Armagh top Division One after Dublin League Opener

Armagh passed a demanding test with flying colours on Saturday when they beat Dublin at Croke Park and, after the three other games all ended in draws, Kieran McGeeney’s men sit top of the Division One table after the first round of fixtures. 

Dublin took an early lead on their home turf but Armagh led 4-3 when Rian O’Neill collected a superb long pass from Aidan Nugent and cracked a superb finish past Evan Comerford. 

And Crossmaglen forward O’Neill turned provider for the second goal. His pass found Jason Duffy in space and Duffy jinked around John Small and then chipped Comerford to leave it 2-5 to 0-5. Armagh added three more points – two from Rory Grugan and a superb score from the left corner from O’Neill – to leave it 2-8 to 0-5 at the break. 

Dean Rock, brought on late in the first half after Cormac Costello had gone off injured, nailed an early free after the resumption but Dublin could find no fluency and there were two wides (the final total was 14) before Cameron McCormack reduced the gap to seven.

Armagh remained composed and after Jarly Og Burns, who carried the ball forward with pace and purpose throughout the game, was fouled O’Neill’s free restored the visitors’ efficient dominance. 

Niall Scully fisted a score for the Dubs but Lee Gannon’s indisciplined barge on Tiarnan Kelly allowed Grugan to add another free and then Niall Rowland and substitute Stefan Campbell did the spadework for Connaire Mackin – as good in the second half as his brother Ciaran had been in the first – to surge forward and leave it 2-11 to 0-8.

Campbell got on the scoresheet himself minutes later. He was one of three subs to score as Armagh finished the game out by taking advantage of the gaping holes Dublin left at the back as they attempted to get back into the game. 

Lorcan O’Dell did manage a goal – via touches of both Mackin brothers – with 10 minutes to go but Niall Grimley and Greg McCabe points ensured that there would be no late drama.

Allianz National Football League Division One round one: Dublin 1-13 Armagh 2-15

Dublin: E Comerford; L Gannon, D Byrne, E Murchan; T Lahiff, B Howard (0-1), J Small; B Fenton, E O Conghaile; S Bugler (0-2), C Kilkenny (0-1), N Scully (0-1); A Byrne, C Costello (0-3, 0-1 free), R Basquel

Subs: R McGarry for A Byrne (16), D Rock (0-3 frees) for Costello (30), C McCormack (0-1) for O Conghaile (HT), L O’Dell (1-1) for Basquel (51), S McMahon for Murchan (68)

Yellow cards: Basquel (42), J Small (65)

Armagh: B Hughes; P Burns, A Forker, A McKay; Connaire Mackin (0-1), N Rowland, J Og Burns; Ciaran Mackin, B Crealey; J Hall, R Grugan (1-4, 0-1 free), T Kelly (0-1); J Duffy (1-1), R O’Neill (1-4, 0-1 free), A Nugent (0-1)   

Subs: N Grimley (0-1) for Crealey (35), S Campbell (0-1) for Hall (HT), G McCabe (0-1) for Rowland (52), R McQuillan for Duffy (59), M Shields for McQuillan (62), S Sheridan for O’Neill (78)

Yellow cards: R O’Neill (2), Hall (29)

Referee: F Kelly (Longford)