While Armagh got the team from the pot they wanted, we would have much preferred Clare or Cork from this morning let's be honest about it. That's no slight against them, the four week break is a big factor for the provincial champions when facing into a team coming off a win two weeks out and either of the Munster teams would have been a much more winnable game. Not to say that Galway would win of course, I've seen enough capitulations including Tipp in 2016 to know nothing can be ruled out. Armagh it is and one thing is for sure, complacency is not a problem on Joyce's desk since this morning's draw given how Mayo and Roscommon have fared since Galway played them, Armagh certainly look to have the better recent body of work going into this match.
From the initial reactions since this morning I'd expect that while it's evens in the bookies currently Armagh will likely move into slight favourites for the match as the next couple of weeks progresses, they seem to be the tip for a lot of folk, I think I even saw the phrase "no chance" associated with Galway on this forum. That won't mean much for either set of players at the end of the day. A far bigger factor will difference in the support levels, the Armagh bandwagon seems to be rolling again and Galway will be outnumbered as usual but maybe to an even greater extent this time around. Would be great to see a few of the fair weather fans come out of the woodwork for this provided they will go to shout on the team.
A big game for the Galway, we have a miserable record in Croke Park and Armagh are the toughest team from the draw today to get over that hump and into a semi-final, I wouldn't be of the view that we have no chance either though once we show up, need to put in a big championship performance above what we've seen to date in Connacht and see where that gets us.
The stakes are very high now, Derry, Clare, Armagh and ourselves all know that this is a golden opportunity to get to an All Ireland final, a heavy favourite will be waiting there in opposition but sure anything can happen on the day. The older Galway players like Walsh, Comer and Conroy will not get a better chance at a ticket to the big dance, the teams who have been there year in and year out are all on the other side of the draw.
Armagh are a formidable team but they haven't been within an asses roar of the final no more than ourselves either, this is an absolutely massive match and whoever gets the win will be in great shape for the semi-final. To quote Ger Lock, "real men wanted now".