Net gains

OF the many reasons to admire Armagh’s revival this summer, one is often overlooked. Way back in May when the All-Ireland champions made the stuttering start to their title defence in Clones, there were two new faces among their last four players on the field.

A fresh-faced corner-back and a mountain of a goalkeeper. Those new faces are now established names in the meanest defence in the country and have gone some way to helping Armagh keep a clean sheet all summer.

While Andy Mallon, the under-21 sensation, has brought the pace Armagh’s full-back line was widely thought to lack, Paul Hearty was stepping into much bigger boots.