An Ulster Championship like no other began this Halloween weekend, with six counties meeting on Saturday and Sunday with no safety net and one heavyweight name set to bow out until 2021. Kenny Archer sets out the stats ahead of a Derry v Armagh crunch clash …
Ulster SFC quarter-final: Derry v Armagh (Sunday, Celtic Park, 4pm)
DERRY
2020 FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION THREE
Derry 2-11 1-14 Leitrim
Down 0-14 Derry 0-12
Derry 0-10 Tipperary 0-5
Derry 2-10 Louth 1-9
Cork 3-13 Derry 3-11
Derry 2-14 Longford 0-12
Offaly 1-10 Derry 1-12
TABLE
P W D L F A SD Pts
Cork (P) 7 7 0 0 12-96 4-78 42 14
Down (P) 7 4 1 2 3-78 4-75 0 9
Derry 7 4 1 2 10-80 6-77 15 9
Longford 7 3 1 3 6-78 9-63 6 7
Tipperary 7 3 1 3 6-81 7-83 -5 7
Offaly 7 2 1 4 5-87 4-99 -9 5
Leitrim (R) 7 1 1 5 5-75 10-79 -19 3
Louth (R) 7 1 0 6 9-78 12-99 -30 2
LAST LEAGUE TEAM
Sunday, October 25, Tullamore: Offaly 1-10 Derry 1-12
O Lynch; C McCloskey, B Rogers, P McNeill; E Doherty (1-1), C McKaigue (0-1), P McGrogan; C McFaul (0-1), C Glass; D Tallon (0-2, 0-1 free),
E Lynn (0-2), P Cassidy; P Cassidy, S McGuigan (0-5, 0-2 frees), P Kearney.
Subs: C Doherty for Kearney (45), C McWilliams for McCloskey (56), N Toner for Lynn (60), M McEvoy for Cassidy (64), G O’Neill for Glass (67).
2019 SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Ulster SFC preliminary round: Derry 1-13 Tyrone 1-19
All-Ireland SFC Qualifying round one:Wexford 0-10 Derry 4-16
All-Ireland SFC Qualifying round two: Derry 0-12 Laois 1-13
Championship tally for (average): 5-41 (18.67)
Championship tally against (average): 2-42 (16)
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
All-Ireland SFC Qualifying round two, Owenbeg, June 22: Derry 0-12 Laois 1-13
T Mallon; K McKaigue, B Rogers, L McGoldrick; J Rocks, C McKaigue (0-1), N Keenan; C McFaul (0-1), C McAtamney; J Doherty, B Heron (0-2), P Cassidy; S McGuigan (0-5, 0-4 frees), R Bell (0-3, 0-2 frees), E Lynn. Subs: E Concannon for L McGoldrick (h-t), P Coney for Rocks (45), C Doherty for Doherty (55), C Bradley for Bell (57), SF Quinn for Concannon (58).
MANAGER: Rory Gallagher
THE Belleek man has plenty of intercounty experience with Donegal and his native Fermanagh but nothing has prepared anyone for this year. His reputation is defensive, but Derry posted big League tallies against Cork and Longford and Derry have enough attacking talent to go at Armagh and cause an upset, especially with home advantage. After that it would be a ‘shot to nothing’ against Donegal or Tyrone.
KEY MAN: Shane McGuigan
ATTENTION may focus on Conor Glass, the Glen prodigy who has returned from Australia, and he should adapt quickly back to the round ball – but there are no doubts whatsoever over McGuigan. The Slaughtneil man has developed into a quality full-forward, strong in the air with great movement, strength, and scoring ability, and he will relish taking on the shaky Armagh defence.
ARMAGH
2020 FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
Armagh 2-18 Cavan 1-8
Laois 0-16 Armagh 0-10
Armagh 0-16 Kildare 0-10
Westmeath 3-12 Armagh 2-15
Fermanagh 0-10 Armagh 3-14
Armagh 0-15 Roscommon 3-10
Clare 1-13 Armagh 1-18
TABLE
P W D L F A SD Pts
Roscommon (P) 7 5 1 1 10-83 2-84 23 11
Armagh (P) 7 4 1 2 8-106 8-79 27 9
Kildare 7 4 0 3 3-97 2-93 7 8
Westmeath 7 3 1 3 7-85 5-96 -5 7
Laois 7 3 1 3 7-83 8-89 -9 7
Clare 7 3 0 4 5-75 6-81 -9 6
Cavan (R) 7 3 0 4 7-94 8-95 -4 6
Fermanagh (R) 7 1 0 6 3-76 11-82 -30 2
LAST LEAGUE TEAM
Sunday, October 25, Ennis:
Clare 1-13 Armagh 1-18
B Hughes; A Forker, R Kennedy, P Burns; J Duff(0-1), M Shields, J Morgan; S Sheridan (0-1), R O’Neill (0-6, 0-5 frees); R Grugan (0-3, 0-1 free), C Cumiskey (1-0), C O’Neill (0-1); J Clarke (0-1), O O’Neill (0-3), N Grimley.
Subs: G McCabe for Shields (34), S Campbell (0-1) for Duffy (h-t), J Og Burns (0-1) for Cumiskey (40), C McKenna for Grimley (50), C Turbitt for Clarke (64).
2019 SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Ulster SFC quarter-final:
Down 3-13 Armagh 2-17 (aet)
Ulster SFC semi-final: Armagh 1-14 Cavan 0-17 (aet); replay: Armagh 0-17 Cavan 0-23
All-Ireland SFC Qualifying round two: Monaghan 1-12 Armagh 2-17
All-Ireland SFC Qualifying round three: Mayo 2-13 Armagh 1-15
Championship tally for (average): 6-80 (19.6)
Championship tally against (average): 6-78 (19.2)
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
All-Ireland SFC Qualifying round three, Castlebar, June 29: Mayo 2-13
Armagh 1-15 B Hughes; P Burns, A McKay, P Hughes; A Forker, B Donaghy, M Shields; J Og Burns, N Grimley (0-1); J Hall, A Nugent, R Grugan (0-3), S Campbell (0-4); J Clarke (0-5, 0-2 frees), R O’Neill (1-2, 0-2 frees). Subs: E Rafferty for Nugent (53), G McCabe for McKay (56), B Crealey for J Og Burns (70+2).
MANAGER: Kieran McGeeney
THE Ulster SFC hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for McGeeney the manager, although they did eventually see of Down last year. It’ll be a big ask to reach the provincial decider, with Donegal or Tyrone to overcome if Armagh win in Derry, but securing promotion back to Division One in the League has already made 2020 a success.
KEY MAN: Rian O’Neill
THE Orchardmen have a windfall of attacking talent to pick from but the Crossmaglen lad is probably the best of them at present. His ability to take and make scores is impressive, from open play and frees, and he has the versatility to operate anywhere in the ‘front eight’, strong both as a runner and in the air.
