FT: Armagh 0-13 Donegal 0-10
Donegal will rue missed chances this evening after their defeat by The Orchard County in The Athletic Grounds.
Before this game, both teams had only managed to collect three points from their opening four games and only Tyrone in the bottom spot were below them in table. That meant that with only two games remaining after this one, a win here could prove to be vital in terms of survival in Division One, whereas a defeat would put the losers under a lot of pressure.
Armagh made a couple of changes to their starting line-up from that which started against Kerry with Joe McElroy and Conor Turbot coming in, while Donegal also made two from the draw with Galway, Caolan Ward returning and Peadar Mogan starting for the first time after two substitute appearances, with Ciaran Thompson and Kane Barrett included on bench.
Donegal dominated the early possession and after several fruitless attacks Shaun Patton converted a 45, but his opposite number Ethan Rafferty immediately replied from a close-in free.
Donegal’s Caolan McGonagle looks for options during Saturday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
After Donegal had lost possession several times Aidan Forker made them pay with a super long range point in the 11th minute. Five minutes later Armagh added a third from Andrew Murrin from a mark and then Rian O Neill converted a free and Armagh were three ahead, 0-04 to 0-01.
O Neill was then booked for a nasty hit on Brendan McCole as the full-back bent to pick up the ball. Conor O Donnell kicked a super point for Donegal but Stefan Campbell quickly added Armagh’s fifth point to leave three in it again, with Donegal kicking four wides and dropping four balls short as well.
Rian O Neill added another free as Armagh began to look very dangerous coming forward at pace. They added one more point before half-time, Andrew Murrin’s second as he fisted Ethan Rafferty’s free which dropped short over the bar.
Hugh McFadden opened the second-half scoring, fetching a high ball and converting the mark won in the 39th minute and a minute later McFadden won a hop-ball, was fouled and Oisín Gallen pointed the free to leave two in it.
Donegal’s Oisin Gallen lines up a shot at goal during Saturday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
Rian O Neill and Shaun Patton exchanged frees and then after an excellent move, Hugh McFadden tapped over an impressive point to just one in it.
Armagh responded to this challenge with three points in a row, Andrew Murrin got his third, Rory Grugan and Rian O Neill converted frees to leave four in it and Armagh in control it seemed.
But back came Donegal with three points in a row, Ciaran Thompson, Jamie Brennan and Jason McGee and there was one in it again.
Donegal’s Mark Curran breaks out of defence during Saturday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
However, Armagh again responded and scored the last two points of the game from O Neill and Jarlath Og Burns to win by three despite an excellent fightback by Donegal in a much better second-half display.
Donegal’s last two games are at home to Mayo and away to Roscommon and after this defeat, it looks like they will need to win both to have any chance of retaining their Division One status.
Armagh: Ethan Rafferty (0-02f’s), Barry McCambridge, Aidan Forker (0-01), Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Greg McCabe, Joe McElroy, Ciaran Mackin, Jarlath Og Burns (0-01), Jason Duffy, Callum Cumiskey, Stefan Campbell (0-01), Rian O Neill ( 0-05/4f’s/45), Andrew Murrin ( 0-03), Conor Turbot.
Subs: Tiernan Kelly for Duffy ( 57mins), Rory Grugan for Turbot ( 59mins), Ross McQuillan for Campbell ( 60mins).
DONEGAL: Shaun Patton (0-02f ), Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Caolan Ward, Caolan McColgan, Stephen McMenamin, Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Caolan McGonagle, Jason McGee (0-01), Michael Langan, Daire Ó Baoill, Conor O’Donnell (0-01), Peadar Mogan, Oisin Gallen ( 0-02f’s), Jamie Brennan (0-01).
Subs: Hugh McFadden (0-02 ) for Ward ( 34mins), Ciaran Thompson (0-01), for McColgan ( 49mins), Rory O Donnell for Gallen ( 60mins), Jack McKelvey for Gallagher (61mins).
Referee ; Jerome Henry ( Mayo ).
