Armagh have to do it the hard way

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Armagh 1-11 Monaghan 0-13:THEY MAY have done it the hard way but Armagh clinched their first victory in Division One when they squeezed past Monaghan in a match that did not come alive until the second half at the Athletic Grounds yesterday.

Armagh led by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break with both teams relying heavily on their respective free-taking duos to keep them afloat.

Stevie McDonnell’s two points from frees were complemented by a similar haul from Rory Grugan for the home side, while Paul Finlay converted three Monaghan frees, and Conor McManus chipped in with a brace.

Monaghan were the more inventive side in the third quarter and moved into a 0-10 to 0-8 lead in the 50th minute, by which stage Finlay had struck three more points before McDonnell swept over two sublime points from play to ensure parity.

Eamon McEneaney’s side, with Dick Clerkin a driving force, seized the initiative again and led 0-12 to 0-10 with seven minutes left. But when Armagh boss Paddy O’Rourke introduced James Lavery at midfield and despatched Brian Mallon into his attack the scales tilted dramatically in his side’s favour.

Lavery’s ability to garner first-phase possession proved crucial and when Mallon drilled in the only goal of the game with four minutes to go Armagh were reinvigorated.

Monaghan managed to pirate another Conor McManus point before right full back Andy Mallon blazed upfield to sweep over what proved to be the winning score.

ARMAGH: P McEvoy; A Mallon (0-1), B Donaghy, F Moriarty; K Dyas, C McKeever, P Duffy; K Toner, C Vernon; R Grugan (0-4, three frees), M O'Rourke (0-1), M Mackin; B J Padden, G Swift, S McDonnell (0-5, three frees). Subs: B Mallon (1-0) for Padden (55 mins), J Lavery for Mackin (57 mins).

MONAGHAN: M Keogh; K Duffy, Darren Hughes, C Walshe; C Galligan, D Mone, David Hughes; N McAdam, D Clerkin; G Doogan, M Downey (0-1), J Turley; C McGuinness, P Finlay (0-7, five frees), C McManus (0-5, two frees). Subs: T Freeman for McGuinness (55 mins), E Lennon for Turley (62 mins), S Smyth for Downey (68 mins).

Referee: Cormac Reilly(Meath).