DERRY RATINGS
Odhran Lynch: Hadn’t many options against the gale, picked a few nice balls amid the hounding pressure. Allowed to short the whole second period. Stood up well to the only half chance for Armagh. 7
Paul McNeill: Both of Jamie Clarke’s first-half points came when he was caught up field attacking and Derry were turned over. More comfortable second half. 6
Brendan Rogers: Took whoever rotated into full-forward, with a particular eye for Oisin O’Neill. Tried to carry ball forward. Guilty of a rash wide late on. 6
Carlus McWilliams: The Ballinascreen man won the nod as the team’s sweeper but didn’t close off the space well enough in the first half. Much better second half, forcing several turnovers. 6
Padraig Cassidy: Found himself largely at wing-back. Had a few excellent moments like a brilliant mark and some good work around midfield, but was also caught napping defensively a couple of times. 6
Chrissy McKaigue: Given a man-marking detail on Rian O’Neill, McKaigue performed it brilliantly all evening. Dominated their multiple kickout contests. 8.5
Padraig McGrogan: Had some really good defensive moments in which he looked a veteran, but had lapses too, including giving the ball away for Oisin O’Neill’s goal chance. 6.5
Ciaran McFaul: The best player on the pitch for the first 40 minutes, everything good that Derry did went through him. Brilliant score from the sideline. Eventually the energy sapped and his decision-making wasn’t as solid in the last 20 minutes. 8.5
Conor Glass: Very rusty in terms of his ball skills but was a good help for Derry in the air and created a couple of great turnovers during the early second-half purple patch. 6
Danny Tallon: The Glen man struggled to get into the game. Couldn’t control a ball in behind on a half goal chance. 5.5
Enda Lynn: Kept showing and coming to take the ball, and never stopped trying to drive at Paddy Burns and create gaps, but he was brilliantly marked. 6.5
Ethan Doherty: Tried to play high up the pitch and occupy the Armagh defence, and did well to link the attack with some simple touches. Decent debut. 6
Emmett Bradley: Kicked one fine score in the first half but didn’t get on enough ball thoughout. Fisted an effort on to the post. Didn’t get a shot off in the second half, disappointingly for a player with such range. 6
Shane McGuigan: Had to come around midfield to forage for ball in the first half. Had a great start to the second half and kicked some brilliant frees, but Ryan Kennedy will be happy with his night’s work. 7
Niall Loughlin: Derry’s best forward. Had a brilliant battle with Aidan Forker. Loughlin was the man Derry leant on inside to win a lot of ball. Kicked one outstanding score. Forker kept taking him for runs and making him work the other way too. 7.5
Subs
Patrick Kearney: A proven goal threat, he was moved to full-forward late on but wasn’t utilised. 6
Oisin McWilliams: Busied himself around half-back but without any huge penetration. 6
Paul Cassidy: Not on long enough to be rated.
Alex Doherty: Not on long enough to be rated.
** * * *
ARMAGH RATINGS
Blaine Hughes: Had a sticky patch at the start of the second half but when Niall Grimley came on, the three kicks with which he found the Madden man were superb and bought Armagh out of trouble. 7
Ryan Kennedy: Has enjoyed the faith of Kieran McGeeney recently and repaid it. Stuck ultra-tight to Shane McGuigan and kept him scoreless from play, conceding just one scoreable free all day. 8.5
Aidan Forker: Showed all his guile and experience to drain the legs from Niall Loughlin by constantly making him chase. Conceded two but crucially scored two as well. Brainy performance. 8.5
James Morgan: Fell into a number of different roles in defence across the 70 minutes, most of them in around his own house, and kept the game nice and tidy. 6.5
Conor O’Neill: Dominated his battle with Danny Tallon and hooked a fine score when he got the chance late in the first half. Armagh’s sole debutant was solid. 6.5
Greg McCabe: Quietly went about his business of marking Emmett Bradley and did it efficiently and with very little fuss. 6.5
Mark Shields: Never gets the credit he merits. Quietish first half but when Armagh were looking a line broken in the second half, he was the man. Could have had three goals if team-mates had spotted his intelligent runs. 7.5
Paddy Burns: Brought out from the full-back line and given the detail of Enda Lynn, Burns was excellent. Strong, robust, fast, he was able for every step the Greenlough man took. 8.5
Oisin O’Neill: Played most of the night at midfield but the bulk of his good work was done in the spells when he played closer to goal. Two fines points. Played them out of bother well when he dropped deep late on. 8
Stephen Sheridan: Operated around the middle third and just had a few moments in the game, including one run in behind where if the pass was right he had a goal. 6
Rian O’Neill: While he was outmoded in open play by Chrissy McKaigue, who got the better of the kickout battle, some of O’Neill’s free-taking was superb. Two late beauties into the wind sealed victory. 6.5
Stefan Campbell: Got himself in around the ball on a lot of kickouts and had plenty of possession in the first half. Quiet second half until the death when his direct running hurt Derry by drawing a crucial free. 6.5
Jarlath Óg Burns: Played a wider role and we didn’t see any of his spectacular high-fielding or really the penetrative running, but played a smart second half in a deeper position. 6
STAR MAN
Rory Grugan: Largely played on the inside line and continued his excellent form. Grugan’s alertness and vision were evident from start to finish. Orchestrated the attack. 9
Jamie Clarke: Capitalised on the spaces early on as he twice took points from counter-attacks that saw Paul McNeill misplaced. His best game in a while. 8
Subs
Niall Grimley: A colossal impact on the game. Three kickouts his way, three won, he bought Armagh out of trouble. 8
Callum Cumiskey: Intercepted the one ball that fell in his vicinity as sweeper. 6
