Start as you mean to go on will be the mantra for the Armagh footballers again this season and they’ll be hoping to make it two wins from two when they take on Cavan at Breffni Park tonight.
The Orchard County got their 2023 campaign off to the best possible start with a resounding 12-point win over Antrim in the Dr McKenna Cup last Wednesday night in front of 4,500 fans at the Athletic Grounds.
They’ll guarantee themselves a semi-final berth with a win over Mickey Graham’s men tonight with Cavan also hoping to top Section C after defeating the Saffrons at Portglenone on Sunday.
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“There’s always room for improvement. We made a good start to last season and we intend to do the same this year,” said Rafferty.
“We go out to try and win every game. If you lose, you try and learn from it and win the next one.
“We’ll not worry too much about the results or what’s happening elsewhere.
“It is a long enough off season when you are finishing up those couple of weeks earlier than you want to.
“We trained hard over the winter and it was good to get back at it. For January, the conditions were good enough and there was a good buzz around the grounds. It was good to get the new season started with a win.
“We weren’t allowed to have any friendlies until the New Year so it was good to get a run out in the first week of January. The fact that it was a competitive game brings a bit of an edge to it."
Armagh led 1-10 to 0-4 at half-time in last week’s tie against Andy McEntee’s men with Conor Turbitt scoring his side’s first half goal.
Yet, the Clann Éireann attacker was replaced at half-time as Kieran McGeeney kept his word to give as many players game time as possible.
A clean sheet in the first 35 minutes wasn’t enough to save 2022 All Star nominee Rafferty either as fellow goalkeeper Shea Magill was introduced for the second half as part of 12 changes made by ‘Geezer’ at the break.
Rafferty said the competition for places keeps everyone on their toes as Armagh build towards their Division One opener against Monaghan at the end of the month.
“A lot of guys got a run out against Antrim - the likes of Joe Sheridan was brilliant when he came on,” added the Grange clubman.
“It is good to get the new players blooded in. Shane McPartland was very good inside as well so it is important to have the McKenna Cup games.
“The first we knew about all the changes was at half-time, but Kieran (McGeeney) always said that he’d make sure boys would get their chance.
“Everybody knows that’s how it works - this is your chance to impress and everyone is keen to take that opportunity.
“We are taking each game as it comes. We made 12 changes at half-time (against Antrim) so you never know what is going to happen in each game.
“We’ll look forward to the Cavan game and hopefully we can get a result and take the learnings from it.
“If we get another game in the McKenna Cup, perfect. If not, we’ll turn our focus to the League and our first game against Monaghan.”
Elsewhere, Ulster champions Derry host rivals Tyrone in Owenbeg with both teams hoping to secure a semi-final berth by finishing top in Section B.
Both sides have defeated Fermanagh so the winner of tonight’s clash will win the group.
However, the best runner-up from the three sections will claim a semi-final berth as well so all eyes will be on the scoring difference following tonight’s games.
Indeed, a runners-up spot is all that Donegal and Monaghan can hope for when they line out at Ballybofey this evening as Down are already confirmed as Section A winners after wins over both teams.
Wednesday’s Dr McKenna Cup fixtures
Section A: Donegal v Monaghan (Ballybofey, 7.30pm)
Section B: Derry v Tyrone (Owenbeg, 7.30pm)
Section C: Cavan v Armagh (Breffni Park, 7.30pm)
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