It’s do or die on Saturday afternoon in Breffni Park for Armagh and Donegal, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Facing into the cauldron of knockout football, Armagh will have to be at their best to cause an upset, but anything is possible.
This season has already thrown up some crazy results, none more so than last weekend as Cork sent Kerry tumbling out of the championship.
Armagh would take a similar smash and grab victory this weekend, as like Cork, not many people around the country give Kieran McGeeney’s men much of a chance.
With Kerry gone, and either Mayo or Galway knocked out by Sunday evening, the challengers to Dublin’s throne continue to dwindle.
Donegal are one of the only sides left that can trouble the five in a row champions, as they have shown in the past.
They will have to make it through their province first however and nothing comes easy in the Ulster Championship.
Armagh are a team on the rise and with Division One football secured for next season, confidence continues to grow within the Orchard County.
Any strain that this team felt was quickly swept away in the rain-soaked Celtic Park after their two-point win over Derry.
It’s Donegal who are favourites heading into this one, and rightly so as they chase a historic three in a row of Ulster crowns.
Armagh were the last team to achieve this feat between 2004-06, beating Donegal three times along the way.
How fitting it would be for Declan Bonner’s men to get one over their old rivals as they continue their Ulster dominance.
Likes always, the Tir Chonaill men will turn to Michael Murphy to lead them to the promised land and get them over the line.
The Donegal man isn’t a one-man band however, and plenty of the support crew are well able to win games when on song.
Ryan McHugh, Patrick McBrearty, Hugh McFadden and Neil McGee are all seasoned campaigners and quality footballers.
Armagh do have enough talent sprinkled throughout their squad to challenge the current Ulster Champions and plenty of attacking options.
The match ups will be crucial all over the park, as will the midfield battle as both teams try to claim some aerial advantage.
Donegal dominated the centre of the park against Tyrone, but Armagh will offer much more of a challenge in this area.
The O’Neill’s can equally perform in the middle as well as going forward while Niall Grimley, Stephen Sheridan and Jarly Og Burns are all big men.
Armagh will have to make the central area a warzone on Saturday and get plenty bodies in for the breaks.
If McGeeney’s charges can keep the Donegal dangermen quiet and get enough of the ball, then they are in with a huge chance of reaching the Ulster Final for the first time since 2008.
They face a truly difficult, uphill battle against one of the top contenders in the country, but this is were McGeeney and Armagh want to be.
