For the past three years Armagh footballers have stressed their dominance of Ulster has been diluted by a failure to add a second All-Ireland title to the breakthrough success of 2002, reports Gavin Cummiskey. Speaking at yesterday's launch of the VHI Cúl camps in Croke Park, veteran forward Oisín McConville went so far as to highlight the irrelevancy of achieving a fourth successive provincial medal.

"To be honest, it wouldn't mean a hell of a lot, no," he said. "It would mean something if we went on to win an All-Ireland because at the end of the day that's why we are all playing."

Armagh begin their Ulster defence against league champions Donegal on May 27th in Ballybofey - a meeting that is primed to ignite the championship. Armagh will be without Francie Bellew because of a cruciate ligament injury.

McConville said: "His natural replacement would be Enda (McNulty) to play full back. I don't think it really matters who plays full back; we need to get a full-back line together now. Losing Francie is a major blow for everybody. At this stage in Armagh he is a cult hero. To see him coming running down the field with the ball is a huge lift for everybody. I think we will miss him for that aspect as much as his footballing ability."