Armagh get their 2023 Ulster Championship campaign up and running on Saturday afternoon as they take on Antrim.
Saturday will be the 25th meeting between the sides in the championship and they’ve only met three times in the last 41 years.
Antrim haven’t beaten Armagh in the championship since 1964, with Armagh winning the last four clashes.
This weekend is a repeat of the 2021 championship opener which Armagh won handsomely in the end.
2021: Armagh 4-15 Antrim 0-14 (USFC quarter-final)
Three second half goals saw Armagh pull away comfortably, but this was far from a one-sided affair.
Rory Grugan netted with his first ever goal in the Ulster Championship to send Armagh 1-6 to 0-7 ahead at the break.
Grugan was fouled inside the box in the second period and Rian O’Neill stepped up to slot home Armagh’s second goal.
Three-pointers from substitutes Conor Turbitt and Tiernan Kelly followed as Armagh ran out comfortable winners.
2003: Antrim 0-12 Armagh 0-15 (Qualifiers R2)
Armagh, the then All-Ireland champions were knocked out of Ulster at the first hurdle by Monaghan.
That meant they hand to take the scenic route to defend their All-Ireland crown and that involved a qualifier clash with Antrim.
Joe Kernan’s men had hammered Waterford before squeezing past the Saffron’s with just three to spare.
Oisin McConville top scored for the Orchard County with 0-7 (5f) while Steven McDonnell hit 0-6. Paul McGrane and Ronan Clarke also chipped in with scores.
1982: Armagh 1-20 Antrim 1-6 (USFC semi-final)
Armagh defeated Antrim in the Ulster Championship semi-final in 1982 on their way to claiming the Anglo Celt.
A goal along with an outstanding sideline kick from Mickey McDonald saw the Orchard County past Donegal in the first round.
They then beat Antrim in the last four before seeing off Fermanagh 0-10 to 1-4 in the provincial decider.
Armagh took on Mick O’Dwyer’s great Kerry side in the semi-final and lost out 3-15 to 1-11.
