Experimental Down bow out at hands of Armagh

Experimental Down bow out at hands of Armagh

25 January 2017

DOWN missed out on a McKenna Cup semi-final spot after an intriguing clash with Armagh at the Athletic Grounds last Wednesday night.

A bumper crowd of 4,320 got their money’s worth in this meeting of old foes. A terrific opening first 20 minutes for Armagh was followed by a scoring drought and a brilliant comeback attempt by Down in the second half when they scored 2-5 to Armagh’s 1-8.

Ethan Rafferty opened Armagh’s account in the first minute after some lovely work from Aidan Forker and Ben Crealey. Armagh hunted in packs from front to back and Down couldn’t get a look in. 

A goal chance was spurned less than a minute later by Anton Duffy, whose shot rebounded off the underside of the bar and somehow went over the bar.

The same player crashed off the crossbar again on 25 minutes, but on that occasion the ball was cleared by an improving Down defence. 

Scores from Oisin Mac Iomhair and Stephen Sheridan made it 0-4 to 0-0 with eight minutes on the clock, right after Pat Havern was denied a maximum for Down when Oisin Lappin cleared off the line. 

Both sides were shooting wides, but it was proving more costly for Down, who just couldn’t penetrate a superb Armagh defence.

On 21 minutes Alan Davidson pointed Down’s first from a free and with their defensive system back up and running, Down held Armagh scoreless for the rest of the half and they had reduced the deficit to 0-7 to 0-3 at the break.

A scrappy start to the second saw a number of wides at both ends before Grugan pointed from a free on seven minutes followed by two scores from Davidson.

Grugan responded, but Davidson set up Darren O’Hagan for a brilliant close range goal on 47 minutes and it was game on at 0-9 to 1-5.

Armagh upped their game again with man of the match Grugan scoring from a free and Niall Grimley scoring four in a row, with only one point in reply from Barry O’Hagan.

Caolan Mooney and Danny Savage, with one reply from Armagh substitute Niall McConville, made it 0-15 to 1-8 with three minutes of normal time remaining, but the crowd were brought to their feet when Davidson scored a brilliant goal to make it a one-point game.

Armagh held firm, however, and within a minute a defensive error led to a goal from Aaron Findon.

Armagh: P Morrison, J Magill, C Vernon, O Lappin, A Forker, N Rowland, C Higgins, S Sheridan (0-2), N Grimley (0-4, 2f), B Crealey, C White, R Grugan (0-4, 3f), A Duffy (0-1), E Rafferty (0-2), O MacIomhair (0-1). Subs: J Clarke for White, J McElroy for Higgins, A Findon (1-0) for Crealey, J Hall for O MacIomhair, S McCoy for Rowland, N McConville (0-1) for Grugan.

Down: M Cunningham, R McAleenan, G McGovern, D O’Hagan (1-0), R Mallon, C McGovern, B McArdle, N Donnelly, J Flynn, C Gallagher, C Magee (0-1), J Murphy, A Davidson (1-4, 0-2f), B O’Hagan (0-1), P Havern. Subs: S Millar for Gallagher, C Mooney (0-1) for Mallon, C Maginn for Magee, A Carr for Donnelly (BC), D Savage (0-1f) for P Havern.

Armagh 1-15

Down 2-8

DR McKENNA CUP