Based on the recent history, there is very little between Monaghan and Armagh and Saturday is unlikely to be any different.
The sides clashed twice last season, and, on both occasions, the two teams finished all square.
Of course, there was the classic Ulster semi-final meeting between the teams in 2021, which Monaghan just edged.
Armagh last beat their rivals in round one of the 2021 league, which helped maintain their place in the topflight.
2022: Armagh 1-7 Monaghan 0-10 (National Football league R3)
After Armagh’s sensational start to the 2022 season, Monaghan brought fans back down to earth a bit.
The Orchard County had just saw off Dublin and Tyrone but on a wet, dull night in the Athletic Grounds, they struggled against Monaghan.
A late Jack McCarron point rescued a share of the spoils for the visitors. But in truth Monaghan were the better team on show.
Armagh could, and possible should, have won the game though. Rian O’Neill’s penalty clearly crossed the line but was waved away by officials.
2022: Armagh 0-15 Monaghan 0-15 (McKenna Cup semi-final)
Penalties defined Armagh’s season last year, but that was the Croke Park shootout with Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
Armagh also crashed out of the McKenna Cup on a penalty shootout. Monaghan were the winners this time.
25 players saw game time for Kieran McGeeney’s men as the sides couldn’t be separated in normal or extra time.
Jemar Hall was the unfortunate penalty taker that missed and that saw the Farney men progress to the decider.
2021: Armagh 2-21 Monaghan 4-17 (USFC semi-final)
What a game this was. And another classic that Armagh were involved in, but ultimately came out on the wrong side.
Monaghan netted four times in the first half and carried a seven-point lead into the break. But the game was far from over.
The introduction of Aidan Forker tightened things up at the back while Conor Turbitt and Tiernan Kelly both netted after coming in.
But Conor McManus was the hero for the Farney men as he chipped over two late frees to win the game.
2021: Monaghan 1-12 Armagh 1-16 (National Football league R1)
2021 was the last time the Orchard County got one over Monaghan and it was the first round of the NFL.
Behind closed doors, Armagh got their season off to a perfect start, although it was far from one way traffic.
Stefan Campbell tucked away a penalty early on and Armagh led 1-6 to 1-5 at the half time interval.
Armagh pushed on in the second half to race ahead by four points by the time the final whistle sounded.
