Final Score: Armagh 2-14 – 0-11 Donegal
Well that was a big disappointment. Armagh, in fairness to them, were impressive and Jamie Clarke and Gareth Swift showed that their attack isn’t completely reliant on Stevie McDonnell. Andy Mallon and Paul Duffy were also very impressive at the back for Paddy O’Rourke’s side.
The big story of this game, however, is just how poor Donegal were. In a word, they were awful. Michael Murphy and a few others aside, they didn’t look interested and their attitude and apllication must be seriously questioned. It could be the end of the line for some of the more established fellas, but they won’t have to worry about that for a good few months yet, their year is over. Full time in Crossmaglen, Armagh 2-14 – 0-11 Donegal.
Full Time
It’s just not Donegal’s day. Neil Gallagher and Rory Kavanagh both have goal attempts blocked before Gallagher blazes high and wide at his second attempt. Straight down the other end and Aaron Kernan taps over a simple score for Armagh. Only a minute to go in this one.
Murphy with another score for Donegal, his third from play and seventh in total.
Eamon McGee sent off after a second yellow card for something that happened off the ball. McGee didn’t put up much of a complaint though. Maybe he was just trying to get off the field as quickly as he could. You wouldn’t blame him such has been the paucity of Donegal’s performance.
Excellent score from Mark McHugh from the right. The 19 year old, son of Martin, has been one of the few Donegal players that can be proud of their contribution today.
Joe Feeney fists over his second point of the day after no resistance whatsoever from the Donegal defence. They’re halfway back to Donegal already I’m afraid.
Point for Donegal for Neil Gallagher, his first ever in championship football according to Ger Canning.
Murphy with another free for Donegal. I’m just going to copy and paste that line so I can use it the next time Donegal get a score.
Fifteen minutes left in what has turned out to be a damp squib of a game in Crossmaglen. It promised a lot but hasn’t delivered at all but it’s not Armagh’s fault. John Joe Doherty has a lot to do if he’s going to make something out of this Donegal side next year.
Stevie Mc with an audacious score from out on the right to push the gap back to 11.
Substitute Adrian Hanlon, on for Com McFadden, knocks over a point with virtually his first touch. It came after a long ball on top of Michael Murphy at full forward, a tactic which Donegal are as well off using for whatever time is left.
Kernan points a free after another foul on Jamie Clarke. Armagh lead by 11.
Eoin Wade bursts through and gives it to a man, Michael Murphy, who knows excatly where the posts are. Easy point for Murphy, his fifth today.
The referee is as well blow the whistle now and put Donegal out of their misery. This game is as good as over even though there’s nearly half an hour left.
Swift tacks on another one straight away. 0-3 from play for Swift today, who’s wearing 13 but has been all over the place. He’s had a fine game.
Gareth Swift swings over a beauty from the left, flicking the ball up and firing over after a good run from Francis Hanratty. It all came after anoher insipid attack from Donegal broke down at the other end.
Stevie follows it up with another one, this time from a free after livewire attacker Jamie Clarke is fouled close to goal. Armagh picking up where they left off in the first half.
Armagh respond immediately and amazingly, it’s Stevie Mc’s first point of the day, en easy one for Stevie after Andy Mallon did all the spadework.
Back underway in Crossmaglen and Donegal are on the board already. Michael Murphy adding another free to his tally, that’s 0-4 from him today.
Donegal are leaderless spouts Bernard Flynn, who is less than impressed with the contributions of the likes of Rory Kavanagh, Karl Lacey and some of the other supposed leaders on the Donegal team.
Uruguay still leading South Korea by a Luis Suarez goal to nil at the World Cup with just under half an hour to go.
Offaly have beaten Clare after extra time in Tullamore. Final score: Offaly 2-18 – 1-18 Clare.
Bernard Flynn and Coman Goggins in the RTE studio hold no hope for Donegal in the second half. Flynn says they’ve been a joke and a let down for the supporters who’ve travelled to Crossmaglen to see them. Can’t argue with that I’m afraid, to say they’ve been woeful would be an understatement. They just don’t look interested, a failing that has affected numerous Donegal teams in the past.
Half Time
Colm McFadden finally provides some respite for Donegal with a point but it was at the end of an incredibly laboured attack. There seems to be very little structure to Donegal’s forward line.
Aaron Kernan could have finished Donegal off there, but his goal effort is well saved by Paul Durcan. It was at the end of a lovely flowing move by Armagh involving Andy Mallon and Stevie McDonnell and it’s a pity that Kernan couldn’t finish it off.
Jamie Clarke with his second point of the day to add to his two goals. Time almost up in the first half in Crossmaglen.
At least Donegal are putting a few hits in. Michael Murphy flattens Gareth Swift with his chest as the corner forward tracks back to try and tackle the big fella. Murphy is a serious unit but he’s had no help today.
Murphy with another free for Donegal, their first score in over 20 minutes.
