Nicky Rackard Cup – Quarter Final
Armagh vs Leitrim
Saturday 17th July – Breffni Park – 1.30pm
Armagh were much the better side when these sides faced off in round one of the competition last year.
Sean Toal’s second half major saw the Orchard County win easily in the end, 1-21 to 0-12.
Donegal put an end to Armagh’s Nicky Rackard Cup involvement, while Leitrim battled their way through the back door.
Incredibly, the Connaught side ended up in the semi-final. They were dismissed with ease by fellow westerners Mayo.
Leitrim fell once again to their provincial neighbours in the opening round of this season’s Nicky Rackard Cup.
They also suffered a disastrous league campaign, finishing pointless and bottom of Division 3B.
While Armagh didn’t reach their league target of promotion, they picked up four wins from their five outings.
Only Sligo got the better of Padraig O’Connor’s men, in a game where Armagh played well for long periods.
Armagh, as always, were once again one of the favourites to produce the goods in the Nicky Rackard Cup.
The two-time winners lost their only group game to Tyrone while Leitrim finished bottom of group A with defeats to Mayo and Donegal.
The pair will now commence battle to claim the final last four spot. The loser will find themselves in next year’s Lory Meagher Cup.
Armagh have been dealt a tough hand from the beginning of the year. They started without the talented Middletown brothers, Ryan and Dean Gaffney.
Captain and Club and County Player of the Year Nathan Curry remains injured and hasn’t featured at all this year.
Derrynoose’s tight-marking defender Patrick Quinn stepped away at the start of the season while stand-in captain Aaron Fox has relocated to Canada.
Still, Armagh have plenty of quality throughout their team and still have a big say in this competition.
Only a win will do this weekend, and the Orchard County will be confident of getting their season back on track.
