All-Ireland SFC Qualifying round 4B: Kildare 0-17 Armagh 1-17
ONLY an ugly goal from Andrew Murnin separated these sides but Armagh fully deserved to dance with delight as U2’s ‘Beautiful Day’ blasted out after the final whistle.
It’s said that fortune favours the brave but although the Orchardmen enjoyed some luck there was no doubting that they were the better team, as acknowledged by Kildare boss Cian O’Neill.
Armagh’s effort and positive approach earned them a return to the last eight for the first time since manager Kieran McGeeney was second in command to Paul Grimley three years ago.
Their reward is a dubious one, taking on Ulster champions Tyrone this Saturday, but what matters is that their journey continues while their Ulster conquerors Down are over and out.
Only behind on four occasions, for perhaps five minutes in total, Armagh hit back quickly every time, sending out the clear message that they would not accept being second best.
Roared on by a typically large support, their bravery brought five of the last six scores, after Kildare had twice gone ahead around the end of the third quarter, turning what seemed to be an imminent defeat into a memorable victory.
Jamie Clarke was central to that, time after time showing for the ball and winning it, his desire surely inspirational to his team-mates. He scored a lovely left-footed leveller to spark that final surge, a point that encapsulated all that was good – and there was plenty of that – about Armagh on Saturday evening.
Substitute Ciaron O’Hanlon effected a turnover with the type of tenacious tackling shown throughout the match by his colleagues, notably Crossmaglen duo James Morgan and Paul Hughes, then powered forward to supply Oisin O’Neill, and that precocious Ranger found his club-mate Clarke, who stylishly split the posts.
Armagh were more defensive than they had been previously this season, at times with only one inside-forward up, but that’s to their credit, rather than a criticism.
Besides, they still scored 1-14 from play, including 1-8 from their full-forward line, and they pushed plenty of players into attack when the game was in the balance.
Indeed backs going forward helped ensured Armagh’s progress to the quarter-finals.
What proved to be the winning point came from a surprising source on the hour, at least in terms of the finisher – the creator was Clarke, setting up sweeper Brendan Donaghy to fire a shot over off the left upright.
There was still time for plenty more action, with Kildare captain Kevin Feely scoring a free but then somehow missing a simple 65th minute free which would have levelled matters, before Armagh extended their lead to three.
To compound Kildare’s woe at Feely’s dreadful miss, Armagh sub Ethan Rafferty went up the other end and kicked a superb score from the right wing, again showing the strength in depth of the squad.
Then Armagh’s courage was once more exemplified by corner-back Hughes pushing up to supply Clarke, who was fouled for a free which Niall Grimley pointed.
Clarke showed superb leadership in the second half, out in front seemingly every time, getting his hands on the ball then slipping rapidly away from the grasping reach of desperate defenders.
There was similar boldness at the other end of the pitch, in the nerveless nature of goalkeeper Blaine Hughes’s kick-outs, pinging passes between white shirts to team-mates rather than lofting hopeful balls.
That was part of Armagh’s smart strategy of avoiding Kildare’s powerful midfield, another aspect of which involved Stephen Sheridan sticking close to Feely to prevent him taking clean catches or seizing on break ball.
Their altered starting selection was intelligent too, with Aaron McKay deployed as an extra defender, allowing Donaghy to sweep, even if the former was one of the few in orange to under-perform, committing some needless fouls before being replaced.
Armagh’s subs were a credit to their management, beginning with McKay’s replacement Joe McElroy scoring within a minute of his introduction to restore a four-point lead.
Although Kildare had scored inside the opening minute of the match following a surge from wing-back Keith Cribbin, the Orchardmen settled well and were only behind once more before the break after Murnin got them onto the scoreboard.
They were helped by some sloppy shooting from the Lilywhites, who had six wides to Armagh’s two in the first half.
Kildare might even have lost their goalkeeper and long-range placed ball kicker Mark Donnellan in the 15th minute after he deliberately collided his body with Murnin, the very definition of a black card offence – yet he escaped with a yellow.
Kildare clearly had good performers themselves, including half-forwards Fergal Conway and Niall Kelly, and their inside trio all got on the scoresheet as well to lift them into a 7-6 lead, despite two shots coming back off the right-hand upright.
The Kildare defence seemed to be getting on top too – but then Armagh hit them with the game’s only goal after half an hour.
Stefan Campbell, who had just equalised, delivered to Rory Grugan’s chest but the skipper did the real work in creating the opening, forcing his way past Keith Cribbin and supplying Murnin, whose scuffed shot deflected off corner-back Mick O’Grady and slipped under the goalkeeper, to be gleefully followed into the net by the St Paul’s, Lurgan clubman.
That score was the difference at half-time, Armagh leading by 1-8 to 0-8, but although they twice extended that advantage, Kildare struck back powerfully, putting together a streak of six scores out of seven to go ahead by 0-15 to 1-11.
The second half was thrilling, nerve-jangling entertainment – although it appeared that the momentum was with the Lilywhites, Armagh wrested back control of the game.
The fresh legs of O’Hanlon and Oisin O’Neill ran relentlessly towards the Canal End, and Clarke raced in the opposite direction, before whipping around to score himself or send colleagues towards the Kildare posts.
There was still the threat that victory could slip away from Armagh, especially in five minutes of added time.
Kildare knew they needed a goal and launched a high ball in towards their new full-forward, Feely – but there was Donaghy rising above him to claim possession and clear the danger.
Armagh know they will be even longer shots next Saturday against the Red Hands but a repeat performance of admirable attacking and determined defending will ensure a competitive contest at the very least. Bravery is often praised in defeat – Armagh got their due reward.
Kildare: M Donnellan (0-1 free); M O'Grady, D Hyland, O Lyons; P Kelly, J Byrne, K Cribbin (0-2); K Feely (capt.) (0-5 frees), P Cribbin; F Conway (0-2), N Kelly (0-2), D Slattery; P Brophy (0-3), D Flynn (0-1), B McCormack (0-1)
Substitutes: C McNally for McCormack (45); F Dowling for Slattery (50); M Hyland for P Kelly (56); C O'Donoghue for K Cribin (59, black card); E Callaghan for N Kelly (64); T Moolick for Flynn (68)
Yellow cards: Conway (13); Donnellan (16); Flynn (36, first half); Lyons (55)
Black card: K Cribbin (58, replaced by C O'Donoghue)
Armagh: B Hughes; J Morgan, C Vernon, P Hughes; M Shields, B Donaghy (0-1), A Forker (0-1); S Sheridan, N Grimley (0-2 frees); A McKay, S Campbell (0-1), R Grugan (capt.) (0-2, 0-1 free); J Clarke (0-4), A Murnin (1-1), G McParland (0-3)
Substitutes: J McElroy (0-1) for McKay (38); C O'Hanlon for Forker (45); E Rafferty (0-1) for Murnin (48); O O'Neill for Campbell (49); A Duffy for Grugan (64).
Yellow cards: Forker (18); Morgan (37); Rafferty (52)
Referee: Derek O'Mahoney (Tipperary).
Attendance: 38,900
