Whatever it is about Armagh and Louth hurling games, they usually serve up a highly entertaining encounters.
Armagh won heavily when the sides met in the McGurk Cup last year, but their league meetings have been tight.
In both 2020 and 2022, Dean Gaffney proved to be the difference as he was the one that nailed the winning score.
Gaffney isn’t part of the panel this season, so Armagh will hope another hero steps up to the mantle.
2022: Armagh 2-16 Louth 3-12 (National Hurling League R1)
For long periods at the Athletic Grounds, Louth proved to be the better side, but Armagh nudged ahead at the right time.
Substitute Eoin McGuinness made a telling impact off the bench as he rattled the net twice in the second half.
Louth raced into a four-point lead by the half time stage, but Armagh narrowed the gap after the turnaround.
Dean Gaffney top scored on the day, including the winning score, with a personal haul of 0-10 (8f).
2022: Armagh 1-26 Louth 0-14 (McGurk Cup R2)
This had all the feeling of a preseason competition, and hosts Armagh were much the superior side on show.
30 players were used for the Orchard County, with experienced and inexperienced players getting game time.
The first half was a close-run encounter, which Armagh edged, carrying a 0-11 to 0-7 lead into the break.
But the introduction of Ryan Gaffney (0-9) and Eoin McGuinness (1-2) saw the hosts pull away in the second half.
2020: Armagh 1-19 Louth 1-18 (National Hurling League R4)
Like the 2022 clash, this one was also in the Athletic Grounds and similarly went right down to the wire.
Gaffney proved to be the hero once again, slotting over a late free to earn victory for the Orchard County.
Armagh raced ahead at the interval, leading 0-12 to 0-5, but the Wee County found back bravely in the second half.
Gaffney rattled the net for the home side and Armagh just did enough to get over the line with one the difference.
