Armagh unchaged for Ulster final replay

Former All-Star Oisín McConville will again have to make do with a place on the substitutes bench after Armagh manager Peter McDonnell announced an unchanged team for Sunday's Ulster SFC final replay against Fermanagh (throw-in 3pm).

The Clones clash will see Armagh line out with Charlie Vernon and Stephen Kernan in attack despite the pair's failure to score in the drawn game.

The Orchard men led by eight points at one stage in last weekend's encounter but despite his side's failure to see out the win, McDonnell has decided not to tinker.

That means Aaron Kernan and Brian Mallon, who were recalled to the starting line-up for the drawn game, retain their places at right half-back and centre-forward respectively.

Corner forward Steven McDonnell, who top-scored in last week's 2-08 to 1-11 with six well-struck points, is determined that Armagh will hold onto any lead they get in the replay.

"If we do get any kind of a lead, we have to drive it on," said the Killeavy clubman.

"We have lost leads before, but we haven't lost an eight-point lead.

"That is something we have to learn from but we have enough experienced players to come back Sunday and hopefully get the job done."

Notably, Armagh have not lost a replay in the Ulster championship since 1993 when they lost a semi-final to Donegal.

This is the third time in five years that the Anglo-Celt Cup decider has gone to a replay. Tyrone beat Down in 2003, while Armagh beat Tyrone after a replay in 2005.

ARMAGH (SFC v Fermanagh) - P Hearty; A Mallon, F Bellew, F Moriarty; A Kernan, A O'Rourke, C McKeever; P McGrane (capt), K Toner; C Vernon, B Mallon, M O'Rourke; S McDonnell, R Clarke, S Kernan.