Allianz National Football League Division Three: Armagh 1-16 Fermanagh 0-17
IT may only be Division Three silverware – but judging by the smiles among the Armagh players they were happy it was going back to the Orchard County.
Upon receiving the cup on the steps of the Hogan Stand, Armagh captain Rory Grugan pitched his speech perfectly.
It wasn't a day for fist pumping or adrenaline-fuelled addresses - just some measured points to be made, particularly in the direction of their opponents.
The Ballymacnab man acknowledged that Fermanagh would be a much tougher proposition when the sides meet at Brewster Park in the Ulster Championship on May 19.
By the end of Saturday evening’s Ulster derby, a deep chill had taken a firm grip of Croke Park.
Only the merry bands of Fermanagh supporters dotted around Hogan were prepared to brave the bitter cold for longer.
Two points separated the sides, a score-line that probably flattered Fermanagh.
Armagh held the upper hand in most areas of the field. They bottled up the Fermanagh attack.
Seamus Quigley was placed under house arrest by Brendan Donaghy for 70 minutes and was limited to converting nine frees although he lost his touch in the second half.
Conall Jones played inside for the most part and did well to mine three points from play but Fermanagh’s chances weren’t helped after Sean Quigley was rightly black-carded for obstructing Gregory McCabe after just three minutes.
Scores from play were, as ever, hard to come by for the Ernemen.
They only managed to stay within touching distance of Armagh in the first half due to referee James Molloy’s eagerness to punish any kind of physical contact.
“The free count was high, no matter what we try and do,” said Kieran McGeeney afterwards.
“Last week we didn’t get any frees against Wexford – none. People will probably point to our coaching or our style of play. That’s fair enough and we’re going to have to look and see how we can tidy that up but I don’t know if it can all be down to that.”
Quigley made hay, slinging over six of Fermanagh’s eight first-half scores from placed balls.
At the other end, Armagh’s approach play was good but the final pass let them down on more than a few occasions and they actually needed a beautiful Andy Murnin point in first-half injury-time to tie the game 0-8 to 0-8.
Even though there’s always a bit of shadow boxing between teams who have already secured promotion, Saturday’s Division Three decider was still instructive for both managers and both sets of players.
Declan McCusker may wear number six on his back but he spent more time in Armagh’s half of the field as James McMahon – a natural sweeper – minded the house.
Defenders Che Cullen and Mickey Jones both had spells on Andy Murnin and are acutely aware of the threat the Armagh full-forward will pose on May 19.
In claiming the only major of the day, Murnin was much more alert than Cullen and Barry Mulrone as he ghosted in to palm into the empty net after Gregory McCabe helped Ben Crealey’s high ball into the St Paul’s man’s path.
It put Armagh five points ahead with 16 minutes of normal time remaining.
Fermanagh will have a job on their hands next month trying to nullify the height, athleticism and scoring potential of Armagh quartet Stephen Sheridan, Niall Grimley, Charlie Vernon and Ben Crealey who were at times impassable around the middle of the field on Saturday.
And they also had no answer to man-of-the-match Patrick Burns whose penetrating forward runs from deep were a glowing feature of this final.
Ryan McShane also staked a claim for a place in Armagh’s Championship forward line after coming in for the injured Charlie Vernon before half-time, scoring two points and playing with incredible verve.
Aidan Forker rounded off his NFL campaign with another impressive show, chipping in with two points from play, while the substitute appearance of Kevin Dyas on the hour mark after a three-year absence was roundly cheered by Armagh supporters.
Armagh may have won most sectors of the field, but they still only won by two points.
Fermanagh threw the shackles off in the final quarter and their attack by then was bolstered by substitutes Tomas and Ruairi Corrigan.
Ryan Jones took aim in the 59th minute and reduced the arrears to 1-13 to 0-13.
His younger brother, Conall, hit two late points but Armagh made a couple of counter-attacks tell in the closing stages to jab their way to the finish.
There was plenty to learn for both management teams ahead of their Ulster Championship showdown next month.
It’s worth noting too that just because you’re given a whistle doesn’t mean you always have to blow it.
With promotion in the bag, however, Armagh and Fermanagh move on.
At this stage, the Orchard men's stride looks a little more comfortable.
Armagh: B Hughes; P Burns (0-2), A McKay, C Macken; N Rowland (0-1), B Donaghy, G McCabe (0-1); S Sheridan, C Vernon; B Crealey (0-1), A Forker (0-2), N Grimley (0-4, 0-3 frees); R Grugan, A Murnin (1-3), E Rafferty Subs: R McShane (0-2) for C Vernon (33), G McParland for E Rafferty (47), K Dyas for N Rowland (60), O Mac Iomhair for R Grugan (70), R Owens for C Macken (73)
Yellow cards: B Donaghy (15), N Rowland (27), E Rafferty (31), R Grugan (35), B Donaghy (39), G McCabe (58), A Murnin (70), S Sheridan (71)
Fermanagh: P Cadden; M Jones, C Cullen, E McHugh; B Mulrone (0-1), D McCusker (0-1), J McMahon; E Donnelly, R Jones (0-2); T Clarke, C McGee, A Breen; Sean Quigley, C Jones (0-3), Seamus Quigley (0-9 frees) Subs: K Connor for E McHugh (h/t), R Corrigan for C McGee (41), D Teague for T Clarke (44), T Corrigan (0-1) for A Breen (51), E Maguire for J McMahon (63)
Yellow cards: E Donnelly (16), D Teague (70)
Black cards: Sean Quigley replaced by C Corrigan (3-4)
Referee: J Molloy (Galway)
