In-form Armagh can sneak win in battle of old foes

It's possibly a sign of the times that the pick of the weekend's games is not the meeting of the traditional aristocrats in Killarney (though make sure to watch live on RTÉ2) but the repeat of last summer's Ulster final in Ballybofey.

Kieran McGeeney and Jim McGuinness have a long history with one another, stretching back to their playing days. In the managerial arena, it all goes back to the Donegal-Kildare 2011 quarter-final, aka the Kevin Cassidy game.

Last year's rollercoaster match in Clones - which on its own didn't suggest any major need for rule changes - ended the way other games had gone. With McGuinness getting one over his old foe and a dejected Geezer slouching down the tunnel after another sickening defeat.

But there was a major sting in the tale later that summer. Jim was in bad enough humour after Donegal's loss to Galway in the semi-final, realising that a major opportunity had slipped through their grasp. His mood would hardly have improved after watching McGeeney being chaired high on the sideline after the All-Ireland final.

Less than three months after Donegal's shootout win in Clones, Armagh had only gone and one-upped them. The bragging rights stolen from under their nose.

Both sides seem to be in rude health early on this season, at least on the evidence of Round 2.

Armagh's performance at home to Tyrone was like night and day compared to their limp showing in Round 1 in Salthill. They looked to still be in the throes of the post-All-Ireland hangover out west but they shook that off fairly conclusively against their neighbours.

They really wore the mantle of All-Ireland champions well that night against Tyrone. They just exuded authority. Rory Grugan and Andrew Murnin were superb. Oisín Conaty covered