Armagh march on

NOW that the ash cloud has settled, following the eruption of negativity which spewed forth from Derry’s Celtic Park, the pragmatists are becoming more measured as the analysis flows.

Speaking on behalf of the winners pre-match, Paddy O’Rourke had promised to play an expansive brand of open football.

Events however dictated otherwise and what the fans received for their expensive admittance charge was a foul ridden game, dominated by a referee who was charged with implementing the GAA’s policies of radical reformism.

Ironically, fewer bad games have thrown up more good talking points. Finnian Moriarty’s Bellew-type challenge on Derry’s oin Bradley, which resulted in Paul Hearty’s stop from all of nine yards, Bradley’s dismissal on 55 minutes, Jamie Clarke’s great finish from an old-style Steven McDonnell delivery and last, but not least, the empty seats and terracing which were slightly less embarrassing than the hurt felt in Munster where just over 4,500 fans watched the All-Ireland champions play Tipperary.

The bookies had last Sunday’s preliminary round pairing of Armagh and Derry jostling for favouritism, but it was the visitors who held sway despite facing a huge setback when their defence went AWOL to allow the combined efforts of Mark Lynch and Fergal Doherty, who was the best player on the pitch, to put Paddy Bradley clear on 29 minutes to palm to an empty net.

Galvanised by adversity and the experience of Steven McDonnell, Armagh hit 1-6 to 0-2 in a purple patch which saw a match-winning move and Jamie Clarke’s entry with a goal following his first touch.

If tributes can be allocated for craft, Armagh won hands down. oin Bradley’s pull on Aaron Kernan in the second half sank the boat for Derry, and with 14 men the home side never recovered, particularly after O’Kane’s penalty miss.

Similarly, as with all the big issues, the spot-kick awarded to the hosts was not without controversy. It came as a result of a fundamental defensive error by Armagh’s talented full-back Brendan Donaghy, who attempted to find Andy Mallon with a back pass. The covering Finnian Moriarty, who always goes for the ball, seemed to do just that but referee Maurice Deegan thought otherwise.

A relieved Brendan Donaghy, at the final whistle, immediately put his hands up. “I was the player who gave the bad pass to Andy Mallon,” he said. “It’s not easy looking back when you make stupid mistake like that, but I think the penalty decision was a bit dubious”. Praising his goalkeeper, the Armagh full-back said: “Paul [Hearty] made up for some small misdemeanours in the league with the penalty save. So far it hasn’t been a bad year, but now it’s all about the Monaghan game in the first round,” stressed the Clonmore player.

Whilst a win is a win, several questions remain over the long-term sustainability of this Armagh side. Few fans would question the defensive line-out, and although Ciaran McKeever holding his ground in front of the full back line is not without its own merits, Charlie Vernon’s covering role would need to be further developed.

Kieran Toner, in the middle, is a gem of a player and, although he would not have the overall skill level of some of the great midfielders, his tenacity and tackling ability will always carry him through.

Up front, Steven McDonnell, still missing his strike partner Ronan Clarke, was Armagh’s best forward on show. Ryan Henderson, in his first Championship start, made the runs and the room for a nice point, but would need a more decisive first touch. He could, however, start again against Monaghan.

As for Brian Mallon, the Portadown player would, no doubt, want to be known as being more than a strong runner who is involved in a lot of assists. He would like to be scoring more and would be disappointed that Derry keeper Barry Gillis was not side-stepped in the first half when he made a save from the Tr Na ng man.

As Derry fans wait almost six weeks for another outing, their team remains good yet lacking spark.

Back in 1991, Paddy O’Rourke played on a Down side which beat Armagh in Newry in a provincial first-round game, the headlines read: ‘Two bad teams’. That September, Down won the All-Ireland title.

Volcanic ash has scuppered the foreign junkets and Callanbridge is the new La Manga. Training is at home with Mike McGurn and the new home venue is Casement Park on June 6.