PAUL Hearty guarded the goals for Armagh when the Anglo Celt Cup visited the Cathedral City back in 2008 but not only that, he was also the Armagh keeper the last time the Orchard County faced their greatest rivals Tyrone at Clones in 2009.
That was a clash of the reigning Ulster champions Armagh taking on the All-Ireland champions Tyrone and the Red Hands came out on top with three-points to spare in the end, thanks to goals from Steven O’Neill and Conor Gormley.
Fast forward 16 years and the arch enemies once again lock horns at the Monaghan venue, although Hearty will be cheering on from the crowd on this occasion. This time around, it’s Armagh who head into the contest as the current holders of the Sam Maguire Cup.
In order to see off Malachy O’Rourke’s men and book their place in a third consecutive Ulster final, Hearty reckons Armagh must be at the peak of their powers. “Armagh need to bring it,” said the Crossmaglen clubman.
“We need to bring that performance, we need to bring our energy levels, we need a really massive effort because it is Tyrone after all, it is a local derby. The crowd will be there, it’ll be noisy, there’ll be a super atmosphere.
“You’d love to be back playing in a game like that, back in Clones too and hopefully the weather will play ball as well. I really feel that for Armagh, this is the game that starts the championship.”
When Armagh last collected the Anglo Celt Cup back in 2008, after an Ulster final replay win over Fermanagh, then managed by Tyrone boss Malachy O’Rourke, it was hard to envisage the county going so long without tasting another piece of provincial glory.
Despite being the All-Ireland champions, Hearty believes that inside the Armagh changing room, there is still a hunger for some Ulster success and that will be their main driving force this weekend.
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Kieran McGeeney’s side have experienced plenty of Ulster heartache in recent years, losing the last two finals to Derry and Donegal via penalty shootouts, but Hearty thinks they have enough quality to at least return to the decider this season.
“It’s a game that Tyrone have been targeting as their way to get into an Ulster final but the Armagh players probably feel that the Ulster Championship is something that they have left behind,” added the 2002 All-Ireland winner.
“We’ve managed to win the All-Ireland, thanks God, but we’ve been so disappointed in Ulster. Last year, the penalty shootout with Donegal, it was a super game but we came out the wrong end of it.
“It’s 17 years now since Armagh won Ulster, I was playing the last time in 2008, that’s how long ago it is. I think it’s the one thing missing for the Armagh’s boys and they’ll want to tick that box.
“I feel we can get over the line, it’ll be chaotic on Saturday, it’ll to and it’ll fro and it’ll be nuts for the management on the line. It’ll be great for the supports, but I think we’ll just get over the line by a couple of points.”
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