Morgan’s return is perfect boost for Armagh
ARMAGH manager Kieran McGeeney and his assistant Jim McCorry have taken considerable encouragement from the fare served up in the county senior football championship which concluded on Sunday when Crossmaglen Rangers got the better of Ballymacnab.
But while the unexpectedly big crowds, a series of outstanding individual performances and the possibility of Rangers now making a strong bid for the Ulster club title are viewed as considerable plus-factors, the imminent return of key players to the county squad is an even greater source of satisfaction.
At the outset of this year Armagh were suddenly forced to plan without a corps of players that included Stefan Campbell, Jamie Clarke, Ciaron O’Hanlon, Oisin O’Neill and James Morgan.
Then to compound Orchard county worries Ethan Rafferty, Aaron McKay, Paul Hughes and Ben Crealey were among key players who were unavailable through injury at a vital stage of the championship.
Indeed when Armagh exited the All-Ireland qualifiers to Roscommon — 2-22 to 1-19 — several familiar faces were conspicuous by their absence.
But as McGeeney and McCorry focus on stepping up their preparations for 2019 and their team’s debut in Division Two of the Allianz League, they have been served with a timely bonus.
Morgan, Crealey and Hughes are all expected to be back in the frame as the team sets out to build on the progress made this year during which the only real blight on their chart was the Ulster Championship defeat to Fermanagh.
With players such as Ryan Owens, Connaire Mackin, Jemar Hall and Ross McQuillan having been introduced to plug breaches, Armagh were never going to have the overall experience necessary to reach the Super 8’s.
That could change in 2019, though. And Morgan, fresh from fulfilling a crucial role in Crossmaglen’s latest county championship success, has lost no time in firing out a message of optimism.
“I was away travelling this year and to be honest I came home half-injured but now my knee is holding up well,” states Morgan. “My fitness is good, mentally I feel very strong and definitely I am ready to help Armagh next year.
“I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that I might get my place in the side.
“We will be in Division Two which of course will be a step up for us but that’s a challenge to which I think the boys will be looking forward.
“All players like to test themselves against good teams and Armagh players are no different. Obviously there were injuries and then other players like me were unavailable but I think there is the prospect of having a good panel for 2019 if all goes well.”
Before then of course Rangers must face into the Ulster club series in which they will meet newly-crowned Tyrone champions Coalisland Fianna at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday week (7.00pm).
“We have been out of the Armagh limelight for a while and a few people might have forgotten about us but timing is key and I think we have timed it well this year in terms of winning the county title again,” smiles 26-year-old defender Morgan.
“We experienced failure over the past two years and that makes this title success all the sweeter.
“The talent is definitely there in this Crossmaglen Rangers side and that could augur well for Armagh too.” THE decision by former Armagh 2002 All-Ireland winner Aidan O’Rourke to rule himself out of the running for the post of new Roscommon football manager has triggered a sharp reaction with a sudden clamour for a new boss to be appointed from within the county.
It is understood that the Roscommon county board had hoped to rubber-stamp O’Rourke’s appointment on Monday night but were forced to stay their hand when the Dromintee man indicated that he still required formal confirmation that one of his backroom team would be available to serve under him.
But when O’Rourke made contact with Roscommon chiefs on Tuesday morning it was to tell them that he had decided he no longer wish to be considered for the post.
His decision occasioned a sense of shock and has led to calls for the county board to appoint someone from within the county. It will be interesting to see the reaction given that former boss Kevin McStay had indicated one of the reasons he quit was that several key players had made themselves unavailable for next year.