McKaigue hopes Derry take 'shackles off' against Armagh
Former Derry captain Chrissy McKaigue says he hopes the team can use "low expectations" to their advantage and play "with the shackles off" in Saturday's All-Ireland round-robin opener against holders Armagh. The Ulster rivals meet at the Athletic Grounds (17:00 BST) after Dublin beat Galway last week to seize early control of Group Four. While Armagh have been forced to regroup after a third Ulster final defeat in a row a fortnight ago, Derry have had six weeks to prepare for their Sam Maguire campaign having exited the provincial competition with defeat by Donegal in the preliminary round. Derry narrowly missed out on reaching an All-Ireland final two years ago, but it has been a tough first season at the helm for manager Paddy Tally, who is yet to win a competitive game and is still without All-Star defenders Gareth McKinless and Conor McCluskey. "Derry are coming in under the radar, the expectations are low within the county, you would feel that, and hopefully that throws the shackles off the players and they play with a bit more freedom," said two-time Ulster Championship winner McKaigue. "Unfortunately for Derry, they still haven't got off the mark this year in terms of winning a competitive game. The longer that goes on the more worrying it is, so if there's a time to win a game it would certainly be this weekend."McKaigue added: "If there's one game Derry would have wanted first, it's Armagh after coming off the back of that heartbreaking Ulster final. "Derry should take hope from that. From what I've heard, they've done a good block of work and are in fine fettle."
While Armagh welcome back 2024 All-Ireland final starter Joe McElroy for Saturday's game, Rian O'Neill has not been named in the matchday panel. The All-Star has yet to feature in 2025 after stepping away from the squad for personal reasons, and while Orchard boss Kieran McGeeney said he did not expect the Crossmaglen club-man to return this year, he travelled with the team to the Ulster final.Even if O'Neill does not feature on Saturday, his eventual comeback will give Armagh's bid for a second straight Sam Maguire a huge shot in the arm. "Armagh have bucketloads in terms of strength in depth," observed McKaigue. "Alongside Donegal you'd have to say no other squad in Ireland has that depth. "A fit Rian O'Neill is a scary task for anyone and it's great to see him back because he's one of the standout players in the competition."
'Tyrone are dangerous as dark horses'
Derry's trip to Armagh precedes the meeting of Donegal and Tyrone in Ballybofey in an intriguing double-header of Ulster derbies on Saturday. Having retained their Ulster crown, Donegal are McKaigue's pick to win the All-Ireland, but he feels Tyrone will relish their underdogs tag against Jim McGuinness' side. "They seem harmonious," the Slaughtneil club-man said of the Red Hands."Even after the defeat against Armagh, it felt like a blip and not a catastrophe. I see Conor Meyler back in the 26 this weekend, Peter Harte and Mattie Donnelly are listed to start, so they've a lovely blend of youth and experience."They have one of the best managers in the game at the moment in Malachy O'Rourke."The task to go to Ballybofey and topple a Jim McGuinness side is a big one, but Tyrone will like being dark horses because they're dangerous when they're in that category."
This weekend's All-Ireland SFC fixtures
Saturday 24 May (times BST)Group Two: Meath v Cork, Navan, 15:00 Group Three: Louth v Monaghan, Newbridge, 16:45Group Four: Armagh v Derry, Athletic Grounds, 17:00Group One: Donegal v Tyrone, Ballyobfey, 19:00
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