Down stunned as Armagh sneak in

Down stunned as Armagh sneak in

28 March 2012

DOWN can feel that luck was not on their side as they served up a thriller with Armagh at the Athletic Grounds.

The Mourne county could be accused of not making the most of their opportunities, but certainly deserved to take something from the game.

Armagh were awarded a dubious penalty from which Brian Mallon beat Brendan McVeigh for the only goal of the game — it was the vital score of the match.

Down responded with six points to two from Armagh and looked like holding out for at least a draw. But the Orchard men had an ace in corner forward Michael Stevenson who scored six points from frees, including the injury time winner.

Even then Down had a chance to salvage a point, but substitute Ben O’Reilly scooped his effort wide and Armagh held out for victory.

The 9,000 crowd witnessed a classic. There was just one wide in the first half — Armagh’s Charlie Vernon was the culprit — and the trend continued in the second period.

Down could have got more scores, but they were also thwarted by Armagh keeper Philip McEvoy, who made a couple of stunning saves to keep out goal-bound shots from Eoin McCartan and Ambrose Rogers.

The Down defence played soundly throughout with Conor Garvey, Kevin McKernan and Niall McParland being most prominent. But they paid the penalty for fouling with Michael Stevenson punishing them with his free taking.

Ambrose Rogers and Kalum King faced three different Armagh combinations in midfield. Armagh midfielder Peter Carragher suffered a horrific leg break when he fell heavily and his replacement, Rory Grugan, also went off injured.

Armagh never gave up the battle. Despite being without the Crossmaglen contingent, who are preparing for the All-Ireland club final replay, they pulled a master stroke when they successfully appealed Ciaran McKeever’s suspension and he went on to have an influential role at centre half back.

Michael Stevenson starred in the Armagh attack along with Brian Mallon and Caolan Rafferty, who also kept the Down defence working overtime.

It was a free scoring first half. Stevenson lobbed over four point from placed balls, but Aidan Carr was also on the mark for Down on four occasions.

Mallon pointed two Armagh frees while Carragher had their only point from play in the half.

Down had the better of the second quarter. Carr pointed two frees and Danny Hughes, Eoin McCartan and Kevin McKernan had points each as Down led by 0-9 to 0-8 at half time with Stevenson getting Armagh’s eighth point just on the interval.

The second half was an even greater thriller with the sides level on seven occasions.

Stevenson brought Armagh level before the turning point in the game arrived. Dyas and McKeever played a one-two with Stevenson and his shot was ruled to have foot blocked in the square. The referee awarded a penalty and Mallon converted to put Armagh back in front.

Down responded brilliantly, scoring six of the next eight points with Dan Gordon, Ambrose Rogers, Mark Poland (inset), Aidan Carr and Kevin McKernan all splitting the

posts to give Down a 0-16 to 1-12 lead.

Armagh levelled through McKeever and then went ahead when Stevenson sent over a free from the right wing. Down finished strongly, but O’Reilly’s miss meant that Armagh held out for a famous win.

Down: B. McVeigh; D. McCartan, C. Garvey, D. Gordon; N. McParland, K. McKernan (0-1), A. Brannigan; A. Rogers (0-2, 0-1 45),K. King; D. Hughes (0-2, M. Poland (0-2), A. Carr (0-6 frees); C. Maginn, E. McCartan (0-2), C. Laverty. Subs: B. Coulter for Maginn (45), B. O’Reilly for E. McCartan (55), K. Quinn for Brannigan (60), A. McArdle for King (64).

Armagh: P. McEvoy; A. Mallon, B. Donaghy, D. McKenna (0-1), F. Moriarty (0-1), C. McKeever (0-1), P. Duffy; C. Vernon, P. Carragher (0-1); K. Dyas, B. J. Padden, A. Duffy; C. Rafferty (0-1), B. Mallon (1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-2 frees), M. Stevenson (0-6 frees). Subs: R. Grugan for Carragher (23), D. Lavery for Grugan (33), J. Lavery for Padden (ht), J. Kingham for D. Lavery (60).

Referee: D. Coldrick (Meath).

Armagh 1-14

Down 0-16

NFL DIVISION 1