National Football League Division One

Donegal v Armagh

Sunday, Letterkenny, 1.45pm

By Shaun Casey

WITH a potential league final spot at stake for Armagh and the fear of relegation still looming large for Donegal, you’d imagine this game could define the season for both sides.

That’s not the case however as their meeting in three weeks’ time, in Ballybofey, will carry much more significance.

That first round of the Ulster Championship will have been the target for Kieran McGeeney and Declan Bonner long before the league began.

They’ve had opposing campaigns or so the narrative surrounding both would portray, and yet only two points separate the teams.

Armagh burst out of the traps with their incredible early season form, picking up wins against Dublin and Tyrone.

They haven’t followed it up, having gathered only three points in the last four outings, but that included clashes (and losses) to the top two teams in the country, Mayo and Kerry.

The Orchard unearthed some new talent in the shape of Ciaran Mackin and Tiernan Kelly, while Jarly Óg Burns has been incredible since his move to wing half-back.

The subs bench that Kieran McGeeney can call upon is stronger than ever, with Stefan Campbell often making an instant impact when called upon.

Forwards of the quality of Rian O’Neill, Rory Grugan and Andrew Murnin would strike fear into any defence, but their scoring tally against Kerry made for dull reading.

The defence actually posted more scores from open play than the forwards with points from Greg McCabe, James Morgan and Burns.

That stat will have caught the eye of Bonner and he’ll be following in Kerry’s footsteps to try and achieve the same feat.

Bonner’s side are coming off the back of two disappointing losses to Monaghan and Dublin and failed to build on the momentum that their round four win over Tyrone seemed to offer.

If circumstances go their way, which is highly unlikely, they still have an outside chance to reach the decider, but survival will be the main aim this weekend.

The Tir Chonaill men are at home, but it’s hard to describe their Letterkenny venue as much of an advantage.

Donegal haven’t won a game in Letterkenny since 2014 and in that time, they’ve lost every single outing they’ve had in the location.

Theis meeting gives both sides a chance to lay down a marker ahead of the championship, but it’s Donegal who need the points more than the Orchardmen and that may be enough to drive them over the finishing line on Sunday.