Armagh 0-17 Down 1-12:DUE TO those interfering Australians, Marty Clarke's return to Croke Park has been five years in the making. It seems like Stevie McDonnell has never been away. Now he is just back with a different band of brothers.
This is a new Armagh model but McDonnell’s proficiency remains at the core of their hopes of making a sustained impact in the 2010 championship. The man quietly mentioned “Sam Maguire” as the stated goal afterwards and he is allowed to do so because he drank from that chalice.
Clarke remains an aesthetically pleasing and clever footballer following his pursuit of a professional life with the oval ball, having been poached by AFL club Collingwood not long after guiding Down to the minor All-Ireland in 2005. The 22-year-old has returned to instantly become the spinning cog in Down’s attacking wheel. Benny Coulter remains lethal at the point of the blade, with John Clarke flourishing off his younger brother’s wide-ranging array of kicked passes. The same goes for Paul McComiskey.
However, Down manager James McCartan said his team must toughen up before the heavy belts of the Ulster championship come raining down upon them. They start with a trip to Ballybofey to face Donegal on May 30th.
With Down legend Paddy O’Rourke now in charge, Armagh look like genuine contenders again. McDonnell credited the conditioning work of Mike McGurn from the podium but they still need Ronan Clarke’s powerful frame to provide a foil for their captain. The two-time All Star is struggling to recover from an Achilles tendon problem.
Post-revolution Armagh have seen O’Rourke give the next wave of underage talent their spurs but Ciarán McKeever remains crucial at centre back, while Aaron Kernan’s redeployment to centre forward could yet prove inspired. Kernan’s new role forces him into games with increased regularity. And Armagh need leaders of his ilk to mature if they are to return to this stadium in high summer.
The young Armagh recruits look decent but, again, it was the established name of Malachy Mackin that came in to drive them home with two late points.
They began with intent as McDonnell pointed after just 14 seconds. The Killeavy marksman eventually clocked off with 0-6.
Finnian Moriarty and Gareth Swift got in on the Armagh scoring act, with Down staying in touch via Clarke’s marvellous left-footed striking from the ground.
What seemed a seminal moment ended with a poor shot after McDonnell delicately palmed down possession with his left lámh before rolling the ball past Brendan McVeigh’s far post.
Another Clarke free was followed by Daniel Hughes and Paul McComiskey points to put Down ahead – 0-7 to 0-6 – only for McDonnell to put an exclamation mark on first half proceedings with two fine scores.
Ten minutes after the interval Marty Clarke’s 45 dropped under the Armagh crossbar and Benny Coulter leaped between Paul Hearty and James Laverty to punch a goal that turned the momentum in Down’s favour. Coulter was on a hot streak, clipping a point not long afterwards.
Armagh’s response was typical of them as they upped the physical intensity. A genuine Ulster duel began to unfold with a player from each team spread-eagled on the turf and the crowd finding its guttural roar. McCartan flung big Dan Gordon into the midfield pit and eventually up to the square’s edge but McKeever was waiting for him. Close your eyes and it felt like Clones. The stakes are not that high just yet. A nice preamble, though.
ARMAGH:P Hearty; A Mallon, B Donaghy, B Shannon; P Duffy (0-1), C McKeever, F Moriarty (0-1); J Lavery (0-1), K Toner; C Vernon, A Kernan (0-4, four frees), G Swift (0-1); B Mallon, R Henderson, S McDonnell (0-6, one free, one 45). Subs:M Mackin (0-2) for G Swift (23-26 mins, blood) and for J Lavery (52 mins), J Clarke for B Mallon (50. mins), S Forker (0-1) for R Henderson (56).
DOWN:B McVeigh; D McCartan, B McArdle, A Brannigan; K McKernan, J Colgan, C Garvey (0-1); P Fitzpatrick (0-1), K King (0-1); S Kearney, M Clarke (0-5, five frees), D Hughes (0-1); P McComiskey (0-1), J Clarke, B Coulter (1-2). Subs:K Duffin for J Colgan (20-35 mins, blood) and for K McKernan (70 mins), C Maginn for S Kearney (ht), C Laverty for J Clarke, D Gordon for P Fitzpatrick (both 46 mins), R Murtagh for P McComiskey (65).
Referee:G Ó Conamha (Galway).
