It was a long time coming, but the Armagh footballers finally showed their skills in the top tier.
The usual format for the league was replaced with a regional structure, lining Armagh up against Monaghan, Tyrone and Donegal.
Safety was the first priority and an opening day win over the Farney men helped ease any fears of relegation.
While Armagh didn’t beat either Tyrone or Donegal, they showed they can be competitive at this level.
It all came down to a final, winner takes all playoff with Roscommon. Home advantage helped the Orchard over the line after a below par opening quarter.
That win over the Rossie’s guaranteed another year of Division One football. It also meant supporters could look forward to games against the likes of Dublin, Kerry and Mayo.
Kieran McGeeney’s men hosted Antrim in the opening round of the Ulster championship and the score line suggest an easy afternoons work.
The game proved another put. Three goals after the turnaround added some glamour to the scoreboard.
It was the concession of goals the next day out that proved their demise. Monaghan ran riot and netted four times inside the opening half.
Conor Turbitt and Tiernan Kelly both raised green flags to signal a fightback, but Armagh just couldn’t hold on.
2022 promises to be an exciting year for the men in orange and white as they hope to build on last year’s progress.
The league kick starts at the end of January, following two rounds of the McKenna Cup against Cavan and Tyrone.
There’s some exciting young talent coming through at the minute while Aidan Nugent has fully recovered from injury.
Armagh will look to consolidate their league status first and foremost before pushing on in the championship, where they face Donegal in the opening round.
