Clann Éireann boss Ruairi Lavery opens up on the brillance of Conor Turbitt and finding their feet under new rules 

Clann Éireann were forced to dig deep to see off Killeavy and face Madden in the last four as they bid to retain the Armagh SFC

While the overwhelming majority of those who follow Gaelic Football have embraced the new rules in a positive way, spare a thought for those who who had cracked the code under the old ones.

Clann Éireann have won four Armagh Senior football titles, two of which have came in the last four seasons. They are the defending champions and pushed eventual Ulster club winners Errigal Ciaran all the way in a gripping provincial semi-final last season.

While he agrees the new rules have led to a better spectacle, Ruairi Lavery admits it took his side some time to find their feet this season.

“It’s taken a while to get used to, I have to say,” stated Lavery.

“It has changed. Probably I wasn’t overly happy at the start because I felt last year we had really gotten into our stride in terms of how to play to the best of our strengths under the old rules. So it did take a wee while to get used to.

“I have to accept that it has made the game more exciting, etc. There’s no arguments that way, but it’s just taken a while to get used to.”

After breezing through the group stages unscathed, the Lurgan outfit were put to the pin of their collar by Steven McDonnell’s Killeavy.

A 0-12 haul from Armagh star Conor Turbitt helped quell a Killeavy comeback in the second half – although Lavery was grateful for a stern test ahead of their forthcoming semi-final battle with Madden.

Obviously, quarter-final, it’s always going to be a tough game.

Killeavy are a great team, they’ve done brilliantly this year, they’ve adapted really well to the new rules. I think the new rules certainly suits the way Stevie sees the game, certainly the way he played the game. We knew coming in here that it was going to be a serious, serious battle.

“That’s the way it turned out and probably the first one that we’ve had this year. I think the group stages, we sort of came through them without really being under any pressure, or anything like it, so we’ll take a lot from that game.”

On Turbitt’s performance, he added: “Big players step up in big moments, and it’s not the first time he’s done it for Clann Éireann or Armagh, and it’ll not be the last time either.”