The mysteries of GAA life. A pet November day, granting short reprieve from winter, and in the heartland of Galway football the newly-anointed All-Ireland champions gambolling in their refreshing way. Yet great tracts of the terracing in Tuam Stadium were untrampled by human feet as these two teams produced one of the best league games we have ever seen.
The fine weather, big-game brigade missed out on a good one. Armagh's sprightly brand of direct football disturbed Galway severely and they put three fine goals past the makeshift home full back line in the course of a performance the brisk style of which will have caused some rueful smiles in Kildare.
Armagh have improved with every outing this winter. Awful against Donegal. Good against Dublin. Excellent yesterday in annexing their first win. Admiring Galwaymen came away from Tuam debating whether the addition of the Crossmaglen contingent could possibly make Armagh even better or whether after yesterday Crossmaglen men would be finding it tough to make the team.
The game made the pulse race from the start, right from when Paul McGrane opened the scoring after just 15 seconds. Galway, as befits champions, were unperturbed by Armagh's early liveliness and put together a couple of fine moves in reply.
Derek Savage featured on the end of much of their better stuff. He scored a point on six minutes and when Galway's opening goal arrived after 10 minutes, it was Savage who finished it following good work by Michael Donnellan down the left wing. Having accelerated past a couple of defenders, Donnellan issued a little lobbed pass into Savage's path. Savage fisted to the net as the defence backpedalled. Good goal.
Armagh weren't long in formulating a response. James Byrne broke into free country for a shot which Pat Comer saved well. Unfortunately for Comer the ball bounced treacherously back to John Rafferty who just had to soccer kick to the back of the net.
The game ebbed and flowed attractively thereafter. Excellent winter football. Armagh's midfield of Jarlath Burns and McGrane turned in an magnificent hour's work while Gerard Reid at full back was wise and accomplished in everything he did. Galway did many of the things they usually do well, but the quick passing of Armagh took them by surprise and too often their moves broke down when they reached the inside forward line.
Yet, they kept in touch and Michael Donnellan's point, which closed the first half, was a fitting testimony to the quality of the play. A little shimmy of his hips and a dunted shot from 30 yards out on the left-hand side and the ball was sent floating between the posts to level the scores. Things got even better. Paul McGrane's goal, one minute into the second half, would have lifted the quality of any game. Taking possession from 20 yards out, with not a maroon shirt in sight, he steadied himself and drop-kicked a slow rising shot past Comer. The game was free-flowing as sweetly as a saxophone solo now.
A minute later, Niall Finnegan tumbled over under his own momentum as he converged on the Armagh goal seeking retribution. Padraig Joyce and Finnegan took points from frees and the match hung in the balance, waiting for a decisive intervention.
Armagh gave hints that they were better equipped to seize the day. James Byrne had a point after Diarmuid Marsden bundled the ball out to him. Byrne looped a ground ball over the bar when a goal looked inevitable.
Then, 12 minutes into the half, Cathal O'Rourke launched a spiralling free, Des Mackin got up well and knocked the ball down into the path of Marsden. The ball was quickly thumped to the net and Galway never recovered.
A minute later, Marsden added another point and suddenly he was looking like the best full forward in the country, stitching 1-2 to Galway's hide in the space of six minutes and dragging Gary Fahy all over the prairie.
Still time for more. Ger Houlahan stretched Comer to his full length with a shot from 30 yards, a minute later Finnegan sent a daisy-cutter just wide at the other end. Wonderful stuff and the new year can't come quick enough.
Armagh: M Campbell; E McNulty, G Reid, M McNeill; K Hughes, K McGeeney, J McNulty; J Burns (0-1), P McGrane (1-1); J Rafferty (1-1), C O'Rourke, P McKeever (0-1); J Byrne (0-1), D Marsden (1-4, one free), D Mackin. Subs: G Houlahan for P McKeever (43 mins), L Wilson for J Rafferty (56 mins).
Galway: P Comer; R Doyle, G Fahey, R Fahy; K Fallon, R Silke, S Og De Paor; F Gavin, S O Domhnaill; P Clancy, J Fallon, M Donnellan (0-1); D Savage (1-1), P Joyce (0-3, 2 frees), N Finnegan (0-5 all frees). Subs: K Walsh for O Domhnaill (45 mins), S Walsh for P Clancy (51 mins), T Joyce (0-1) for J Fallon (55 mins).
Referee: C Walsh (Clare)
