Kilpatrick calls for fans to support Tyrone in Ulster clash with Armagh

Tyrone midfielder Conn Kilpatrick scored a 62nd minute goal against Cavan in Sunday's Ulster Championship match in Healy Park.
Conn Kilpatrick scored the only goal of the game for Tyrone against Cavan [Getty Images]

Fans of Antrim and Cavan would not agree, but an Armagh v Tyrone Ulster semi-final was the fixture most people were hoping to see when the provincial draws were made for 2025.

As All-Ireland champions, Armagh are the standard-bearers in inter-county football yet luck has not been on their side in recent Ulster Championship campaigns and an Anglo Celt is a glaring omission from these players' growing list of achievements.

Donegal are among the teams on the other side of the draw, but for these bitter rivals and neighbours it's all about themselves and each other for the next two weeks leading up to Saturday 26 April.

It's 20 years since this rivalry was at its height. Who could forget those epic games of the noughties played out in front of packed houses in Clones and Croke Park?

And while Armagh are the team enjoying a massive support these days, Tyrone's support is modest in comparison.

Another sparse attendance greeted them as they ran out at Healy Park for Sunday's Ulster Championship victory over Cavan with just 6,791 turning up, and goalscorer Conn Kilpatrick admits they'd love to see bigger crowds getting behind them.

Tyrone midfielder Conn Kilpatrick tries to keep the play alive during Tyrone's clash with Cavan in Healy Park
Conn Kilpatrick desperately tries to keep the ball in play during Tyrone's Ulster Championship win over Cavan in Omagh [Getty Images]

"I suppose in the last few years the performances have maybe warranted that (poor attendances)," said Kilpatrick.

"But any day you get a big crowd, and that is what we're pushing for and why we do these interviews - to get the crowd out - it's a big lift to the players."

Tyrone are the last team to beat Armagh in 70 minutes of championship football.

That was back in 2023 in the round robin stages of the All-Ireland series, in Omagh.

Since then they have been on different paths, with Armagh contesting Ulster finals and those bittersweet defeats on penalties by Derry and Donegal merely served to fuel their hunger further.

Ultimately it led to All-Ireland glory last summer.

Tyrone are starting from a lower base and despite an unlucky relegation from Division One, they are building for a future under new manager Malachy O'Rourke.

Sunday's 1-24 to 0-20 win over Cavan was far from perfect, with defensive frailties and at times wastefulness in attack mixed at times with good transitional moments and shot selection.

The Red Hands know they will need a better performance against Armagh, while they will hope that their talisman Darragh Canavan is fit for the last four after he was a late change to the side that faced Cavan thanks to a hamstring problem.

"We put two or three decent performances together at the end of the league to prove that we're rallying, and it's a big plus when the supporters come out and get behind us," said Kilpatrick.

"I know it's easy to sit in the house and watch it on TV and not everyone can get to the games but as players we'd have loved it to be 90 per cent Tyrone fans here today and 10 per cent Cavan.

"But ...

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