Armagh travel to Cavan on Saturday evening hoping to pick up where they left off against Antrim in the preliminary round earlier this month.
Kieran McGeeney’s men claimed a facile nine-point victory against the Saffrons, but the Division Three champions ought to ask more questions of a team who were relegated from Division One at the end of the season.
Star attacker Rian O’Neill missed the round seven loss to Tyrone that confirmed their demotion to Division Two and the Crossmaglen clubman failed to make the 26-man panel for the Ulster SFC preliminary round.
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He has been included in the squad for Saturday’s clash with Cavan with Jarly Óg Burns also on the bench after missing the Antrim game through illness.
Andrew Murnin, one of Armagh’s top performers this term, is back in the starting team with Tiernan Kelly absent from the squad.
James Morgan, who made his first start in 2023 against Antrim, is also omitted from the panel and his place in the team goes to Conor O’Neill.
Cavan defeated Fermanagh in the Division Three final in Croke Park at the start of April and Breffni boss Mickey Graham has made three changes ahead of their Ulster SFC quarter-final.
Jason McLoughlin, Oisin Kiernan and Conor Brady are recalled in place of Niall Carolan, Jack McKenna and Ryan O’Neill.
Gearóid McKernan has been named at midfield alongside James Smith, but can play at centre or full-forward while Dara McVitty is likely to be deployed as a sweeper.
We take a closer look at the key battles which could decide the outcome of Saturday’s game.
Team line-outs:
Cavan
Raymond Galigan
Killian Clarke 3. Padraig Faulkaneer 4. Jason McLoughlin
5. Ciaran Brady 6. Oisin Kiernan 7. Gerard Smith
8. Gearóid McKernan 9. James Smith
10. Conor Brady 11. Dara McVeety 12. Jonathan McCabe
13. Cian Madden 14. Paddy Lynch 15. Oisin Brady
Armagh
Ethan Rafferty
Conor O’Neill 3 Aaron McKay 4. Aidan Forker
5. Greg McCabe 6.Ciaran Mackin 7. Barry McCambridge
8. Ben Crealey 9. Shane McPartlan
10. Stefan Campbell 11. Jemar Hall 12. Jason Duffy
13. Rory Grugan 14. Andrew Murnin 15 Conor Turbitt
Key battles
Conor Turbitt (Armagh) vs Padraig Faulkner (Cavan)
With Rian O’Neill and Andrew Murnin sidelined, Conor Turbitt really stepped up to the mark against Antrim.
Scored 0-8, including four points from play, and Armagh will need him to shine again if O’Neill isn’t deemed fit enough to start.
Cavan’s defence will target Turbitt with Padraig Faulkner likely to be assigned man-marking duties on Saturday evening.
Paddy Lynch (Cavan) vs Aidan Forker (Armagh)
Paddy Lynch enjoyed a fine breakthrough season last year and showed glimspes that he is returning to his very best form during the League.
He plundered two goals in the Ulster derby battle against Down and he will give any defender trouble on his day.
With James Morgan seemingly ruled out, Armagh are likely to turn to the dependable Aidan Forker to shadow Lynch although the Maghery man is also liable to pick up Gearóid McKernan if and when he switches into the forward line.
Ethan Rafferty (Armagh) vs Raymond Galligan (Cavan)
Saturday’s game will pit two of the best ’keepers in Ulster against each other - both with contrasting styles.
Cavan are likely to designate someone to push up on Ethan Rafferty when he comes out the field - something Antrim failed to do in the preliminary round.
Raymond Galligan is unlikely to stray too far from his own goal except when he comes forward to take a long-range free or a 45 and Armagh will need to be disciplined in the tackle as Galligan is lethal from placed balls.
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