Sport

Armagh beat Offaly to keep up their perfect record

Armagh’s Joe McElroy gets away from Sean Doyle of Offaly during yesterday’s Division Three clash in Tullamore Picture by Robert Smith
Armagh’s Joe McElroy gets away from Sean Doyle of Offaly during yesterday’s Division Three clash in Tullamore Picture by Robert Smith Armagh’s Joe McElroy gets away from Sean Doyle of Offaly during yesterday’s Division Three clash in Tullamore Picture by Robert Smith

Allianz Football League Division Three: Offaly 1-9 Armagh 1-15

THEIR six-point winning margin paled in comparison to the whopping 30-point they won by in Athletic Grounds last year, but that won’t concern Armagh one bit as their march towards Division Two football continued in Bord na Móna O’Connor Park yesterday.

Last year’s win was one of those freak results but in a way, this was a more impressive and a more significant one for the visitors. They came up against a much more competitive Offaly but controlled the tempo of the game for much of the 70 minutes and the outcome was never in doubt.

Having failed at the death in their promotion bid last year, Armagh certainly won’t be taking anything for granted but they are moving in the right direction with four wins out of four.

They didn’t hit top gear here, and didn’t need to against an Offaly side going through a transitional phase, but they still played well and will be quietly content at their overall display.

With the wind on their backs in the first half, Armagh dictated the flow of the game, without having to do a whole lot special. They were that bit stronger and more efficient on the ball while Offaly gave a whole hearted effort but often carried possession into tackles and were forced to turn backwards for support.

Andrew Murrin and Ethan Rafferty were on song for Armagh in the first half, each registering three points from play while Ryan McShane weighed in with two points before injury ended his afternoon.

The Orchardmen started well and were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after just five minutes.

Gregory McCabe’s punched goal after Rafferty’s rocket hit the crossbar put them 1-5 to 0-2 ahead after 10 minutes.

Offaly replied instantly with Sean Doyle tapping to the net after Jordan Hayes laid it off.

After this, the game followed a fairly settled pattern with Offaly trying very hard but Armagh posing more of an attacking threat.

Armagh led by 1-9 to 1-3 after 26 minutes and at half-time, the gap was 1-10 to 1-5.

It was not beyond Offaly’s but the odds on them pulling it out of the fire were long and so it proved. Armagh killed the game off early in the second half with four points in the opening 13 minutes giving them a 1-13 to 1-5 lead.

They probably could have brought the margin into double figures from here but a mixture of them easing off and Offaly digging deep saw the gap narrow.

Offaly got three points on the trot to bring it back to five with 10 minutes remaining but never looked like manufacturing the goal they needed to make it truly interesting.

Armagh closed out the game with a large degree of comfort to set themselves up nicely for next Sunday’s big test at home to Derry.

Their manager Kieran McGeeney was certainly not getting carried away afterwards as he said: “It was scrappy enough but we are happy enough. We were happy with some parts but we conceded a loose goal.”

McGeeney revealed that they lost three of their first choice defenders during the week and he was happy with the way their three U20s played in the back line.

Offaly: S Pender; D Dempsey, N Darby, C Donohue; P Cunningham (0-1), M Brazil (0-1); J Hayes, A Sullivan, S Doyle (1-1); B Allen (0-2, 0-1 free), C Carroll, N Dunne (0-3 frees).

Subs: C Johnson (0-1) for Doyle (45), E Carroll for Sullivan (52), J Lalor for McConway (65), S Tierney for Donohue (66)

Yellow cards: N Dunne (35), E Carroll (71)

Armagh: B Hughes; P Burns, O Lappin, P Hughes; N Rowland (0-1), G McCabe (1-0), J McElroy; S Sheridan, C Vernon (0-2); R McShane (0-2), A Forker (0-1), N Grimley; R Grugan (0-1 free), A Murnin (0-3), E Rafferty (0-5, 0-2 frees)

Subs: R McQuillan for McShane (28), B Crealy for Murrin (h-t), E McDonnell for Rowland (46), J Cosgrove for Burns (71)

Yellow cards: R McQuillan (35), S Sheridan (40), R Grugan (72)

Referee: S Lonergan (Tipperary)