Out to prove top-table status

INTERVIEW ARMAGH MANAGER PETER McDONNELLTHE GOLDEN age of Joe Kernan and Kieran McGeeney has passed but the Armagh football dynasty retains an opportunity to rage against the dying of the light in St Tiernach's Park, Clones, this Sunday against a rejuvenated Down side.

In dispatching Cavan recently Armagh proved that, despite the departure of the two men who will forever be associated with the greatest period in the county's football history, they retain the quality of player capable of annexing a seventh Ulster title since 1999.

Peter McDonnell has picked up the bainisteoir bib from Kernan and his clarity of thought in conversation yesterday portrayed a determination to maintain Armagh's position at the top of the game.

"There is an impression out there that Armagh is fast approaching the end of an era. But Steven McDonnell is still only 28 and should be entering the best years of his career. Ronan Clarke is younger again.

"Besides Francie Bellew, Aidan O'Rourke, Oisín McConville and Paul McGrane the panel is all under 30. The vast majority of them are in their mid-20s. The players I have been introducing this season are from the under-21s. Kieran Toner is only 19."

What's coming next will reveal much about the resolve within the Armagh camp. Down repelled some ferocious Tyrone resistance to reach this juncture and are now charged with ending a nine-year duopoly of the Ulster football championship.

"In many respects this week is a watershed for both counties," McDonnell continued. "Down are perceived as an up-and-coming, fresh young team. Armagh are perceived as an older team with less bite and a waning appetite. Sunday will clarify these perceptions."

Critics say Armagh no longer have the same depth of talent. Yet the 2004 under-21 All-Ireland winning team have had four years to blend in with the old guard. McConville has given the commitment for one more year having shaken off a long-standing back problem ("So far it would be favourable for him. For one his handling looks sharp. Oisín is one of the rare footballers whose class is permanent."), while Ciarán McKeever has long been groomed as McGeeney's natural successor.

Replacing the McEntee twins, John and Tony, is another Crossmaglen footballing institution, the Kernan family, as Stephen and Tony join Aaron as increasingly important figures in the process.

McDonnell is asked to elaborate on the "perception" of Armagh's appetite for continued success after a nightmare 2007 and concedes a problem does exist.

"In the previous three championship matches, before Cavan, there was a sense that we had done enough. We were coasting towards the finish line and were caught. In the All-Ireland quarter-final (2006) against Kerry victory was well within our control but we didn't kill off the opposition.

"Against Donegal and again against Derry last year we looked to have done enough. Maybe there was an expectation that they had done enough, and they were caught. We are aware of this manifestation and this is something we have discussed.

"In some of our matches this season we have performed well, in others we have been abysmal. The Meath game was embarrassing for our players, the management and our spectators. In the aftermath there was much disappointment and we took a good hard look at ourselves.

"The subsequent performance against Dublin provided some much needed self-belief. And then against Cork, with nothing tangible to play for, we still held on for the last 10 minutes and got a result.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure all of the baggage in terms of players being content with what they have done has been done away with. That's why Sunday will be a measure stick for many guys on the panel. The true test is when a team's back is against the wall. When you have to go somewhere you didn't think you could go or would have to go.

"Down have done that twice now in Healy Park and then extra-time in the replay in Newry. We haven't been tested like that.

"No one wants to build a future on falsehoods. Down will ask questions and the answers will have to come from deep in our heart.

"Doing this takes up a lot of time out of your life for players, the management, the county board and I'm not in the business of wasting mine or anyone else's time."