The National Football League is back, and Armagh’s first game could be significant when the final points are totted up in late March, as they travel to Clones to take on last year’s Division Two champions Monaghan.
To make a challenging game even tougher, Armagh will have to make do without a number of familiar faces from past seasons, following several retirements and injuries picked up during the winter.
The absence of key players such as Stefan Campbell and Niall Grimley will hit them hard, whilst they currently have a lengthy injury list which includes Aidan Forker, Barry McCambridge, Ciaran Mackin, Paddy Burns and Darragh McMullen, amongst others.
However, they still have enough quality to match any team and compete for the All-Ireland title once again this summer. Before that though, they will try to navigate their way through a challenging Division One campaign, and keep their heads above the relegation zone.
In order to that, they’ll have to focus on who they do have available, rather than who they don’t. Oisin Conaty and Conor Turbitt are two of the best forwards in Ireland, whilst Oisin O’Neill has been putting up huge scores for club and county since the introduction of the new rules.
Wing backs Ross McQuillan and Jarly Og Burns both had their best campaigns in the orange of Armagh last season, and seem to be in their prime. In the full-back line, Aaron McKay is a welcome addition back into the fold having missed the entire 2025 campaign, whilst young players Tomas McCormack and Peter McGrane will look to continue their development either side of him.
The looming question marks over Armagh are: who will be the first-choice goalkeeper and who will be the starting midfield pairing?
Kieran McGeeney has a difficult decision to make, with Armagh boasting two of the top goalkeepers in Ireland. Blaine Hughes lost his starting spot to Ethan Rafferty last year, but the Armagh manager may wish to try Rafferty outfield once again, as he did against Down in the Dr McKenna Cup, potentially giving the Carrickcruppen man a chance to reclaim the number one jersey.
In midfield, Armagh will be without Grimley and Shane McPartlan, who have stepped away from the panel, Connaire Mackin (emigrated to Australia) and Ciaran Mackin (recovering from an ACL injury) whilst Ben Crealey and Jason Duffy are fighting to get fit for this weekend.
Callum O’Neill looks set to start in midfield, but who will join him won’t be known until throw-in on Sunday afternoon.
Furthermore, Fergal O’Brien, Daniel Magee, Sean Conlon, Aaron O’Neill, Padraig O’Keefe, Fionn Downey, Conor Magennis, Ryan Duffy, Callum O’Neill (Clan na Gael), Dan McCarthy, Sean McCarthy, Joe McCann, Gavan Duffy and Ruairi McDonald were trialled in the McKenna Cup. How many of those players can break into the first team remains to be seen, but with so many players missing, McGeeney will have to trust that they can acquit themselves well in the baptism of fire that is Division One.
In the home dugout, Monaghan will also be acutely aware of the importance of Sunday’s game, as their side is littered with plenty of Division One experience. Monaghan’s run of 10 straight seasons in the top tier of the National Football League came to an end in 2024 when they were relegated, but the Farney men made an immediate return back up last season.
In Gabriel Bannigan’s first year in charge, Monaghan went from strength to strength, following up their Division Two title win by topping their group in the All-Ireland Series.
At half-time in their All-Ireland quarter-final against Donegal, they had Jim McGuinness’ side on the ropes, leading 1-15 to 0-11, and their supporters were dreaming of how far they could go. However, they had a disastrous second half, and were knocked out of the competition. Despite that, they could be very pleased with their season, with the hope and expectation now to build on it for 2026.
Monaghan’s team is filled with the stars of Scotstown, the reigning Ulster Club Champions. They’ll be expecting the likes of Rory Beggan, Conor McCarthy, Ryan O’Toole and Jack McCarron to be back in for this Sunday’s opener.
It’s not just Scotstown men who make Monaghan tick however, as they carry plenty of punch up front with players such as Micheal Bannigan, Stephen O’Hanlon and Andrew Woods fit to give any defence headaches.
It’s a hard one to call, but both sides will be determined to get points on the board as quickly as possible, and don’t expect there to be much in it at the full-time whistle.
By Kieran Lynch, @KieranLynch224 on X.com