ALL of a sudden it is getting very interesting and Lurgan want to avoid making it even more so as they prepare for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Armagh.
Lurgan sent shockwaves through Ulster hockey with the best result in their history under a fortnight ago when they beat mighty Pegasus 4-1.
But such has been the unpredictable nature of results so far this season they will be taking nothing for granted.
Indeed, it was Armagh who produced one of the shocks of the season before Christmas when they beat Lurgan in the Irish Senior Cup.
Now just five points separate the same number of teams in the top flight which is turning into the closest campaign for the past 15 years.
No longer have Pegasus the title wrapped up all but mathematically by January - with the one exception in 2011 when Ballymoney took the race to the wire and went on to win it.
Lurgan coach Gary Blythe has done a marvellous job so far in this his first season but all the hard work will be undone if they were to slip up against their near neighbours.
“It is a local derby so you just never know what might happen and there is no way we will be underestimating Armagh especially as they have beaten us already in the cup,” said Lurgan manager Darwin Murray.
That said Lurgan should have enough firepower to overcome Armagh especially with Lucy McKee in such fine form up front.
She has already 19 goals to her credit for her club and last weekend scored seven in helping Ulster win the U21 interprovincial title. That haul included five against South East in the game that decided the title in the hosts favour at Lisnagarvey.
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