GAELIC GAMES/National Football League Armagh v Wexford: Anyone who watched these teams play on the first weekend of the Allianz National Football League would have been taken aback to be informed that they'd meet again in the final.
Armagh looked sluggish and would be without their Crossmaglen players for most of the divisional matches. Wexford, on the other hand, were impressive but not to the point where anyone would think they might progress into the top two and through a semi-final.
Both sides have allayed these reservations, however, and of the other Division One counties only Kerry can feel unlucky not to be in Croke Park tomorrow.
With an attractive Division Two final - combining Monaghan's first trip to the new stadium and Meath's traditional support - the GAA are expecting a crowd of over 40,000 to attend tomorrow's double bill, which would represent a substantial step-up on recent crowds at league finals.
From that afternoon in Wexford Park, Armagh's advance has been the more impressive and last week they put Mayo away comfortably. Wexford conversely had to scrap furiously in a swamp the previous week but tipping ahead of a prestige opponent like Tyrone was, regardless of conditions, a huge boost for the team's self confidence.
Pat Roe knows that his team are underdogs but knows equally well what his assets are. As a Leinster county, Wexford are used to Croke Park and won't be at a disadvantage against a team that has almost acquired squatters' rights in the stadium. The wide-open spaces of the venue will suit their fast-moving game and they will also have the reassurance of having won the previous league meeting.
To suggest that that match might be of limited relevance isn't to say it was a flash in the pan. Had the same teams played again in February it's likely that Wexford would have won but we're now three months down the road and things have changed. Wexford will have improved thanks to their achievements in the meantime but Armagh are considerably better.
The Ulster county have six changes in personnel since that meeting whereas Wexford make two. The Armagh changes strengthen the team, bringing back key personnel, and with their championship starting in a fortnight, Joe Kernan's team is on battle alert.
The most significant aspects of the win over Mayo were the form of Kieran McGeeney in blotting out the threat of Ciarán McDonald, the enduringly predatory instincts of Steven McDonnell and the return of Ronan Clarke to something like his 2002 best. McGeeney, for someone who was shadowed by intimations of mortality last year, gave a sharp and hungry performance in an unusual man-marking role.
Clarke's threat in the air unhinged Mayo. The Connacht champions have well-advertised difficulties at full back but the big Armagh full forward is trouble for any team with his mobility, strength and football ability. Last February he gave Wexford plenty of awkward moments during a troubled first half and more of the same can be expected to- morrow.
It was quick repair work that turned the match for Wexford. Roe restructured centrefield and steadied the ship as well as injecting additional pace into the attack. Both are areas of concern for Armagh. It took a couple of changes to loosen Mayo's grip on the middle last week and the mobility and thrust of Peadar Gardiner and David Heaney constituted the main threat to Armagh in the second half.
Colm Morris, Niall Murphy and Shane Cullen created a similar attacking platform at the back when the teams last met and they will fancy having a cut tomorrow.
Although Wexford's centrefield has struggled for consistency, it has a good blend of Nicky Lambert's aggression and Diarmuid Kinsella's footballing prowess and held its own against Tyrone.
Wexford's attack focuses attention on Matty Forde but he was quite well played by Andy Mallon in February, even if the All Star had been involved in a minor traffic accident beforehand. He still managed 1-6 but the points were all from frees. Elsewhere in the attack, however, John Hudson has been in fine form and dual player Redmond Barry's pace hurt Armagh in the same match.
Mickey Harte was impressed by Wexford's desire and hunger - commodities which the Tyrone manager knows a fair bit about - in the semi-final but this weekend's chance to win a first league also means something to Armagh even if it won't wreck their season not to win it. They have seen Wexford's hand and have the cards to beat it.
ARMAGH: P Hearty; A Mallon, F Bellew, P McCormack; A Kernan, K McGeeney, C McKeever; J Toal, P McGrane; M O'Rourke, J McEntee, O McConville; S McDonnell, R Clarke, B Mallon.
WEXFORD: J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, N Murphy; D Breen, D Murphy, S Cullen; D Kinsella, N Lambert; D Fogarty, P Colfer, J Hegarty; R Barry, J Hudson, M Forde.
Armagh v Wexford, Sunday, Croke Park, 3.45
On TV: TG4
