Allianz FL D1: Donegal maintain good form

Allianz Football League Division One

Donegal 1-20 Armagh 0-19

By Steve Malone at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds

Donegal remain top of Division One after an enthralling four-point win over rivals Armagh.

The result leaves the Orchard in the relegation battle, with away games to Mayo and Dublin and last game at home against All-Ireland champions Kerry, but manager Kieran McGeeney will have seen enough to suggest his team isn’t too far away.

Donegal’s Jason Magee was outstanding, he kicked four cracking points and won ample ball throughout.

There were late changes with Jason Duffy and Darragh McMullen replacing Tomas McCormack and Fergal O’Brien in the Armagh side, while Donegal’s Conor McCahill got the nod to start.

Donegal were full value for their four-point lead at the break, the in-form table-toppers got ahead early on with wind-assisted two pointers and when Armagh reeled them back in, they had the response to kick on, if not overly clinical. Armagh kicked only two first half wides, including the last kick of the first period, which illustrates that the Orchard were taking most of their chances.

Michael Langan’s two-pointer set the tone and Oisin Gallen soon followed up with a score before Oisin O’Neill (free) got Armagh off the mark.

The heavy deluge of rain before throw-in meant that the Box-IT Athletic Grounds was slippery, which were certainly conducive to battles following kick-outs.

Jarly Óg Burns and Oisin Conaty traded points with Ryan McHughand Eoghan Ban Gallagher before Michael Langan fired Donegal into a 0-7 to 0-3 lead with 12 minutes played.

Armagh used the next eight minutes to pull themselves back into the contest, they took the sting out of the chaos and two Cian McConville points closed the gap and his cousin Oisin O’Neill delivered a fine brace of points to level.

Jason McGee and Conor Cahill hit back almost immediately before goalkeeper Gavin Mulreaney steered over a two-point free. They also kicked three efforts wide, including Ryan McHugh’s long-range daisy-cutter.

Magee’s second and another from Shane O’Donnell either side of Ross McQuillian’s stunning strike left four points between the sides at the break (0-13 to 0-9), but with the wind to Armagh’s back in the second half it was very much anyone’s game.

Armagh enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening 10 minutes of the restart but had only two points to show for it, whereas Donegal rattled 1-02, with Conor McDonnell scoring a sweet goal after a slow build-up.

Oisin Conaty could have made it a two-point game, but keeper Mulreany pulled over a great save at the near post. Still with momentum behind them points followed from Conor Turbitt, Ross McQuillan and Ben Crealey.

However, Donegal replied with a magnificent point from the brilliant Jason McGee and after Conor O’Donnell put the burners on he fired over a beauty.

The game looked to be running away from the Orchard but Darragh McMullan’s two pointer raised the home crowds hope, but converted two-point free from keeper Mulreaney was the perfect reply from Donegal.

Oisin O’Neill’s free made it a four-point game and there was none of the 10,256 crowd looking to beat the traffic. Armagh had a chance to respond, but Donegal keeper Mulreaney denied Oisin Conaty from a penalty, with a magnificent stop and Brendan Cole was well positioned on the line to save from Conaty’s follow-up shot.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes, Greg McCabe, Gareth Murphy, Pete McGrane, Ross McQuillan (0-03), Tiernan Kelly, Jarly Og Burns (0-01), Callum O’Neill (0-1), Ben Crealey (0-1), Dara McMullen (0-2, 1tp), Conor Turbitt (0-1), Jason Duffy, Cian McConville (0-3), Oisin O’Neill (0-6, 3fs), Oisin Conaty (0-1).

Subs: Tomas McCormack for Crealey (10 to 13’), Fergal O’Brien for Duffy (61’), Tomas McCormicj for McConville (67’),

Donegal: Gavin Multreany (0-4, 2tpf), Eoghan Ban Gallagher (0-1), Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan, Ryan McHugh (0-1), Coalan McGonagle, Finbarr Roarty, Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan (0-4, 2tp), Shane O’Donnell (0-01), Conor O’Donnell (1-1), Ciaran Moore, Conor McCahill (0-2), Jason McGee (0-4), Oisin Gallen (0-2).

Subs: Turlough Carr for Shane O’Donnell (46’), Shea Malone for C Cahill (52’), Paul O’Hare for O Gallen (55’), Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride for Moore (65’).

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).