DONEGAL will be a tough test for Armagh in the All-Ireland Qualifiers on Saturday, June 26.
I would have preferred to get someone from down the country like Carlow, Waterford or even Mayo. I know Mayo are a decent side but I fancy our chances against any team outside of Ulster.
Armagh have played a lot more open football outside of Ulster and it is no coincidence that in 2003, when we went through the back door and got through to the AllIreland Final, we played a lot of teams from outside of the province.
Derry and Monaghan (twice) are the teams that have put us out of the championship at the back door, so Donegal won't be easy.
That said, while it will be a tough game if Armagh play as well as they can I expect them to win.
Their performance against Monaghan won't do and this week the Armagh players will knuckle down and get focused. They have to put the Monaghan game behind it.
But that can be easier said than done. Just ask England goalkeeper Robert Green.
By now the Armagh team should have re-grouped, talked the talk, told each other a few home truths everyone will be going in the one direction. I think it is a bonus that a team can stick together after the way we lost to Monaghan.
Now is the time for Paddy O'Rourke to say, who has had their chance and not taken it and else can I bring in?
However, selection doesn't matter if the players don't perform and get stuck in, and to be honest that is all anyone ever asks of their team. We may not always have the quality but in Armagh effort and application is the minimum requirement.
The weekend of Saturday, June 26, and Sunday, June 17, is a huge weekend for Armagh supporters as the Armagh Minors play Monaghan in the Ulster semi-final; Armagh Minor Hurlers face Antrim in the Ulster final. The senior footballers battle it out against Donegal and Armagh hurlers are in action in the Nicky Rackard Cup.
The hurlers are really grabbing the awards from the hard work that has been put in over the past number of years and while we remain a strong footballing county, there is room for success in hurling too.
In the Armagh All-County League, Crossmaglen needed a late Francie Bellew goal to defeat Dromintee, and it was great to get maximum points. I wasn't playing and didn't actually see the goal, so I'm sure whether to believe Francie or not.
Elsewhere, Cullyhanna impressed by beating Pearse Og and Carrickcruppen's win over rivals Whitecross should give them plenty of confidence to climb up the Division One table.