By Charlie Collins
Armagh 1-09 v 0-12 Donegal
A missed penalty and the woodwork denied Donegal what would have been a great win against unbeaten Armagh, a result that means the teams remain locked at the top of the Division Two table with three rounds of matches to play.
Both teams came into this fixture with 100% records behind them, three out of three, so aware that a win would put them in a very strong position in relation to promotion back to Division One.
A defeat wouldn’t be the end of the world given both teams’ fixtures to come but games between Ulster rivals always have an certain edge about them and this one wasn’t expected to be any different.
Mark Curran came back into the Donegal starting line-up and Hugh McFadden started for the first time this year. It took seven minutes before the game’s first score, a fine effort from Peadar Mogan as both teams lost possession on a regular basis.
Michael Langan added a second Donegal point but Conor O Neill replied with Armagh’s first score. Paddy McBrearty got Donegal’s third from distance but O Neill replied quickly again and after sixteen minutes it was 0-03 to 0-02 to Donegal.
That didn’t last too long as Ciaran Mackin’s long ball was misjudged by Stephen McMenamin and Andrew Murrin blasted it to the net to put Armagh two points ahead. Aidan O Rourke kicked a super point, Oisín Gallen converted a Mark, but Rory Grugan and Oisín Conaty both kicked fine points from play to leave Armagh four points ahead, 1-05 to 0-04 after 26 minutes.
Paddy McBrearty’s free reduced the lead to three points from a close range free then to two with a super point from play after a long run from his own half and just before the half-time whistle his attempt for another point dropped short but was deflected into the hands of Ciaran Thompson who thought about a goal but blasted the ball over the bar to make it three in a row for Donegal and just a point between them at the break, 1-05 to 0-07 and still anyone’s game to win.
Paddy McBrearty’s early free had Donegal level and Oisín Gallen’s Mark had them ahead, then sub Shane O Donnell had a goalbound shot blocked as the game heated up, 1-05 to 0-10 to Donegal.
Armagh had failed to score in the opening fifteen minutes of the second-half and had made four changes before Joe McElroy and Rory Grugan points brought them level, 1-07 to 0-10 Donegal then had another great goal chance as Micheal Langan put Shane O Donnell through but his shot crashed off the woodwork to safety.
Andrew Murrin fisted the home team ahead but Oisín Gallen’s free had Donegal level again with ten minutes left, 1-08 to 0-11 points.
Then with six minutes left a penalty for Donegal when Micheal Langan was fouled but Oisín Gallen’s penalty was saved by Blaine Hughes, a huge moment in this cracking encounter. Rian O Neill put Armagh ahead but Shane O Donnell replied as the first minute of four in injury-time as the tension became unbearable for the 11,000 + crowd at Box-IT Athletic Grounds.
We had no more scores and it ended in a draw which was perhaps the fairest result but Donegal will rue those missed goal chances in the second-half. These two could see one another again in the Division Two Final in a number of weeks.
Armagh: Blaine Hughes, Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Peter McGrane, Greg McCabe, Aidan Forker (0-01), Ciarán Mackin, Connaire Mackin, Conor O Neill (0-02), Andrew Murrin (1-01), Rory Grugan (0-02), Joe McElroy (0-01), Cian McConville, Conor Turbitt, Oisin Conaty (0-01). Subs: (all 2nd half), Jason Duffy, Jarlath Og Burns, Rian O Neill (0-01), Stefan Campbell, Jemar Hall.
Donegal: Shaun Patton, Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Stephen McMenamin, Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Dáire ÓBaoill, Ciarán Thompson (0-01), Michael Langan (0-01), Peadar Mogan (0-01), Ciaran Moore, Odhran Doherty, Patrick McBrearty (0-04), Oisin Gallen (0-04), Hugh McFadden. Subs: (all 2nd half) Shane O Donnell (0-01), Jeaic MacCeallabhui, Jamie Brennan.
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).
