By Charlie Collins
Donegal 1-07 v 0-06 Armagh
With both teams having won their opening two games in the Group B against Cavan and Fermanagh, the prize for another victory here was a place directly into the semi-finals as Group B winners.
The losers would qualify for a Quarter-Final spot against Monaghan , who finished in third place in Group A, so for both teams a win would be a much more desirable outcome.
In very windy conditions we had just four scores in the opening sixteen minutes, Luke McGlynn’s free and a excellent Karl Magee point from play for Donegal and a super long range effort plus a fisted effort, both by Pierce Blessing for Armagh to leave them level at two points apiece.
Shaun Ward converted a fine free and then a big moment with a Donegal goal when Oisín Caulfield played a super pass to Karl Joseph Molloy and the Ardara man hammered the ball past Rhys Stevens low to the net, 1-03 to 0-02 and the home team in a strong position.
However Armagh replied with the final two scores of the half, both fine points from play by Fergal O Brien and a third from Pierce Blessing to leave the half-time score 1-03 to 0-04 .
The strong wind was mainly blowing across the pitch but just helping the team playing towards the river end, so Donegal would have that slightly advantage in the second-half, but could they make it count.
Karl Joseph Molloy opened the second-half scoring from a mark and Donegal led by three as the rain arrived to make things even more difficult for the players. Ryan Duffy replied for Armagh and it was back to a two point game with fifteen minutes left.
Luke McGlynn converted two frees as did Brendan O Hagan for Armagh and with both teams kicking some bad wides it finished 1-06 to 0-07 and a semi-final spot secured.
Donegal: Damian McGowan, Callum McCrea, Finbarr Roarty, Karl Magee (0-01), Finn Coll, Oisin Caulfield, Sean Martin, Conor Reid, Shaun Ward (0-01f), Conor McGinty, Luke McGlynn (0-03f’s), Seanán Carr, Eoghan Kelly, Patrick McElwaine, K J Molloy (1-01). Subs used: Cian McMenamin and Daithi Gildea for Reid and Carr (both 48mins), Kevin Lynch for Molloy (58mins), Donal Gallagher and Adam McGeever for Ward and McGinty (60mins).
Armagh: Rhys Stevens, Emmet Magee, Gareth Murphy, Odhran Carragher, Fergal O’Brien (0-01), Brendan O’Hagan (0-02f), Callum O’Neill, Tadgh Grimley, Pierce Blessing (0-03), Padraig O’Keefe, Ruairi O’Brien, Ryan Duffy, Fergal Boylan, James Austin, Conal McGeough, Michael Burnett. Subs used: Aaron O’Neill for O Keffee (h/t), Conal McGeough for Austin (50mins), Cathal Agnew for O Brien (54mins) Referee: Diarmuid Boylan (Monaghan).
