While this year's All-Ireland football final will be the first time that Galway and Armagh have ever met in the showpiece decider, Eamonn Fitzmaurice believes that game will have an edge because of the recent rivalry between the two sides.
Armagh secured their spot in the Croke Park showpiece with a thrilling extra-time victory over Fitzmaurice's Kerry while Galway produced a late surge in their semi-final to see off Donegal yesterday.
Those results mean that, for the first time in the All-Ireland’s 137 year history, it will be the Tribesmen and The Orchard County doing battle for Sam Maguire.
Both sides have recent history however and Fitzmaurice pointed to the 2022 quarter-final between the counties as being the spark that lit the fire of their rivalry.
Galway won that game on penalties after an absorbing encounter and Fitzmaurice is hoping for more of the same in the final.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, he said: "From a neutral perspective it's brilliant that it is a novel pairing and it's a real novel final with the fact that neither Dublin or Kerry are featuring this year.
"There is a real rivalry between Galway and Armagh from 2022. That quarter-final game was one of the best games we've seen in a long time. And there was a big row at the end of normal time, which kind of added to the occasion.
"Last year, Armagh won the game in Páirc Sean MacDiarmada by a point in the championship group stages. This year, there was a draw in that game.
"So, they have that real modern rivalry. There's nothing between the teams and I expect it to be the same in a fortnight’s time."
Fitzmaurice is well aware of just how much Armagh have improved in recent years and was impressed by what he saw from Kieran McGeeney’s side in their victory over his county.
"Of course, in Kerry, we are very disappointed," the five-time All-Ireland winner said. "Any time you lose an All-Ireland semi-final and you're so close to getting into the final, particularly a game that goes to extra time, it is very disappointing, but hats off to Armagh. They were outstanding, especially in the second half and an extra time.
"That hunger and that want and the momentum they've been building over the last couple of years was clear to see.
"Looking back over the championship this year, they were behind by two points against Sligo and Mayo going into the injury time of those games and Connacht and they managed to win them.
"Similarly, with the Dubs, they were behind going into the last 10 minutes. They won the game.
"They were level with five minutes to go yesterday, and they won a tight game coming down the stretch. So they've great stuff there and they've been building for the last couple of years. They have the experience of two years ago of being in the final as well.
"They showed that in the game deciding moments yesterday."
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