Armagh captain Steven McDonnell is heading into this year's championship with high expectations, writes GAVIN CUMMISKEY

ONCE THE shoulder rubbing introductions settle and the scores start flying over at Celtic Park on Sunday, Paddy Bradley and Stevie McDonnell will begin to dominate. It is a simplistic view but, ultimately, the influence of either Derry or Armagh’s marquee forwards should edge this opening Ulster championship battle.

McDonnell proved during the business end of April’s National Football League Division Two campaign that he can lead the Armagh line to devastating effect with or without the physical presence of Ronan Clarke, who is unlikely to feature due to an Achilles’ tendon injury. In contrast, Bradley should have younger brother Eoin and old foil Enda Muldoon to assist him.

“The two Bradleys are very good players, especially if they hit form early in the match, they will be very difficult to watch,” said McDonnell, in Dublin yesterday to collect the Opel/GPA Footballer of the League award.

“It’s not only the Bradleys though, if we focus too much on them they have Enda Muldoon, Fergal Doherty and Mark Lynch to cause problems. They have quality players all over the pitch. And while teams have marquee forwards, and the Bradleys are certainly Derry’s, we’ll be focusing on other players as well.”

Derry are primed to cause an upset after a poor league campaign in contrast to Armagh’s excellence in returning to Division One. Also, the hosts have not lost a championship game at Celtic Park since they were dethroned as All-Ireland champions by Down in 1994.

“Form will certainly go out the window on Sunday because you can’t look at what Derry have done in the National League this year,” McDonnell says.

“They have been gearing themselves towards this match and have been for a long time and we know that if we are going to get the win on Sunday it will be well earned.

“Derry will be looking to take us off our high horse, without a doubt.”

McDonnell is one of a rare breed of modern sportsmen who has no interest in littering his media dealings with the stock cliches.

“I have won seven Ulster titles (but) I have never won any as captain so I’d love to have the honour of lifting the Anglo-Celt as captain of Armagh.”

What about winning the All-Ireland, like you did in 2002, or more importantly getting that mentality across to the younger players?

“The senior players do believe we are good enough to win an All-Ireland, you have to believe that at the start of every year. Certainly the younger boys have had the disappointment of losing championship matches but they seem a bit hungrier this year.”

Get out of the long grass of Derry and the road opens up again. Different companions in the Armagh jersey but the same road.

- Galway hurler Ger Farragher was named the Opel/GPA hurler of the national league award.