By Shaun Casey

Two-horse race at senior level?

HEADING into the Senior Championship, it pretty much looks like a two-horse race between the reigning champions Crossmaglen and the back-to-back Division 1A league winners Clann Éireann.

Following their championship success in 2021, when they defeated the Rangers in the final, Clann Éireann have really failed to build on it. They were knocked out at the first hurdle in 2022, while Clan na Gael ended their run in last year’s semi-final.

In Barry McCambridge and Conor Turbitt, they have two of the best players in the country at present, while Tiernan Kelly also picked up an All-Ireland medal with Armagh this year. Their 2021 captain Shea Heffron has returned from his travels and is a major addition.

Veteran Ryan Henderson hasn’t been part of the setup this year and likewise Crossmaglen will be without a few regular faces. Aaron Kernan and Jamie Clarke stepped away at the end of last season, while James Morgan is still out injured.

The 2023 beaten finalists Clan na Gael along with last season’s All-Ireland Intermediate champions Cullyhanna arguably lead the chasing pack despite both sides operating in Division 1B this year.

Clans have dominated the underage scene in recent times and with Stefan Campbell and Shane McPartlan freed from county duty, they’ll have a big say in the destination of the Gerry Fagan Cup.

Similarly, Cullyhanna have welcomed back Aidan Nugent, Ross McQuillan and Jason Duffy to the fold, three men who have pocketed two All-Ireland medals in the past seven months. Armagh coach Ciaran McKeever is also involved in their management team.

Madden have been knocking at the door in the last couple of years and with Niall Grimley in inspired form, they’ll hope to finally make the breakthrough and at least reach the county final for the first time since 1998.

Star forward Conor Grimley has been absent all season with a knee injury sustained earlier in the year but has recently returned for Mark Harte and Adrian O’Donnell’s side, and along with Darragh McMullen and Joe Sheridan, they have the firepower to cause anyone trouble.

Killeavy are another side that have threatened to challenge for the top prize but have failed to do so in the past number of years. Niall McAleenan, who guided Granemore to the 2022 decider, is in charge of the south Armagh club this year.

They will have to operate without their main man Conor O’Neill, who will be out injured for the rest of the season. Ciaron O’Hanlon has played in most of the league while Caolan McConville will hope that his injury nightmare is behind him.

Granemore and Dromintee both suffered relegation in the league, finishing in the bottom two of Division 1A. While both have some exciting players coming through the ranks, it’s a bit early for those youngsters to make the breakthrough.

Mullaghbawn were worthy Division 1B league winners and could cause a couple of upsets come championship time. Their goalkeeper Patrick McAteer will be a major miss however, having left for a scholarship in America.

Eoghan McDonnell and Eddie English have also missed large chunks of the campaign through injury, but players like Fergal O’Brien and Cormac Smyth have been real shining lights for them.

St Peter’s and Culloville have both had steady campaigns and St Peter’s have plenty of experienced heads to call upon in the mould of Aaron Findon, Niall McConville and Ciaran McCavigan.

Danny Hughes’ Culloville look like they’ll be without Colm Watters, who has been their main scoring threat for over a decade, as he has missed out on the entire league with a persistent knee injury.

Maghery have welcomed back their county contingent in Aidan Forker, Ben Crealey and Ciaran Higgins, but will be without the retired Stephen Cusack (who is currently managing Granemore) and Brendan Haveron, who ruptured his ACL recently.

Ballymacnab have also been without key men this season, with Gavin McParland (retired) and Ryan Kennedy (injured) out all season. Rory Grugan’s involvement in the championship could be limited having picked up a knee injury in the All-Ireland final.

Sarsfields were also relegated to Division 2A for next season, finishing at the bottom of the table and Brendan Hughes’ side will target their home games in the group and hope for a decent championship run.

Intermediate is wide open

CULLYHANNA hung over the Intermediate Championship last season like a hefty cloud and every other team was more or less playing for second place. That’s certainly not the case this year and a number of teams will be targeting the throne.

Pearse Óg collected the Division 2A league title and they gave Cullyhanna their most competitive game in the championship last season, so they head into the competition as the favourites.

Carrickcruppen were IFC winners just three years ago and they’ll be keen to repeat the feat. Armagh goalkeeper Blaine Hughes did pick up a knee injury in the All-Ireland final, and is expected to miss out though.

St Paul’s have been knocking on the Intermediate door for a long time and have reached three of the last four finals, but just haven’t got over the line. They’ll look to Andrew Murnin to guide them to glory.

Keady were the dark horses in last year’s championship and emerged as a top contender after winning the Division 2B league. They have pushed on this season and have a number of youngsters like James O’Hara and Tomás Galvin that are maturing into brilliant players.

Shane O’Neill’s were 2022 champions but suffered relegation back to Intermediate football last year. They will of course have to contest the championship without Ciaran Mackin, who is out having suffered the dreaded ACL injury.

Tullysaran have a new manager in place with former goalkeeper Pauric McGlone taking over the reins mid-season while the relegated duo of Grange and Annaghmore have struggled for form all season long.

Division 2B champions Belleek have gone from strength to strength since winning the Junior Championship in 2021 and they’ll be keen to make a real mark in the IFC this year. Callum O’Neill’s shoulder injury is a massive blow for Shane Quinn and Caolan Quinn’s men, however.

Clonmore and Crossmaglen IIs were both relegated to Junior football for next season and could struggle in the championship. Clann Éireann IIs, the JFC winners of 2023, have impressed in their first stint at a higher grade.

Whitecross earned promotion to the top tier of the Intermediate league while Wolfe Tones will also be seen as dark horses. Derrynoose are another side that could cause a few upsets, if they keep their star man Conor McNally fit.

Tír na nÓg are another team that won’t fear anyone in the competition, especially with Oisin Conaty showing his class at the highest level this year, winning Player of the Match in the All-Ireland final.

Forkhill the front runners at Junior level

WITH Stephen Sheridan having retired from county football, he’s been available for most of Forkhill’s league campaign and that went a long way towards securing promotion to Division 2B and the Division 3A league title this season.

They also have Jemar Hall to call upon and Cormac Toner, making them a strong force in the Junior Championship. They will be without former Armagh defender Barry Shannon however, who retired last year.

Ballyhegan, last year’s beaten Junior finalists, Collegeland and Middletown make up the top contenders list. Those three will have their sights on championship gold, but Forkhill are the front runners currently.

Collegeland have improved as the season progressed after a fairly slow start to their league campaign. Their manager, Paul Doyle, has won two Junior titles with Keady and Derrynoose and the former Armagh minor manager certainly has the know-how to get the job done.

An Port Mor came from six-points down last weekend against St Peter’s II to kickstart their championship charge with a win while Eire Óg are another team hoping to challenge for the top honours.

Lissummon and St Michael’s both suffered relegation to Division 3B but have enough quality to pose plenty of problems for opponents. Thomas Davis head into the championship off the back of a brilliant Division 3B campaign where they won nine of their ten outings.

St Peter’s II finished second in Division 3B, a great achievement for their first year entering a seconds team. Redmond O’Hanlon’s are another team that will be hopeful of going on an extended championship run.

The likes of Dorsey and Clady (Division 3B2 winners) will target their home games in the group as the best place to pick up points while Mullabrack will be in a similar position. For Madden II and Killean, two new sides competing at this level, getting a few decent run outs will be the ceiling for their championship ambitions.