Morgan: Armagh have 'unbelievable' All-Ireland chance

The race for Sam Maguire will ratchet up a few levels this weekend with the All-Ireland quarter-finals at Croke Park.

Bumper crowds are expected at the Jones' Road venue.

Tyrone, the reigning All-Ireland champions, will not be involved. Their interest in the 2022 championship was ended by Armagh in round two of the qualifiers; an emphatic win for the Orchard County against opposition, who ultimately exited the championship rather tamely. An earlier loss to Derry in Ulster also laid bare Tyrone's underwhelming defence. Worrying signs were there, however, following a mixed league campaign, the precursor to a far from eye-catching win over Fermanagh in their provincial opener.

Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan was fearful that supporters would vent their frustrations following the loss to Armagh. However, it was a case of still having some credit in the bank after going all the way in 2021.

Speaking at the launch of AIB's new content series 'The Drive', the 30-year-old said: "I have to say that I was very concerned after getting beat, thinking that we're going to face serious flak from this. I got so many messages, and even heard from people on the street and in restaurants, thanking you for what we did last year.

"People were saying that we will come back from it. I think the biggest thing for Tyrone people is knowing that in '03 they didn't defend it well, '05 didn't defend it well, '08 didn't defend it well. It's not like we're the first Tyrone team to ever win and not defend the title in a good way.

"People were appreciative of the effort we did put in."

So why were Tyrone not quite at it this year?

Morgan felt the squad were always playing "catch-up" following on the from the high of last September, with club commitments and a