Donaghy delighted with important win over Donegal

Armagh 0-13 Donegal 0-10

ARMAGH selector Kieran Donaghy praised his side for holding their nerve to get over the line against Donegal on Saturday evening.

The result means that the Orchard need to win one of their remaining two games, against Galway and Tyrone, to secure divisional status.

Players such as Jarly Og Burns and Andrew Murnin produced incredible performances when it really mattered, Rian O’Neill impressed throughout, the defence was disciplined with Paddy Burns and Conor O’Neill on top of their game.

It was a must-win game and a few years ago this side may have crumbled when Donegal rallied late, but Saturday’s team produced the goods when it mattered. Had Armagh lost they would be in relegation trouble but Donegal are in that spot now and Donaghy is content that his side can control their own destiny and staying in Division One is vital.

“Where Donegal were, where we were, it was extremely important and we knew that coming into the game,” said Donaghy.

“This League is so tough, Kieran has done an amazing job in the eight years to come from Division Three to Division One and a lot of those players have been through that process. You don’t want to go down to the dogfight of Division Two and to stay in Division One is absolutely massive for us. That is another step along the way and we have another two big games and we have to win one of them and it doesn’t get any easier with Galway at home and Tyrone away.”

Played in the Box-It Athletic Grounds, the first half was a controlled and measured performance from Armagh as they sat deep and stood up to whatever Donegal threw at them. It was almost a defensive masterclass for the opening 35 minutes and Armagh led by four points at the break.

Goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty, Aidan Forker, Rian O’Neill, Stefan Campbell and Andrew Murnin grabbed seven first half points. It was impressive counter attacking, Murnin was the perfect target man, with Forker and O’Neill the right players to deliver the passes. Shane O’Neill’s duo Greg McCabe and Ciaran Mackin broke the Donegal game-lines time and again as Armagh got a grip on the game.

Donegal’s keeper Shaun Patton (free), Oisin Gallen (free) and Conor O’Donnell were Donegal’s first half scorers as Armagh led 0-07 to 0-03 at the break.

In the second half Donegal used substitute Hugh McFadden as a target man and he and Gallen (free) found the target.

The game opened up somewhat but scores weren’t coming easily as both defences shone. O’Neill and Patton traded frees as Armagh needed a cool head and Rory Grugan came off the bench to offer assurance.

Grugan impressed and his free edged Armagh further ahead. The Orchard men were spreading passes across the pitch and dragging Donegal all over field, with Murnin’s fisted point after stunning play between O’Neill and Mackin one of the highlights.

Armagh were pulling all the strings and easing to the finish line when in as many minutes Donegal turned the tables with three points from McFadden, Jamie Brennan and Jason Magee.

All of a sudden Armagh’s victory was in doubt. They should have killed the game off moments earlier when substitute Ross McQuillan was through in goal but he opted to pass to Murnin, who looked to be fouled, either way, the chance was lost.

So, Armagh needed players to stand up and be counted and the substitutes player their part, with Niall Grimley and Grugan magnificent. Jarly Og Burns displayed courage and conviction as he bulled through the Donegal defence before driving his shot over the bar. His celebration said it all and Burns is showing how good a player he can be.

O’Neill’s fifth point of the evening was enough to secure victory and Armagh can face Galway on Saturday, March 18, at 5pm at the Box-It Athletic Grounds with confidence.

With no games next weekend, it might be a chance for other players to break into the 26 gameday squad.

Crossmaglen’s Cian McConville was a notable absentee on Saturday and the Club Player of the Year has not started a league game this season, although he featured for his club at the weekend as did Jamie Clarke in a friendly against Lordship. Club-mates Oisin O’Neill and James Morgan are racing against time to be match ready ahead of the Ulster Championship clash on Easter Saturday.

Aidan Nugent, Ben Crealy, Ciaran Higgins, Mark Shields, Niall Rowland are others on the treatment table, while Shane McPartlan of Clan na Gael, is yet to get a chance.

Donaghy pointed out that the shortened inter-county season leaves less time for challenge games and in-house games, which allow players to impress the management but insists that those who didn’t make the cut at the weekend can still have a big say in Armagh’s season.

“It’s a tough place but in fairness to our fella's they are really good, they are just about helping Armagh win games,” said Donaghy.

“It is hard to put yourself to the back seat and give up everything just to help a county be successful it is hard for those fella's and whether it fella's coming back or fellas sitting outside the 26, that's really tough now at the moment because you are just not getting that chance of a trial game every weekend to score 1-4 to say to the management: ‘Jez, he's going well, we could start him next week.’

“They are not getting that chance so it is a bit harder but look we know what we have within the dressing room. we know the quality lines out.

“To have Cian McConville, very unlucky not to make the 26 today but Rory Grugan and TK coming back in, that’s the type of quality not getting into the 26 and there is a lot more guys as well out there that aren't getting in so we're just hoping these guys come back in and really make it very hard for us come the championship.

“And then when we do get to play a bit of football that the A versus B games are at a really high level and I think that’s what you need to be sitting at the top table as your A versus B game where they are going either way. If you can get to that

“So these guys coming back, these guys outside the 26, the guys who didn't play today they'll have a huge saying in how Armagh do and they are well aware of that.”

ARMAGH: Ethan Rafferty (0-01, 0-1 free), Barry McCambridge, Aidan Forker (0-01), Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Greg McCabe, Joe McElroy, Ciaran Mackin, Jarly Og Burns (0-01), Jason Duffy, Callum Cumiskey, Stefan Campbell (0-01), Rian O’Neill (0-05, 0-4 frees, 0-1 free), Andrew Murnin (0-03, 0-1 mark), Conor Turbitt.

Subs used: Tiernan Kelly for Duffy (56’), Rory Grugan (0-01, 0-1 free) for Turbitt (58’), Ross McQuillan for Campbell (60’), Kieran Tobin for Gallagher (66’), Niall Grimley for Cumiskey (70’).

DONEGAL: Shaun Patton (0-02, 45’, free), Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan, Caolan McColgan, Stephen McMenamin, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Caolan McGonagle, Jason McGee (0-01), Michael Langan, Daire O’Baoill, Conor O’Donnell (0-01), Caolan Ward, Oisin Gallen (0-02, 0-1 free), Jamie Brennan (0-01)

Subs used: Hugh McFadden (0-02, 0-1 mark) for Ward (34’), Ciaran Thompson (0-01) for McColgan (47’), Rory O’Donnell for Gallen (61’).

Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo).