Armagh's hopes of reversing a recent tradition in Croke Park rest largely on Oisín McConville. Seán Moran finds every reason for hopes to be high

His scrapbook would be full of major occasions. Oisín McConville, for all Armagh's frustrations at All-Ireland level, has plenty to show for his career to date.

Three All-Ireland club medals with Crossmaglen Rangers, three Ulster medals with the county and an All Star constitute proof of success.

You can watch him scoring goals in those club finals, shooting 1-9 as Kerry were so very nearly taken down in 2000 or what Brian McAlinden, former joint-manager with Brian Canavan, mentions unprompted - the denouement to that year's Ulster final.

A late Derry goal brought them back into contention and the sides were level at Clones with the clock running down.

In the dying moments, referee Michael Curley awarded a free to Armagh. "That was pressure. He landed it from 45 metres for us in the Ulster final.

"His strength is his use of the opportunity to take scores and free-taking that is fairly immaculate. In the 2000 semi-final replay he scored 1-9 and has been a top-rate marksman for many years. This is down to natural ability.

"He does practise free-taking. I remember him and Cathal O'Rourke, who's also one of the best, staying back at the end of sessions. But his scores are down to natural ability rather than work-rate. He's an exceptional player who takes scores."

The twin supports on which his career have been based were never fully aligned. Crossmaglen's success meant that the club's players rarely joined training until nearly April.

A bit of a rush for the big names, like McConville and the McEntees, but it also meant that Cross players, who might have been tried out during the National Football League, never got the chance.

This year for instance Francie Bellew played throughout the league and worked his way onto the championship team.

"We felt it was a problem alright," says McAlinden about this conflict of loyalties, "a fair big problem".

It has been solved in two ways this year. For a start, Crossmaglen have faded a bit on the club scene and, secondly, the club's manager in those halcyon days, Joe Kernan, now has the county reins. This has impacted on McConville's own game.

"He's probably playing deeper this year than he did with us," says McAlinden. "We would have preferred finishing forwards as close to goal as possible.

"So he generally played corner forward with us, but maybe the wing is his own preference.

"What a player wants himself can be important. He plays there a lot with his club and maybe it gives him more scope not to be as tightly marked."

Opinion in the county is divided as to the efficacy of this departure.

It is pointed out that ball winning - a pre-requisite in modern half forward lines - isn't McConville's strongest suit and that his club performances benefit from the presence of an imposing three-man centrefield in which John McEntee is almost dwarfed by Anthony Cunningham and deep-lying corner forward Colm O'Neill - both of whom are around six and a half feet.

McConville's assets of speed and accuracy are less conspicuous the further away from goal he is.

Mentally strong, the player has the consistent ability to take scores even when not featuring particularly prominently in a match.

Accomplished place-kicking is the key to this. This year for instance, despite a relatively quiet season from open play, his discharge of dead-ball duties has been exemplary.

This aspect of his play seems utterly unconnected to general performance.

"I think he's one of those surprise players that looks like he hasn't played and ends up with six or seven points," says McAlinden.

"No matter how he's going in play, his free-taking and 45s are close to perfection."

In 2000, just as there were grumbles about his display in the drawn All-Ireland semi-final with Kerry, he dazzled in the replay with 1-9 (1-2 from play) and no wides.

A disappointing performance in the 1999 semi-final against Meath had a mitigating context. His father was terminally ill and passed away a couple of days after the match.

"It was a wonder he played at all," says McAlinden.

It is 25 years since Armagh won at Croke Park. Since then one All-Ireland final, five semi-finals, one quarter-final and one qualifier have passed by without success.

Not at his best against Sligo on his last visit to Croke Park, Oisin McConville knows that his county's progress may well require him to play to potential.

Like Armagh, Dublin are seen as a team with a menacing attack, but vulnerable at the back.

Despite that, the Leinster champions used their pace and stamina to squeeze any opportunities that Donegal might have created.

"He'll be earmarked for tight marking. But then again Dublin mark tight everywhere so I'm not sure that they'll pay him particular attention.

"Even though he's closely marked in most matches, he nearly always seems to get around five points. Marking him requires a good defender with a lot of concentration. The fact that he does tend to drift in and out of matches - and drift across the line - means that concentration is even more tested."

It adds up to a major test of both McConville and Paul Casey or Peadar Andrews - whoever is deployed to mark him.

One that can decide Kerry's opponents three weeks tomorrow.