New format could spell end of old managers

There is a feeling in the world of football that whoever loses this afternoon's Galway-Armagh qualifier will be looking for a new manager before long. Galway's John O'Mahony is now in his fourth year in charge of the team, whereas the Armagh dual management of Brian McAlinden and Brian Canavan are in their sixth. There are other similarities besides longevity.

Both have won two provincial titles within the past three years and both are favoured to make an impact in the new qualifier format. On a less positive note, the mood within the respective camps hasn't been great over the past year. Armagh suffered the grumblings of players' discontent in the aftermath of their narrow failure to Kerry in last year's All-Ireland semi-final. Their league campaign in Division Two was disrupted by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease within the county at Maigh.

When they emerged for championship duty, the provincial title was lost at the first defence. A young and hungry Tyrone out-played and out-fought their predecessors. Afterwards there was no shortage of public opinion that the defeat would spell the end of the Brians' stewardship.

This was, however, to underestimate the potential of the new championship format. Just as Paddy Clarke in neighbouring Louth, another FMD disaster area, was pilloried for losing his first championship before responding with a great win over Offaly, Armagh's management were being tried somewhat prematurely.

Meanwhile, Galway's league momentum came to a halt with an embarrassing defeat by Mayo in the final. Worse followed as the Donnellan brothers walked off the panel in a row over - depending on your source - whether John should be selected or whether Michael should play at centrefield. Apparent reconciliation wasn't long in coming, but instead of paying off for the county, was simply a precursor to the football season's first major sensation - Galway losing their Connacht title by going down to Roscommon.

As the teams converge on this afternoon's match in Croke Park, they know that the shadow boxing is over. They might have preferred to avoid each other at this stage, but whoever wins will have restored momentum. Success is a great healer of rifts within panels, and with the big time shimmering into focus the winners will have no difficulty setting aside any differences of opinion.

Armagh's form has been picking up, but they aren't by any means restored to the sort of solid efficiency that nearly aborted Kerry's successful All-Ireland campaign a year ago. Their Croke Park displays last year were very encouraging though. The same can't be said about their opponents. Having shattered the negativity that surrounded teams from the west by winning the 1998 All-Ireland, Galway have since run into trouble in Dublin.

In last year's drawn All-Ireland final, the Connacht champions blew the chance of taking Sam Maguire for a second time in three years.

They were well beaten in the replay and, two months ago, lost the league final to Mayo. Amongst the consequences was a diminution of the confidence to be placed in several newcomers to the team.

For the older guard things haven't been going swimmingly. Jarlath Fallon, footballer of the year in 1998, has struggled to recover from a terrible knee ligament injury sustained last year. Tomβs Mannion, another huge influence on the team's success, has also missed a great deal of time because of a chronic back injury and, since his return, hasn't been able to rediscover his old form and was taken for a big score by Roscommon - something that was unheard of when he was fully fit.

Kevin Walsh's failure to return to full fitness is a further headache for O'Mahony. The big centrefielder was crucial to the All-Ireland victory and very nearly swung last year's. Martin McNamara, goalkeeper from '98, is retired and his place has not been filled easily. Padraig Lally has paid the price for an alarmingly leaky defence - five goals in two matches - and has been replaced by Alan Keane.

Within the county the breathless enthusiasm that marked the All-Ireland campaigns of last year and '98 has faded. According to observers, there aren't the same crowds attending training sessions.

O'Mahony's misfortune is to have played his big hand in his first year. Without another All-Ireland, it's hard to see him putting himself through the mill for another year.

The counties' paths haven't crossed before at senior championship level. In a challenge match played a couple of weeks ago in Longford, Armagh were comfortable winners. A more tenuous connection was made eight years ago when future Armagh All Star Diarmuid Marsden scored a stunning goal for St Colman's, Newry, against a St Jarlath's of Tuam team that featured Galway's enfant terrible Michael Donnellan.

It was noted at the time by Galway people that they would probably come across Marsden again at some stage in the future. This afternoon that future has arrived.