'Armagh to win Ulster final but beware Farney threat'

McConville won seven Ulster titles as a player with Armagh [Getty Images]

Seven-time Ulster Championship winner Oisin McConville feels his native Armagh will end their 18-year wait for the Anglo-Celt Cup this weekend, but insists Monaghan will not be easily beaten.

McConville was a member of the last Armagh team to win an Ulster title in 2008 and feels the current crop can put their three previous final defeats behind them.

While the Orchard men just about got past Tyrone in the preliminary round, they have improved with each game.

They blitzed Fermanagh early in the quarter-final to move out of sight before a late rally from the Ernesiders, while in the semi-final they were at their ruthless best to storm to a 28-point win over Down.

Speaking on the GAA Social, McConville says he doesn't believe "anyone in Armagh thinks it's going to be as easy as the Down game ended up", but feels past disappointments can drive them on.

"I think Monaghan will cause them a lot of problems as they always have, take away the first league game [which Armagh won by 12 points]," McConville said.

"The good thing for Armagh is they probably feel like they owe them one because of a bit of heartbreak down the years with penalties [2023 All-Ireland quarter-final] and that.

"I do think Armagh will win the game but it won't be in any way easy."

While Armagh romped into the final, Monaghan had "to go to the end" against Derry in their semi-final.

It took a sublime two-pointer from a sideline by Jack McCarron with the final kick of normal time to level the game and with 13 seconds left in extra-time with Derry one point up, Rory Beggan drilled over a two-point free to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Monaghan entered the championship with seven defeats in as many league games, but the return of some key figures has coincided with an upturn in fortunes and McConville has been impressed with how Gabriel Bannigan's side have parked their relegation from Division One.

While McConville is backing his own county to prevail, he also feels "you don't have to dig too deep" to make a case for a Monaghan victory.

"They've players coming back but confidence had to be at an all-time low when they were coming in against Cavan and then Derry," he added.

"Look at their league performance - that is so tough to bounce back from, so the Derry game will give them a lot of belief and they are a dangerous animal when they are like that."