Roscommon v Armagh – Dr Hyde Park – 2pm
Armagh get their Nickey Rackard Cup underway this weekend as they take on Roscommon for the third time this season.
The pair clashed in round four of the National League before meeting again in the Division 3A league final.
Roscommon came out on top, convincingly, on both occasions, so Armagh will hope they can turn the tables.
The first day out, in the same venue as Sunday’s encounter, Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon were utterly dominant.
11-points was the difference at the half time break in favour of the hosts, who stretched that margin out to 20 by the full time whistle.
It was a tough defeat for Armagh to experience, but they bounced back to reach the league final.
This time in Navan, Karl McKeegan’s side gave a much better showing, but again came up short, losing 2-17 to 0-15.
That halted Armagh’s promotion charge, but focus will have entirely shifted towards the Nickey Rackard Cup.
Last year was one to forget for the Orchard, who lost to Roscommon, Donegal and Tyrone in the first three rounds.
They fended off any fears of relegation with back-to-back victories over Fermanagh and Warwickshire.
But Roscommon made it all the way to Croke Park where they lost to Tyrone. They’ll be hungry to get back to that stage.
McKeegan has changed up his starting team for the encounter, with Connor McAnallen starting in nets.
McAnallen held the number one shirt when Armagh met Monaghan in round two, but Fintan Woods was the keeper the rest of the time.
Keady defender Barry Shortt has moved out to the middle of the field, where he’ll partner Peadar McBride.
Stefan McParland, Oisin O’Hare and Odhran McCann are the full back line. The half back line is made up entirely of Middletown men, Paudie Lappin, Tiarnan Nevin and Odhran Curry.
Tomas Galvin, who recently picked up his second College All-Star award, is in the half forward line along side Connor Renaghan and Cormac Jennings.
Captain and top scorer Fionntan Donnelly is at corner forward. Eoin McGuinness and Tam McKavanagh complete the inside line.
