Armagh team named for Down tie

Former Mayo player Billy Joe Padden will make his Ulster Championship debut in tomorrow night's quarter-final clash with Down at the Morgan Athletic Grounds (throw-in 7.30pm).

Padden has been selected at centre-forward by manager Paddy O'Rourke, who is without the injured Ronan Clarke (Achilles tendon), Gareth Swift (broken collarbone) and James Lavery (ankle).

However, Ciaran McKeever is fit to marshall the Orchard men in defence after recovering from a knee ligament problem. He is flanked by Aaron Kernan and Paul Duffy in the half-backs.

Padden is one of four changes to the Armagh team that lost to Dublin in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers last July. Kevin Dyas, Tony Kernan and corner forward Micheal O'Rourke are the other new inclusions, with Vinny Martin, Finian Moriarty, Swift and Brian Mallon making way.

There are four players included from All-Ireland Club SFC champions Crossmaglen Rangers - goalkeeper Paul Hearty, brothers Aaron and Tony Kernan and Jamie Clarke.

Previewing the game against Down, key defender McKeever said: "The Down forwards are all very good players and very clinical when they get a chance. The whole of our defence will have to be on our toes.

"We've done our homework on them. They interchange a lot of the forwards and boys sit in and out of different roles. Some people say you defend from numbers 2 to 6, but at the end of the day every player from number 15 back has to defend on Saturday.

"Our best tackler has to be number 15 and if it comes as far as us in the defence it's our job then to stop the opposition forwards from scoring.

"On Saturday night it will be a big test for us because no one is giving us a chance. Everyone is expecting Down to beat us but that's good from our point of view.

"We just have to turn up and perform now. We're keen to stamp our mark back on Ulster football on Saturday."

These great rivals met in the Allianz Football League back in February with Down claiming a 0-12 to 0-11 victory in Newry. The winners of Saturday's game will face Derry in a June 19 semi-final.

ARMAGH (SFC v Down): Paul Hearty; Andy Mallon, Brendan Donaghy, Kevin Dyas; Aaron Kernan, Ciaran McKeever, Paul Duffy; Kieran Toner, Charlie Vernon; Tony Kernan, Billy Joe Padden, Malachy Mackin; Micheal O'Rourke, Steven McDonnell (capt), Jamie Clarke.