McArdle keen to outfox familiar foes

DERMOT McARDLE could do no more than roll his eyes and break into a wry smile when Monaghan and Armagh were paired in the draw for the first round of the All-Ireland qualifiers a fortnight ago.

Different year, same short straw.

Twelve months earlier, Seamus McEneaney’s men were paired with Derry, Donegal and Kerry in the open draw and their reward for finishing second best in Ulster in 2007 was another tricky tie against Donegal. Same as it ever was then.