Allianz Football League Division Three: Armagh 2-17 Sligo 0-9
IT’S January, it’s early days and Sligo lacked in too many departments to mention – but it’s hard to imagine Armagh being in Division Three next season.
Their assignments will undoubtedly get tougher – starting with Westmeath in Mullingar next weekend – but the Orchard men look like a team that can handle most things that will be thrown at them this year in their pursuit of promotion.
It’s true Sligo made too many unforced errors in possession – but Armagh responded in ruthless fashion and led 0-10 to 0-2 at the break.
The home side imposed themselves right from the start.
With the wind at their backs in the first half, they dominated Sligo’s kick-outs, they converted the vast majority of the chances they created and their tackling and harassment of the Sligo attackers were glowing features of a very satisfying afternoon.
They had star performers in every sector of the field. Young Blaine Hughes did all that was asked of him in Armagh’s goal.
There could be a full-back in Dromintee’s Aaron McKay after yesterday’s excellent display.
Paul Hughes was in cruise control from start to finish, while man-of-the-match Stephen Sheridan dominated midfield with typical tenacity and composure, alongside the impressive Charlie Vernon.
At wing-forward, Ryan McShane’s GPS stats must have gone through the roof, Aidan Forker pulled the strings at centre-forward but it was the inside forward line that really caught the eye.
Rory Grugan, Andrew Murnin and Ethan Rafferty were hugely impressive, notching a combined 2-9.
Manager Kieran McGeeney insisted he “wouldn’t be lighting any bonfires” after their emphatic 14-point victory and quipped that the result would probably keep the “keyboard warriors and Facebook heroes” quiet for 24 hours.
Armagh may be missing some key players in 2018 –including Jamie Clarke and James Morgan – but ‘Geezer’ was keeping the door ajar for any of the absentees to return.
“It was a good performance,” he said.
“We played well in patches but we got a bit sloppy in the second half. We hit 2-17 so we can’t complain.
With a wry smile, the Armagh manager added: “We’re one game in. I’ve visions in my head of other people doing interviews after four games and them being quite different. I wouldn’t be blowing any trumpets, but we’re happy with that today.
“I think it’s important that we’ve a group of fellas that love to wear the county jersey. Before anyone takes that [to mean] the players that aren’t here don’t, it’s just they’ve other things to do this year.
“They’re all good lads, I wouldn’t have a bad word to say about any of them. I know they’ll be back in an Armagh jersey and we’d hope that’s sooner rather than later.
“There’s a good atmosphere in the group. We know we’ll be up against it next week against Westmeath.
“Division Three is tight this year. Derry, Fermanagh and Westmeath are three very strong teams coming into it.”
Sligo, who may struggle in the division, couldn’t live with their hosts’ physicality and pace and had to wait until the 28th to register their first score of the day, and it was in the 50th minute before they got anything from play.
Three of Armagh’s first-half scores stand above all others.
Ethan Rafferty hit two screamers from distance while Grugan finished off a flowing move involving Forker and Murnin in the 32nd minute.
Despite having the stiff breeze at their backs for the second half, Sligo conceded the first of two majors when Murnin palmed home from close range on 38 minutes.
And three minutes from normal time Rafferty thundered into the roof of Sligo’s net with Murnin turning provider.
On Rafferty’s 1-3 haul, ‘Geezer’ said: “Ethan didn’t get a pre-season done last year and this year he did. We slag him about having a bit of extra weight last year, whereas this year he hasn’t.
“He’s moving well, I’m delighted for him, he’s worked really hard in pre-season. But Ethan knows you’re only good as your next game but hitting 1-3 from play is good.”
After Forker glided over a lovely point in the 49th minute Sligo finally broke their duck from play a minute later through corner-forward Stephen Coen.
But every score Sligo mustered was a consolation rather than an act of defiance. With the game in the bag long before the final whistle, Armagh’s play became a bit ragged in the second half.
Adrian Marren hit back-to-back 45s just before the hour mark to reduce their hosts’ lead to 1-13 to 0-5 but Niall Grimley, keen to impress from the bench, helped himself to his second and third points of the day to put Sligo out of their misery.
Sligo’s new boss Cathal Corey certainly has his work cut out – but reckons they were beaten by arguably the best team in the division.
“It’s disappointing to come up to Armagh today as we were hoping to get a performance and bring a bit of intensity to it, but our boys couldn’t get up to that level so we’ve a bit of work to do,” said the Tyrone native.
“Armagh have a lot of work done. They’re big, strong and mobile, and they move at pace.
“They’re well oiled. It’s hard not to see them getting out of Division Three this year.”
Armagh: B Hughes; P Burns, A McKay, P Hughes; N Rowland (0-1 free), G McCabe, M Shields (0-1); S Sheridan (0-1), C Vernon (0-1); R McShane, A Forker (0-1), R Lappin; R Grugan (0-6, 0-4 frees), A Murnin (1-0), E Rafferty (1-3)
Subs: N Grimley (0-3, 0-2 frees) for R Lappin (h-t), B Crealey for R McShane (60), J McElroy for A Forker (67); Blood sub: J McElroy for G McCabe (54-59)
Yellow cards: O Lappin (3), E Rafferty (64), J McElroy (70)
Sligo: A Devaney; L Nicholson, E McGuinness, M Gordon; K Cawley, D Cummins, G O’Kelly-Lynch; J Clarke, P O’Connor; N Ewing, F Cawley, N Murphy; S Coen (0-3, 0-1 free), P Hughes, A Marren (0-6, 0-4 frees, 0-2 45s)
Subs: C Breheny for J Clarke (33), L Gaughan for F Cawley (45), S Carribine for D Cummins (45), K Cawley for P O’Connor (49), R Donovan for K Cawley (54), P Kilcoyne for N Murphy (65)
Yellow cards: A Marren (34), N Ewing (74)
Referee: B Cawley (Kildare)
