ARMAGH defender Barry McCambridge has certainly been hitting the high spots during his team’s surge into the All-Ireland Final in which they will meet Galway on Sunday week.
The Lurgan Clann Eireann player has underlined his immense talents of late to such an extent that manager Kieran McGeeney is confident that he can grace football’s biggest occasion in style.
McCambridge scored Armagh’s first goal in their 2-12 to 0-12 All-Ireland Quarter-Final win over Roscommon before plundering their only goal of the game in their stunning 1-18 to 1-16 Semi-Final victory over Kerry.
And while extending his scoring impact in the latter game, he also undertook a diligent man-marking job on Kerry’s golden boy David Clifford, who he restricted to just one point from open play.
While ostensibly operating at wing-back, McCambridge has been covering acres of ground as he continues to link defence and attack.
Armagh’s Barry McCambridge scores his side’s goal in the All-Ireland Semi-Final win over Kerry
“I like to get forward if I can and help our attack,” maintains McCambridge.
“We have been creating more scoring chances lately, but it’s very important that we make the most of these.
“We know Galway have plenty of firepower up front in the likes of Shane Walsh and Damien Comer, but we are up for the challenge.”
His goals proved crucial against Roscommon and Kerry and provided a platform from which Armagh were able to close out the games successfully.
“We know what it is like to lose on penalty shoot-outs, and we are only too happy that we avoided this,” insists McCambridge.
“The heat is always on in the closing stages of the All-Ireland series and if you can avoid the huge added pressure of penalty shoot-outs, then all the better.”
He may well be tasked with marking either Walsh or Comer in the All-Ireland Final, with manager McGeeney particularly keen that his team’s defensive mechanism will be in top gear.
“They are two very dangerous forwards who can land scores from all angles and distances, and we have to be ready for the big threat that they will pose,” insists McCambridge.
And while McCambridge will bid to net another slice of success by maintaining his golden form, Blaine Hughes will be doing quite the opposite as he prepares to keep yet another clean sheet in his role between the posts.
Armagh duo Barry McCambridge (right) and Rian O’Neill embrace following their victory over Kerry
Hughes was handed the No.1 jersey when Ethan Rafferty sustained a severe leg injury last year, from which he has only just recovered. Indeed, while Armagh were booking their place in the All-Ireland Final, Grange clubman Rafferty was winning an All-Ireland road bowls title in Cork.
But he will be very much behind the Orchard County side on Sunday week as they bid to lift the Sam Maguire Cup for a second time.
And for his part, Hughes is hoping to repeat the consistency he has shown since having been given a vote of confidence by manager McGeeney.
“I have been very fortunate so far in that we have managed to restrict opponents in terms of scoring goals, but we are taking nothing for granted,” says Hughes. “When you look at the way Galway have accounted for both Dublin and Donegal, you just know they will prove to be very difficult opponents.”
It was during the Allianz League that Hughes underlined his agility, and it was no surprise Armagh regained their place in Division One.
Now, they have an opportunity to win a second All-Ireland crown, and Hughes would enthusiastically embrace such a feat.
“It would be brilliant to come good against Galway,” he adds.