ALL-IRELAND SFC QUALIFIERS ROUND ONE Armagh 2-14 Donegal 0-11:A WEAKENED Armagh side, without Ronan Clarke, Brian Mallon, Ryan Henderson and Kieran Toner but showing no trace of a psychological scar following their humiliation by Monaghan, torpedoed Donegal's planned rehabilitation in the All-Ireland Qualifiers at Crossmaglen.
In their first home championship match in 15 years, the Orchard County had regained a considerable measure of credibility by half-time when they led by 2-6 to 0-4, Jamie Clarke’s two goals in the third and eighth minutes underpinning their renaissance.
And with hard-working Gareth Swift splendidly complementing the efforts of Charlie Vernon and debutant Francis Hanratty at midfield, a quick-fire four-point burst immediately after the break allowed the home side to take up residence on easy street.
With Steven McDonnell for once outshone by the impressive Clarke, Swift at the heart of virtually every incision into a beleaguered Donegal defence, and Brendan Donaghy and Andy Mallon twin pillars at the back, Armagh enhanced their prospects of making significant headway along the Qualifiers route.
Michael Murphy operated virtually in isolation up front for Donegal but still managed to plunder six points (four frees),
Neil Gallagher worked courageously in the middle third and Barry Dunnion offered commendable resistance at the back.
But for John Joe Doherty’s side this tie merely added insult to injury in the wake of the Ulster exit at home to Down, with the dismissal of substitute Eamon McGee for a second yellow card in the 65th minute compounding their woes.
And indeed it may well have precipitated former All-Ireland winner Doherty’s departure from his post.
“There are procedures to be gone through and I will have a think about things over the next week,” said a crestfallen Doherty afterwards.
In contrast, his Armagh counterpart Paddy O’Rourke, while drinking in the positives, lost no time in insisting: “It’s very gratifying to get this win but there is still work to be done. We made mistakes and we will have to iron these out.”
ARMAGH: P Hearty; A Mallon, B Donaghy, V Martin; P Duffy, C McKeever, K Dyas; C Vernon (0-1), F Hanratty; A Duffy, A Kernan (0-3, 0-2 frees), M Mackin; G Swift (0-3), S McDonnell (0-3, 0-2 frees), J Clarke (2-2). Subs: J Feeney (0-2) for A Duffy (20 mins), P McKeown for Mallon (65), T Kernan for Hanratty (69). Yellow cards: Swift (45 mins), Hanratty (53).
DONEGAL: P Durcan; P McGrath, N McGee, K Lacey; M Maguire, B Dunnion, F McGlynn; N Gallagher (0-1), K Cassidy; M McHugh (0-1), R Kavanagh, D Walsh; C McFadden (0-1), M Murphy (0-6, 0-4 frees), C Dunne. Subs: E Wade for McGrath (13 mins), E McGee for Maguire (31 mins), C Toye for Dunne (half-time), A Hanlon for McFadden (47 mins). Yellow cards: Maguire (30 mins), E Magee (55). Red card: E McGee (65 mins).
Referee: Michael Duffy(Sligo).
