What a way to start the centenary year of the National Hurling League with a local derby against neighbours Louth in a mouthwatering Division 3 clash on Saturday, with a 2pm throw-in at the Box-It Athletic Grounds.
Meetings in recent years have been so close, with never more than one score separating the counties. A late score by Alex O’Boyle secured the narrowest of victories, 0-18 to 0-17 when the counties clashed at Dowdallshill in the 2024 Nicky Rackard Cup, whilst most recently a last gasp goal by substitute Stephen Keenan snatched victory in the same competition by 2-15 to 0-19 at the Box-It Athletic Grounds on 10/05/25.
The counties last met in the National Hurling League on the day before St. Patrick’s Day, 2024, when eleven points from Alex O’Boyle maintained Armagh’s Division 3 status after late Louth goals threatened the Orcahrd County’s lead going down the back straight. Louth played in Division 4 last term after that 0-19 to 2-10 loss at Middletown, but have bounced back immediately to Division 3 and will have a point to prove.
Armagh Manager Karl McKeegan wants to get the season off to a good start after his charges have worked hard in training and in three games played in preparation for the league campaign, knowing what his side can expect in the 28th National Hurling League meeting between the counties.
The counties first crossed swords in the League in July 1966 at Dundalk, when an inspirational midfield display of long and accurate striking from Mick Flynn, scoring 1-5, assisted Armagh to a Division 3 Final berth, before losing to Mayo.
There have been six previous meetings in the ecclesiastical capital, the first occurring in 1967 when Andy Whelan and Frank Cooney had a stranglehold at midfield, leading Louth to thirty point win, with the Orchard county only registering scores in the closing minutes. Louth went on that season to win the Division 3 title.
The Wee County had a distinct upper hand over the next decade, winning six out of seven contests, with the only exception being the 1974 meeting in Armagh, when Drogheda selector Oliver Kelly had to field for the visitors to make up the numbers.
The clashes from 1974 to 1979 were during a time when Division 3 games doubled up as the Ulster Junior Hurling Championship.
The counties again clashed in Armagh in 1977 when Armagh came from behind in the final straight for an exciting 3-11 to 5-3 success. This and other results saw Armagh, Louth and Derry enter a play-off situation. Armagh were due to play Derry in the opening encounter but failed to field as it transpired that the County Football and Hurling Finals were pencilled in for the same day.
Armagh enjoyed a comprehensive success in the city in 1979, but it would be 41 years before Louth graced the Athletic Grounds. Games in 2020 and 2022 were decided by the bare minimum, with Dean Gaffney hitting the winning score on each occasion.
In the most recent meeting last year in Darver, a superb second quarter when Armagh registered 2-6 without reply, proved crucial, as Danny Magee with two goals and a further three pointer from Eoin McGuinness gave the visitors the spoils.
Overall, Armagh have seventeen successes whilst Louth have ten previous wins. Who will be two valuable points richer in Armagh come Saturday teatime, or could the counties create history with a first ever draw.
By Brendy McCann