Amateur League boss 'not reading too much into' recent struggles of Irish League club ahead of cup showdown
Drumaness Mills manager Ciaran Brannigan is paying no attention to Armagh City’s recent struggles ahead of their Irish Cup fifth round showdown.
The Championship outfit have endured a tough time in recent weeks with Shea Campbell’s managerial departure followed by a host of players leaving Holm Park.
City have conceded 20 goals across their last two league matches, losing out 8-0 at home to Ards before leaking a whopping 12 against H&W Welders on Saturday.
With Campbell’s permanent successor still yet to be named, Armagh are attempting to rebuild and Brannigan believes they’ll view this weekend as the perfect opportunity.
“We were at the Welders on Saturday and a number of Armagh players were sitting around us...you could hear them saying 'he's definitely going to be there on Tuesday night' so one or two back will help them,” he said. “Stephen Teggart was sitting there, could he maybe be back for Saturday?
"If they get two or three players back around them, it will help. They're young and energetic, but they were playing against a very crisp Ards side who knocked the ball about well and the Welders are flying.
"A lot of people from the outside will be looking at that 20 conceded across two games, but I still think they could show their experience if they get a couple in.
"With how much they have been playing over Christmas, I watched their last three matches.
"I'm under no illusions, they were beaten 2-1 by a very good Loughgall team and the two games against Ards and Welders, the teams scored the first time they entered Armagh's box and that can knock the stuffing out of any team that isn't going well.
"I'm treating it that they're going to show up with the same mentality as against Loughgall and they're going to see us a chance to get back to winning ways. Conceding 20 in two matches, they weren't playing against Amateur League teams, so I'm not reading too much into it."
Drumaness have endured an emotional rollercoaster on route to reaching the Irish Cup’s last-32, coming through a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Desertmartin before beating Fivemiletown United 6-4.
They’ve already claimed an Irish League scalp, progressing past Newry City in the previous round, and Brannigan insists his stars can play with freedom.
"It's always a free hit for us as an Amateur League team,” he added. “The fifth round is territory which a lot of teams don't get to.
"Even going down to Windsor Park for the draw, it could have been the first time a lot of our boys have been around it. They were all enjoying that and it's positive for us as a club to get this far."