BY THE END of the game, with virtually no Down support left in St Tiernach’s Park, the press box got into full nerd-off mode.
The biggest score posted in the Ulster championship? Check, with Armagh beating their scoreline from just eight days previously with 2-32 against Fermanagh.
The biggest beating for Down in championship football? Again, check.
You’d do a whole load of scratching around for something positive to say from a Down perspective. If you could stomach it, you could say Armagh gave them too much respect to ease off in any way. It would still leave you with a queasy feeling.
Armagh didn’t so much show what they were about on Sunday, they sapped Down’s spirit with a performance that resided levels beyond their neighbours.
Tomás McCormack scores the first goal. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
They showed no pity whatsoever. Armagh know that a confident Down are a dangerous Down, and they set out to strip them of all the belief they fostered by beating Donegal.
It was always going to be a massive ask for Down to replicate that win. And so, after the sugar high of Letterkenny, came the slump.
Down got off to a bright start, leaping 0-5 to 0-2 ahead with Daniel Guinness particularly prominent.
But then Armagh showed their reserves of experience in this old concrete bowl.
They were ravenous in the tackle and after Odhran Murdock had his hands on the ball, it pin-balled around the middle until Armagh secured the turnover. Flooding forward, Tomas McCormack had much to do before he potted to the net.
Down were held to a single point for twenty minutes. In that time, Armagh gobbled up 2-10. Eight players scored in the first half as the Down balloon was gently deflating.
The second goal was a catastrophe for them.
After a Pat Havern shot dropped wide, Armagh goalkeeper Blaine Hughes sent a rocket down the right wing to land in the arms of Darragh McMullan. Down’s Rory Burns had committed to pushing up, and he was in the direct line of McMullan, who took his shoulder and then floated in a long ball.
It looked as though Ryan McEvoy was about to collect, but Conor Turbitt ghosted in behind him to flick the ball to the net.
Down are reeling as Armagh score a second goal through Conor Turbitt with Ronan Burns out of his goal
Down needed something. Anything. Just to give them a glimpse of anything. But they got nothing.
That was down to Armagh. A mixture of Andrew Murnin and Jarly Óg Burns rubbed Murdock’s influence out of the game. Pat Havern could not get going.
Armagh kicked the first four scores of the half. Some of those, however, are likely to have been fist-passes over the bar, reaching as they did, a total of eight such scores in this game.
While Ryan Magill answered back, Armagh piled on another five unanswered points.
Barry O’Hagan had the temerity to score a free for Down before Turbitt’s second goal led to a mass exodus of Down fans with 20 minutes left to play.
Armagh hit 1-17 in the second half before they recorded their first wide. It was Oisín O’Neill who broke their scoring record on the 65th minute.
Tiernan Kelly holds up Odhran Murdock. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
It brings them to the Ulster final on 17 May. This will be Kieran McGeeney’s tenth Ulster final. He played in six, and he has managed the last three editions, being beaten by Derry and Donegal on penalties and Donegal in extra time last year.
Down now have to turn their attentions to the Tailteann Cup and a first-round game against Leitrim. It will be thin gruel to them, and shows up the brutal system in place.
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Scorers for Armagh: Conor Turbitt 2-5 (0-3 frees), Oisín Conaty 0-5, Oisín O’Neill 0-4 (1x tp), Jarly Óg Burns 0-4, Tomas McCormack 1-2, Cian McConville 0-3 (1 free), Andrew Murnin 0-3, Darragh McMullan 0-2 (1 x tp), Aaron O’Neill 0-2 (1 x tp), Peter McGrane, Tiernan Kelly each.
Scorers for Down: Daniel Guinness 0-4, Liam Kerr 0-2, Ryan Magill 0-2, Barry O’Hagan 0-2 (1 free), Pat Havern 0-2 (1 free), Shane Annett, Odhran Murdock 0-1 each.
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Armagh break their own scoring record in 28-point massacre of Down to reach Ulster final
Armagh 3-33
Down 0-14
BY THE END of the game, with virtually no Down support left in St Tiernach’s Park, the press box got into full nerd-off mode.
The biggest score posted in the Ulster championship? Check, with Armagh beating their scoreline from just eight days previously with 2-32 against Fermanagh.
The biggest beating for Down in championship football? Again, check.
You’d do a whole load of scratching around for something positive to say from a Down perspective. If you could stomach it, you could say Armagh gave them too much respect to ease off in any way. It would still leave you with a queasy feeling.
Armagh didn’t so much show what they were about on Sunday, they sapped Down’s spirit with a performance that resided levels beyond their neighbours.
They showed no pity whatsoever. Armagh know that a confident Down are a dangerous Down, and they set out to strip them of all the belief they fostered by beating Donegal.
It was always going to be a massive ask for Down to replicate that win. And so, after the sugar high of Letterkenny, came the slump.
Down got off to a bright start, leaping 0-5 to 0-2 ahead with Daniel Guinness particularly prominent.
