The Armagh injury list continues to grow, but that gives others a chance to impress according to assistant manager Ciaran McKeever.
Rory Grugan missed out on Saturday night through injury. Armagh also lost Conor O’Neill, who was replaced by Joe McElroy, during the first half.
James Morgan, Ben Crealey, Oisin O’Neill, Stephen Sheridan, Aidan Nugent, Connaire Mackin, Niall Rowland, Mark Shields and Ciaron O’Hanlon are all currently out injured.
Greg McCabe did return to the fold on Saturday evening. Midfielders Ciaran Mackin and Niall Grimley have also recently returned from injury.
“We have a number of boys still missing. We’re probably, from the boys that played in the All-Ireland quarter-final, we could be up to six or seven missing from that.
“But with them not getting game-time it’s building our squad; it’s making our squad stronger,” added McKeever.
“There is loads of football to be played and those boys will be blended back in when they’re ready to come in.”
Relegation fears
Armagh welcome Donegal to the Box-It Athletic Grounds on Saturday evening. There are a huge two points the prize for the winner.
The sides crossed paths three times in 2022, with Armagh winning once, in that qualifier encounter in Clones.
The loser this weekend will be in a real relegation dogfight, with just three rounds remaining in the league.
But the ex-Armagh captain insists the Orchard County won’t panic. “There are still six points up for grabs so we’re not going to panic,” said McKeever.
“We’ll regroup before we head back up the road and we know what lies ahead of us which is Donegal next Saturday night and we’ll be ready for another battle.
“We know what Donegal are going to take to the table. We’d like to think we know what we’ll bring to the table after tonight and after what we showed last week (against Roscommon).
“We’re under no illusion what’s ahead of us but we’ll be ready for anything that Donegal fire at us next Saturday night.”
