Kieran plots downfall of native county

Ironically on Sunday week Paddy O’Rourke, who held aloft the Sam Maguire Cup following a Mourne victory in the early Nineties, will attempt to lower the colours of Down in Newry when Armagh make the short trip in search of two NFL points.

The same modern methods which accommodate the inter-county managerial merry-go-round have sat Joe Kernan on the Galway touchline and Paul Grimley standing alongside Monaghan’s Seamus McEnaney.

However all eyes, it would appear, are on Tyrone’s Mickey Harte who, like all good managers, will have no fear in watching his side fall to the bowels of the earth before attempting to climb Everest in the summer months.

The ultra-clever Tyrone boss would have already calculated that another defeat in the NFL Division One would have some Red Hand supporters calling for his head, but Harte will already have briefed his players on the eventualities of relegation in April which will mean very little when the cut and thrust of the Championship begins.

Kildare’s easy win over Donegal last Sunday could see Geezer’s side start this weekend’s game as favourites to beat Armagh.

The Lilywhites will have witnessed Steven McDonnell’s leading of the attack against Laois last Saturday night and will, no doubt, attempt to neutralise the threat with tight man-marking. Should McDonnell struggle, Armagh may well be turned over.

Against Laois Brian Mallon grabbed a late piece of the action having returned from injury but Kevin Dyas may be out for a while with a shoulder injury he sustained after just 20 minutes. His replacement, Vincy Martin, was dismissed shortly after his introduction making Armagh’s victory extra special as they played part of the game a man down.

Ryan Henderson’s late winner in Portlaoise would, in real terms, have helped the Clann ireann man’s confidence no end, perhaps more so than the 4-3 he scored against Wexford last season. Henderson should be commended for his courage in shooting in the dying seconds having missed an attempt just previous.

If both Armagh and Down win on Sunday, things will be well balanced for the derby game in the Marshes, a game which will see a major crowd.

With Westmeath and Tipperary still fancied for the drop Armagh’s last game against the Munster men could clinch promotion to division one if the Orchard can sustain a winning momentum during the meantime.