Armagh beat Down in thriller

Possibly one of the mildest nights ever with one of the largest crowds for a January football game saw Armagh take on Down in the Dr McKenna Cup with over 4000 punters packed in to the stand at the Athletic Grounds.

Although Armagh prevailed on the night winning by 1:15 to 2:8 a massive 20 point win by Derry over Queen’s University meant neither Armagh nor Down went through to the semi final stage.

Armagh got off to a great start, the first point coming from Ethan Rafferty followed by six more unanswered points. Indeed they were unlucky in the first half not to have notched up at least one goal, the woodwork taking a pounding.

It took Down 23 minutes to score in the first half with a host of possible scoring chances coming to nought, although once getting on the scoreboard with a point from Alan Davidson, they quickly notched up two more points going in at the interval 0:3 to Armagh’s 0:7.

Down made somewhat of a comeback in the second half with Clonduff’s Darren O’Hagan scoring the first of Down’s goals in the 47th minute. Down’s Alan Davidson added to the tally with a second goal in the 70th minute, leaving just a point in it, but a goal a couple of minutes later from Armagh’s substitute Aaron Findon put the result beyond doubt.

Man of the match was Armagh’s Rory Grugan who scored 0:4

Final Score Armagh 1:15 Down 2:8

The Armagh team who took on Down in the Dr McKenna Cup at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Down's Cathal Magee breaks through the Armagh defence at the Dr McKenna Cup clash between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Down's Alan Davidson presses forward at the Dr McKenna Cup clash between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Pat Havern, Down closely marked by Armagh's Charlie Vernon at the Dr McKenna Cup clash between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Down's Ryan Mallon and Armagh's Ben Crealey clash at the Dr McKenna Cup game between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Down's Ryan Mallon and Armagh's Ben Crealey in action at the Dr McKenna Cup game between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Armagh's Stephen Sheridan on the ball at the Dr McKenna Cup clash between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Over 4000 turned out for the Dr McKenna Cup clash between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Armagh's Niall Grimley leads the way at the Dr McKenna Cup clash between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Armagh's Jamie Clarke hits the deck at the Dr McKenna Cup clash between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Down's Caolan Mooney looks at his options at the Dr McKenna Cup clash between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Armagh's Joe McElroy under pressure from Downs Brendan McArdle at the Dr McKenna Cup clash between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Armagh's Joe McElroy under pressure from Downs Brendan McArdle at the Dr McKenna Cup clash between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Down's Ryan McAleenan under pressure from Armagh's Charlie Vernon at the Dr McKenna Cup clash between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Niall Grimley, Armagh is tackled by Down's Brendan McArdle at the Dr McKenna Cup clash between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Armagh's Simon McCoy and Down's Shay Millar compete for the ball at the Dr McKenna Cup clash between Armagh and Down at the Athletic Grounds. Photograph: Columba O'Hare