Terence McNaughton’s Armagh suffered a heavy defeat at home to Roscommon last weekend and things don’t get much easier in round two.
An away day trip to Letterkenny presents a chance to get back on track again and wipe the slate clean.
It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the Orchard County. Things were really looking up when they qualified for the Division 3A final.
But defeat to rivals Tyrone denied McNaughton’s side promotion and the quick turnaround obviously did them no favours.
Roscommon raised three first half green flags in last weeks Nickey Rackard opener. And they finished with five goals altogether, in a game to forget for Armagh.
The Rossies opened up a 17-point half time lead and the game was over at the sound of the short whistle.
Eoin McGuinness and Shea Harvey both rattled the net after the turnaround, but it was too little too late.
Donegal
A tough test could lay ahead on Sunday when they face a side that competed at the top end of Division 2B this season.
Donegal finished second in the table and lost to Sligo by the narrowest of margins in the semi-final.
The Tir Chonaill men also lost our in the last four of the 2021 Nickey Rackard Cup, as did Armagh.
Tyrone ended Donegal’s involvement while eventually winners Mayo saw off Armagh’s challenge.
Donegal did win the competition the year before, hammering Armagh on their way to the decider.
Former Cuchulainns hurler Declan Coulter remains a main man for Donegal. He was the top scorer in the Nickey Rackard Cup last season.
Armagh will be all too familiar with his ability, and they know the quality Coulter is capable of producing.
It’s a massive challenge for Armagh. To bounce back and get something out of this weekend would be huge, but they are certainly up against it.
