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Preview: All-Ireland SFC Qualifier- Kildare v Armagh

Kevin Feely

Kevin Feely

This match is a pivotal one in the evolution of both Kildare and Armagh.

In some ways they are a mirror image of one another – two teams who have rebuilt over the course of the last couple of years and have ambitions to make it to the big-time.

They’re led by two highly respected coaches in the shape of Kildare’s Cian O’Neill and Armagh's Kieran McGeeney, two men who’ve never hid their own ambition under a bushel either.

There are also similarities in how they play the game. Both teams look to be more comfortable attacking than defending, and there’s every chance this will be a free-flowing, high scoring game.

The midfield battle will be worth the price of admission alone. Kildare’s Kevin Feely and Armagh’s Niall Grimley are two really special talents who have lit up the championship with their fielding and score-getting ability. 

Their clash will be pivotal to the outcome of this game – if either one can establish a dominance over the other then they’ll have given their team an invaluable platform.

Since being knocked out of the Ulster Championship by Down after a poor enough performance, Armagh have bounced back impressively.

Wins over Fermanagh, Westmeath, and Tipperary has given this group the sort of self-belief they were possibly lacking heretofore, so they’re bringing a lot of momentum to Croke Park tomorrow.

Kildare’s mindset is more of a variable – how will they react to having lost the Leinster SFC Final to Dublin?

Well, if Daniel Flynn is to believed, and he sounded quite convincing when he was awarded the GAA-GPA Footballer of the Month for June in Croke Park this week, they’re bringing a very positive mindset into this match despite that defeat to the Dubs.

“Definitely the vibe in the camp is still very good," he said. "We've come on a lot from last year. Last year was our first year gelling together and starting to rebuild. It's very positive and very encouraging. There's great belief around the place and you can see that.

“Even with the supporter base and all over the county in general. it's a general feel-good feeling that people are happy for us and are there to support us no matter what which is great.”

It definitely was possible for Kildare to take positives from that defeat to Dublin. When they played well they stretched in the reigning All-Ireland Champions in a way very few teams have in the recent past.

With players like Flynn, Paddy Brophy, Niall Kelly, Cathal McNally, and Kevin Feely they boast some serious firepower.

It may be too much for an Armagh side that doesn’t boast the same range of attacking threats.

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