Armagh’s All-Ireland winning manager from 2002 Joe Kernan and son Aaron, a three-time All-Ireland winner with Crossmaglen Rangers, have spoken exclusively to BoyleSports this week to preview Sunday’s All-Ireland Final between Armagh and Galway.
With the odds on a draw clipped into 5/1 from 6/1 with BoyleSports, making it the shortest price ever for a stalemate in an All-Ireland Final, the Orchardmen discussed the areas where the match could be decided.
Benches To Prove Crucial on Sunday
Joe: “I think Galway have the best defensive system in the country and the game is going to be close because the two teams are so evenly matched. Over the last few years there has only been a point or two between them, if anything, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a draw. But Armagh could win in extra time with the players we have to come off the bench.”
Aaron: “It’s the front-foot football and the pace and the power of those coming on, like Ross McQuillan, Stefan Campbell and Oisin O’Neill. They have that scoring ability which means you have to come out and mark them. But you have tired legs and space, and that’s what Armagh have played on.
“Even if you’re not the fittest team in the country, if everyone tells you that you are, you’ll believe it. Psychologically that could stand Armagh in good stead. Galway are a seasoned team, but if they see the pace and skill levels on that bench, it can come into your head. If you thought the first 55 minutes were tough, the last 15 could be hell and that’s something Armagh need to play on.”
Key Match-Ups
Joe: “If Shane Walsh and Damien Comer are fit, it’ll cause us major problems.
“Who’s going to mark them? I’m actually not sure, but Armagh will want to keep a tight defence. If they can do what they did with David Clifford and take Shane Walsh back to their defence, that would be ideal. The more guys we can do that with the better.
“Aaron McKay will not be afraid to go forward, and he may be the man for Comer because he’s big and strong. Paddy Burns might get Shane Walsh because he’s a tight marker and he’ll annoy him all day.”
Aaron: “I think McKay might go on Comer and I just have a notion they might bring Barry McCambridge back in for Shane Walsh. Cillian McDaid is the big one for us in terms of who we put at wing half-back. But equally, they have the same issues we have to deal with and we can talk about scoring power, but I think we have the best two defensive teams in the country coming up against each other.”
Kieran McGeeney Is His Own Man
Joe: “Kieran was a great leader, he’d never ask you to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. Every time he spoke to the players there was passion and tears in the eyes before he went out. He gave everything he had and he tried to take men with him all the time, he was great captain.
“But management is a different ball game altogether. We’re probably lucky in Armagh that he went to Kildare first and cut his teeth there. Now you can see his mark all over this team. Do I talk to him on a regular basis? No. Geezer’s his own man, if he wanted anything, he knows where to call and I’m always there if he wanted to run something by me. But he’s got there on his own and he deserves the credit for what he’s doing.”
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