ARMAGH are fresh off the back of winning the Ulster League Shield last weekend against near neighbours Tyrone, but celebrations were fairly lowkey as the championship is just around the corner.
Seven days on from capturing some rare silverware at this level, the Orchard County have swiftly switched their focus to the opening round of the Ulster Championship where they take on Antrim at Crossmaglen this Saturday.
It’s the same venue where the two counties clashed just two weeks ago in the Shield semi-final when Armagh were comfortable winners. They held the Saffron’s scoreless in the first half and hit the net seven times in a 7-16 to 0-2 win.
Coach Stefan Forker believes that a trophy can help with the confidence inside the changing room, but it’s all about the championship now. “We said that we were looking for a performance and obviously it’s nice to get a bit of silverware,” said the Maghery man.
“It’s all about the championship and it’s coming thick and fast and we’re ready. We’re priming the boys here and they’re in good shape, so we’ll look at Antrim again and prepare for the first round.”
Forker won an Ulster Minor title with Armagh in 2005 and followed it up with an u21 provincial crown in 2007 but there has been little underage success in the Orchard County over the last number of years.
Since winning the 2009 All-Ireland Minor Championship, a team filled with talent in the form of Rory Grugan, Andrew Murnin and James Morgan, Armagh reached Ulster finals in 2010, 2011 and 2014 but tasted defeat every time.
“Once I got involved, I didn’t realise how uncompetitive they were,” added Forker, who is a member of Aidan O’Rourke’s management team. “That’s not down to past managements or anything, that’s just the nature of it.
“It’s nice to be competitive and it’s the Mickey Harte mantra of going to every game to win it. We’re in the developmental stage but I think you develop better, and you enjoy things more when you’re winning.
“We’ve had a lot of friendlies and that and you’re always looking for performances, but a win is the win. Every game we’re going to play, we’re going to be out to win it.”
While Armagh defeated Tyrone last weekend to capture a trophy, there’s still plenty of work to do. O’Rourke’s youngsters built up a ten-point half time lead but only scored once in the second period.
“You’re going into half time and you’re almost loathed to maybe give them a pat on the back,” added Forker. “But it was a very good performance, and you have to give it to them but a two or three percent drop off from everybody soon adds up and that showed.
“We needed to keep the scoreboard ticking over and we had chances that we should have taken, and we didn’t take them. It materialised that we didn’t get a point until the last ten minutes which was disappointing but it’s something to work on for the championship.”