But then Armagh showed their reserves of experience in this old concrete bowl.
They were ravenous in the tackle and after Odhran Murdock had his hands on the ball, it pin-balled around the middle until Armagh secured the turnover. Flooding forward, Tomas McCormack had much to do before he potted to the net.
Down were held to a single point for twenty minutes. In that time, Armagh gobbled up 2-10. Eight players scored in the first half as the Down balloon was gently deflating.
The second goal was a catastrophe for them.
After a Pat Havern shot dropped wide, Armagh goalkeeper Blaine Hughes sent a rocket down the right wing to land in the arms of Darragh McMullan. Down’s Rory Burns had committed to pushing up, and he was in the direct line of McMullan, who took his shoulder and then floated in a long ball.
It looked as though Ryan McEvoy was about to collect, but Conor Turbitt ghosted in behind him to flick the ball to the net.
The scoreline at half-time read 2-12 to 0-7.
Down needed something. Anything. Just to give them a glimpse of anything. But they got nothing.
That was down to Armagh. A mixture of Andrew Murnin and Jarly Óg Burns rubbed Murdock’s influence out of the game. Pat Havern could not get going.
Armagh kicked the first four scores of the half. Some of those, however, are likely to have been fist-passes over the bar, reaching as they did, a total of eight such scores in this game.
While Ryan Magill answered back, Armagh piled on another five unanswered points.
Barry O’Hagan had the temerity to score a free for Down before Turbitt’s second goal led to a mass exodus of Down fans with 20 minutes left to play.
Armagh hit 1-17 in the second half before they recorded their first wide. It was Oisín O’Neill who broke their scoring record on the 65th minute.
It brings them to the Ulster final on 17 May. This will be Kieran McGeeney’s tenth Ulster final. He played in six, and he has managed the last three editions, being beaten by Derry and Donegal on penalties and Donegal in extra time last year.
Down now have to turn their attentions to the Tailteann Cup and a first-round game against Leitrim. It will be thin gruel to them, and shows up the brutal system in place.
Scorers for Armagh: Conor Turbitt 2-5 (0-3 frees), Oisín Conaty 0-5, Oisín O’Neill 0-4 (1x tp), Jarly Óg Burns 0-4, Tomas McCormack 1-2, Cian McConville 0-3 (1 free), Andrew Murnin 0-3, Darragh McMullan 0-2 (1 x tp), Aaron O’Neill 0-2 (1 x tp), Peter McGrane, Tiernan Kelly each.
Scorers for Down: Daniel Guinness 0-4, Liam Kerr 0-2, Ryan Magill 0-2, Barry O’Hagan 0-2 (1 free), Pat Havern 0-2 (1 free), Shane Annett, Odhran Murdock 0-1 each.
Armagh
16. Blaine Hughes (Carrickcruppin)
2. Peter McGrane (Ballyhegan) 3. Aaron McKay (Dromintee) 4. Paddy Burns (Burren)
23. Joe McElroy (Armagh Harps) 6. Tiernan Kelly (Clann Éireann) 7. Jarly Óg Burns (Silverbridge)
8. Jason Duffy (Cullyhanna) 9. Andrew Murnin (Naomh Pól)
10. Greg McCabe (Camlough) 11. Darragh McMullen (Madden) 12. Tomas McCormack (Annaghmore)
13. Oisín Conaty (Tir na nÓg) 14. Conor Turbitt (Clann Éireann) 15. Cian McConville (Crossmaglen)
Subs:
24. Oisín O’Neill (Crossmaglen) for McCabe (51m)
22. Daniel Magee (Clann Éireann) for Murnin (52m)
17. Gareth Murphy (Killeavey) for McElroy (55m)
25. Thomas Galvin (Keady) for Turbitt (59m)
26. Aaron O’Neill (Crossmaglen) for Conaty (60m)
Down
1. Rory Burns (Drumgath)
2. Peter Fegan (Burren) 3. Pierce Laverty (Saul) 4. Callum Rogers (Kilcoo)
5. Caolan Mooney (RGU Downpatrick) 6. Shane Annett (Mayobridge) 7. Daniel Guinness (Carryduff)
8. Odhran Murdock (Burren) 9. Ryan McEvoy (Kilcoo)
10. Miceál Rooney (Kilcoo) 11. Ceilum Doherty (Kilcoo) 12. Pearse McPolin (Drumgath)
13. Adam Crimmins (Mayobridge) 14. Pat Havern (Saval) 15. John McGeough (Carryduff)
Subs:
18. Liam Kerr (Burren) for McGeough (26m)
24. Jamie Doran (Ballycolman) for Crimmins (HT)
21. Ryan Magill (Burren) for Rooney (39m)
26. Barry O’Hagan (Clonduff) for Havern (47m)
20. Finn McElroy (Longstone) for McPolin (55m)
19. Tom Close (Clonduff) for McEvoy (62m)
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)
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Armagh GAA Gaelic Football Ulster Championship