Armagh are 2 for 2 from Derry kick-out's, this time they win it and burrow through the middle before Andrew Murnin taps over.

Conor Glass fouls Oisin O'Neill and Rory Grugan taps over the close range free.

Conor Glass with the first score of the game after some neat setup from Shane McGuigan.

Brendan Rogers has the first shot in anger from Derry but it tails to the left and wide.

Armagh win the first Derry kick-out and attack but Diarmuid Baker does well to fend off Rory Grugan and Ben McKinless in the Derry goal claims the ball.

First wide of the day for Armagh and it's from the boot of Darragh McMullan.

Two goals in the opening six minutes of the game in Newbridge.

First, Stephen O'Hanlon gets the better of Niall McDonnell to put the Farney men in the lead.

Then, Sam Mulroy makes the most of Tommy Durnin's pass to respond for the Leinster champions.

Mulroy and O'Hanlon have both added points to their goals since, while Rory Beggan has come forward to knock over a two-pointer as well.

Image source, Getty Images

Referee Sean Hurson throws the ball in and Anton Tohill and Ben Crealey contest the throw-in.

Paddy Tally brings his Derry side back into battle after their Ulster preliminary round defeat to Donegal at Ballybofey almost six weeks ago.

The 11 subs he has named today do not come with a lot of experience with the 8 of those still awaiting their championship debut with Ben McCarron, Cahir McMonagle and Dan Higgins the exceptions.

Amongst that cohort there is also just one championship start and that was Dan Higgins the last day out against Donegal while McMonagle came off the bench to make his maiden championship bow.

That is in stark contrast to the arsenal that Kieran McGeeney has on his bench options such as Callum O'Neill and Greg McCabe who started the Ulster final defeat to Donegal a fortnight ago.

Amongst the rest of that pack there is the 2024 all-star forward Conor Turbitt and perennial super-sub Stefan Campbell.

In the modern game, the impact from the bench has grown in importance, could that tip the scales in the All-Ireland champions favour today?

Former Derry captain Chrissy McKaigue says the Oak Leafers are flying "under the radar" ahead of Saturday's All-Ireland round-robin opener against Sam Maguire holders Armagh at the Athletic Grounds.

One late change to the Derry team as Anton Tohill makes his first championship start taking the place of Niall Loughlin.

Armagh will start as selected and after that late amendment to the Orchard squad it means that Rian O'Neill will be in from the start.

That announcement was greeted with huge cheers from the Armagh sections of the near capacity crowd.

All Star Rian O'Neill is a late inclusion in Armagh's panel to face Derry in their All-Ireland series opener at the Athletic Grounds.

The GAA have confirmed that they have approved a late panel change request from Armagh with O'Neill coming in to take the place of captain Aidan Forker.

The Crossmaglen forward, a key part of the Orchard County which lifted the Sam Maguire last year, has yet to feature this season after stepping away from the squad for personal reasons.

Manager Kieran McGeeney said in March that he did not expect O'Neill to feature in 2025 but he was togged out with the team before their Ulster Final defeat to Donegal in Clones two weeks ago.

The hosts' side shows three changes from that extra-time defeat in the provincial decider with Peter McGrane and Jason Duffy coming into the starting panel, the latter named in midfield.

Callum O'Neill and Greg McCabe drop to an experienced bench that also features the likes of Stefan Campbell and Conor Turbitt.

Derry are in championship action for the first time since their 1-25 to 1-15 Ulster preliminary round defeat to Donegal on 6 April.

With Odhran Lynch still missing, Ben McKinless gets the start in goals after being on the bench that day in Ballybofey.

Ruairi Forbes, Conor Doherty and Niall Loughlin also come into the side.

Derry must again do without All Stars Gareth McKinless and Conor McCluskey, although Anton Tohill returns on the bench.

Armagh: Ethan Rafferty; Paddy Burns, Barry McCambridge, Peter McGrane; Ross McQuillan, Rian O'Neill, Jarly Og Burns; Jason Duffy, Ben Crealey; Darragh McMullan, Rory Grugan, Oisin Conaty; Tiernan Kelly, Andrew Murnin, Oisin O'Neill.

Subs: Blaine Hughes, Tomas McCormack, Greg McCabe, Connaire Mackin, Cian McConville, Joe McElroy, Niall Grimley, Callum O'Neill, Stefan Campbell, Conor Turbitt, Shane McPartlan.

Derry: Ben McKinless; Patrick McGurk, Eoin McEvoy, Diarmuid Baker; Ruairi Forbes, Brendan Rogers, Padraig McGrogan; Conor Glass, Conor Doherty; Ciaran McFaul, Paul Cassidy, Ethan Doherty; Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan, Niall Toner.

Subs: Louis Regan, Ryan Mulholland, Dan Higgins, Kevin Quinn, Anton Tohill, Tommy Rogers, Ben McCarron, Charlie Diamond, Cahir McMonagle, Caolan Devlin, Danny McDermot.

It's proper championship now with the All-Ireland round-robin rising another decibel today.

At the Athletic Grounds - the All-Ireland champions look to bounce back from their Ulster final defeat to Donegal against a Derry side who are yet to win this year.

Later in Ballybofey it's the Ulster champions Donegal who take on Tyrone still smarting from their Ulster semi defeat to Armagh.

Jim McGuinness is hoping to maintain his unbeaten record at MacCumhaill Park in league and championship.

Elsewhere, Leinster champions Louth face Monaghan in Newbridge.

Strap yourselves, there's no holding back now...

Image source, Inpho