THE spoils were shared, 1-7 to 0-10, at Parnell Park yesterday, which was no more than Armagh deserved in this NFL game after they clipped back Dublin’s four-point, half-time lead with two points in the last two minutes.
A three-point spell midway through the second half turned the tide for the visitors and the introduction of Cathal Short in the forward line proved decisive.
Kieran McGeeney scored Armagh’s first point of the match from open play 13 minutes into the second period having followed up on a dreadful clearance by Brian Stynes to reduce Dublin’s lead to three points, 1-5 to 0-5. Then seconds later, Short beat Ciaran Walsh to the breaking ball, received possession back, and fired over the bar to unnerve Dublin.
But better was to come for the visitors, when Oisin McConville scored a superb point from open play, only a minute later.
Jarlath Burns won possession in midfield and found McConville, who split the posts from all of 35 yards from out on the right touch line.
Armagh: B Tierney, M McNeill, C Hanratty, D Horisk (0-1), J Rafferty, K McGeeney (0-1), J McNulty, J Burns, J McEntee (0-1), O McConville (0-5, four from frees), T McIntee, P McGrane, G Houlahan, M Toye, M McQuillan.
Subs: C Short (0-1) for G Houlahan, C O’Rorke (0-1) for J McEntee.
Dublin: D Byrne, P Moran, D Homan, C Walsh, J O’Callaghan, K Barr, E Heery, D Harrington (0-1), B Stynes, I Robertson, C Whelan (0-1), P Clarke, (0-3 all from frees), D O’Brien (0-1), D Farrell, R Cosgrove (1-1 point from free).
Subs: E Horgan for D Harrington, M Doran for R Cosgrove.
Ref: S Mac anThriora (Leitrim)
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A LAST-GASP equaliser from wing half-back Damien Diver gave Donegal their second draw in a row and a deserved share of the spoils against Tyrone in this North West derby at Omagh yesterday.
Diver’s excellent angled shot from 30 yards sailed over to level the scores on the 60th minute, 2-6 apiece, but with the referee playing three tense minutes of injury time, both sides had chances to snatch the game at the death.
Donegal had Tyrone on the rack at the end with debutante Brian McLaughlin failing to capitalise on a blunder by Tyrone’s stand-in keeper Plunkett McCallan.
The youngster, who had an impressive hour scoring one goal and two points, blazed the ball high and wide in front of an open goal to dash Donegal’s hope of a victory and it was definitely the home side who looked more relieved to hear the final whistle.
Both managers seemed happy with the draw, especially new Tyrone manager Danny Ball in what was his first home game in charge
Tyrone: P McCallan, D Hagan, P O’Neill, C Lawn, R McGarrity (0-1), N Donnelly, B Maginn, F Logan (1-0), P Canavan, S McLaughlin (1-0), E McCaffrey (0-1), S Lawn, C McBride, E Gormley (0-3), B Gormley (0-1).
Subs S McCallan for S Lawn (41 mins); S Conway for E McCaffrey (46 mins).
Donegal: G Walsh, P McGinley, M Gallagher, J Cunningham, D Diver (0-1), M Crossan, M Shovlin, M Coll (0-1), B Murray, J Ruane, T Boyle (1-1), O Reid (0-1), B Roper, B McLaughlin (1-2), R McLaughlin.
Subs J B Gallagher for J Ruane (46 mins); D McNamara for O Reid (51 mins).
Referee: Adrian Walsh (Dublin)
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DOWN regained the Dr Maguire Cup for the Ulster Senior Camogie League with a four-point victory, 1-10 to 1-6, in a closely contested final in Corrigan Park yesterday. Antrim led 4-3 at the break with Elaine Dowds prominent in midfield and current minors Kerry O’Neill and Jane Adams moving well in attack.
The difficult weather conditions made accuracy a trial but Down recovered in the second half and with Jennifer Braniff hitting good form and scoring a goal and four points, they deservedly regained the cup.
Down: C Gilmore, E Mason, N Magee, P Greene, Clare McGovern, C Mulholland, C Hynds (0-3), D Savage, Ciara McGovern, J Braniff (1-4), V Hynds (0-1), S McGovern.
Subs: C McGrath for V Hynds, M McAleenan (Capt, 0-2), for Ciara McGovern, D Greeran for C Mulholland.
Antrim: K Coyles, B McCollum, C McGarry (0-1), D McLaughlin, N Cunningham, M Barry, E Dowds (0-3), N Hindeman (1-0), K O’Neill (0-1), G McMullen, J Adams (0-1), O Elliott.
Subs: B Burns for K O’Neill, U Brady for N Cunningham and C Doherty for N Hindeman.
Ref: Ethna Hanson (Derry)
