McDonnell's masterclass

Division One B/ Armagh 1-9 Down 0-10:In-form Steven McDonnell helped Armagh ease their relegation worries as they fended off the challenge of near neighbours Down in a pulsating encounter at Crossmaglen yesterday.

McDonnell gave Armagh the vital edge in a full-blooded, entertaining game. The Killeavy sharpshooter helped himself to 1-6 in a towering solo show. Ross Carr's visiting side started well and they led 0-5 to 0-1 with Aidan Burns pilfering three early points.

But when Paul McGrane began to make his presence felt in midfield Armagh forced their way back into the game. McGrane himself joined Paddy McKeever and John Paul Donnelly in firing over long-range points that complemented a brace from McDonnell that still saw Armagh trail by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break.

McDonnell came into his own in the second half. He scored three quick points between the 38th and 45th minutes although Daniel Hughes, Aidan Carr (free) and James McGovern (free) replied to keep Down in contention. Down still led 0-9 to 0-8 when McDonnell struck his sixth point from a 67th minute free.

McDonnell applied the killer punch in the 69th minute when he shot to the net after Charlie Vernon and Paddy McKeever had combined to create the opening.

McGovern landed an injury-time free in a tempestuous finish that saw Armagh centre half back Ciarán McKeever red carded.

ARMAGH: C McKinney; A Mallon, E McNulty, F Moriarty; JP Donnelly (0-1), C McKeever, P McCreesh; P McGrane (0-1), G Swift; P McKeever (0-1), P Loughran, Martin O'Rourke; S McDonnell (1-6, 0-2 frees), D Marsden, Micheál O'Rourke. Subs: J Lavery for Micheál O'Rourke (8 mins), J Toner for Swift (18 mins), K McGeeney for Donnelly (40 mins), C Veron for Loughran (54 mins), K Dyas for McCreesh (64 mins).

DOWN: M McVeigh; D McCartan, M Cole, J Clarke; R Murtagh (0-1), D Rooney, K McGuigan; B Coulter, J Lynch; A Carr (0-2, one free, one 45), A Burns (0-3, one free), R Sexton; D Hughes (0-1), D Gordon (0-1), J McGovern (0-2, frees). Subs: J Boyle for Carr (55 mins), K McKernan for Murtagh (70 mins), M Walsh for Burns (70 mins).

Referee: D Coldrick(Meath).