Peter Canavan: Armagh have best squad in All-Ireland race

RTÉ GAA analyst Peter Canavan believes that Armagh have the best squad left in the All-Ireland Football Championship – and that advantage gives them a chance of causing a shock in Saturday's semi-final against Kerry.

Kieran McGeeney’s side are aiming to reach the final for the first time since 2003 and for Canavan, it’s their ability to keep everyone on board that has proven key to their run to the final stages of the season.

"If ever there is a lesson for a reward for perseverance it will be handed to Kieran McGeeney," Canavan told the RTÉ GAA podcast.

"Because you’ll recall at the end of last year, there were rumblings in Armagh, a lot of clubs in Armagh thought it was time for change but McGeeney’s most notable backing then was from his players and those that were involved.

"I think you can see that. From the four teams that are left, the team with the strongest panel, in my opinion, is Armagh.

"The most difficult part of managing an inter-county team at the minute is holding on to your fringe players. It’s okay when you’re in the first 18, you’re guaranteed to get games throughout the National League, but to carry a big panel, for players to put in that amount of effort and commitment and see very little action – well the easy way out is always to go back to the club and get playing football because that’s what everyone wants to do, is to get playing on the park.

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"Those players have remained very loyal to McGeeney, there’s a great backroom team there, so there are a lot of things