Conor Turbitt’s season should be an inspiration for players on peripheral of starting team

"I'm enjoying it."

Conor Turbitt is the perfect example of a player who got his chance to prove himself and took it with both hands, as he stars for Armagh in Ulster championship.

In previous campaigns Turbitt has been in and out of the team, and with competition for places in the forward line so fierce, it was hard for him to get his chance.

Rian O'Neill is obviously the main man, but you also have Stefan Campbell, Rory Gruggan, Andrew Murnin, Jemar Hall, and Aidan Nugent all fighting for places as well.

Turbitt kept his head down however, and when injuries hit, and O'Neill was ruled out for the opening of the championship, the Orchard county feared the worse.

The pressure was heaped onto the young shoulders of the Clann Éireann forward, and he carried it with ease, kicking 0-08 in the opening game against Antrim, then another 0-07 against Cavan in the quarter finals.

After picking up consecutive Man of the Match awards, Turbitt said in the BBC's post-match interview that he was enjoying the responsibility.

"I'm enjoying it - it's good to get a bit of time on the pitch, we've a lot on injuries so some boys have to step up. I've stepped up and I'm thankfully doing alright.

"The boys are coming back and there will be competition for places but I'm looking forward to it."

The only downside to Armagh's victory over Cavan, was that they allowed the opposition back into the game in the latter stages.

"There's a lot of difference in intensity between Division One and Division Three. We sort of talked about that, we tried to bring that intensity and I think we did.

"We've been tested throughout the league - all the games we played were very tight. When it comes down to the wire we're trying to see it out and we probably struggled a wee bit against Cavan so that's an area for improvement.

"And we know whoever we get in the semi-finals it's going to go right down to the wire so we'll have to see it out."

Armagh play Down this Sunday in the semi-final of the Ulster championship.

Related links:

• Jamie Clarke addresses Armagh retirement rumours as good form continues for Crossmaglen
• Jamie Clarke on the rise of Rian O’Neill and his best position on the pitch
• "You see less out on the field practicing, where it really matters" Jamie Clarke on gym work vs a bag of balls

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