National Football League Division Two

Fermanagh v Armagh

Sunday, Brewster Park, 2pm

FERMANAGH and Armagh are both desperately in need of the points at Brewster Park on Sunday afternoon for very different reasons.

The match in Enniskillen will go a long way to shaping the league seasons of both. A home win and Fermanagh’s chances of survival increase massively while Armagh’s promotion ambitions will be left hanging by a thread.

If the Orchard county can prevail, then they will be back on track for their aim of Division One football while Fermanagh will be heading into their games with Clare and Laois knowing that at least one win will be required.

It’s sure to be a testing day’s work for both teams, and their fans too.

Armagh supporters endured the full range of emotions in their dramatic draw with Westmeath in Mullingar last time out.

Not for the first time under Kieran McGeeney, they played football from all four divisions across the 70 minutes.

In the first 20 minutes it was pure Division One football. The fielding of Niall Grimley, the movement of Rian O’Neill and the vision of Rory Grugan were tearing the hosts asunder.

Eight points separated the sides at half-time. Armagh’s accuracy had been close to 100 percent, but it was a merited lead. They had been toying with their opponents.

Somehow with 15 minutes left they found themselves four points down as their defence parted like the Red Sea and allowed Westmeath in for three goals early in the second period.

One of the criticisms McGeeney has often faced is not pushing up on the opposition kick-outs from minute one. Against Kildare in round three they struggled as they sat off but had much more joy when they cut off the short kick-out route.

Mullingar was an example of why it is not always a guaranteed benefit. The Ulster side adopted an intense high press and there were a few warning signs in the first period when Westmeath managed to work their way around it.

In the second half those counters led to goals with too many Armagh players caught up field.

Once again the heart of the Armagh defence was left wide open, a problem for years, and the sooner Brendan Donaghy and/or Aaron McKay are reinstated the sooner that problem may be solved. McKay may also become an option as a defensive midfielder given that the set-up looks slightly too gung-ho right now.

With Armagh four points down late on and the game stopped as yet another Westmeath player went down for treatment, some of the Orchard players got into an impromptu team huddle to try and talk out the problem.

They achieved it with Jamie Clarke’s late goal earning a draw and that will be the message in the camp this week – ‘we messed up, but that point could be crucial.’

Ryan McMenamin’s message to the Fermanagh camp will also be one of positive reinforcement.

Their defeat to Cavan was a major blow, but they at least created plenty of opportunities in the 2-11 to 1-11 loss at Brewster Park.

The Erne county had 28 shots to Cavan’s 17. Fermanagh’s accuracy was 43 percent compared to their opponent’s 76 percent.

The continued absence of Tomas Corrigan is a major blow and they’ll be delighted when he does return, although Sunday will again be too soon.

‘Ricey’ has been trying to get his side more on the front foot and although they leave one player up on his own – usually Ciaran Corrigan – they are constantly trying to turn the ball over in the midfield area. Under previous boss Rory Gallagher, they generally engaged in the half-back line so their starting positions are generally higher than they were 12 months ago.

They, of course, will feel that they can exert some aerial dominance around the middle through Ryan Jones and Eoin Donnelly, especially with James McGrath’s kick-outs being of a high standard this season. Armagh, though, feel that in Niall Grimley they have a player than can break any Erne stranglehold. This battle is absolutely critical.

This is high-stakes poker, and if Armagh can play their best football for more than 20 minutes then they should have the winning hand.

n.mccoy@gaeliclife.com