Armagh in for the long haul

DESPITE the historic blow struck by Micko for Laois, the most ominous championship soundings last weekend came at Roscommon. It wasn’t so much how Armagh dissected Limerick dreams, rather the ruthless manner and the awesome defensive display which earmarked the defending All-Ireland champions as the team to avoid in the quarter-finals.

Benny Tierney, who hung up his gloves to become Joe Kernan’s goalkeeping coach, believes Armagh are a better team this year simply because of the belief factor. “If you haven’t won the All-Ireland, there will always be doubts in your head as a player. But look at Stevie McDonnell, he is twice the capacity as a player this year, Marsden there is getting through ten times the amount of work and Stevie is feeding off that. Paul McGrane is benefiting from having Philip Loughran as a partner, so I think they are better.”

Tierney and fellow All-Ireland medallist Diarmuid Marsden were in Croke Park yesterday to launch the 4th annual MBNA Kick Fada competition, which comes with a €1,500 holiday prize when it is contested on September 21. Kildare’s Mark Herbert has won the three previous competitions.