Second Donegal defender, Michael Maguire withdrawn and is replaced by Eamon McGee. Maguire had just been booked for persistent fouling and looked ill at ease so it was probably a sensible decision to take him off. Doesn’t relect well on Donegal that two of their defenders have been taken off before half time though.
Second time in as many minutes that Donegal drop a shot into the keeper’s hands, probably the most unforgiveable act on a football pitch!
Aaron Kernan fires over his first of the day, drawing it in lovely off his left boot. Armagh lead by 9 and are all over Donegal.
Francis Hanratty is so eager to take a free that he runs into and kicks the referee, Michael Duffy. Hanratty falls over but is laughing when he gets up. Good to see.
Armagh seem far hungrier and more up for it than Donegal, who have been lacklustre so far.
Charlie Vernon rampaging towards goal but but is flattened by a cracking shoulder by Neil McGee. Vernon holds on to the ball and lays it off to the new man, Joe Feeney, who fires it over. Nice introduction for Feeney. Vernon is still shaking after that hit by McGee.
Offaly seem to have all the momentum in Tullamore. They lead by 4 in extra time.
Anto Duffy is stretchered off to warm applause from both sets of supporters. Hopefully the injury isn’t anything too serious.
Another debutant, Anto Duffy replaced for Armagh by Joe Feeney. Duffy picked up a knock while executing a textbook block at the back. The medics have him on a stretcher, but he’s sitting upright. Looks like it could be a shoulder or collar bone injury.
Clarke wins the ball out in front again, lays it off to his inside colleague Gareth Swift, who fires confidently over the bar. 2-3 for Armagh and Stevie McDonnell hasn’t even woken up yet.
Karl Lacey has switched on to Jamie Clarke, but it hasn’t made any difference. The corner forward wins the ball out in front of the former All-Star, spins onto his left and fires it over the bar. 2-1 already for Clarke, not bad after fifteen minutes.
Paddy McGrath withdrawn for Donegal after only eleven minutes of his championship debut. He was marking Jamie Clarke, who has been on fire so far. You’d have to feel for the young fella, a bit of a harrowing experience for him.
Conor Counihan in the crowd in Corssmaglen. He obviously knows something we don’t know about the next draw in the qualifiers or else he intends on studying every possible opposition really closely.
Murphy responds again for Donegal, this time from play. If they can keep supplying Murphy, Donegal might do damage.
It’s Jamie Clarke again. I don’t know does this fella play soccer, but by the looks of him so far he wouldn’t be a bad player if he crossed codes. Awful defending by Donegal, but Clarke pounces on the loose ball to finish coolly to the net once again soccer stylee. 8 minutes gone and already Armagh are six points up.
GOAL Armagh!!!
Michael Murphy taps over Donegal’s first score with a free from close range.
It’s gone into extra time in Tullamore after Offaly staged a late comeback.
It’s Kieran Toner that isn’t starting for Armagh but his absence hasn’t been felt in the first five minutes as his midfield buddy Charlie Vernon pops over a lovely score for Armagh. 1-1 – 0-0.
Jamie Clarke skins Paddy McGrath in the corner and has his initial shot saved by Paul Durcan but follows it up to finish to the net soccer style. Great start for the home side.
GOAL Armagh!!!
Well, Malachy Mackin is definitely starting for Armagh despite me telling you that he was replaced by Francis Hanratty. Damn you RTE and your misleading information.
Almost ready to go in Crossmaglen, the first time an inter county championship mach will have been played at the venue incidentally.
This one is really hard to call. Before Armagh capitulated against Monaghan, I fancied them to go on a long run this year, but they were given a terrible beating and it might be hard for them to recover. Donegal were extremely poor against Down and the last time they met the Orchard County, they were beaten by 16 points. Hard to see such a margin between them today, but hopefully we won’t see both sides packing men behind the ball which is their trademark.
A late change for Armagh. Francis Hanratty comes in for Malachy Mackin in the half forward line.
Offaly have narrowed the gap to three points in Tullamore. Not long left in that one…
Armagh: P Hearty; A Mallon, B Donaghy, V Martin; P Duffy, C McKeever, K Dyas; C Vernon, K Toner; A Duffy, A Kernan, M Mackin; G Swift, S McDonnell, J Clarke.
Still waiting on the Armagh team. Paddy O’Rourke will have to do without Ronan Clarke, Martin O’Rourke, Ryan Henderson, Finian Moriarty and Colm Watters today.
Donegal: P Durcan; P McGrath, N McGee, K Lacey; M Maguire, B Dunnion, F McGlynn; N Gallagher, K Cassidy; M McHugh, R Kavanagh, D Walsh; C McFadden, M Murphy, C Dunne.
A quick update for you on sporting events elsewhere. Clare are leading Offaly by 1-11 to 1-5 in Tullamore and Uruguay have taken an early lead against South Korea in the last sixteen in the World Cup thanks to a goal by Luis Suarez. Elsewhere in GAA, former all-star Paddy Bradley has sensationally quit the Derry football panel. More on that story here.
Good afternoon folks. Just over twenty minutes to go until throw in at Crossmaglen. Team news to follow shortly.
