Toal bids to clip the wings of high-flying Ó Sé

WHILE Sunday brings together two teams of contrasting styles, neither side would be in the All-Ireland final if there weren’t similarities.

Take midfield, for example. Most people are licking their lips, anticipating the battle between Darragh Ó Sé and Paul McGrane. Two of the best fielders in the game duking it out may become the decisive tussle.

As high fielding is an art on life support, it is no wonder Ó Sé and McGrane have grabbed headlines as the summer progressed. Their form, though, has meant their partners have been starved of plaudits. John Toal and Donal Daly are the overshadowed duo, the men who donkey work but only get scraps of praise. This is Toal’s fifth year on the Armagh panel, but chances are you haven’t heard of him until this year. Most of his time has been spent as a squad player. Only in the past two seasons, as Armagh struggled to fill the void created by Jarlath Burns’ retirement, has Toal established himself.