National Hurling League Division 3A final
Tyrone v Armagh
Saturday, Owenbeg, 2.30pm

By Kieran Lynch

HAVING come up just shy of promotion from Division 3A in each of the last three seasons, the Armagh hurlers will be looking to finally get over the hump when they take on great rivals Tyrone on Saturday.

In 2019 and 2020, Armagh lost league finals against Roscommon and Donegal respectively, and in the absence of a final in last year’s season, Armagh had to contend with a runners-up spot, finishing two points behind Sligo, with a loss against the Connacht side being the decisive game. As a result, the Orchard County of course came into the 2022 league with promotion on their minds, but defeats against both Tyrone and Roscommon, followed by manager Padraig O’Connor’s departure midway through the campaign, threw things into disarray.

Armagh have responded brilliantly however, and new manager Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton may have been thrown in at the deep end, but his side has won two from two, with a 5-18 to 0-18 win over Warwickshire followed up by a highly impressive 1-22 to 0-20 victory away to the Rossies in the league semi-final.

“I’m happy with what I’ve seen to date. I’ve gotten good commitment and I can’t ask for much more,” said McNaughton of his short spell as manager.

“It’s a very unique situation for me, there’s times where I feel like a kid on the first day of school, where I don’t know anybody, but we’ll take every game as it comes and see where it takes us – there’s no great secret to this.”

With Armagh now in the familiar position of being one win away from promotion, McNaughton explained how important moving up in division can be for any team.

“That should be the goal for every player – to get better and better, to be the best that you can be and to try and play at the highest level that you can,” he said.

For the Orchard County to win the league title however, they will need another titanic effort if they are to overcome opponents Tyrone. The Red Hand secured a 2-21 to 1-14 victory over Armagh earlier in the league and will come into Saturday’s fixture as favourites.

Additionally, McNaughton hasn’t had too much time to prepare, but he is in no doubt of Tyrone’s quality.

“I don’t know what to expect,” he admitted.

“I haven’t seen anything of this Tyrone team, but I do know that any team that Michael McShane has will be well drilled and well organised. I know a few of the Tyrone players; they’re smashing players and I have the utmost respect for them as hurlers.”

If the underdogs are to pull off an upset, they will be reliant on all of their key players stepping up to the mark. Fionntan Donnelly will need to keep up his accuracy from dead balls, Paddy McBride will be expecting to have influence from midfield, Danny Magee will surely have an eye for goal, and as always, the performances of the Gaffney brothers will be crucial.

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