A FIVE-POINT victory over Dublin, a successful return to Croke Park, and the comfort of an All-Ireland quarter-final spot nailed down with a round of group games still to play.
It all added up to a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon’s work for Armagh, Kieran McGeeney’s side powering on to triumph impressively.
They are now guaranteed to top the group, a strong response to their Ulster final loss to Donegal, while Dublin must get something out of their last outing against Derry.
Dublin were excellent early on. Niall Scully pumped foot passes into their forward line where Cormac Costello and Paddy Small, drafted in late before the start, both shone. In the opening 11 minutes, Dublin registered six points with Costello grabbing three from play and Small kicking over a brace.
It helped establish Dublin’s dominance, in front 0-6 to 0-3 after the opening quarter as they attacked the Hill 16 goal. The home support was in full voice but the terms of the match changed in the second quarter. Armagh’s revival was kick-started by a Rory Grugan two-pointer from play on the 17th minute mark, Oisin Conaty spying him in space and despatching a crossfield pass in his direction.
Paddy Small in action for Dublin against Armagh. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Dublin were still in front 0-8 to 0-6 by the 22nd minute, but they were soon pinned back on their own kickout as Armagh got their hands on a series of Stephen Cluxton restarts. Five scores flowed on the bounce with Ross McQuillan, Conor Turbitt and Conaty registering points in a tidy fashion, while Grugan from a free and Rian O’Neill from play floated over majestic kicks to yield two-pointers.
Costello’s free proved the last score of the half as Dublin retreated with a 0-13 to 0-9 deficit, a situation that could have worsened but for Cluxton’s interventions. He blocked a low Conaty strike out for a ’45 and stood tall to beat away another shot from Andrew Murnin, as Armagh chased a goal.
The second half saw Armagh keep Dublin at arm’s length on the scoreboard. Rian O’Neill knocked over a wonderful two-point shot for the opening score after the break, and Dublin could only get within five points of McGeeney’s side throughout the half.
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Their hopes were compromised by poor shooting as they chalked up 17 wides in total over the course of the game. Facing that deficit saw Dublin force the issue as they attempted two-point kicks, while they also got penalised on three occasions early in the second half for not having the correct number of players in either half of the pitch.
Rory Grugan, acclaimed as man-of-the-match afterwards, snapped over three pointed frees to punish Dublin for those errors.
Costello and Seán Bugler contributed two-pointers to give Dublin some life entering the final quarter, trailing 0-20 to 0-15, but Armagh closed out the game efficiently with substitutes Stefan Campbell and Joe McElroy both getting in on the scoring act.
Dublin’s Niall Scully with Jason Duffy and Darragh McMullan of Armagh. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
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Armagh impress in victory over Dublin to ensure top group spot
Armagh 0-5-14 (24)
Dublin 0-3-13 (19)
A FIVE-POINT victory over Dublin, a successful return to Croke Park, and the comfort of an All-Ireland quarter-final spot nailed down with a round of group games still to play.
It all added up to a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon’s work for Armagh, Kieran McGeeney’s side powering on to triumph impressively.
They are now guaranteed to top the group, a strong response to their Ulster final loss to Donegal, while Dublin must get something out of their last outing against Derry.
Dublin were excellent early on. Niall Scully pumped foot passes into their forward line where Cormac Costello and Paddy Small, drafted in late before the start, both shone. In the opening 11 minutes, Dublin registered six points with Costello grabbing three from play and Small kicking over a brace.
It helped establish Dublin’s dominance, in front 0-6 to 0-3 after the opening quarter as they attacked the Hill 16 goal. The home support was in full voice but the terms of the match changed in the second quarter. Armagh’s revival was kick-started by a Rory Grugan two-pointer from play on the 17th minute mark, Oisin Conaty spying him in space and despatching a crossfield pass in his direction.
Dublin were still in front 0-8 to 0-6 by the 22nd minute, but they were soon pinned back on their own kickout as Armagh got their hands on a series of Stephen Cluxton restarts. Five scores flowed on the bounce with Ross McQuillan, Conor Turbitt and Conaty registering points in a tidy fashion, while Grugan from a free and Rian O’Neill from play floated over majestic kicks to yield two-pointers.
Costello’s free proved the last score of the half as Dublin retreated with a 0-13 to 0-9 deficit, a situation that could have worsened but for Cluxton’s interventions. He blocked a low Conaty strike out for a ’45 and stood tall to beat away another shot from Andrew Murnin, as Armagh chased a goal.
The second half saw Armagh keep Dublin at arm’s length on the scoreboard. Rian O’Neill knocked over a wonderful two-point shot for the opening score after the break, and Dublin could only get within five points of McGeeney’s side throughout the half.
Their hopes were compromised by poor shooting as they chalked up 17 wides in total over the course of the game. Facing that deficit saw Dublin force the issue as they attempted two-point kicks, while they also got penalised on three occasions early in the second half for not having the correct number of players in either half of the pitch.
Rory Grugan, acclaimed as man-of-the-match afterwards, snapped over three pointed frees to punish Dublin for those errors.
Costello and Seán Bugler contributed two-pointers to give Dublin some life entering the final quarter, trailing 0-20 to 0-15, but Armagh closed out the game efficiently with substitutes Stefan Campbell and Joe McElroy both getting in on the scoring act.
Scorers for Armagh: Rory Grugan 0-8 (0-4f, 1 2pt play, 1 2pt free), Rian O’Neill 0-6 (2 2pt pplay, 1 2pt free), Oisín Conaty 0-2, Jarly Óg Burns 0-2, Ross McQuillan 0-1, Ethan Rafferty 0-1, Darragh McMullan 0-1, Conor Turbitt 0-1, Joe McElroy 0-1, Stefan Campbell 0-1.
Scorers for Dublin: Cormac Costello 0-8 (0-3f, 1 2pt play), Paddy Small 0-4 (1 2pt play), Seán Bugler 0-3 (1 2pt play), Lee Gannon 0-2, Brian Howard 0-1, Lorcan O’Dell 0-1.
Armagh
1. Ethan Rafferty (Grange)
2. Paddy Burns (Burren), 3. Barry McCambridge (Clann Eireann), 4. Peter McGrane (Ballyhegan)
5. Ross McQuillan (Cullyhanna), 6. Tiernan Kelly (Clann Éireann), 7. Jarly Óg Burns (Silverbridge)
8. Jason Duffy (Cullyhanna), 9. Ben Crealey (Maghery)
10. Darragh McMullen (Madden), 12. Oisin Conaty (Tir na nÓg), 14. Andrew Murnin (St Paul’s), 1
11. Rory Grugan (Ballymacnab), 13. Rian O’Neill (Crossmaglen Rangers), 15. Conor Turbitt (Clann Éireann)
Subs
Dublin
1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)
4. Sean McMahon (Raheny), 3. Theo Clancy (Kilmacud Crokes), 5. Alex Gavin (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
2. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf), 6. Brian Howard (Raheny), 24. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge-Street)
8. Peader ÓCofaigh-Byrne (Cuala), 10. Ciarán Kilkenny (Castleknock),
9. Killian McGinnis (Skerries Harps), 12. Sean Bugler (St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh), 15. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
11. Lorcan O’Dell (Templeogue Synge St), 26. Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams), 14. Cormac Costello (Whitehall)
Subs
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
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