Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney praises his side’s strength in depth after dominant win over Kildare

Armagh kept their 100 percent winning record intact on Sunday, as they steamrolled Kildare 2-16 to 0-8.

The result sees Armagh take their tally to six points from three league games, and they sit joint-top of the Division 2 table with Donegal – who they host this Sunday.

The Orchard County flew out to an early lead with two goals in the opening 20 minutes from Conor Turbitt and Rory Grugan, and never looked like losing the game from that point onwards.

Those two aforementioned players were part of an exceptional forward line, with 2024 revelation Oisin Conaty also superb, as well as Stefan Campbell and the returning Andrew Murnin.

Although it is early in the season, the Armagh forward line is certainly in rhythm, and making it tough for a strong group of substitutes – which included Rian O’Neill, Oisin O’Neill, Aidan Nugent, Jason Duffy and Tiernan Kelly on Sunday – to force their way into the starting line-up.

Speaking after the win, Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney praised his side’s strength in depth and says that competition is at it’s highest when you’re winning.

“It was good to have a few fellas back,” he said, regarding players returning to the squad from injury.

“We had Andrew back, Cian McConville has been pushing hard, young Peter [McGrane], Oisin Conaty too and you have these young ones pushing and then having Aidan Nugent, Ross [McQuillan] and Jason [Duffy] back into the squad over this last couple of weeks and Rian and Oisin [O’Neill] coming back.

“It is great, you have a lot of people pushing hard and that is what you want. It is competitive, it is always great when you win games, they look at the guys who are starting and they want to be better than them.

“It is level of competition and that is what you want coming into this week. Everyone knows it is going to be a tough week and a tough game (against Donegal). Yeah, it is a good spot, but you are always only 24 hours away from an ass-kicking in the GAA.”

For full match report and more reaction see this week’s Newry Reporter – in shops Wednesday February 21!