National Football League – Round Two
Armagh vs Monaghan
Sunday 30th May – Athletic Grounds – 2pm
It’s a repeat of last season’s Ulster Final as Armagh take on Monaghan in round two of the national league this weekend.
Last year it was Monaghan who enjoyed home advantage but this time around Armagh will run out on familiar territory.
The Athletic Grounds will play host for two side, who will have to get fairly comfortable with each other over the next few weeks.
The have been drawn to face off in all three of their competitions, the league, the Ulster Championship and the All-Ireland series.
Armagh held the upper hand in a tight affair in their last game of 2020 and squeezed through with two points to spare to lift the Ulster crown.
Armagh will of course be favourites to continue their winning form on Sunday after getting off the mark last weekend.
They certainly didn’t have it all their own way, as can only be expected in an ‘old firm’ derby clash with neighbours Tyrone.
The Orchard County were behind 3-4 to 1-6 when the short whistle sounded but came roaring back in the second period.
A late Aimee Mackin penalty helped clinch the victory as Armagh eventually edged through by the minimum of margins.
Mackin was of course on form and top scored for Ronan Murphy’s side with a personal tally of 1-5.
Blaithin Mackin wore the number 14 but drifted further out to centre field, with Caroline O’Hanlon moving into the forward line.
Alex Clarke is an emerging talent and the Crossmaglen sharp-shooter rattled the net to help Armagh get off the mark.
Clodagh McCambridge remains the rock at the back and pulled off a few of her customary, trademark blocks in defence.
Armagh are still missing some of their stars with Catherine Marley and Kelly Mallon not featuring at all against the Red Hand County.
Fionnuala McKenna is back in the starting line up and the Armagh Harps star will begin the game at wing half forward.
Monaghan will be hoping to bounce back from a first-round defeat last weekend when Cavan got the better of the Farney County.
Despite having home advantage and rattling the net twice, it still wasn’t enough to get a result, losing 2-10 to 3-11.
Armagh can set down a marker for further meetings down the line with a good performance and a win tomorrow.
Promotion is still the goal and having stumbled over the first bump in the road, Armagh will hope to improve this weekend.
