Tyrone vs Armagh SFC- Five Talking Points

What to expect from Armagh?

OISIN McConville made a pertinent point this week on Thomas Niblock’s GAA podcast – that it must be difficult for Malachy O’Rourke to prepare for Armagh as it’s hard to gauge quite how many men will still be out injured. They’ve been hit by an injury crisis, though at least a couple of their walking wounded should be back this weekend. The question is – who and how many? Armagh likewise will be wondering whether we’ll see a return to action of the likes of Darragh Canavan and Mark Bradley.

The physicality question

ONE thing that’s popped up in online discussion of this Saturday’s match time-and-time-again is whether Tyrone can match up to Armagh’s power and physicality. Some Tyrone fans wonder whether this game has come too soon, and that it might take another year or so for some of our younger players to be able to duke it out with the man-mountains from Galway and so on. It’s a worthy discussion and Saturday should tell a tale about what to expect from the 2025 season in the long run.

Two be or not two be

TYRONE racked up an impressive 1-24 against Cavan with 13 different players getting on the scoresheet – impressive stuff. However, it didn’t go unnoticed that there were no two-pointers scored on the day, something that was put to Malachy O’Rourke by a reporter after the game. Malachy didn’t sound too concerned about it, though he did also say it would be something they’d look at. There’s been plenty of chat about Kerry’s approach – Jack O’Connor’s side don’t seem at all bothered about two-pointers – though, arguably, their strategy almost came back to haunt them against a Cork side that scored six of them last weekend.

It’s been a while

REMARKABLY, Tyrone haven’t played a single championship match in Clones since their Ulster final win over Down in 2017. Since then, they’ve made it back to one Ulster final – the 2021 showdown which was staged at Croke Park. As a county, we want to be winning All-Irelands, but it would be a huge lift to both the team and supporters if we qualify for this year’s provincial final against either Down and Donegal. There haven’t been many big days out in recent years so here’s hoping.

Coming out in support

ATTENDING matches is an expensive business, but it was still surprising that fewer than 7000 spectators made their way to Omagh for Tyrone’s Ulster Championship opener a fortnight ago. A number of Tyrone players have called for fans to come out in force this Saturday, and hopefully they’ll get their wish as Armagh always bring a sizeable (not to mention noisy) support. It can be a symbiotic thing – if Tyrone go on a run, more fans will elect to leave the comfort of the living room, but it would be great if we get a good support rowing behind the team at Clones this Saturday.