The league table doesn't lie. Or does it?
If you're an Armagh supporter you'll probably concur that occupying sixth in the Division 1 table ahead of the penultimate round of games does not accurately reflect their efforts so far.
After trouncing Monaghan in the opening round, Kieran McGeeney's side have endured four defeats on the spin but three of those losses, to Galway, Roscommon and Mayo, were by narrow margins.
In terms of chances created in those said encounters, the Orchard county created enough, but crucially when it came to the premium of raising a green flag, McGeeney's men have simply not delivered.
That stats don't lie: just on goal in five leagues games to date.
On Saturday evening, the 2024 All-Ireland winners take on Dublin at Croke Park in what is a crucial four-pointer in the quest to avoid the drop from the top tier.
Summing up Armagh's frustrations so far, Dessie Dolan, speaking on the latest edition of the RTÉ GAA Podcast, said: "Performance wise, Kieran McGeeney will be quite happy because every time they are going out they are putting in a serious shift but ultimately they are coming out the wrong side of the result.
"In the Galway match they did dominate for large parts of that game but ultimately it was Galway that came away with the points.
"In Division 1 it comes down to large margins as to whether you are staying up or staying down and such margins could cost them their place."
As to Armagh's lack of goals throughout the spring, Dolan highlighted the easy option of going with the fisted point.
"Kieran McGeeney was questioned about this (after the Mayo game) and he didn't like it," Dolan added.
"I don't think you are ever going to tell a player to fist the ball over the bar but I think they fisted it over six or seven times against Galway, this when they were in prime position to lash the ball at the goal and see what happens.
"In the modern game, two-pointers are critical to what teams are doing but you still can't beat an good aul goal. That is the reality of the GAA. Armagh are creating opportunities, slicing open defences, but they fist the ball over the bar. I'm sure it's something that they have discussed, in that if those opportunities present, they have to go for goals.
"It's almost like the stats men are saying 'you created five chances and only scored one'. It feels like Armagh are playing very safe, not taking enough risks. Every time Jarly Óg gets in he is fisting it over, as is Ross McQuillan, a great player. They have missed great opportunities for goals so I would encourage them that if you're bearing down on goal and there is a goal on, just bury the ball to the back of the net.
"Have a cut at it. What's the worse that can happen?"
Dolan was also asked about whether relegation would be a negative for the Orchard County with their Ulster Championship opener against Tyrone looming.
"I know Kieran pretty well and losing is not in his vocabulary," was Dolan's response.
"During the course of the league there has been a frustration with referees, the new rules. He's just not enjoying the fact that they are not getting the results.
"It won't overly affect them, but you want to be in Division 1, which is a very enjoyable division. You look at the teams you are playing, the coverage, venues, everything about it is different than the rest of the divisions."
Watch Kerry v Mayo in the Allianz Football League on Saturday from 3.45pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News app and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch Allianz League Sunday from 9.35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News app and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
