THE FUTURE’S bright, the future’s Orange.
Armagh focus may be a bit blurred on today of all days, yet it is transfixed on August 29, Croke Park, and the hunger challenge of reaching the last All-Ireland final of the millenium.
Diarmaid Marsden and Oisin McConville, the deadly twins, were the trail-blazers of this stunning win. Unstoppable and irrepressible, Marsden ransacked their opponents fullback line.
He scored 1-2, had a hand in another 1-2 and so much more, while McConville weighed in with a heavyweight 2-7. Armagh’s tactic of isolating their danger men, deploying a two man striking partnership, released demons Down were never able to resist.
Marsden’s signature on the game, watched by over 36,000, payed full justice to his renowned skills, and as an inspiration,the 24-year-old was a sensation.
Finbar Caulfield, outstanding in his semi-final shackling of Tyrone’s star man Peter Canavan, might have wondered after 20-odd minutes if he’d just been caught in the lethal eye of a hurricane as Marsden wreaked havoc.
Not even the switching of Paul Higgins after 25 minutes could stifle the Lurgan man’s threat. McConville produced an absolute stormer too, ran young Paudie Matthews round in circles and ragged, and sparkled in every facet of the game.
The victory closed the book on 1961 and 1981, the only previous championship deciders fought with Down, the ghosts of finals past and lost.
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FOR probably the only time in what is likely to be several days of serious partying, hushed silence falls in Armagh.
Down manager Peter McGrath has made his way into the winners’ enclosure and speaks with the eloquence and dignity all have come to expect during his 10 year tenure.
Laughing off the irony that he had perhaps taught many of the Armagh players from their St Colman’s days “too well” McGrath brought calmness to the emotion.
While the supporters continued the celebrations outside, the winners listened carefully.
“Enjoy this victory, you have deserved it. But tomorrow or the next day you must look back on this as an All-Ireland quarter-final.
“When you refocus again know that you carry Down support with you as you go to Croke Park and we wish you the very best.”
After the kind words, it was fun-time again
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Armagh 3-12
Goals: Oisin McConville (2), Diarmaid Marsden (1)
Points: Oisin McConville, (7), Diarmaid Marsden (2), John McEntee (1) Paul McGrane (1), Tony McEntee (1),
Bookings: Justin McNulty (27), K McGeeney (31)
Sent Off: None
Team: B Tierney, E McNulty, G Reid, J McNulty, K Hughes, K McGeeney, A McCann, J Burns (capt), P McGrane, P McKeever, J McEntee, J Rafferty, C O’Rourke, D Marsden, O McConville
Sub: T McEntee for Rafferty (49)
Down: 0-10
Goals: None
Points: Shane Mulholland (4), Ciaran McCabe (2), Shane Ward (1), Ross Carr (1), Brian Burns (1), Gregory McCartan (1)
Bookings: Miceal Magill (18), Sean Ward (24), Shane Mulholland (57), Ross Carr (43), Gregory McCartan (63)
Sent Off: Sean Ward (60)
Team: M McVeigh, F Caulfield, Sean Ward, P Matthews, P Higgins, M Magill (capt), S Poland, B Burns, A Molloy, R Carr, S Mulholland, G Deegan, M Linden, C McCabe, Shane Ward
Subs: G McCartan for Molloy (32), A Farrell for Deegan (58), J McCartan for Linden (60)
Referee: Paddy Russell (Tipperary)
Attendance: 36,345
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STAR MAN
Oisin McConville (Armagh)
ARMAGH fans have been waiting a long time for McConville to put in a match winning performance for the county, as he has regularly done for Crossmaglen.
His understanding with Diarmaid Marsden yesterday will have scared all of the remaining teams left in this year’s championship and his personal tally of 2-7, taken from play and dead ball situations was superb.
He gave Paudie Matthews a torrid afternoon and showed his confidence going for goal from the penalty when a point would easily have sufficed.
He proved his inter-county class is beyond doubt and relished the big day atmosphere of an Ulster final.
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Ulster MFC final: Donegal 0-10 Down 0-10
Donegal ‘no fears’ as Toye gives them a second chance
AN injury-time point by Donegal substitute Christie Toye earned Donegal a deserved second bite at the cherry in the curtain-raiser yesterday.
Donegal manager Anthony Molloy said afterwards he had “no fears” of another match against Down and that his side would be ready.
Despite leading by five points to two at half-time, Molloy saw his team’s cushion slowly eaten away but they showed great character and tenacity to stay with Down when the inevitable fightback came.
Yet there was a distinct feeling afterwards that Donegal have blown their chance.
Down only got going towards the end and while Donegal played with admirable discipline and organisation to frustrate the Mournemen, Down are the ones with plenty of room for improvement.
Both sides have plenty of reason to look forward to the weekend, but there’s a suspicion Down have more left in the tank.
Donegal: S Sweeney, M Maguire, P McGonigly, J Sweeney, S McDermott, P Gallagher, D Alcorn, B Boyle, E Sweeney, K Rafferty (0-1), JP Boyle (0-3, all frees), M McGinty (0-1), C McFadden (0-4), K McGlynn, K Cassidy
Subs: C Toye (0-1) for McGonigly (37 mins), D Breslin for Alcorn (54 mins).
Down: J Sloan, J Clarke, B Grant, C Murtagh, M Doran (0-1), L Doyle, B Kearney, L Sloan, M Walsh (0-2), D McGrady (0-1), B Coulter (0-1), R Murtagh (0-2), G Morgan, J Fegan (0-3), R Sexton
Subs: PJ McAlinden for Morgan (41 mins).
Referee: Michael Hughes (Tyrone).
