Bold Ferm derby for Mcgrath
THE draw could have been kinder to Fermanagh, but a spin to the Athletic Grounds holds no fear for Pete Mcgrath.
The Erne boss Pete Mcgrath fancies his team’s chances of ending Armagh’s summer in tonight’s first round All-ireland qualifier.
He said: “We’ve played Armagh twice in recent times in the Athletic Grounds, we drew once and we lost the other with the last kick of the game.
“So we generally play well down there.
“It is going to be like an Ulster Championship match, it is going to have that feel to it, and our intensity levels have to be good. It’s a result we’re capable of getting, but we’ll have to be at our best to get it.”
There’s probably more scrutiny on Armagh, who performed so badly against Down three weeks ago.
Failing to get promotion from Division Three was one thing, but a tame first Ulster Championship defeat to Down in 25 years has heaped more pressure on manager Kieran Mcgeeney.
He is still serving a 12-week touchline ban but has rejigged his attack, with Anto Duffy and Gavin Mcparland given the chance to redeem a forward line that mis-fired so badly last time out.
Mcgrath is expecting a backlash.
“When any team goes out of the Championship and maybe didn’t perform up to expectation, then the next day out there is always the possibility that you will get a reaction. They may not have played particularly well but most people would assume that they are capable of better.”