T-Met Armagh SFC round two Qualifier: Granemore 1-11 St Patrick’s, Cullyhanna 0-13
GRANEMORE captain Jason O’Neill pointed a free five minutes into injury-time at the Athletic Grounds on Friday to book his side a quarter-final spot against Maghery.
This second round qualifier only came to life when Granemore midfielder Brendan Boylan grabbed a spectacular goal midway through the second half to level the contest 0-11 to 1-8 and set up a pulsating final quarter.
The sides were level on four occasions early on before St Pat’s opened up a 0-9 to 0-5 interval lead, Aidan Nugent and Gareth Mackin doing most of the scoring. The Granemore first half scores were shared by O’Neill and Christopher O’Connor.
The Cullyhanna men still had a 0-11 to 0-7 advantage 11 minutes into the second period but the momentum suddenly switched Granemore’s way when county man Caolan Rafferty carved out the Boylan goal. Ryan Rafferty’s fisted point with 10 minutes remaining had them ahead but Eamon Casey’s white flag on the stroke of normal time locked the sides together again.
Granemore regained the lead in injury-time with O’Connor’s fifth helping, only for star man Nugent to push his personal tally to 0-9, levelling matters for a seventh time. And there was still time for more drama as Granemore won a late free which O’ Neill converted to send them through.
Abbey Park in the city is the venue for tonight’s second round qualifier between Killeavy and Wolfe Tone’s (6.15pm).
The Derrymacash side recorded a rare senior championship success when they defeated Tir na nOg in a first round qualifier last weekend.
Killeavy, despite losing by four goals, gave a good account of themselves in their second round tie with holders Crossmaglen. They kept Cross to 2-2 in the opening half, and their first round 2-13 to 0-8 success over Carrickcruppen would suggest a marked improvement in championship form.
Tone’s gave as good as they got against Armagh Harps in the opening round, losing 1-15 to 2-8 and their league placing, finishing mid-table, puts them in a healthier spot than in previous seasons.
The teams played out a draw in the league and it will probably be as close again, though confidence in both camps should be reasonably high.
County man Finnian Moriarty has been performing consistently at midfield for the north Armagh representatives and defensively Ruairi and Caolan McCaughley and James Martin have been catching the eye. Up front James Doyle, Declan Lavery, Niall Geoghegan, and Ryan McQuillan would be the difference.
Killeavy will again be without their county ace Ciaron O’ Hanlon who is in America, but in Donal O’ Neill, James Donnelly, Conor King, Gerard Byrne, Raymie Taggart and Michael Murphy they have players capable of getting them over the line.
The action remains in the city on Sunday with the meeting of Ballymacnab and Sarsfield’s at Pearse Óg Park (2pm).
Managed by former Tyrone star Pascal Canavan, the ’Nab have a chance to redeem themselves following their narrow defeat to outsiders Annaghmore.
Sarsfield’s let loose in extra-time in their qualifying game with Forkhill, scoring 4-6 after normal time ended 2-13 apiece.
The High Moss outfit were beaten 0-21 to 4-4 by Pearse Óg in round one. Both teams are fairly evenly matched, so a close game is in prospect.
The ’Nab will looking to Gavin McParland, Jack Grugan, Brian McCone, Brendan Toner and the Gribbens – Pauric, Richard and Joe – to steer them through, while Sarsfield’s will have every confidence in the Stevensons, Colin and Michael, the McGeowns, Eamon and Paul, Thomas McAlinden, Mark Reynolds and Paul McGaughey to help them get the result.
