If any team came away from the 2020 kicking themselves, it was Clann Eireann. The Lurgan side should have toppled Maghery in the quarter finals. And they know it!
Where would their season of gone if they had gotten over the line? Who knows? But they can redeem themselves this season.
The county has been waiting on this youthful and exciting Clann Eireann team to make the breakthrough for a few years now.
They look to be motoring well having secured promotion to the top tier, finishing second in Division 1B.
County quality
Conor Turbitt and Tiernan Kelly have had eye-catching years for Armagh and will be the leading lights in the club championship.
Barry McCambridge is another who earned game time for Kieran McGeeney’s side, making his debut against Tyrone in the league.
Stalwart Ryan Henderson is still one of the go-to players while Aidan and Conor McConville are dangerous in the forward line.
Shea Heffron remains the heartbeat of the defence and wears the team’s captain armband.
They will be without the influential Ryan Owens however, who is out with a season-ending knee injury.
Grange have their own injuries problems. Ethan Rafferty remains sidelined after tearing his ACL earlier in the year.
Brendan Rafferty is another to add to Peter Nugent’s sick list as he underwent ankle surgery last week.
Without the two Rafferty’s, it could be an uphill struggle for Grange. Yet some quality still remains.
Dangerous forward line
The McKenna brothers, Miceal and Cathal, are two of the best forwards in the county. They will be supported by Justin Kieran and Ben Toal.
If the men in green and white can get enough ball into the forward line, they can ask serious questions of the opposing defence.
It looks like Clann Eireann’s to lose however and they should secure their quarter final place.
