The pressure was well and truly on Armagh on Saturday night, but boy did they deliver.
A Jamie Clarke inspired Orchard County outclassed Cian O’Neill’s Kildare, but according to the sharpshooter himself, this is only the beginning.
Clarke’s dazzling movement, his marauding nonchalance in possession, as well as his four hard earned points from play brought him plenty of plaudits, but the Crossmaglen sniper feels that this performance had been brewing.
It was only a matter of time, according to Clarke, who was speaking during an interview with the BBC, when he claimed that this Armagh side have the most technically gifted players in the country.
“It’s got to the stage where we believe it’s time to break the mould… I think technically as individual players, we have the best players in the country. It’s just about doing it on the day against those big teams.”
Saturday’s defeat of Kildare might have come as a surprise to many, given that Armagh were priced as generously as 3-1 with some bookmakers, but not to Clarke, or not to his teammates.
Armagh have some exceptionally skilled players, all of whom delivered when the stakes were at their highest on Saturday.
Gavin McParland delivered a brace of beauties in the first half. Rory Grugan and Stefan Campbell’s glowing confidence resulted in two of the finest points of the night.
Seriously, some of the efforts these players took on required confidence, required audacity – they had it in abundance.
WATCH:
FT: Armagh 1-17 | Kildare 0-17.
Sensational display from the @eir MOTM Jamie Clarke as he guides Armagh into the SFC QF. #GAAClips pic.twitter.com/1Q52uOzSOP— eir Sport (@eirSport) July 29, 2017
Newcomer Stephen Sheridan had the better of his midfield dual with Kildare’s most potent weapon in the ball-winning Kevin Feely.
Armagh have some brilliant, brilliant players, and they will have every confidence going into their quarter-final clash with Ulster rivals Tyrone, that they can take them.
Clarke, a man who left the panel last year, going on his travels to New York, is focused, has tunnel vision and is a forward to be feared.
“I think there’s a lot of question marks over myself. I still have to prove a lot to myself. I just want to keep working hard, right until the end of my career so I do myself justice and so I’ve no regrets.
Kieran McGeeney’s army will provide the Red Hand with plenty of problems.
