Andrew wilson believes winning the Intermediate Cup would be the perfect catalyst for Armagh City as they look to finish their league campaign on a high.
The Eagles slipped five points off the title pace with Saturday’s 2-0 de- feat to Dollingstown.
Newington have stolen a march on the pack after their 5-0 demolition of Bangor, but Armagh still have to face the new favourites this weekend.
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Before that Shea Campbell’s side have a date with Rathfriland in the final of the Intermediate Cup tonight at Windsor Park.
And after picking up just two points from a possible nine in their last three league games, Wilson ad- mits Armagh are in need of a cup tonic.
“It would be a great way to bounce back, and winning some silverware would give everyone a timely lift going into our final three league games,” Wilson told Match on Tuesday.
“We never get carried away with any success, and we don’t get too down on disappointments. Shea (Campbell) makes sure we never get carried away with ourselves.
“Our feet are firmly on the ground, and all we concentrate on is Armagh City and no- body else.
“It is a great club to be part of and Shea is Armagh through and through. It is a really good group of boys and it would be great to get something out of this season.
“Heads are down after recent results but we pick ourselves up pretty
quickly. There is a good bunch of characters here and everyone is pull- ing in the same direction.
“The boys know we have been under-performing in recent games, but we know what we have in the locker.
“And we know we can bounce back with a positive result on Tuesday night and that could set us up for the rest of the season.”
Armagh and Amateur League outfit Rathfriland are fa- miliar with each other, with tonight’s final being their third meeting in the space of a year. The Eagles emerged on top the two previous times, both in the Bob Radcliffe Cup.
“We played Rathfriland in the Bob Radcliffe final last year and we knocked them out at the semi-final stages this season,” Wilson said.
“We know each other really well. They have made some good signings, and so have we.
“It makes for a good game.”
As for their PIL campaign, Wilson insists there is plenty more football to be played before titles and play-off spots are handed out.
But he does concede that Armagh are experiencing their ‘blip’ at the wrong time of the season.
“It was a frustrating afternoon against Dollingstown. We had more chances but their keeper was fantastic,” he added.
“And they had a couple of shots and took them. They were clinical when they got their opportunities and that proved the difference in the end.
“So it was bitterly disappointing but it was one of those days.
“I think we are just hitting our blip at the wrong time of the season. Every team goes through one and we appear to be doing that right now. “We have had two draws and one defeat in our last three games which is not like us.
“We have a lot of big games coming up. We are five points behind Newington but we play them on Saturday. So there could be more twists and turns to come in the league this season.
“We know there is still a lot to play for. This season has been so exciting for everyone involved with the league, and you feel it will go right to the wire.
“Hopefully we can still fight our way back into the title mix, or even the play-off spot.”
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