McGeeney gives Sligo 50-50 chance

June 19, 2018

Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney talks to his players.
©INPHO/Oisin Keniry.

Kieran McGeeney reckons Sligo have a 50-50 chance of upsetting his Armagh side in Saturday's second-round Qualifier at Markievicz Park.

The Orchard County recorded a 14-point victory over the Yeats men in the league but their manager won't be taking anything for granted this weekend as Armagh play their third successive away game:

"It's not a tight pitch but it plays tight, for some reason. Sligo are always good there," the 2002 All-Ireland winning captain told The Irish News.

"There are certain teams that have played well at home for a long time - Longford would be one of them, Sligo would be another, Westmeath usually as well. They all have good footballers; what you're hoping for is to be able to stay with them, and gain confidence and traction in the first half, then push on from that.

"Sligo will fancy their chances at home, as all teams do in these first and second rounds - it's worth a couple of points. Coming off a defeat, a home venue can help. It's a 50-50 game and it's probably going to come down to who gets traction in the first half.

"Even against Galway, which would be seen as one of the best defences out there at the moment, they scored 1-12, whereas Mayo scored 0-12, and Sligo hit about 13 wides too. That's just the way they've always played, Sligo have a high shot-to-attack ratio.

"And then when they're in Markievicz Park, the likes of [Adrian] Marren especially feels at home, he's quality. They have [Pat] Hughes and [Kyle] Cawley in there too - and their whole half-back line is nearly like a half-forward line."


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