Rian O’Neill could be available to play against Galway.
Armagh will attempt to have Rian O’Neill’s suspension overturned following his red card against Tyrone, meaning that he will be able to play against Galway.
The Crossmaglen star was sent off for kneeling on Tyrone’s Cormac Quinn in an altercation during the All-Ireland second round game two weeks ago.
During this off0the-ball incident there had been a tussle between the two players that resulted in O’Neill landing on top of the defender, and it appeared as though his knee was place on Quinn’s head, which was deemed as dangerous play.
The red card left Armagh with only 14 men for the majority of the game, and despite a last minute error from Niall Morgan that almost resulted in the Orchard county getting an equaliser, Tyrone never really looked like losing the match.
With a narrow victory over Westmeath banked, Armagh will be looking to best Galway to ensure that they reach the preliminary round of the knockout stages, and if possible, finish in second place to get home advantage.
Finishing in second would also mean that they could avoid being drawn against difficult teams, such as Kerry, Dublin, or Roscommon, who could all be in that position.
Galway have won both of their opening games, meaning that they sit top of the group, and are set for automatic qualification into the quarter finals, something that will be cemented with a victory against Armagh.
Pádraic Joyce has his team well primmed, winning Connacht, and looking very sharp in all of their matches so far, and given what happened the last time these two teams played in championship, it could be an exciting one.
Galway defeated Armagh on penalties last year in the quarter finals, but only after a thrilling game of football that had late goals, last gap heroics from O’Neill and full blown melee that saw both teams get players sent off.
If Armagh re to have any chance of beating the tribesmen they will need their most valuable player available, but even with the GAA’s unusual record of overturning decisions, Kieran McGeeney might struggle to convince those in power that O’Neill shouldn’t have been sent off.
Related links:
- A crazy amount of live Gaelic football and hurling games are on TV this weekend
- Conor McDonald’s story about Cillian Buckley sums him up perfectly
- Down don’t get the luck of the draw as Tailteann Cup quarter finals named
