagh will face Fingal. In the Lory Meagher Cup the Non -Ards side will play against Leitrim