Armagh avail of opportunity to dominate

Ulster MFC/Armagh 2-9 Donegal 0-11:A soft goal midway through the second half turned this game in favour of Armagh at MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey.

Donegal were two points ahead when goalkeeper Michael McGinley dropped a free and Mark Shields availed of the slip to punch the ball to the net.

Armagh added a second goal five minutes later from Ros Clarke and there was no way back for the home side.

The visiting side went without scoring for 21 minutes of the first half as Michael Murphy and Paddy McGowan stretched the Donegal lead out to three points.

David Comiskey reduced the margin for Armagh but Michael Murphy restored the advantage.

In the final minutes of the half, however, Armagh came more into the game and points from Ros Clarke and Jamie Clarke left just a point between the sides at the break - Donegal 0-5, Armagh 0-4.

Donegal were in control until the Armagh goal turned the game but they relied much too heavily on Michael Murphy for their scores, he accounted for seven of their total.

ARMAGH: S Corry; T Turley (0-1), M McConville, B McKenna; R Conlon, G McCoey, J Grimley; S Sheridan, A McCann; D Comiskey (0-1), F Hanratty, T Donnelly (0-1); J Clarke (0-3, two frees), R Clarke (1-2, one free), M Shields (1-0). Subs: A Duffy (0-1) for Sheridan.

DONEGAL: M McGinley; E Doherty, D Walsh, D Curran; K Mulhern, L McLoone, C McMonagle; P McGee, A Lynch; M Murphy (0-7, six frees, one 45), D McGarvey (0-1), J Carroll (0-1); A McFadden (0-1), S O'Reilly, P McGowan (0-1, free). Subs: D Crawford for Curran, S Corcoran for McMonagle, C McGinley for O'Reilly, B Rose for Lynch, P White for McGowan.

Referee: JJ Cleary (Derry).