Who do you think should be the Armagh goalkeeper against Antrim in the preliminary round of the Ulster Championship?
Armagh host Antrim in the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds this Saturday afternoon to get their campaign underway.
There are three contenders for the number one jersey. Ethan Rafferty, Shea Magill and Patrick McAteer will also contest the goalkeeper position.
Ethan Rafferty
Rafferty was once again one of the star performers from an Armagh perspective throughout the National League.
The Grange man finished the campaign as Armagh’s sixth highest scorer, hitting 1-3 across their seven games.
Rafferty’s goal came in the second last round against Galway, when his long ball to the square ended up in the net.
He has been Armagh’s number one for the last two seasons and made his 80th Armagh appearance against Monaghan at the start of the league.
Shea Magill
Magill has been part of Kieran McGeeney’s panel for the last number of seasons, and the Armagh number two.
The Killeavy man made two appearances in the McKenna Cup, against Antrim and Cavan, but didn’t appear in the league.
Magill’s senior debut came against Monaghan in the 2021 Ulster semi-final. He was through in at the deep end and experienced a difficult day, conceding four first half goal.
The Killeavy netminder has a long kickout and kept a clean sheet in his most recent appearance against Cavan.
Patrick McAteer
McAteer played for the Armagh u-20s throughout the league and championship and gave a couple of notable displays.
The Mullaghbawn shot stopper recently kept a clean sheet for Barry O’Hagan’s side against Monaghan in the first round of the Ulster Championship.
He also performed really well throughout the league, where Armagh captured the Philly McGuinness Cup.
McAteer has yet to make a senior appearance, but the youngster has a bright future ahead of him.
