Orchard efforts must bear fruit, says McNulty

Enda McNulty is understandably wary of the Monaghan threat this evening. If history has taught him anything, it is to never underestimate the white and blue shirt.

On May’s second Sunday back in 2003, Joe Kernan’s men made the short journey to Clones to open the defence of their All-Ireland football crown. It was, as you would expect, a glorious occasion; heaving crowd, television cameras peering out from every corner, the football world at Armagh’s feet – all and sundry waiting for the Orchard County’s statement of intent to be delivered.

It never arrived.

Monaghan scored a shock, though merited 0-13 to 0-9 win, condemning the champions to the back roads.

“To say they knocked us off our perch that afternoon would be an understatement,” recalls McNulty.

“We were coming in as All-Ireland champions and were expected to win. That was a real rude awakening for Armagh. I don’t think we were ready for that game and we underestimated Monaghan that day. We underperformed in almost every position. I would have marked Tommy Freeman and you couldn’t but have huge respect for the quality of player they had, their poise and confidence. You knew they were always going to give you one hell of a battle.”

The two sides return to Clones this evening, only their third championship meeting since that fateful afternoon. The shoe is now firmly on the other foot, but McNulty maintains the rivalry hasn’t waned.

“Monaghan will go in as favourites and that is not trying to manipulate this from a psychological point of view. They are league and reigning Ulster champions. You also have to consider that they have not been beaten in Clones for a good number of games. They are a big physical team and they have got much more physically stronger over the last year and a half. They have showed from an offensive point of view that one or two players have stepped up almost to a national level, not too dissimilar from the Donegal system.

“In fact, I would say they play the Donegal system better than Donegal did in last year’s Ulster championship. They have a lot of strengths, a lot of senior players, senior players they can bring off the bench in Paul Finlay. They have superb strength-in-depth. Their marquee forwards also are as good as there is in the country.”

Similar to 2003, however, McNulty warns against writing off the underdogs. Cavan, and, indeed, the general sporting public were guilty of engaging in such an offence prior to the Ulster quarter-final.

The sports psychologist lamented the heated exchanges prior to throw-in, a fracas which cost Armagh the services Brendan Donaghy, Kieran Toner and Andy Mallon for this semi-final contest.

“In terms of dusting themselves down and getting on with playing football, there is no doubt Armagh came out of the early brawl better. They reacted better. I think it was critical Armagh got a win for the players, supporters, management and coaching staff. It has given everybody a boost, a significant boost at that. Media and the bookmakers had made them underdogs. Why, I am not sure. Cavan haven’t exactly set the world alight at senior level.

“I was very pleased by the team’s tactical evolution against Cavan. The team are more defensively sound because they are playing a better tactical system. It is very pleasing to see the depth of talent, particularly the younger players. More than anything else you could see the team’s attitude coming to the surface that day. Losing the three suspended men is a blow. They are three central players for Armagh, they are three leaders. There is no doubt about their skillset and leadership abilities. They are three senior players and that will be a factor in the game.”

It’s been six years since an Orchard shirt marched behind the band on Ulster final day, or, indeed, featured in Croke Park on the first weekend of August. The former All Star says it is time for the county to reclaim a higher seat at football’s table. “Having been in the camp for so many years you get an understanding of what the psychology is of the squad, what the psychology of the coaches is and so on. I would be adamant that Armagh want to significantly progress in this year’s championship, the Ulster championship and then moving onto an All-Ireland quarter-final and possibly beyond. So long as they are progressing, moving forward and putting in building blocks for the future. That is the key.”