Provincial champions' defeats were a good warning for us - Turbitt

May 31, 2026

Armagh's Conor Turbitt ©INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon

Armagh ace Conor Turbitt says the defeats suffered by provincial champions in the first round of the All-Ireland SFC last weekend were “a good warning” for the Ulster champions ahead of yesterday’s meeting with Derry.

Kieran McGeeney’s team saw off the Oak Leafers by 1-18 to 1-13 at the Box-It Athletic Grounds, where the home side kept things to script to put themselves into Round 2A of Tuesday morning’s draw.

Speaking to BBC Sport NI after the game, Turbitt, who scored 0-4 in the five-point win, said Armagh were wary of an ambush from their opponents going in after both Kerry and Roscommon had suffered home defeats last weekend.

"It was a good warning for us. Those teams, they do have four weeks just to prepare for a team that's coming through, so they maybe do have an advantage that way, but we sort of felt like we'd come out the right side," he said.

"The provincial momentum sort of took us into this game and it was good that it carried through and we got the win.

“Yeah, we're happy. It's always going to be a tough game though, but just to get into the next round with the rest of the winners from this round, it's a good thing."

A win the next day out guarantees the Orchard men a place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals, with their opponents set to be revealed in Tuesday morning’s draw.

"You also have that carrot dangling that if you win your next game, that's you straight through back to Croke Park into the last eight,” Turbitt added.

“That's the goal now. It's just to get to Croke Park the last eight. That's what we're going to be going for in the next two weeks."


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