Ross McQuillan of Armagh celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Armagh and Derry at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in Armagh. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.
Allianz Football League Division 1
Armagh 4-24 Derry 1-18
By Steve Malone at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds
ARMAGH rattled 4-22 from play as they destroyed Derry to secure their right to dine at the Division One table next season.
It was commanding performance from the All-Ireland champions, helped in no small part by the sending off of Shane McGuigan who picked up two yellow cards in quick succession to be sent off with 30 minutes on the clock.
Four goals in an astonishing seven minute period put the game to bed and the contest was over with over 25 minutes still to play.
The final day permutations made it exciting finish to the league although Armagh’s focus was on survival and they were aware that score difference may play a huge part. As it happens, Armagh and Tyrone finished with the same score difference but Kieran McGeeney’s men stay up on the head-to-head rule.
Earlier in the afternoon news had filtered through that a bug had hit the Orchard squad which forced a number of changes before throw-in. Goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty replaced last year’s All-Star nominated Blaine Hughes, while it was a first start for Belleek young star Callum O’Neill, who came in for Connaire O’Neill while Young Player of the 2024 Year, Oisin Conaty, took the place of Jason Duffy.
Armagh also lost Armagh captain Aaron Forker as he made way for Tomas McCormick, while it was a rare start for Stefan Campell, with Jarly Og Burns making way.
Paddy Tally’s Derry also shuffled the back with Ben McKinless unsurprisingly replacing keeper Neill McNicholl, while Jody McDermott came in for wing-back Patrick McGurk, Caolan Devlin replaced Dan Higgins while Ben McCarron got the nod ahead of Niall Loughan at corner forward.
It was an entertaining opening half, which Armagh led 0-12 to 0-08, but within seven minutes of the restart Armagh’s lead jumped to 4-12 to 0-08.
Played in the Box-It Athletic Grounds, Armagh were quick out of blocks with Ross McQuillan (2), Rory Grugan (free), Stefan Campbell, Darragh McMullan, Oisin Conaty, Thomas McCormack and Greg McCabe on target, while Derry replied with Conor Doherty, Ethan Doherty, Niall Toner and Marty Bradley doing the needful.
Then came the avalanche of goals in such a short space of time and while you can argue that Armagh had a fair slice of luck there is no argument the Orchard attack were first to react and pressed harder.
Ross McQuillan rattled the net after being first to react to Stefan Campbell’s shot crashing off the post, then the post played a part again with Barry McCambridge blasting the rebound for Armagh’s second goal.
Then Conor Turbitt’s goal was a gift as Derry keeper Ben McKinless stepped back across the goal-line, although the green flag was raised 15 seconds later. The 9143 in the Box-It Athletic Grounds were scratching their heads when young Dara McMullan smashed his shot into the goal after Rory Grugan’s clever delivery.
So, going into the half-time into a four point lead, Armagh were suddenly 16-points ahead, with divisional status secured and Derry had no way back.
Conor Glass grabbed two two-pointers and Anton Tohill bagged a consolation goal at the death, but it is going to be a difficult game for manager Paddy Tally to pull positives from ahead of Derry’s Ulster clash against Donegal, while Ethan Rafferty grabbed Armagh’s only two pointer and Andrew Murnin joined the scoring party.
Armagh live for another day in Division One and their Ulster championship game against Antrim is fixed for April 12.
Scorers for Armagh: R McQuillan 1-2, R Grugan 0-3 (1f, 1 2p), S Campbell 0-4, D McMullen 1-1, T McCormack 0-2, E Rafferty 0-3 (1 2p), C Turbitt 1-4 (1f), P McGrane 0-1, B McCambridge 1-0, A Murnin 0-2, O Conaty 0-1, G McCabe 0-1,
Scorers for Derry: C Devlin 0-3 (2f), C Doherty 0-3 ( 1 2p), S McGuigan 0-1, N Toner 0-3 (2f), M Bradley 0-1, C Glass 0-6 (2 2p), P Cassidy 0-1, A Tohill 1-0,
Armagh: E Rafferty; P McGrane, B McCambridge, P Burns; C Mackin, G McCabe, T McCormack; C O’Neill, O Conaty; D McMullan, R Grugan, CTurbitt; S Campbell, A Murnin, R McQuillan. Subs: J McElroy for R McQuillan (47'), J Og Burns for C Mackin (54’), J Hall for Conaty (56’), G Murphy for P Burns (67’), O O’Neill for R Grugan (67’).
Derry: B McKinless; D Baker, E McEvoy, M Bradley; C Doherty, P McGrogan, J McDermott; C Glass, A Tohill; E Doherty, N Toner, C Devlin; B McCarron, S McGuigan, P Cassidy. Subs: P McGurk for J McDermott (32’), M Doherty for M Bradley (47’), D Cassidy for B McCarron (55’), B Mulholland for D Baker (56’), C Diamond for C Doherty (60’)
Referee: David Gough
