Burnout not a factor as Armagh bid to reach boiling point

JOE KERNAN has rejected suggestions that Armagh's marathon season will eventually see them fall short of the ultimate prize because of burnout.

Already, it has taken six games for the 2002 All-Ireland champions to retain their provincial crown and they will need to win another three if they are to claim possession of the Sam Maguire for a second time.

Next up for Kernan is Laois in Saturday's quarter-final and the former Crossmaglen manager has no qualms about his side's mental or physical conditioning.

"In all sports, if you look after yourself you can play time and again. Barring injury and suspensions there shouldn't be anything that stops players or teams playing to their best week in, week out.

"Last year we had two four-week breaks in between games and that was much harder I can tell you. It's a lot easier when you're winning anyway."

Captain Kieran McGeeney claimed earlier this summer that any player who looks after himself should be able to play every seven days if need be and Kernan claimed his centre-back was the prime example of that.

"Geezer will be in the pool the Monday after a game and ready for training on Tuesday. Look, if I tell you you're tired it won't be long before you're yawning. It's all in the mind."

Armagh's readiness has increased all the more with the reversal of Paul McGrane and Kieran McKeever's suspension by the Disputes Resolution Authority.

The return of McGrane will be particularly welcome. Derry dominated Armagh at midfield in June's Ulster semi-final before in turn being overshadowed by the Laois pairing of Noel Garvan and Padraig Clancy in the qualifiers.

Kernan is confident in the abilities of McGrane and Philip Loughran and is just delighted that the entire controversy has been swept aside so swiftly.

"There was always the risk that the appeal could drag on and we would end up losing it which would have been very hard to take. As it is, we've been able to refocus on what matters most."

In Laois, Kernan knows Armagh face an opponent worthy of their very best efforts. Their paths have crossed frequently and it was the midland county that deprived Armagh of an unbeaten season in 2002, defeating them in the NFL Division Two semi-final.

Though Armagh have squeezed victories out of the last three encounters, Laois have never been more than the kick of a ball away on any given day.

And though Laois have suffered at the hands of Tyrone this past two seasons, Portlaoise's All-Ireland club semi-final defeat of Crossmaglen last February reinforces the point that Armagh teams hold few fears for them.

"Laois have more experience now. In 2003, when we beat them in the quarter-final, they were riding the crest of a wave but it was all new to them.

"They have the experience now and the memories of last year's disappointments to drive them on as well. They're a bit like ourselves in that we haven't seen the best of them yet."

Kernan has been talking up his side's footballing abilities all week and, whether mischievously or not, has rejected the notion that Saturday will be a case of Armagh physicality versus Laois pace and verve.

"That's the first thing that jumps out at people but this Armagh team can play fast, open football as well. Maybe we'll see both teams playing the type of football we know they both can.

"The fact is, when you don't have the ball you have to defend and we're not going to make apologies for that."