Armagh captain Ciaran McKeever has described 2012 as his most disappointing in the county jersey but he is eager to make up for it this year.

The Orchard County exited last year's championship at the hands of Roscommon in the qualifiers and, as he prepares for Sunday's opener against Cavan, he says it was a bitter pill to swallow.

"It was a sore point and still is a sore point but you have got to put it behind you and move on and we're looking forward to the championship," he told The Irish Daily Star.

"It would have been the most disappointing season I ever had but you have to look forward to this year.

"It was a tough defeat because at half-time it never looked in doubt. We were cruising and then we came out in the second half and, in fairness to Roscommon, they got a run on us and didn't let up.

"It was hard for us to turn that tide and rightly so - they deserved to win."

Having salvaged their Division 2 status with a final round win over Galway, McKeever and his team-mates are in a positive frame of mind as they approach this weekend's contest.

"It was a positive end to the National League for us because we rotated a lot of boys through the league.

"A lot of boys were in the Armagh set-up and they got some good league time, which will stand them in good stead come championship. We are going in the right direction." Tweet

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