ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Donegal 0-13 Armagh 0-10:DONEGAL SECURED their Division One status thanks to a very strong second-half performance.
They turned around a three-point deficit in the final quarter, keeping Armagh scoreless in that period, but they can thank an upright, which denied Jamie Clarke when the sides were level with nine minutes left.
Already without the injured Michael Murphy, they lost All-Star full-back Neil McGee in the warm-up and were chasing Armagh in the opening half as Michael Stevenson gave an exhibition of free-taking to leave the Orchard County men 0-7 to 0-5 ahead at the break.
Stevenson stretched that lead to four points within five minutes of the restart, but then Donegal found their form, and, thanks to the promptings of Declan Walsh and midfielders Neil Gallagher and Rory Kavanagh, they struck back to level matters, with substitute Marty O’Reilly punching the equaliser with his first touch.
They then had a slice of luck when Clarke struck an upright after sidestepping Paul Durcan, and they took full advantage, with Rory Kavanagh putting them ahead for the first time, and they held their nerve to stay in front.
“We asked them the question at half-time, and their mentality and approach to the second half was brilliant; to be fair they delivered in spades,” said Donegal boss Jim McGuinness.
“We were without Michael ; Neil McGee was injured in the warm-up and we were also without Christy Toye. Our squad was stretched but the 15 and those that came in, we were very happy with them. We showed a hunger, desire and determination, and that is what got them over the line.”
Armagh manager Paddy O’Rourke felt Donegal deserved the win but felt his side missed an opportunity “We had a chance to win it. It was a draw when Jamie’s shot hit the post. If that had gone in it was over. But it didn’t happen and fair play to Donegal: they fought to the end and ended up with the most scores on the board and they are deserving winners.
DONEGAL: P Durcan; F McGlynn (0-1), E McGee, Declan Walsh; A Thompson, K Lacey, L McLoone (0-1); R Kavanagh (0-2), N Gallagher; M McHugh, R Bradley, D McLaughlin; David Walsh, C McFadden (0-5, 0-2 frees), M McElhinney (0-1). Subs: D Molloy (0-1) for McLaughlin (27 mins); P McBrearty for McElhinney (30 mins); M O'Reilly (0-1) for E McGee (59 mins); S Griffin for McBrearty (69 mins); A Hanlon (0-1) for McLoone (71 mins).
ARMAGH: P McEvoy; A Mallon, B Donaghy (0-1), D McKenna; P Duffy, C McKeever (0-1), F Moriarty; A Kernan, C Vernon; B Mallon (0-1), J Clarke, A Duffy; M Stevenson (0-7, frees), C Rafferty, K Dyas. Subs: T Kernan for P Duffy (ht); J Lavery for Moriarty (50 mins); M O'Rourke for B Mallon (45 mins); G McParland for Stevenson (58 mins); J Kingham for T Kernan (69 mins).
Referee: C Reilly(Meath).
