Armagh keep in Promotion Race

Armagh 1-13 Meath 0-13

A third consecutive league win for Armagh keeps them in the promotion race right down to the final round of fixtures which will be played on Easter Sunday.

Armagh were minus the services of the suspended Aidan O Rourke for the Crossmaglen encounter with Meath. Manager Peter McDonnell had further adjustments to make from the team that beat Kildare last week with both Andy Mallon and Ronan Clarke ruled out through injury.

In a re-jigged lineout from that on the match programme Aaron Kernan, named at number 14, went back to half back with Brendan Donaghy reverting to corner back. Stephen Kernan and Joe Feeney were drafted into the attack at half forward and full forward. The 4-15 throw-in at St Oliver Plunkett Park attracted a large crowd many of whom were there to witness Armagh hurlers put up a gallant fight before losing out to Meath 3-11 to 2-17 in their bid for promotion from Division 3A.

A scrappy, free ridden, error prone opening half was illuminated by a cracking goal from Armagh full back Finnian Moriarty on the half hour. Meath opened the scoring through midfielder Nigel Crawford with Joe Feeney offloading to Stevie McDonnell two minutes later and the sides were level. The games top scorer with 7 points, Cian Ward, opened his account with a free before his fellow dangerous attacker Stephen Bray made it 3-1. Bray can thank an alert umpire for his score as Armagh keeper Philip McEvoy looked to have prevented the score but his clearing punch came after the ball had crossed the bar. In the tenth minute Meath were punished for over-carrying and Stevie doubled his tally to reduce the deficit to the minimum. The next 17 minutes produced three points with Ward and Bray scoring for the Royals and Aaron Kernan blasting a goal attempt over the bar. A good 5 man Armagh move ended with Martin O’Rourke pointing to make it 0-5 to 0-4. 

A second consecutive sweeping Armagh move from defence to attack saw O’Rourke pass to Feeney who saw Moriarty bursting through and the Wolfe Tones man blasted a left footer to the roof of the net giving it’s minder Paddy O’Rourke no chance 1-4 to 0-5 and Armagh were in front for the first time and never to be headed. 

The dust had hardly settled from the goal when the white flag was being raised courtesy of substitute Tony Kernan (on for Kevin O’Rourke 13 min) as Armagh breached the Meath rearguard for the third time in two minutes. Towering Meath midfielder Mark Ward plundered a marvellous point from fully 50 yards followed by a Cian Ward free as Meath replied to the home blitz before Galway referee Gerry Kinneavey blew the short whistle with Armagh in the lead 1-05 to 0-07.

As the press box mulled over the league placings from the results already in, expectations of a good second half with weather conditions deteriorating were not high, as the relegation threat for both teams was removed and only an Armagh win would keep any life in the contest.

Inside the opening minute of the second half our fears proved unfounded as Meath, with Joe Sheridan on for McGuire, came in search of a goal. Firstly Donaghy averted the danger with some smart defending, ever improving Barry Shannon brought off a great block from Sheridan’s goal bound rasper at the expense of a “45” which was missed by Ward. The delay in taking the field for the second half by Armagh must have fuelled the Meath passion but Stevie from Killeavy had other ideas shooting a glorious point off the upright from about 40 metres as Armagh doubled their lead. A foul on Tony Kernan enabled brother Aaron put a goal between them 1-7 to 0-7 as Peadair Byrne replaced McGill in the visitors defence.

The excellent Ciaran McKeever was harshly adjudged to have fouled King allowing Ward point and the same player was on hand to punish a poor clearance by Armagh keeper McEvoy after he had made a good save. Ten minutes into the second half it was 1-7 to 0-9 and all to play for. Not for the first time in the course of this match the experienced quartet of McKeever, Aaron Kernan, Martin O’Rourke and Stevie McDonnell combined to turn defence into attack and scores. Aaron was the benefactor for the next two points through those interchanges as a goal separated the sides. Bray pointed for Meath as worryingly for Armagh the chasing McKeever pulled up in the chase resulting in him having to be replaced a few minutes later by Vincie Martin. The three point cushion was restored by McDonnell punishing a foul on Mallon.  Armagh introduced Martin and Ryan Henderson (for Stephen Kernan) as James Quenney came in for Meade on the Meath team.

On the hour Mark Ward pointed from play, quickly followed by a point with his first touch from substitute Brian Farrell (for King) as Meath trailed by the minimum 1-10 to 0-12. If one sub could make an impact at one end Armagh substitute Henderson followed suit with a terrific swivel and point on the turn at a vital stage for Armagh. Henderson then showed great application in winning Armagh a “45” but Tony Kernan was wide of the mark with his effort. Sheridan had his shot blocked by solid Armagh defending but Ward converted the resultant “45” as we entered 3 minutes of added on time with the score reading 1-11 to 0-13. A shemozzle in the Armagh square saw McEvoy scramble the ball away to Tony Kernan who gave it to Stevie to Aaron to Tony on to Martin O’Rourke who finished off a terrific counterattack with a great point. Meath came again but were repelled by Shannon who was fouled. Aaron, Martin O’Rourke and Stevie kept the ball between them before McDonnell placed full forward Feeney to kick the last score of the match. A strong finishing Armagh were denied another point as a fisted Tony Kernan attempt came back off the crossbar.

A first home win for Armagh takes their tally of league points to 8 and leaves them a point behind Cork, Kildare and Monaghan with the last group matches to be played. Armagh need to win in Cork and hope that Monaghan, away to Laois, or Kildare, away to Meath, do not pick up wins which will allow Armagh a place in the league final and promotion.

Armagh: P McEvoy; B Donaghy, F Moriarty (1-0), B Shannon; T McClelland, C McKeever; A Kernan (0-4),  K Toner, C Vernon; S Kernan,  M O’Rourke (0-2), B Mallon , S McDonnell (0-4), J Feeney (0-1)  K O’Rourke Subs-T. Kernan (0-1) for K O’Rourke, R Henderson (0-1) for S Kernan, V Martin for McKeever.

 Meath: P O’Rourke; C McGill, A Moyles, , E Harrington;  S Kenny; K Reilly, D Flood, M Ward (0-1), N Crawford, S McAnearney, C Ward (0-7), B Meade; S Bray (0-4), C King, R McGuire  Subs: J Sheridan for McGuire, P Byrne for McGill, J Quenney for Meade, B Farrell (0-1) for King.