Clarke epitomises what Kernan's men are about

GAA Analyst: There can be no doubt now that Armagh are the most consistent football team in the country. Three successive Ulster titles says it all, and even though their winning margin here was only three points, I still feel they won with a bit more to spare in the end.

I would certainly fancy them now to be in the top two or three again this year when the All-Ireland is said and done.

Throughout the game I always felt the scores were coming that little bit easier for Armagh, especially compared to the inside forward line for Donegal. Both teams were actually quite similar around midfield, with mobile players. Paul McGrane, though, really picked up his game in the second half, scoring the goal obviously, which was the turning point, but also covering back for a lot of ball.

Armagh really showed that bit more experience, and how to pull away at the end of a game. At times as well they made Donegal's inexperience show. They were a few occasions when their forwards hit the ball short, straight into the hands of the goalkeeper, and you just can't do that against a team like Armagh. Especially the close-up frees. You have to put away all your chances or else Armagh will make you pay.

There were times though when young Michael Doherty was badly missed, whose free-taking could have been more reliable. He proved a big loss on the day, even though Adrian Sweeney did well enough with most of the chances he got.

He fought bravely for a lot of ball, but didn't get the support he needed from players like Christy Toye, who I thought was a little down on his usual standards.

At times, too, I thought they played Rory Kavanagh a little too far our from the goals. So, overall, they found it very hard to break down that resolute Armagh defence, especially with Francie Bellow in such vintage form in the middle of it all.

In fact Armagh had the best defender in Bellew, the best midfielder in Paul McGrane, and the best forward in Ronan Clarke, and that sums it up really. They just had too much on Donegal in those three positions.

A few things did impress about Armagh, especially their half-back line. Joe Kernan has been very astute in picking new players, who I think will only improve over time. They have that great combination of athleticism and football skills to do their job, and with a little more experience I think we'll see even better from them.

But they've improved this Armagh team without a doubt and that must be a great satisfaction for Kernan. In other ways it was like the Armagh team of old, in that they did enough to win without really extending themselves.

But, as well, I think Donegal will take a lot of positives from this, and no one will fancy meeting them in the quarter-finals. They're still a very formidable team and I could see them coming through another game or two for sure. If anything they'll learn a lot from this game, especially about playing in Croke Park, and they could move on as a team from this.

It's hard to see a weakness in the Armagh team. Their half-forward line perhaps could be tinkered with a little, and I don't think we'll see Steven McDonnell held scoreless again. But instead Clarke just came up trumps on the day. To me he epitomises all that's good about Armagh, and must be the best target man in the game right now. He can win the ball high or low and better still, he can finish. He was a constant threat.

Having said that, the Donegal defence held up reasonably well, particularly the two corner backs Karl Lacey and Neil McGee. Paddy Campbell was perhaps a little short on size and physique but in terms of defending all three did quite well.

Unfortunately for them, though, it wasn't enough to hold out Armagh.