Allianz FL D1: Armagh and Kerry divide spoils

Allianz Football League Division One

Armagh 1-21 Kerry 0-24

By Steve Malone at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds

Kerry will face Donegal in the Allianz Football League Division One final next week after battling out a thrilling draw against Armagh, who survived being relegated.

Played in front 12, 124 fans at the Box-IT Athletic Grounds, it was a magnificent advertisement for the game and bodes well for the upcoming championship.

Kerry were untouchable for the first 20 minutes, in fact no Armagh outfield player kicked a ball until the seventh minute, such was the defending All-Ireland champions dominance.

So, it was no surprise, but still spectacular football to see the Kingdom race into a 0-10 to 0-0 lead, with David Clifford and Dylan Geaney on fire.

Again though, this wasn’t Armagh’s first rodeo of giving a team a head start and from 20 minutes onwards they fought their way back into contention with their breakneck speed attack.

Cian McConville broke Armagh’s duck, Darragh McMullan then floated over a two-pointer and while Clifford fisted over his fifth between Ben Crealey and Jarly Og Burns, momentum was with the Orchard.

Conor Turbitt replaced Oisin Conaty and he kicked over a two-pointer with his first touch and he tagged on another to make it a one-point game. But O’Connor replied for Kerry before the break, who led 0-12 to 0-10 at the turnaround.

Armagh came racing out in the second after with points from Greg McCabe, Ross McQuillan and Tomas McCormick, Clifford kept Kerry in front, but Oisin O’Neill’s goal on 47 minutes put Armagh ahead for the first time.

It was a lead that swapped places multiple times and the sides were level twice, the majestic Clifford kicked 10 points, including two two-pointers, although Seanie O’Shea was held to only a single point.

At the other end Cian McConville and Conaty were on target, and Conor Turbitt was denied a goal by Michael Burns’ last gasp goal-line clearance.

At the end Armagh had the chance to grab the winner, but they played the clock down in the last two minutes and the Orchard men couldn’t kick too early, in case Kerry replied and in the end they failed to hit the target as Ross McQuillan’s ball into the square was kept out.

It was an outstanding game of football.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes, Gareth Murphy, Aaron McKay, Peter McGrane, Ross McQuillian (0-3), Tiernan Kelly, Jarly Og Burns (0-1), Paddy Burns, Ben Crealey (0-1), Tomas McCormack (0-2) Darragh McMullen (0-4, 1tp), Greg McCabe (0-1), Cian McConville (0-3, 2fs), Jason Duffy, Oisin Conaty (0-2).

Subs: Oisin O’Neill (1-1, 1f) for J Burns (28’), Conor Turbitt (0-3, 1tp) for Conaty (30’), Oisin Conaty for Duffy (38’), J Burns for Crealey (blood sub 46’), J Burns for P Burns (52’), Callum O’Neill for Kelly (63’).

Kerry: Shane Murphy, Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey, Tom O’Sullivan (0-4, 2tp), Mike Breen, Armin Heinrich, Joe O’Connor (0-2), Sean O’Brien, Mark O’Shea, Seanie O’Shea (0-1), Graham O’Sullivan, Dylan Geaney (0-4), David Clifford (0-10, 2tp, 2fs), Keith Evans.

Subs: Micheal Burns for G O’Sullivan (46’) Tomas Kennedy for K Evans (46’), Killian Spillane for D Geaney (59’).

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).