Conor McGurk Cup Section B: Down v Armagh (tonight, Athletic Grounds, 8pm)
ARMAGH hurling manager Tada O’Connor admits his side face a massive challenge when they face rivals Down in tonight’s Conor McGurk Cup first round game, at the Athletic Grounds.
Down’s ambitions have grown under the management of Ronan Sheehan, where progress in Division 2A of the National League as well as making strides in the Joe McDonagh Cup are concrete objectives. They finished runners up to Antrim in last year’s McGurk Cup final and will fancy going one better this season.
The Orchard hurlers have home advantage but they are expected to have a lot of fresh faces on show, especially as the Middletown players are on an extended break after their Ulster championship exploits while the Craobh Rua players are targeting All-Ireland club semi-finals.
“It is a big one to start with. Any time you get sight of the red and black jersey it will not matter what sort of panel they put out,” said O’Connor.
“It will test us. We played Down at U20 last year, so if they are playing a young team, it is still a big test for us. They have a certain style about them and a certain way they play and they are disciplined. Down are going well at senior level.
“It is a big one and it whets the appetite. There is nothing simple this year.”
Armagh face Louth on Friday night and Queen’s next Thursday, for three games in just over a week while Down take on Queen’s at the Dub on Saturday, and a week later, on January 15, they’ll meet Louth.
While using the competition to play at least 10 senior debuts tonight, O’Connor is grateful for the games early in the season.
“We have had no games since July and the last two seasons have been truncated and ruined with Covid, so hopefully we will get a full one. In 20 weeks’, time we will be done, so with the McGurk Cup, League and Nicky Rackard, we could have 15 or 16 matches,” the Armagh boss said.
“When we are asking players to commit to their county, we are telling them that we are finished on 24th May and it will be three months afterwards before they will play club championship.”
And the Armagh hurling manager supports the split with the club hurling season.
“The proof of the pudding will be in the eating but so far, yes,” O’Connor said.
“It will help the clubs also, as they will have three months where they will full access to their players before they play a championship game, whereas previously it might have been four weeks, which isn’t really sufficient. Some counties it may not suit as much as us, if you are playing senior football or hurling then you will probably not be finished until the end of July.”
Armagh have had more than their fair share of disappointments in finals and this is year O'Connor wants that to change.
“We have been second in every competition since 2019, except last year when we met a very strong Mayo team so we didn’t reach the final. This year the lads would like to get over the line and win some silverware before some of them retire.”
