Nickey Rackard Cup round one

Armagh v Roscommpn

Sunday, Athletic Grounds, 2pm

By Shaun Casey

ARMAGH and Roscommon lock horns for the third time in five weeks on Sunday as the Orchard County open their Nickey Rackard Cup account.

Both teams have secured one win each and Ryan Gaffney is expecting another tough game against the Rossies.

“We went down to Roscommon a couple of weeks ago and it was a tough game. We just shaded it at the end, but we’ll definitely be expecting a big game from them now on Sunday.

“That game was nip and tuck. We got off to a good start in Roscommon, we got a couple of early scores, and I think we maybe went five or six points up.

“Then we conceded five or six in a row, and they went a point up. There was nothing between the sides and they’ve some tidy hurlers and we know what we’re going to be up against.

“We’re going to need to lift the performance from the last day and ensure that we’re there by the end of the game.”

Armagh will also have ties against Tyrone and Warwickshire arriving in the weeks to come, teams that they also faced during the league.

“These last couple of years being in the Nickey Rackard, you do become familiar with these teams and with the players. Having played Tyrone twice in the league, we know what we’re going to be up against there as well and Warwickshire too.

“We’d all be familiar with each other and then it comes down to who’s learned the most from their league campaign, going into the championship, trying to bring a bit of form.”

Armagh lost the league final to rivals Tyrone last Saturday, which means they’ll have to battle for promotion from Division 3A once again next year.

“We were disappointed to come out the wrong end against Tyrone at the weekend but as a panel all we can do is try and learn from it and learn from mistakes because we definitely didn’t perform to the level we wanted to perform at.

“We definitely feel that there’s more in us. We need to start better during games, if we don’t, you’re going to get punished.

“We don’t have a lot of time now to the Roscommon game, we need to reflect on that performance and aim to get these things right during the week now at training so we’re well prepared going into this weekend.”

They don’t have much time to lick their wounds however as the games are coming thick and fast. “I suppose you’re not having much of a rest at all.

“You’re leagues just literally over there at the weekend and then you’ve your first round of the championship.

“Some people could argue it’s a positive because after losing the league final you can get back on the road again and try to put it to bed by getting a result at the weekend.

“There’s pro and cons I suppose. A few injuries and that and a few boys maybe carrying knocks and not having enough time to recover properly for the weekend.”