Ulster SFC: Ian O'Riordan on why Armagh will field their strongest against Monaghan on Sunday
Fortune rather than fear influenced Joe Kernan to name such a full-bodied Armagh team for Sunday's Ulster championship clash with Monaghan. There is no intimidation or revenge factor. A year after Monaghan stunned the then All-Ireland champions, the only thing Kernan is concerned about is winning. Talk of the awaited rematch is for us promoters.
Yet it's an Armagh team that would put fear into any opposition. All but two of the All-Ireland line-up which lost to Tyrone in September will start in Clones. The scoring threat spreads far and wide, from Steven McDonnell to Oisín McConville.
Kieran McGeeney returns to centre back to inflict his extensive authority. The boys are back to take care of business.
"Sure look," says Kernan,"no manager in his right mind wouldn't put out the best 15 players available to him for a championship match. And we have been lucky that we're able to field such a strong team, and that so many of the boys are up for it and free from injury.
"I know injuries can come and go at any time and there's nothing you can do about it. In fact, the one thing you can't plan for is injuries. We've been fortunate to get a clean run this time."
It seems more than a season ago since Armagh slumped to that defeat at the same venue, victims of the dreaded All-Ireland hangover. As it turned out, their journey through the qualifiers route became the extraordinary story of the summer, ending just a few steps short of a title defence.
A year on Kernan reflects logically on that day, knowing a good part of what happened can be explained: "No, it wasn't ideal for us. We were missing four All Stars from our starting line-up and I'd feared the hunger mightn't be the same. Having said that, Monaghan played the more aggressive and determined football. They were sitting and waiting for us and fully deserved to win on the day.
"Still, there's going to be pressure of some sort on every team when they start out in the championship. But from our point of view it's probably not the same as last year, in that you'll always be scrutinised so much more as All-Ireland champions. And I'd assume we'd be that little bit hungrier right now compared to this time last year.
"But right now we're only focused on this match. We know it's not going to be easy. This is Colm Coyle's second year with Monaghan and he's got to know his players a lot better. And I think he's got a more settled team."
Kernan might now be synonymous with Armagh football, but it's worth recalling it's only his third year in charge of the county. He's trying new things to mix with the old. And sticking with the reliable, like a training trip to La Manga earlier this month - the mid-season excursion he could have patented.
"La Manga worked out very well again. I mean the facilities out there are the best in the world, and no player will come back without thinking they've made some progress. The weather was excellent without being too warm, and the commitment and discipline from everyone was superb.
"But we've changed some things this year too. I don't think any manager can say they've perfected what they do, and the methods they use. I just set out at the start of the year to do the best I can do, and, hopefully, keep it interesting for the players."
One thing Armagh have been hassled about is their slow injection of fresh talent. Martin O'Rourke is the only player to get his first championship start on Sunday, replacing the injured Diarmuid Marsden, but at 24 is past the up-and-coming bracket.
Paddy McKeever is the second change from September, in for John McEntee. Kernan, however, is quick to dismiss the suggestion of a team at the higher end of the maturity scale.
"Tell me, how many All-Irelands did Kerry win with the same bunch of players? I mean the age factor is a total myth. But what everyone seems to forget is that the average age of this panel is between 24 and 25. Some of the boys have been around for a while, but it's all about how they look after themselves, and they've looked after themselves very well."
For Monaghan the spread of youth is once again more conspicuous. There will be two championship debutants in corner back Edmund Lennon and wing forward Dessie Mone, but there is experience, too, with the return of Dick Clerkin, a debutant five years ago, to centre back, and Kieran Tavey in the forward line.
There are five players missing from the corresponding game of last year: John Paul Mone, Pauric McKenna, Damien McKenna, Nicholas Corrigan and Michael Slowey. Gerry McQuaid completes the changes by starting at corner back.
MONAGHAN (SF v Armagh): G Murphy; G McQuaid, J Coyle, Edmund Lennon; D Duffy, D Clerkin, V Corey; J Hughes, Eoin Lennon; P Finlay, T Freeman, D Mone; K Tavey, R Ronaghan, D Freeman.
