McConville: Condensed season can extend Armagh charge

Former Armagh star Oisin McConville believes the new GAA calendar gives the Orchard County every chance of bringing their brilliant early-season Allianz League form right through to the championship arena.

The Crossmaglen man was speaking on the RTÉ GAA Podcast on Monday, and he thinks that the fact that the 2022 Ulster Championship begins in less than ten weeks' time ahead of a July All-Ireland finish is another reason why Kieran McGeeney’s troops should feel invigorated after their brilliant Division 1 wins over Dublin and Tyrone.

"I just think that whatever we have at this moment in time, try and bottle it and run with it," said McConville.

"It was January last week now, it is February now, there’s only two games played in the league, but this is a season like no other season.

"This is a season where in two months’ time we’re going to be in the thick of it as far as championship is concerned.

"I think there is a real possibility of a team like Armagh being able to maintain that momentum or certainly they’re conditioned well enough to continue that right through.

"Our squad seems to run deeper than it has done in a long time."

McConville's positivity was enhanced by the manner of Armagh’s 2-14 to 0-14 win over the Red Hands at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday.

In round one, McGeeney’s side had been able to play their preferred kicking style in an impressive five-point win over Dublin at Croke Park.

Tyrone’s backline was much more crowded - something Armagh have struggled to deal with in recent seasons - but there were no such issues against their rivals as they raced into an 11-point interval lead, and had six points to spare at the finish after the Red Hands had four players dismissed late on while Armagh lost Greg McCabe.

"A lot