It’s just over 12 months since these sides last squared up. That was also in the quarter final of the Senior Championship.
It was a cold and wet summers night, and one Clann Eireann will look back on full of regret.
Tommy Coleman’s men were the better side on display, but Maghery’s grit and determination edged them through.
The Lough shore men went on to claim their second championship title, while Clann Eireann had the winter to heal their wounds.
Experience sealed the deal for Maghery in 2020 and they still hold that winning know-how heading into tonight’s encounter.
The champions demonstrated in their first round win over the Harps that they can grind out a victory.
Brian Fox’s second half goal proved the crucial score, as Maghery withheld a Harps comeback. Brian McIlmurray impressed at full back, in a surprise tactical move by Finnian Moriarty.
He’ll be up against Conor Turbitt, one of the rising starts of Armagh football, if positioned on the edge of the square tonight.
Ciaran Higgins is the ideal match up for ‘Turbo’ but suffered concussion the last day out and his availability is still unknown.
Tiernan Kelly is another who burst onto the county scene this year. Ben Crealey could battle it out with him at midfield.
The positioning of Aidan Forker will also be key for Maghery. The versatile Forker will likely be shadowed by Barry McCambridge, as he was last season.
Shea Heffron is the sweeper in orange and white. His job will be to stop the late runners bursting through, such as Brian Fox, Brendan Haveron and Stephen Cusack.
He may also look to cut off some of the aerial threat provided by Ronan Lappin, who’s goal scoring prowess is surely a concern.
Clann Eireann have been a coming team for the last few years, but have yet to take a big scalp in the championship.
They have earned promotion from Division 1B and will be keen to mix it with the big punchers in the division.
Maghery are the champions of course and their experience and guile could be enough to get them through.
