THERE’S nothing like a Championship win to banish the National League blues and Armagh will hope to take a leaf out of the Derry book when they face Antrim on Saturday.
Last year sketchy League form was quickly forgotten as the Oak Leafers clicked into gear, hammered Tyrone in their Championship opener and went on to carry all before them on the way to the Ulster title.
Armagh will hope to leave the blow of relegation behind them with a convincing win over Andy McEntee’s Saffrons in Saturday’s Ulster preliminary round clash.
It’s 15 years’ now since the Orchard county last won a provincial title (or got to a final) and joint-skipper Aidan Nugent and his team-mates will be doing all they can to end that drought.
“That’s what you set out to do, any competition you’re in you want to win,” said Nugent.
“I wouldn’t say it is the be-all and end-all if we don’t win it but obviously when we are in the competition you want to win it. It is important but your season is not over after Ulster, you still have a few games left, so that would be my outlook on it.”
Armagh have endured long barren spells in Ulster before. After the county won Ulster in 1953 it took 24 years before Gerry O’Neill’s side captured the provincial title in 1977. Despite Armagh’s unconvincing form in the League, expectations remain high in the county and another packed house will turn out at the Athletic Grounds to cheer them on this Saturday evening.
“It’s always nice playing in the Athletic Grounds,” said Nugent.
“It has a great atmosphere the way it is crowded so tight to the pitch and it is always a good buzz, so I suppose it is a bit of a help that it is at home.
“We draw a big support and it helps because most of our games, even when we are away it feels like we’re at home and the crowds give a good buzz and sort of drive you on. Hopefully that continues into the summer.”
Rian O’Neill was Armagh’s top-scorer in the League with 0-25 (19 from placed balls). Rory Grugan was next highest with 0-11 (seven frees) and although the scores didn’t exactly flow, the Orchardmen did have 20 different scorers over the seven games.
“With every other game there was a different scorer on the sheet,” said Nugent.
“The aim is to spread out your scorers on the team so if everyone is chipping in with points here and there obviously you are going to be harder to beat.
“Everyone wants to see lovely, fast-tempo football but it just doesn’t always work out that way. If you are playing against a team that plays defensive it is not as easy to kick your 17 points. If you were looking for an open game of football then the Tyrone game was probably one of our better performances in the League.”
The winners of Armagh-Antrim will meet Division Three champions Cavan at the quarter-final stage. The games will continue to come thick-and fast for the Orchardmen and Nugent has his fingers crossed that his hamstring will stand up to the strain.
“We’ll just take each week as it comes,” he said.
“The calendar is good because you are getting games week-in, week-out and it is just about staying fit. It is a tricky one because if you are fit it’s great but if you pick up a niggle and you’re out for a month you could end up missing three or four games. You just have to roll with the punches I suppose and games are better than training any day of the week.”
