When Armagh defeated Down last month to reach their first Ulster hurling final in 65 years, the result appeared to be a mystery. Down had already hammered Armagh in the Christy Ring Cup, while Fermanagh and Monaghan rattled them in the Ulster championship. In short, Armagh seemed to be going nowhere. Fast.
There is no obvious answer to how Armagh managed to turn it around in such a short time. But if you trawl through the results in Ulster hurling last season, there are some pointers; Armagh won their first Nicky Rackard Cup title, they reached the Ulster minor final, while their U21s contested the provincial final for the first time. Keady also became the first Armagh club to contest an Ulster club final. Nobody expected the result against Down but it was coming.
On the ground, the work had been done. Paudie Butler, National Hurling Co-ordinator over the last five years, said “Armagh’s model could be taken up by every county that wants to develop hurling”.
Every primary school in Armagh is now exposed to hurling and the result has been clearly evident at club level. Keady always had an iron grip on the Feile na Gael title (U14) but five clubs have won the last five Feile titles. Young players now populate development squads and the increased spread has been evident this season with the senior team.
In last year’s Nicky Rackard final, the starting team was made up of players from Keady and Middletown. This team has players from five clubs. Most of Armagh’s eight clubs are getting stronger while nine of last year’s U21 squad and five of last season’s minor panel are also now on the senior panel.
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“In the past, you could never have foreseen senior success in Ulster,” says Paul McCormack, inset. “But because of the conveyor belt coming through and the increased competitiveness of the clubs, I can see that happening now.”
Structures alone won’t dilute hardened attitudes and traditions in a strong football county but the hurlers have far more leverage now. Six years ago, Armagh were on the verge of a players’ strike but their progress in the meantime highlights the importance of having the support of a county board.
This Armagh team may still be way off the pace and they could experience hardship from Antrim today. In one sense, though, all Armagh need to do is perform as best as they can. Hurling is on the move and the fruits will come if they continue to till the ground.
“We have nothing to lose,” says McCormack. “Everyone expects us to get beat but we’re looking to deliver a performance true to ourselves. If we can show people our skill level and teamwork has improved, that will be a victory in itself for us. That will give hope to the future generation.”
Renowned Ulster coach Seamus McGrattan said one time that he’d have a better chance of promoting cricket than hurling in south Armagh. That isn’t the case now because Armagh are creating a new culture. That will take time and they shouldn’t lose sight of that after today.
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Antrim v Armagh, Ulster SHC final, 3.30pm