Nicky Rackard Cup at Box-It Athletic Grounds
Armagh 1-16 v 3-20 Donegal
After wins in their opening games last weekend, Armagh away to Roscommon and Donegal at home to Fermanagh, this was a key game for both teams as another victory would put them in a very strong position with three more round of games to come in what’s a hectic schedule of fixtures.
Both teams had good league campaigns, Armagh in Division 3A and Donegal in Division 2B, losing out to Meath in the league final.
Fionntan Donnelly scored two points in the opening two minutes for Armagh but Liam McKinney replied with three quick-fire points for Donegal in a hectic start to the game.
Cormac Jennings and Ruairi Campbell exchanged points and a big boost for Donegal as McKinney’s long range free was deflected to the net by an Armagh defender, 1-04 to 0-03 to Donegal.
Donnelly pointed another free for the home team but Declan Coulter, McKinney and Luke White, points put Donegal six ahead, 1-07 to 0-04.
Donegal suffered a big blow at this stage when the excellent Danny Cullen was injured and had to be replaced.
Fionntan Donnelly converted a free and a 65 to make it a four point game but Micheal Donaghue burst forward to score and then got involved again quickly to help LiamMcKinney add another, his fifth, 1-09 to 0-06 to Donegal
Back came Armagh with points from Connor Renaghan and a sixth point from Fionntan Donnelly but Liam McKinney had the final say of the half with his sixth point to leave the half-time score 1-10 to 0-08 in favour of Mickey McCann’s Donegal.
Liam McKinney starting the second half as he had the first with three points in a row and Donegal led by double scores, 1-13 to 0-08. Ronan McDermott then kicked a point under pressure from three defenders but a mistake in midfield by Donegal allowed Cormac Jennings race through and he set up Tomas Galvin to hammer home a goal, 1-14 to 1-08 and a boost for Armagh. It was a game of score for score after that for along time. Fionntan Donnelly kept Armagh ticking over while Liam McKinney and Declan Coulter did likewise for Donegal, McKinney finished with 1- 11, an outstanding performance.
Two late goals by sub Gerry Gilmore and Conor Gartland put the icing on this super win for Donegal who head to Roscommon next week.
Donegal: Luke White (0-01f), Stephen McBride, Michael Donaghue ( 0-01), Padraig Doherty, Stephen Gillespie, Jack O Loughlin, Christopher McDermott, Danny Cullen, Brian McIntyre, Declan Coulter ( 0-04), Liam McKinney ( 1 -11), Ronan McDermott (0-01), Conor Gartland (1-00),, Daire O Maoileidigh, Ruairi Campbell ( 0-01),.
Subs ; Bernard Lafferty for Cullen ( 18mins), Gerry Gilmore (1-01), for McIntyre (h/t), Gavin Browne for Chris McDermott (53mins), Conor O Grady for O Maoileidigh (66mins), Sean Ward for Campbell (68mins)
Armagh: Connor McAnallen, Stefan McParland, Oisin O Hare, Odhran McCann, Paudie Lappin, Tiarnan Nevin, Odhran Curry, Peadar McBride, Barry Short, Tomas Galvin (1-00),, Connor Renaghan ( 0-01 ), Cormac Jennings (0-02), Tam McKavanagh, Eoin McGuinness, Fionntan Donnelly ( 0-011).
Subs: Niall Lennon and Shea Harvey (0-01), for O Hare and McBride (50mins), Danny Magee for McKavanagh (58mins), Nathan Curry for McGuinness (60mins ), Paddy Garvey for Odhran Curry (
Referee ; Matthew Farrell ( Roscommon).
