Donegal 0-21 (0-0-21) Armagh 1-10 (1-3-4)
Michael Murphy returned to a thunderous reception in Ballybofey as Donegal defeated Armagh by eight points in the Allianz Football League Division 1 Round 3.
The 2012 All-Ireland winning captain’s arrival off the bench in the second half saw the noise inside Sean MacCumhaill Park hit red on the decibel counter.
Armagh captain Aidan Forker saw red, too. Within 10 seconds of Murphy’s arrival, Forker, rather needlessly, connected with his head to the Glenswilly man’s chest and referee Sean Hurson flashed red.
Donegal were three in front, 0-13 to 1-7, when Murphy was introduced. It’s 981 days since his last outing in the green and gold.
A heavy 3-17 to 0-16 All-Ireland qualifier defeat at the hands of Armagh in June, 2022, seemed to spell the end of Murphy in a Donegal shirt.
But, coaxed back by Jim McGuinness in the winter, Murphy, on his 178th appearance for Donegal, riffled over two points as they preserved Jim McGuinness’s excellent record at MacCumhaill Park; under the Glenties man, Donegal are unbeaten now in 15 League and Championship outings.
Donegal’s Mark Curran gets his pass away under pressure during Sunday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
A crowd of 13,109 poured into Sean MacCumhaill Park where even the lesser-used River End turnstiles clicked into action for the arrival of the All-Ireland champions.
Donegal were momentarily rocked when Armagh broke for a goal in the eighth minute.
Tomas McCormack offloaded for McMullan, who riffled brilliantly past Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton to the top corner of the Town End net.
Donegal’s response was swift and the home side took control.
A brace from captain Patrick McBrearty, restored to the starting XV after a fine showing off the bench in Kerry, brought them level before Jamie Brennan curled Donegal ahead in the 16th minute.
Donegal’s Patrick McBrearty breaks for goal during Sunday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
With Donegal now in a groove, McBrearty, who was included here along with Jamie Brennan in the attack, added another.
On the basis of recent meetings, it mightn’t have been surprising to find Jim McGuinness and Kieran McGeeney engaged in a Rock, Paper, Scissors quest in Ballybofey.
There was little to nothing between them in their last three fixtures.
The 2024 Ulster final needed a penalty shoot-out before Donegal were crowned champions, Even then, it took sudden death, when Patton saved from Shane McPartlan, for a winner to be found.
A regular league meeting last year ended in stalemate before Donegal edged the Division 2 final by a point – a game that was legvel 10 times.
Here, after McMullan’s goal, Armagh didn’t score again until the 35th minute when Jason Duffy, finally, stemmed a flow that was, by now, gushing.
In between times, Donegal reeled off 10 points, including a delicious effort off the boot of Conor O’Donnell and a Ryan McHugh brace.
A close-range Oisin Gallen free had Donegal seven in front, but Duffy ended a barren 27-minute wait for an Armagh score to leave Donegal 0-12 to 1-3 ahead at the interval.
Donegal’s Oisín Gallen on a first half attack during Sunday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
Armagh lost to Galway in their first outing of the year before beating Tyrone, by 1-23 to 0-19, last time out.
Midfielder Ben Crealey landed the afternoon’s first two-pointer early in the second half before visiting goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty repelled shots by Brennan and Gallen within seconds of each other to keep his sheet clean.
A second two-pointer, this time by Andrew Murning, put a significant dent in the Donegal lead.
With Murphy zipping off the tracksuit, McBrearty opened Donegal’s second-half account.
Forker’s dismissal and Murphy’s arrival, all at once, pushed the chips into Donegal’s hands.
Niall O’Donnell also came on for his first appearance of 2025 and Donegal made the most of the numerical advantage.
Man of the Match McBrearty took his tally to six while Ciaran Thompson and Odhran Doherty were also on the scoresheet as Donegal made it three wins from three.
Scorers for Donegal: Patrick McBrearty 0-6 (1f), Michael Murphy 0-3 (1f), Conor O’Donnell 0-2, Jamie Brennan 0-2, Oisin Gallen 0-2 (1f), Ryan McHugh 0-2, Ciaran Thompson 0-2, Peadar Mogan 0-1, Odhran Doherty 0-1.
Scorers for Armagh: Darragh McMullan 1-1, Ethan Rafferty 0-3 (1 2pt, 1 ’45), Andrew Murnin 0-2 (1 2pt), Ben Crealey 0-2 (1 2pt), Jason Duffy, Cian McConville 0-1.
DONEGAL: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Mark Curran, Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Caolan McGonagle, Ciaran Thompson; Shane O’Donnell, Conor O’Donnell, Ciaran Moore; Patrick McBrearty, Oisin Gallen, Jamie Brennan.
Subs: Daire O Baoill for Roarty (half-time), Michael Murphy for Brennan (44), Niall O’Donnell for Gallen (55), Eoin McHugh for S.ODonnell (59), Odhran Doherty for C.O’Donnell (61).
ARMAGH: Ethan Rafferty; Tomas McCormack, Barry McCambridge, Aidan Forker; Gareth Murphy, Greg McCabe, Ross McQuillan; Ben Crealey, Niall Grimley; Jason Duffy, Darragh McMullan, Jemar Hall; Conor Turbitt, Andrew Murnin, Oisin Conaty.
Subs: Stefan Campbell for Hall (31), Jarly Og Burns for Murphy (half-time), Cian McConville for McQuillan (53), Callum O’Neill for Turbitt (62).
REFEREE: Sean Hurson (Tyrone)
