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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Armagh v Cork

Cork got the defence of their league title up and running against Armagh at the Morgan Athletic Grounds. Here’s how it unfolded…

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this afternoon’s game. E-mail tony@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_iepost a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

Full-Time: Armagh 0-10 Cork 1-7

It’s throw-in time, and here are today’s teams…

Armagh: Niall Geoghan; Andy Mallon, Brendan Donaghy, Declan McKenna; Paul Duffy, Ciaran McKeever, Finnian Moriarty; Charlie Vernon, John Kingham; Colm Watters, Kevin Dyas. Anto Duffy; Paul Carville, Malachy Mackin, Eugene McVerry.

Cork: Ken O’ Halloran; Ray Carey, Michael Shields, Eoin Cadogan; Noel O’Leary, Graham Canty, Paudie Kissane; Alan O’Connor, Pearse O’Neill; Fintan Goold, Patrick Kelly, Conor O’Driscoll; Colm O’ Neill, Donncha O’Connor, Paul Kerrigan.

Cork go on the attack straight away but Armagh clear their lines well. Cork strike the post before the ball falls to Noel O’Leary, whose shot is off the mark.

Wide number three for Cork and that really was a poor effort from Fintan Goold. Still scoreless in Armagh, with the visitors dominating.

Armagh 0-00 Cork 0-01: We have the opening score of the game, as Paudie Kissane does well to grab a breaking ball and pass to Fiachra Lynch. Lynch’s kick over the bar is straightforward.

Eugene McVerry has Armagh’s best chance to open their account from a free-kick, but his effort goes wide. Ditto a kick from Colm Watters. Armagh have more of the ball but their finishing is amiss.

The diminutive Paul Carville does well to shield the ball as Armagh seek their first score. Charlie Vernon draws a foul from O’Connor and the returning midfield man becomes the first booking of the game. It was a stupid tackle as the Armagh man was going nowhere.

Armagh 0-00 Cork 1-1: Fiachra Lynch finds his Cork team-mate Paul Kerrigan, who faints before misdirecting his shot. The ball falls to Canty, who draws a foul, and the free-kick from Kerrigan is diverted into his own goal by John Kingham. Awful from Armagh.

Armagh 0-01 Cork 1-2: A very fine point from distance from Cork’s Mark Collins. Armagh strike back with a Carville free, their first point of the game.

Armagh 0-1 Cork 1-3: A beautiful point from Donncha O’Connor, who kicks the ball over his head at an angle and see his effort grab a point. Meanwhile, Paul Kerrigan is sent off after getting involved in a silly fracas with Finnian Moriarty.

Half-time – Armagh 0-1 Cork 1-3: Carville’s free is gathered well by Kissane. Goold advance before O’Connor kicks the Leesiders’ seventh wide of the match. The referee blows for half-time. The game is low on score but very high in intensity.

We’re back and hopeful of a slightly more stylish second half. The first half was high on bluster but low on quality.

Donncha O’Connor shoots the first wide of the second half for Cork.

Armagh 0-1 Cork 1-4: Mark Collins is fouled and Fintan Goold bags the first score of the second half.

Armagh 0-2 Cork 1-4: Lynch and Collins exchange passes after great work in the Cork attack, but Lynch’s kick is none too pretty. Armagh go up the other and score their second point of the match from a free.

Armagh 0-4 Cork 1-4: Cork’s lack of discipline is starting to cause some trouble, as McVerry’s free goes over the bar. Armagh are coming back into it and Malachy Mackin is at the forefront, and McVerry grabs another free for himself. Just a goal in it now. How much is Kerrigan’s sending off affecting Cork?

Armagh 0-5 Cork 1-4: Another McVerry free. Conor Counihan looks furious as his side does its best to throw away a lead.

Armagh 0-6 Cork 1-4: A questionable free as Michael Shields is punished for over carrying the ball. Armagh bag yet another point. Noel O’Leary is then punished for not releasing the ball and Armagh, suddenly, hold all the aces.

Armagh 0-8 Cork 1-4: It’s taken 52 minutes but Armagh finally have their first point from open play. It goes to Mackin and the scores, improbably, are level…. Hang on, they’re not level, Armagh are ahead! McVerry with a point from play.

Armagh 0-8 Cork 1-5: Magnificent score from Sean Kiely, who equalises for the Rebels. His shot creeps over from a tight angle.

Armagh 0-9 Cork 1-5: Another score from Armagh as Eoin Cadogan and Kevin Dyas are replaced by their respective managers. Armagh look threatening but Mackin’s weak shot is gathered by O’Halloran.

Armagh 0-09 Cork 1-6: Great score from Cork. Collins’ effort is blocked but O’Connor picks up the seconds before fisting over the bar.

Armagh 0-9 Cork 1-7: It’s a long time since Cork have had the lead, but Collins has capped an impressive showing with another point. Great end to the game.

Stunning defending from Brendan Donaghy, who blocks O’Connor’s goalbound shot. O’Connor then fires a free-kick short and Armagh clear their lines.

Armagh 0-10 Cork 1-7: Brian Mallon – a second half substitute for Armagh – grabs his first point of the game as the home side presses home its numerical advantage.

Two minutes of added time, and a draw would be a fair result. Armagh have dominated the second half, as Cork did the first.

Full-Time: Armagh 0-10 Cork 1-7: Cork will be incredulous at the referee’s performance but credit must go to Armagh for their second half fightback. Mackin is named man of the match after a great performance. That’s all from us, thanks for keeping up…

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