During Kieran McGeeney’s tenure, Armagh have faced Donegal a total of six times throughout the McKenna Cup, League and Championship.
Monaghan are the only team that have met the Orchard County more than the Tir Chonaill men.
The games are usually keenly contested, apart from the two championship games when Donegal were massive winners.
Donegal hammered Geezer’s men in 2015, McGeeney’s first season in charge. They did the same in 2020, but Armagh are much improved since that meeting.
2021: Armagh 1-16 Donegal 1-16 (NFL R3)
Armagh were much the better team in the Athletic Grounds and should have left with maximum points.
Stefan Campbell was on fire and nailed 0-4 while Tiernan Kelly rattled the net after being introduced.
Donegal were minus their talisman Michael Murphy and Neil McGee. They relied on Paddy McBrearty for scores, and he finished with 0-8.
A win would have sent the Orchard through to the league semi-final, but they instead had to overcome Roscommon in a relegation battle.
2020: Armagh 0-13 Donegal 1-22 (USFC SF)
After securing Division One status for 2021, there a feeling that Armagh were ready to make the breakthrough.
That notion was further enhanced with a first-round win over Derry. But Orchard fans came tumbling back down to earth.
The opening quarter was even, but Donegal ran riot after the water break. Peadar Mogan’s goal sparked Declan Bonner’s men into action.
Rian O’Neill recorded 0-7 (all frees) while Aidan Forker’s man-marking job on Michael Murphy was one of the only positives from the outing.
2019: Donegal 1-9 Armagh 0-11 (NFL R5)
The brutal weather conditions in Ballybofey denied any chance of free-flowing football as Armagh pushed Donegal all the way.
James Morgan and Jason McGee were sent to the line during the opening half. Donegal led 1-6 to 0-8 at the break.
The introduction of Michael Murphy changed the game as the 2012 All-Ireland winning captain rattled off 1-2.
Rian O’Neill top scored with 0-4 (1f) while Niall Grimley 0-3 (3f), Stefan Campbell 0-2, Jamie Clarke 0-1 and Ethan Rafferty 0-1 (1f) all scored.
2019: Donegal 1-10 Armagh 0-14 (McKenna Cup SF)
2019 was the last time Armagh defeated Donegal and they did so to reach the McKenna Cup final, where they eventually lost out to Tyrone.
Like most games between these sides, outside of the championship meetings, this was an even affair.
The teams were tied nine times throughout the contest, with Hugh McFadden claiming the only goal.
Rory Grugan swung over a 69th minute free to hand Armagh the victory and beat the then McKenna Cup and Anglo Celt holders.
