The rivalry between the hurlers of Armagh and Tyrone may not be as intense as their footballing counterparts, but Sunday’s Division 3A Hurling League clash at Healy Park (2pm) will be keenly-contested nonetheless.
A win for either side would leave them all but assured of a play-off place and a shot at promotion.
Armagh boss Padraig O’Connor knows how much is at stake and feels that Tyrone are a vastly-improving outfit under the guidance of Michael McShane.
“Tyrone are upping their game, season-by-season - they are improving every year, said O’Connor.
“I think it was back in 2017 we beat them comfortably in Carrickmore. Since then, there has been very little between the sides on any given day.
“Michael (McShane) has taken them to another level and they play a good brand of hurling.
“They set-up very well defensively and they don’t concede many goals. To go to Roscommon in the first game and come away with a point speaks volumes.
“They are out to try and win this League and they’ll be gunning for us. It will be interesting on Sunday.
“It is a big game for both teams. A win for either team almost guarantees you a final place and then the pressure is off, the shackles are off. You can move forward and play with a bit of confidence.”
Armagh are a point ahead of Tyrone in the Division 3A standings following wins over Louth and Monaghan while the Red Hands drew with Roscommon before easing past Warwickshire.
The Orchard County were workmanlike at best in the opening game against Louth just a few weeks after scoring a facile win over the same opposition in the pre-season Conor McGurk Cup.
Yet, Armagh held on for a narrow 2-16 to 3-12 win at the Athletic Grounds before defeating Monaghan 4-22 to 0-13 in Inniskeen a week later with goals coming from Ryan and Dean Gaffney, Eoin McGuinness and substitute Tiarnan O’Neill.
O’Connor believes his side’s true form sits somewhere in between those two contrasting performances.
“We struggled against Louth - they were up for the game and they had their homework done,” added the Armagh boss.
“Our lads were maybe a bit rusty. It was our first competitive game as such. We turned around nine points up and they got back level again and we could have very easily lost.
“There was a change of attitude for the next day and our preparations were probably better.
“We put in a very good performance all over the pitch against Monaghan.
“Our defence really stood up well and we launched our attacks from there.
“Things didn’t go for Monaghan and it was one of those days from them and things went terribly well for us.
“Somewhere between the Louth and Monaghan game is probably where you’d find our level.”
