Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ORCHARD IN BLOOM
WESTMEATH and ARMAGH renew their rivalry after last summer’s tempestuous All-ireland round two qualifier in Mullingar, where the counties meet again tomorrow.
Referee Padraig Hughes dished out four black cards and a red, as well as a raft of yellows, before Ethan Rafferty’s late goal sealed a 1-12 to 1-17 victory for Kieran Mcgeeney’s side, who went on to reach the All-ireland quarter-final.
Both sides started with wins last weekend and whoever emerges victorious will be well on the way to promotion.
There shouldn’t be much in it, though Armagh get the nod to repeat their 2017 win.
After their surprisingly easy win over Offaly,
won’t be cowed by the sight of a
DERRY side coming to Pearse Park, least of all an understrength one, given their history against the Oak Leafers.
On three occasions they’ve sent Derry packing from the Championship in the qualifiers and, buoyed by last week’s display, look set to extend their dominance of this fixture to the League.
OFFALY manager Stephen Wallace will demand an improvement from his team after the shocking performance in Tullamore but while he may get that, a win will probably be beyond his side in Enniskillen against FERMANAGH.
SLIGO and WEXFORD meet at Markievicz Park in what already looks like a relegation four-pointer, which the home side should win.