Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup semi-final: Armagh 2-7 Derry 0-17
SHANE McGuigan hit 10 points as Derry saw off a stubborn Armagh to book their place in next Saturday’s Dr McKenna Cup final at Healy Park (5pm).
Goals from Sean Conlon and Ben Crealey either side of half-time kept the Orchardmen in touch and the sides swapped scores throughout the second half before Mickey Harte’s men pulled away in the final 10 minutes of an entertaining affair.
Armagh fielded a combination of young hopefuls and players working their way back from an injury-ruined 2023 including Niall Rowland, Ciaron O’Hanlon, Mark Shields and Oisin O’Neill. All four showed well as Armagh produced a spirited first half comeback against a Derry side that included 2023 Allstars Brendan Rogers, Gareth McKinless and Shane McGuigan.
“There was a lot of positives,” said Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney.
“On three or four occasions they were able to stop us on the transition and it probably cost us a couple of goals. We were through twice and ‘smart fouls’ pulled us up. But there was a lot of good stuff there, a lot of fellas who hadn’t had football for a long time and a lot of subs putting their hands up so it was really good to see but unfortunately we just couldn’t stay in the game.”
Derry created four goal-scoring opportunities but were denied by a string of fine saves by Armagh goalkeeper Blaine Hughes who did his chances of a recall to the National League squad no harm at all.
“If you’re creating four goal chances then that means that you’re doing something right,” said Derry manager Mickey Harte.
“I would be much happier about creating four goal chances than missing them rather than not creating anything at all.”
Back in the final of a competition he made a habit of winning with Tyrone, Harte once again highlighted the benefits of Ulster’s pre-season series.
“I believe it is seriously valuable,” he said.
“Some of our players will have four games under their belt before they get to Kerry and that can’t be bad. Game time is essential and the more games we get in a competitive area, I am all for that.
“I would like to see it staying. It is very important because people are going straight into the National League at the end of January and if you go straight into that, it devalues the League.
“If people are not playing in competitions like this, they will by hunting down challenge matches. This is a ready-made competition which is there, crowds come to it, the media cover it. What better way could you get to prepare for the real season?”
Harte’s men took the lead when Dan Higgins slipped in Conor Doherty who opened the scoring inside the first minute and then O’Hanlon, back in the starting line-up after a long absence, was crowded out as he tried to respond.
Chrissy McKaigue shot wide for Derry but his Slaughtneil clubmate McGuigan did better seconds later and it took a brave save from Blaine Hughes, who had an excellent evening with his kickouts, to deny Diarmuid Baker after McKinless broke up an Armagh attack. He passed to Cormac Murphy who went on a mazy run before slipping in Baker whose shot was smothered by the Carrickcruppen netminder.
Darragh McMullan’s effort drifted wide as the Orchardmen countered and his opposite number (Murphy) made no mistake as he added another point to Derry’s total.
Sean Conlon replied with a mark for Armagh (after an O’Hanlon pass) but Derry were dominating possession and Higgins punched a hole in their defensive semi-circle to clip over Derry’s fourth.
An Oisin O’Neill free kept the home side in touch and Justin Kieran and Ben Crealey scores left it level after 20 minutes. At the other end, McGuigan kicked Derry’s fifth wide and, after Oisin O’Neill’s mishit shot turned into an up-and-under, Conlon grabbed the breaking ball and beat Odhran Lynch with a cool finish to give Armagh the lead.
McGuigan clicked into gear with a point from play and two frees to level matters and Odhran Lynch, making his first start of the year, saved brilliantly from Cian McConville to make sure it stayed that way until the break.
Derry quickly had their noses back in front. Ciaran Higgins was adjudged to have fouled McGuigan and the sharpshooter slotted over the free and when he was fouled again, this time by Tomas McCormack, he added another.
Armagh hit back. Impressive Silverbridge clubman Conlon and Connaire Mackin sent McConville through and he cracked in a shot that Lynch did brilliantly to save but Oisin O’Neill pulled on the loose ball and as it broke, Ben Crealey met it with his right fist to send it into the net.
McGuigan’s third free of the half levelled it again and a Padraig McGrogan score meant they regained the lead before McGrogan blasted a shot off the Armagh crossbar after good work from McGuigan and Rogers.
But the Orchardmen stubbornly refused to yield - Oisin O’Neill levelled and Armagh ‘keeper Hughes saved well from McKinless as they dug their heels in and the tit-for-tat nature continued as Conlon and McGuigan and then Oisin O’Neil and Paul Cassidy traded scores.
Senior debutant Cormac Murphy’s long range point ended the sequence and McGuigan’s seventh free sent Derry two ahead and Conor Doherty plucked the kickout out of the to send Mickey Harte’s men on the attack again.
Eoin McEvoy fisted over another to open a three-point lead and this time Armagh couldn’t reply. Wides from Oisin O’Neill and Rowland were all they could muster as McGuigan reached double-figures before an entertaining tussle came to an end.
Armagh: B Hughes; T McCormack, C Higgins, S Conlon (1-2, 0-1 mark); Connaire Mackin, N Rowland, M Shields; B Crealey (1-1), C O’Neill; C O’Hanlon, J Sheridan, J Kieran (0-1); C McConville, O O’Neill (0-3, 0-2 frees), D McMullan
Subs: J Og Burns for Sheridan (46), D Magee for Crealey (65), M McConville for Conlon (67)
Yellow cards: McCormack (57), Kieran (69), O’Hanlon (70)
Derry: O Lynch; D Baker, E McEvoy, C McKaigue; C Doherty (0-1), G McKinless, P McGrogan (0-1); D Higgins (0-1), B Rogers; D Gilmore, D Cassidy, P Cassidy (0-1); B McCarron, S McGuigan (0-10, 0-8 frees), C Murphy (0-2)
Subs: N Toner for McCarron (46), N Loughlin for D Cassidy (46), R Forbes for Higgins (67), N O’Donnell for Murphy (70)
Yellow cards: McKinless (33), Gilmore (60)
Referee: P Clarke (Cavan)
Attendance: 4,437