All-Ireland – Round Two
Cavan vs Armagh
Saturday 17th July – St Tiernach’s Park – 5.30pm
Armagh look to be returning to that unstoppable form that brought so much success in 2020. Despite missing out on their league goal, they’ve burst into life for the championship.
Ronan Murphy has got his side back to a provincial decider for the second year running. They did so by dismissing Monaghan and Tyrone with the minimum of fuss.
Armagh once again saw off the Farney challenge in the opening round of the All-Ireland series.
This weekend they travel to Clones town to take on another Ulster rival. Cavan will hope to halt their momentum and get one over the Orchard County.
The Breffni Blues were successful in doing so just six weeks ago, in the final round of the national league.
With the advantage of playing on home soil, Cavan nudged Armagh out of a promotion place with one point to spare.
No doubt revenge is a word circulating the Armagh changing room. Despite their recent defeat, the reigning Ulster champions head into this one as favourites.
They displayed their devasting attacking options against Monaghan last weekend and ended a closely fought contest in the space of three minutes.
Armagh attack from everywhere. You just have to look at their half back line and you understand how many options they have going forward.
Not only did Eve Lavery tally up 1-3 on her own, but she also had a hand to play in the other three Armagh goals as well.
Lauren McConville, Armagh’s raiding centre half back, played the final pass for two of Lavery’s first half points.
While Tiarna Grimes didn’t get on the scoresheet against Monaghan, the Clann Eireann star knows where the posts are.
Caroline O’Hanlon pulls the strings at centre half forward and as she showed in round one, can also do damage on the edge of the square.
Kelly Mallon was a solid introduction last weekend while Alex Clarke and Fionnuala McKenna have been superb.
Aoife McCoy links the play so well and epitomises the Armagh attack. Throw in the quality of the Mackin sisters, and it’s an attacking unit that can cause serious damage.
Clodagh McCambridge and Grace Ferguson pulled off some of their customary diving blocks last weekend while captain Sarah Marley remains a real leader in defence.
The two Niamh’s, Marley and Coleman form a solid midfield and Anna Carr has a brilliant eye for finding the pair with her restarts.
Armagh are hitting form at the right time, and they should hand Cavan their second defeat of the competition.
