Paddy O'Rourke has cited the presence of Paul Grimley in the Monaghan camp as a major threat to Armagh's hopes of progressing to an Ulster SFC semi-final.

Former All-Ireland winning selector Grimley was strongly tipped to take over the Armagh managerial reins last autumn before the job surprisingly went to the former Down captain. Grimley instead linked up with Seamus McEnaney in Monaghan and O'Rourke claims his knowledge of the Armagh players will give the Farney County a vital edge on Sunday.

"Paul Grimley knows every Armagh player inside out and he'll be using that to every advantage," O'Rourke told the Irish News.

"It's been proven in the past, like Brian McIver going back to Donegal last week, that was a help to Down.

"Paul Grimley is seen as a very good coach and obviously Monaghan have taken him in for those strengths. I'm sure he will given them an extra edge and will bring a new dimension to them. We'll have to face all that - it's these sort of things that probably make Monaghan strong favourites."

The Orchard County boss is resigned to being without Grimley's Pearse Og club-mate Ronan Clarke once again as he continues his recovery from an Achilles tendon problem.

"He won't make it," O'Rourke said.

"He's close - well, he's doing a bit now, but he hasn't played any competitive football at all and he's not taking part in full training sessions yet, so he is still a few weeks away." Tweet

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