GAA: Meath manager Mick O'Dowd in no hurry to name starting line-up ahead of Armagh clash

Meath manager Mick O’Dowd will leave naming his side to face Armagh until close to throw-in as the Royals aim for a first All-Ireland quarter-final in four years.

Throughout the summer, the Leinstermen have made available their team on the Friday preceding their tie, but O’Dowd now seems to have broken with that tradition ahead of Saturday's clash at Croke Park (17:00).

Armagh, meanwhile, return to headquarters hoping to carry their good qualifier form into a first All-Ireland quarter final since 2008.

The Orchard County have been impressive in seeing off both Roscommon and, perhaps more impressively, Tyrone since exiting Ulster.

'Us-versus-them'

Both sides come into this game with an 'us versus them' mentality as they seek a return to Croke Park next week.

Paul Grimley and his team are still smarting from the media reaction to June’s disgraceful brawl scenes prior to their Ulster quarter-final victory over Cavan.

Indeed, a media ban – sporadically broken – has been instigated by the Ulster set-up, yet the team spirit has been obvious in this championship campaign, despite their provincial semi-final replay defeat by Monaghan.

The Royals, on the other hand, have been hammered by the press following their Leinster final dismantling at the hands of a rampant Dublin side.

Having smashed 9-29 in two games prior to that, O’Dowd will undoubtedly know that his side now have something to prove.

Many commentators feel that Meath simply rolled over, but in Bernard Brogan they were facing one of the finest footballers of our generation in full flight.

In Jamie Clarke, Armagh have one of the most exciting forwards in the game and Grimley will be hopeful that his partnership with Crossmaglen clubmate Tom Kernan continues.

Yet defensively, the Orchard County have been particularly impressive this year, conceding only two goals in five outings.

Meath will look to Michael Newman to continue his outstanding Leinster form – the Kilmainham forward was one of few in green and gold to come out of that hammering by Dublin with any semblance of credit.

Wary

Last year’s All Star nominee also scored a hat-trick in his county’s pummelling of Carlow early this summer and Armagh will be wary of his threat.

Both teams will be hopeful that history will be on their sides as they open up a mouthwatering weekend of football at headquarters.

The sides have only clashed once in championship football before – Meath victors in a 1999 All-Ireland semi-final.

The significance of that year will not be lost on Royals supporters – their seventh, and last, All-Ireland win.

The Ulstermen, however, have only once made it through the back door system to an All-Ireland quarter-final in 2003.

That year, they were knocked out in an Ulster preliminary by Monaghan, before progressing all the way to a defeat by maiden victors Tyrone.

A victory for Meath would set up a quarter-final clash with Donegal, whilst an Armagh will face the Ulster champions should both they and Monaghan progress.

If Armagh and Kildare win both qualifiers, a draw will be made to determine the final two quarter-final ties. 

Watch Meath take on Armagh live on Sky Sports 3 from 4.00pm on Saturday.