Allianz Football League Division Three: Armagh 1-12 Antrim 0-13
RANK underdogs Antrim set out to make a fight of it and, although Armagh deservedly got over the line, that’s exactly what they did at The Athletic Grounds last night night.
A game that began under a crimson sky finished beneath a canopy of red mist with three players sent off (Stephen Sheridan for the hosts and Conor Murray and Stephen Beatty for the visitors) as tempers flared with a kick of the ball between the sides.
Throughout the game the Orchardmen struggled to break through Antrim’s stubborn defensive stitching.
With key forwards Jamie Clarke and Stefan Campbell starved of possession they passed up 15 scoring chances in the first half and if CJ McGourty’s penalty had found the back of their net, a sizeable upset could have been on the cards.
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Armagh: B Hughes; J Morgan, C Vernon (0-2), P Hughes; N Rowland, B Donaghy, A McKay; S Sheridan (0-1), B Crealey; N Grimley (0-1), G McParland (0-2), R Grugan (0-1); S Campbell, C McKeever (1-1), J Clarke (0-1)
Subs: A Forker (0-1) for Crealey (32), C O'Hanlon for Grimley (41), A Duffy (0-1) for Campbell (51), O O'Neill for McKeever (54), S Heffron for Rowland (60)
Yellow cards: Morgan (7), McParland (60), P Hughes (70)
Black card: A Forker replaced by A Findon (67)
Red card: Sheridan (70)
Antrim: C Kerr; C Hamill, P Gallagher, P Healy; P McBride (0-2), D Lynch, P McAleer; J Dowling, S Beatty; K Niblock, R McCann, M Fitzpatrick; CJ McGourty (0-9, 0-8 frees, 0-1 ‘45’), C Murray (0-1), B Bradley (0-1)
Subs: N Delargy for McCann (45), S McVeigh for Dowling (47), O Eastwood for Lynch (72)
Yellow cards: Hamill (14), McBride (24) , Dowling (46), McAleer (70)
Black card: Hamill (70)
Red cards: C Murray (69), Beatty (70)
Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh)
