Armagh advance into Quarters

Ulster Senior Football Championship First Round:
Derry  1-07  Armagh 1-10

Armagh have advanced to a meeting with Monaghan in the GAA Football Ulster Senior Championship after getting the better of Derry in their preliminary round clash at Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon.

Having gone in level at half-time following a late Steven McDonnell-inspired scoring burst,
Paddy O’Rourke’s side limited their hosts to just a solitary point in the second half, a goal from sub Jamie Clarke proving to be the crucial score, while goalkeeper Paul Hearty also saved a late penalty from Derry defender Gerard O’Kane.

In front of 10,342 people, the game began in a fairly scrappy manner, with little or no shape to it. Derry went ahead on four occasions but Armagh answered them each time, Paddy Bradley and Aaron Kernan exchanging frees, with scores from play thin on the ground.

Then, on the half-hour mark, Derry finally managed to open up some daylight between the sides when Paddy Bradley palmed the ball to the net after Mark Lynch and Fergal O’Doherty had done well in what was a sweeping move.

Credit to Armagh though, they responded well and by half-time were level at 1-5 to 0-8.

A good Charlie Vernon point put them ahead for the first time early in the second half and Ryan Henderson then extended it before Eoin Bradley cut the gap with a fine effort.

It would prove to be the Oak Leaf County’s only score of the second period though and things got worse for Eoin Bradley shortly after when he was sent off for a second booking after a high tackle on Kernan.

Clarke then struck for the goal on 57, playing in by a probing McDonnell ball to make it 1-10 to 1-6, with what would be the game’s last score.

There was some time for late drama however, Derry awarded a penalty in the final five minutes, but Hearty stood up well to O’Kane’s shot and Armagh held on to inflict what was only Derry’s second-ever championship defeat at the ground.

Afterwards, McDonnell praised his side’s battling ability. “All through the league, we have responded well after conceding goals,” he said, “and we did the same here to make sure we went in level at half-time.

“We never panicked and showed good maturity, but we will have to up things a bit for the Monaghan game.”