Football

How the Down players rated against Armagh...

Gerard Collins kept a close watch on Jamie Clarke at Pairc Esler yesterday. Picture by Philip Walsh
Gerard Collins kept a close watch on Jamie Clarke at Pairc Esler yesterday. Picture by Philip Walsh Gerard Collins kept a close watch on Jamie Clarke at Pairc Esler yesterday. Picture by Philip Walsh

Rory Burns: Was coming out to start Down moves all day but had his pocket picked by Stefan Campbell and when he felled the Lurgan man, he was shown a black card. 5.5

Darren O’Hagan: Battled like a trooper the whole game. Nullified the threat of Rory Grugan, who finished up scoreless, and led the charge in extra-time. 8

Ruairi Wells: Withdrawn after 25 minutes, replaced by James Guinness. Was finding the going tough on Rian O’Neill. 5

Gerard Collins: Played for over 70 minutes on a yellow card, but produced a disciplined display to limit the influence of Jamie Clarke, who was held scoreless after half-time. 7

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Ryan McAleenan: Found Stefan Campbell hard to handle when he came off the bench after the break. 6

Kevin McKernan: Showed his experience at times when Down needed it. Was moved on to Rian O’Neill after Wells went off, but the Crossmaglen man drifted outfield and ran the show as Armagh got across the line. 6.5

Daniel Guinness: Kept a close watch on Aidan Nugent and got forward to support the attack when he could. 6.5

Caolan Mooney: Looked a harsh enough sending off from where we were after appearing to catch Nugent high with a shoulder just before half-time. His pace was a big loss. 5.5

Conor Poland: Started well, driving at Armagh and scoring a first half point. Was moved on to Andy Murnin in extra-time but lost the St Paul’s man for Armagh’s crucial second goal in the second period of extra-time. 6.5

Conor Francis: Showed his pace but ran into trouble at times. Made a great interception in extra-time as Armagh advanced on the Down goal. 6.5

Jerome Johnston: A typically busy performance, and used the ball well. 7.5

Conor Maginn: The classy Bryansford man didn’t get into the game at all and was withdrawn in the second half. 5.5

Pat Havern: Showed glimpses of what he is capable of, and looked dangerous any time the ball went in. Rose well to score Down’s first goal. Returned to the action in extra-time after being subbed. 7

Donal O’Hare: Was on the fringes for long spells but accurate as usual from frees and took his goal well. 7

Connaire Harrison: Only finished up with a point but looked back to his best, causing the Armagh defence bother any time he got on the ball. 7.5

Substitutes

James Guinness: Made a big impact, especially in the second half. Scored the superb equaliser at the end of normal time and added another classy fisted effort in extra-time. 7.5

Mark Hynes: Looked a bit nervy, which is only to be expected after being thrust into action following Burns’s black card. Wrong-footed by Murnin’s fisted goal but brave to deny the Lurgan man minutes later. 6

Barry O’Hagan: Worked hard and scored a good point, but the game largely passed him by after. 6

Paul Devlin: Unerring from frees, and it was his long ball into the square that ended up in the Armagh net to spark hopes of another revival. 7.5

Cory Quinn: Made an instant impact when he found space and played in O’Hare for Down’s second goal. 6.5

Owen McCabe: Made a couple of catches but wasn’t hugely involved. 6

Ryan Mallon: Ran into trouble and lost possession, from which Armagh subsequently scored their second goal. 5.5

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