Two teams that go into the campaign with high expectations every season, one will leave Croke Park and the Championship very disappointed this weekend.
Dublin and Armagh have done little to suggest they ’ll be involved in the closing games in the competition.
Through the scoring ability of Pat Gilroy’s men comes a chance to build momentum and advance through the qualifiers.
So far Dublin have been exploited by every team they’ve faced, and while they have survived scares against Wexford and Tipperary so far, the loss to Meath in between supported the theory that when the Dubs face decent opposition, they will be shown up as an average team.
They are better than what they have produced so far, but clicking as a team has been the problem.
There is no certainty in their play, individuals are unable to shake off past failures and the expectations of the (seemingly now decreasing) home support.
Armagh was probably the best tie they could have drawn.
Playing another ‘weaker’ county would not have done Dublin any favour, sooner or later they will have to step up and in the qualifiers there is no let-up.
The Orchard County have been efficient in their wins over Donegal and Fermanagh.
It was always going to be a long road back from the hammering they suffered at the hands of Monaghan and facing their Ulster rivals was exactly the tonic they needed to overcome what happened in Kingspan Breffni Park.
Armagh were quite wasteful against Fermanagh last weekend, the match was certainly by no means a walkover so they did well to see it out.
Jamie Clarke and Stephen McDonnell have led their revival and a lot will depend on how they perform this week.
The Meath forwards ripped Dublin to shreds by playing their own game and not getting sucked into the occasion, if Armagh can do that then it could spell the end of Dublin in this year’s Championship.
The Dubs know what they have to do and if Gilroy can instil come composure into their game, they will survive at least another round.
Verdict: Dublin
